3 PT Dethatcher

[Gittyup]

humm, thanks for the info...Maybe I am better off modifying my pull behind dethatcher to adapt to the 3 point hitch. It's only 42" wide and my mower is 60" so I was hoping to get something that could cover my tracks. How wide is yours?

Mine is 50" and they also sell a 60". I would definitely want one about the width of my tractor. I'll be using a JD X739, which is about 49" wide. And I have some narrow patches of lawn that anything bigger would not fit into.

The tines are just a few inches behind the 3pt lower links. The CMP seems like the best "midsize" thatcher I've seen, with maybe the exception of the pine straw rakes. But those cost almost double.

 

[Gittyup]

That's sort of what I was thinking too. We'll see how it does.

just an idea for adding weight...see pic.
Then you could use one or two suitcase weights

 

[nforktractor]

View attachment 364398Here are some plans from a member who posted years ago, looks pretty good,

 

[WaterDawg]

wow, those are some set of plans. He did a better write up than most manufactures today.

 

[Gittyup]

I used it on Sunday for the first time. Width is a perfect match for my 49" GT. Though ground still a little wet, it worked great. I used it to gather most of the twigs scattered about after the storm. Did pretty good considering it wasn't designed for that. The piles were not too much that closeness to the back of the tractor was not a problem. Rake empty itself pretty good when raised.

Pulled up thatch nicely. Some gathering in the tines, but came off when lifted. At times on uneven ground one side or other would not reach the ground. Combination of factors: ground unevenness, X739 3pt hitch doesn't drop to ground zero (~6" above ground level is as low as it will go). I think dethatching twice, at 90 degree angles to one another is the trick. I did not use any weight. Not sure it would really make a difference. Maybe in the fall when the ground might be harder and thatch fresher.

I only had time to go over lawn one time (one direction). I gathered 24 30-gallon containers of thatch (12 loads with my vacuum)! I have a huge pile that I meant to take photos of, but didn't get time and now it's snow covered (again ) That says two things: my yard really really needed it, and the CMP dethatcher was very effective. Yard looked so nice and clean before it snowed yet again.

 

[94BULLITT]

I used it on Sunday for the first time. Width is a perfect match for my 49" GT. Though ground still a little wet, it worked great. I used it to gather most of the twigs scattered about after the storm. Did pretty good considering it wasn't designed for that. The piles were not too much that closeness to the back of the tractor was not a problem. Rake empty itself pretty good when raised.

Pulled up thatch nicely. Some gathering in the tines, but came off when lifted. At times on uneven ground one side or other would not reach the ground. Combination of factors: ground unevenness, X739 3pt hitch doesn't drop to ground zero (~6" above ground level is as low as it will go). I think dethatching twice, at 90 degree angles to one another is the trick. I did not use any weight. Not sure it would really make a difference. Maybe in the fall when the ground might be harder and thatch fresher.

I only had time to go over lawn one time (one direction). I gathered 24 30-gallon containers of thatch (12 loads with my vacuum)! I have a huge pile that I meant to take photos of, but didn't get time and now it's snow covered (again ) That says two things: my yard really really needed it, and the CMP dethatcher was very effective. Yard looked so nice and clean before it snowed yet again.

So you think the CMP unit is heavy enough to do the job?

What do you do with all the thatch? It takes that stuff a while to rot up.

 

[TractorToolsDirect]

Another option is a belt rake. They are more expensive, but they are PTO powered and the depth can be adjusted for more or less agressiveness. Designed originally for raking hay but by adjusting the wheels they will get down into the thatch. Also they will windrow it so it's easier to pick up.

 

[Gittyup]

The ground is soft now, it's hard to tell how well it will work under normal conditions without added weight. Adding weight would be pretty easy though. Keep in mind that the weight of the 3pt hitch is on it too. I'd guess with 3pt hitch, it puts about 100 lbs to the ground right now. Dethatcher weights about 50 lbs. I have a wooded ravine on my property. I just dump the thatch in the woods. I keep a compost bin, but didn't want to put it in there. I just use it to build up the edges of the ravine .

So you think the CMP unit is heavy enough to do the job?

What do you do with all the thatch? It takes that stuff a while to rot up.

 

[Gittyup]

Another option is a belt rake. They are more expensive, but they are PTO powered and the depth can be adjusted for more or less agressiveness. Designed originally for raking hay but by adjusting the wheels they will get down into the thatch. Also they will windrow it so it's easier to pick up.

I think there are many options, depending on your setup and need. I don't have a PTO on the tractor I want to use for this purpose. So, only a passive system will work for me. I only have about 2 acres. If I had more, I'd want something bigger, probably a pine needle rake in say 6 or 7'.

 

[94BULLITT]

The ground is soft now, it's hard to tell how well it will work under normal conditions without added weight. Adding weight would be pretty easy though. Keep in mind that the weight of the 3pt hitch is on it too. I'd guess with 3pt hitch, it puts about 100 lbs to the ground right now. Dethatcher weights about 50 lbs. I have a wooded ravine on my property. I just dump the thatch in the woods. I keep a compost bin, but didn't want to put it in there. I just use it to build up the edges of the ravine .

I am going to build one similar to the CMP dethatcher. I have a quick hitch on the BX so that will give me a extra 60 pounds. I currently have a pull behind agrifab. I use 2 concrete blocks on it. It probably weighs around 100lbs with the blocks on it.