Removing Brush

[jeff9366]

I have a heavy rollover Box Blade and a Ratchet Rake.

For removing brush the Ratchet Rake is far superior to the Box Blade.

Ratchet Rake can pull vines out of trees, an important function where I live. See Photo #2.
Some vines (10%) break due to Ratchet Rake/tractor force, rather than slip from the trees. Without roots residual vines die and fall out of trees in a year or two.

Ratchet Rake is also good for LIGHT grading. When I have medium to heavy grading to do I mount the rollover Box Blade.

6/09/2016​

This post concerns Ratchet Rakes Vs. light Box Blades, such as the 60" Land Pride BB1260/346 pounds/69 pounds per foot.

I searched for the weight of kubota L3301 bucket but could not find a number. I presume L3301 bucket weighs approximately 240 pounds, extrapolating from other kubota specs. 68" Ratchet Rake weighs 88 pounds. Adding 240 + 88 = 328 pounds, pretty close to 346 pounds of BB1260 Box Blade.

In addition, the (operator controlled) weight of the FEL frame bears on the Ratchet Rake. Likewise, weight of the Three Point Hitch bears on the Box Blade. FEL frames weigh much more than ( 3X? 4X?) Three Point Hitch components. So, including some FEL weight, I guesstimate that ground contact pressure on Ratchet Rake and BB1260 would be at least equal, perhaps greater pressure on the Ratchet Rake.

Further in Ratchet Rake's favor you have articulation of bucket/RR combination in two planes from the operator's station and 1-1/2" serrated teeth on the Ratchet Rake.

Box Blade can be raised and lowered hydraulically from the operator's station. Box Blade angle of attack is adjustable via the Three Point Hitch Top Link, but not from the operator's station. Standard Box Blade does not have rippers, standard is a smooth cutting edge.

Ratchet Rake is capable of tearing up sod with its serrated teeth, the initial operation in much grading. The Ratchet Rake will not pull as large a load as a Box Blade but it may pull 35% of capacity of BB1260 per pass, with faster cycles. Ratchet Rake is more intuitive in operation than a Box Blade, which requires considerable experience to operate efficiently.

This is why I feel the Ratchet Rake is superior to light Box Blades for LIGHT grading.

I own both a Ratchet Rake and a Rollover Box Blade.

When I have heavy grading to do, I mount my 60"/625 pound (125 pounds per foot) Bush Hog (brand) Rollover Box Blade on the tractor's Three Point Hitch AND the Ratchet Rake on my FEL bucket.

 

[DieselBound]

I have a heavy rollover Box Blade and a Ratchet Rake.

For removing brush the Ratchet Rake is far superior to the heavy Box Blade.

Jeff, I'd think that it really depends on soils and the brush. My blackberries would laugh at a ratchet rake.:laughing:

 

[jeff9366]

I spent the first seventeen years of my life in Seattle, so I know Himalyan Blackberries.

I have never had the opportunity to use the Ratchet Rake on Himalyan Blackberries, however Ratchet Rake pulls 3" wild Labrusca grape vines from MOIST Florida soil reliably.

Four inch and larger grape vines I spray with Gordon's Brush Killer, wait a month or two, then almost always get them out with long trailing roots using chains and rear/center drawbar. My soil is sandy-loam.

T-B-N ARCHIVE: www.tractorbynet.com&client=safari&rls=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiSiImrqrHdAhUN7VMKHaobA5AQrQIoBDAKegQIAxAM&biw=1280&bih=716]Ratchet Rake remove Blackberries site:TractorByNet - Compact Tractors & Equipment Resource - Google Search[/url]

VIDEO/BLACKBERRY REMOVAL: Blackberry removal with Tractor - YouTube
Naked bucket, no Ratchet Rake.

 

[DieselBound]

I've lived here all my life (except a brief stint in the military), but only the past 8 years have I set myself toward eradication of blackberries.

Sand and clay are significantly different soils. I've got clay. Stuff pops out of sand a lot easier than it does from clay.

 

[atsah]

I have drug some pretty serious brush out of clay with my RR and a tiny GC1705 tractor, I can imagine a good sized tractor would do a lot more. Some of the things we talk about on here is not a job for a SCUT or CUT or any tractor for that matter, there are tools for every job and sometimes a bull dozer or excavator is the tool for the job..

I do a lot of initial work that is overgrown, like needing to cut it with a chainsaw overgrown, with an excavator or dozer and then maintain it with my tractor, That's really what most small tractors are designed to do, pick up were the construction equipment left off..

I can rent a D6 or a Cat 312 for $500 for the day delivered and picked up.. Makes no sense for me to wreck my tractor for $500..