Rake ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW (Version 1)

[jeff9366]

Thanks for the TR3 Rake review. I've looked at the TR3 for years now but the price keeps my dreaming in check.

I set up a search on eBay, which notified me via e-mail of every TR3 Rake put for sale on eBay in the USA. About 1-1/2 TR3 Rakes per year appeared. I purchased after three years when the heaviest model, in my tractor's optimum width, was offered. Still expensive at $3,000 but I may now liquidate my Rollover Box Blade, HydrauLink Top Link, Landscape Rake and possibly another implement, potentially defraying TR3 $3,000 cost by $800 to $1,000.

I am age 70.
Reducing implement changeovers is attractive. Reducing implement PTO connections is more attractive.
(Besides, you can't take the $$ with you.)

Tractor House brokers used TR3 Rakes occasionally but I do not follow that site.

One thing for sure, ABI keeps raising the price of the TR3. It is USA/Texas made, heavy, and low volume. In one video the narrator claims sales of 7,000 rakes in eight years; less than twenty TR3 Rakes per week. Never going to be cheap, new.

ABI/Kriser continues to develop the TR3 concept. There is evolution evident between the earliest TR3 Rakes @ <$3,000 new and the TR3 Rakes offered today. Instance: ABI offers the lighter TR3 E-model, for 2,000 pound to 3,000 pound tractors, which has an interesting short Top Link controlling the rear finish rake.

 

[Piston]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

Jeff,
Did you consider a used power rake while you were shopping for the TR3?

 

[jeff9366]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

Did you consider a used power rake while you were shopping for the TR3?

No. My dirt is soft sandy-loam in Florida. When I encounter a rock it is a memorable event.

Did you read KIOTI 3054's comments on TR3 vis Power Rakes in Post #3 ?

 

[Old Red]

I am age 70. Reducing implement changeovers is attractive. (Besides, I can't take $$ with me.)

I love it that you are 70 and continuing to buy attachments and the like. Good deal, gives me something to look forward to.

I had a power rake on my skid steer....was an amazing piece of equipment. But I hear you...looked for a long time, bought a bobcat brand for $3,500 used it for 1 year and did a couple projects then sold it for $4,500. I wish I still had it and my bobcat skid steer...I didn't realize at the time I sold them that I was going to be building apartments. I bought all that stuff when work was drying up for contractors after the 2009 housing bubble....Good find...enjoy your equipment.....It doesn't matter that it is expensive....buy once...cry once....

 

[Piston]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

No. My dirt is soft sandy-loam in Florida. When I encounter a rock it is a memorable event.

Did you read KIOTI 3054's comments on TR3 vis Power Rakes in Post #3 ?

I did not see those comments in post #3, I think when I first read this thread post #3 just said "To be continued" so I had missed the edit. It's interesting to see the comparison though. I do find the power rake as a complete all-in-one tool where it's basically go over an area a few times, and it's pretty much ready for seed. Certainly much different conditions that your sandy soil though. It seems like the TR3 would 'fluff' the ground less than a power rake which appears an advantage to sandy soil or arenas. In addition, not being a 'powered' implement there is less failure points. For instance, I had to replace the bearings in mine shortly after buying it, which is a non issue on your equipment, and less cost to boot.

I'm assuming that the 'sub' that Kioti 3054 had used, did not have much experience with his power rake. He mentioned that he could not pull debris into piles, which is something the power rake excels at, or you can windrow, it's a choice the operator makes. In addition, it sounds like the sub still needed to use a box blade and pulverizer, which is completely unnecessary once you figure out how to use the power rake. It's basically a finish tool, no work to be done after the fact, not even hand raking.

Very interesting thread, and of course, well written as always. I love learning more about these little known implements. It would be really interesting to see some video if you had the desire

 

[TheMan419]

I drool over these for horse arena maintenance. Some day.....

 

[jeff9366]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

I do find the power rake as a complete all-in-one tool where it's basically go over an area a few times, and it's pretty much ready for seed. Certainly much different conditions that your sandy soil though. It seems like the TR3 would 'fluff' the ground less than a power rake which appears an advantage to sandy soil or arenas. In addition, not being a 'powered' implement there is less failure points. For instance, I had to replace the bearings in mine shortly after buying it, which is a non issue on your equipment, and less cost to boot.

I have no experience, YET, with a Harley Rake. ~~~~~

I try to limit Bush Hoging to three times per year, usually one day on each occasion. We are getting ever less dependable rain in North Florida. Using the Bush Hog raises clouds of lingering dust. Both I and the tractor return to the barn filthy. Dust aggravates my 'senior' allergies. The TR3 Rake produces minimal dust.

Relative to a Bush Hog, how much dust does a Power Rake put into the air? Do you use a cab tractor or an open station tractor with your Power Rake?

How about the name? Did a Harley company produce the original Power Rake, like Bush Hog and York Rake?
Is 'Harley Rake' a trademark and Power Rake generic?

I posted the comments from KIOTI 3054 after reading every TR3 Rake post I could pull up from the T-B-N archive. A few posts briefly compared the TR3 Rake to a Harley Rake, though only KIOTI 3054 seemed credible. More archive posts asked for a TR3/Harley Rake comparison.

 

[Piston]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

I have no experience, YET, with a Harley Rake. ~~~~~

Relative to a Bush Hog, how much dust does a Power Rake put into the air? Do you use a cab tractor or an open station tractor with your Power Rake?

I use an open station tractor (I'd love a cab) and have never had an issue with dust. However, I think that has more to do with the local soil conditions in central/northern New England. I've never used the power rake in sand, so I imagine it's vastly different. Keep in mind, I've never had an issue with dust using a bush hog either. I would guess that the power rake would certainly give you more dust than a TR3, because you have the drum rotating towards the tractor at moderate speeds.
I heard a lot of people who use hydraulic power rakes on skidsteers complain about the dust. In a skidsteer, your typically driving forward, towards the dust/dirt that is kicked up, whereas a tractor your pulling away from it.

How about the name? Did a Harley company produce the original Power Rake, like Bush Hog and York Rake?
Is 'Harley Rake' a trademark and Power Rake generic?

Yes, Harley is the name that made these famous. I don't know factual history on the origins of these, but Harley is a company that makes this style "soil conditioner" called a "Power Rake".

It sounds like for what you are doing, in your type of soil, you got the better machine between the two by going with the TR3.

 

[Freep]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

Can you provide an update on the TR3, Jeff? What are your thoughts, 18 months after acquisition?

You were considering selling several implements. As you know, I am just building my collection. I have disc and chain harrow, and ratchet rake. I've cooked up some plans (some of which you have helped with) to try to level my land a bit and am trying to decide how to proceed. I've borrowed a box blade and am learning to use it, but the challenges here are well documented, and the cost of a good box blade is pretty steep itself. If the TR3 could preclude the purchase of several implements it may be worthwhile. I've also starting considering the value of my time and hours/wear on my tractor, so the $4k price tag for a TR3-E is not that crazy, all things considered.

But I'd appreciated hearing your recent thoughts on the implement.

 

[jeff9366]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

Can you provide an update on the TR3, Jeff? What are your thoughts, 18 months after acquisition?

You were considering selling several implements. As you know, I am just building my collection. I have disc and chain harrow, and ratchet rake. I've plans to level my land and am trying to decide how to proceed. I've borrowed a box blade and am learning to use it, but Box Blade operating challenges are well documented, and the cost of a good box blade is pretty steep itself.

If the TR3 could preclude the purchase of several implements it may be worthwhile. I've also starting considering the value of my time and hours/wear on my tractor, so the $4k price tag for a TR3 is not that crazy, all things considered.

With a Disc Harrow, Ratchet Rake, Chain Harrow and Box Blade a TR3 Rake will NOT assist you in land leveling; you have the tools.

I presume you are loosening soil and sod with the Disc Harrow, then cutting off high spots to fill low spots with the Box Blade, then perhaps repeating the pass with less aggressively adjusted Disc Harrow before final soil leveling with your Chain Harrow. With the complementary Ratchet Rake on your FEL bucket used throughout the process.

The TR3 Rake I have is the heavy Command Series TR3 with hydraulically operated scarifiers which is marketed to Landscapers, rather than horse arena groomers. I believe the price on a 6'-6" wide Command Series is $6,500 new. I purchased mine from a builder in NY for $3,000, plus freight. I had a search on eBay for three (3) years before the TR3 Rake I acquired showed up. I am not sure how much good an arena-grooming weight TR3 Rake would do you, relative to your existing implements.

I recommend building operating knowledge with the Box Blade and learning how to adjust your Disc Harrow, rather than serious consideration of a heavy TR3 Rake.

I did sell my Landscape Rake with gauge wheels. The TR3 is a much better rake, though TR3 cannot be angled.

I have retained my Bush Hog brand Rollover Box Blade. The TR3 does not move dirt in the volume of a Box Blade and the TR3 outside gauge wheels means TR3 outside width is ~~24"~~ wider than operating width. This can be quite limiting relative to Box Blade applications. (PHOTO #1)

Finally, the ability to push dirt with a ROBB behind a BEEFY compact tractor with RIGID Lower Link stabilizers is a big advantage filling large holes after I excavate multiple layers of Palmettos. (PHOTO #3 + #4)

I have pondered a lift/framed flexible mat Chain Harrow for years for trail maintenance but I have not been able to justify the cost given limited use I contemplate, considering the TR3 Rake is a similar function secondary tillage smoothing tool.

TR3 rake sees considerable use. TR3 has been 100% breakage and distortion free.


You may wish to read Post #5 and Post #6 attached:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/390477-tr3-rake-anyone-have-one.html