3 point pto rock rake

[joes_427_vette]

Would like to build a 3 point rock rake with carbide tips on the roller. Anyone know a place that will just sell the steel roller at a reasonable price? One manufacture will part with one for $1600. I was thinking of starting with a 6' section of well casing, drilling the holes to add the carbides. The remainder of the pieces and steel will be available locally. Any tips would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[SPIKER]

I take it you are talking a Pulverizor type thing correct?

anyhow I would use a LARGE dia shaft say 2" or so for the end bearings, I'm sure you can get a local machine shop to make up a couple end coer plates with the hole in the center and turned down to slip part way into the 6" dia pipe/caseing. not sure who you're source for bearings and chain and gearbox is but those would be the biggest expence items followed up by the carbide points...

the SHAFT should be long wnough to have a drive sprocket at each end, and have the machine shop cut you a 1/2" keyway on each end for the sprockets. after the end plates are made up and welded on WITH THE SHAFT THROUGH IT ALREADY then you could even have a few LARGE dia holes in ONE end plate so you can fill the casing with concrete after everythign is final assembled.

the gearbox should be probably a 4 to 1 or a 6 to 1 so PTO power makes 100 or so RPMS on the casing/pulverizor I would use at least a dual 60 chain/drive sprocket combo, a 50 I think would get away with it for a while but replacements owuld be required more often.

the rest of it would be pretty much adentical to the inexpensive tillers on the market but cost wise I bet you could get 2 grand into it unless you have access to a machine shop to do much of it you're self... also the side plates would have to be very heavy to avoid damage durring a TURN and any sharp turns could still stress the thing pretty good.

anyhow I wish you lots of luck.

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[joes_427_vette]

Do you feel it would be necessary to fill the roller with cement for additional weight? The only problem I see with this is trying to balance the unit within reason so it remains free of a major vibration. I was planning on using block bearings on the ends inside of the drive gear location. I thought they turned 1 to 1 similar to a hay conditioner so I will check that out also. The frame is pretty straight forward and I have a heavy duty right angle gear unit. Thanks for the insight. More research required prior to the start.