add power angling to landscape rake

[Builder]

No decision yet. I just added a third function set of remotes to the front, filled the tires and fixed all the problems & missing parts to the 3 pt hitch. Cost me $1,500. Now I need to get a rake, snowplow & grapple bucket.

Seems like with the rakes, there's the cheaper "Leinbach" type rakes, then for double the price, you can get the "Woods" type rakes, which are available with a power angle cylinder & wheels for about $2,000.

 

[ToadHill]

I haven't done it yet but come spring I plan to use the chute rotating hydralics on the snowblower to hook up to the landscape rake. The unit comes off with just 2 pins and should fit on the rake just fine.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Dirt,
So you rake snow? I'd like to know how that works out. I was wondering how effective a rake is at "plowing" snow. If you have any tips on doing that please share. I was thinking of trying that next time we get some of the white stuff but didn't have a clue how it might work.

GuglioLS, I maintain 3000 feet of stone road and use a front blade and landscape rake combination to do the snow removal. If we get 3 or 4 inches I use the landscape rake alone and it works great as you are not blading the stone off the road. If we get 4 inches or more I will use the front blade, keeping it up enough to blade off the snow but not touch the stone. Then I follow up with the landscape rake. Although it doesn't remove all the snow it does expose enough stone to get good traction with a car. Also the exposed stone helps with melt off on sunny days. The rake will also rip ice fairly well if you agressively angle it to one side. The rake will give you more of a groomed look than a plowed down to bare stone. After the bulk of the snow is removed I'll go back over the road with the rake straight to pop up some more stone. Try your rake I think you will like the results if you have a stone driveway.

Sincerely,Dirt

While there wasn't much snow here to rake off the road, the rake did help expose some stone to traction.

 

[dfkrug]

which rake did you get?

I got the Worksaver MCR-6, which is a 6-footer and cost a bit over
$550 with shipping from IL. I plan to mount in on my FEL.

When you rotate the rake, do you count on momentum to continue the
rotation when it is necessay to reverse the cylinder direction?

 

[CCWKen]

Everyone talks about adding a cylinder to a blade or rake for angling. Has anyone used a hydraulic or electric motor via chain drive or similar? This would allow the blade or rake to turn 360 degrees for forward or backward use. If you had wheel clearance, of course.

 

[GuglioLS]

Dirt,
Great technique you developed for snow removal, thanks for sharing your experience. Now I don't have to re-invent the wheel so-to-speak. Looks like it works good without tearing everything up. I will definitely give it a try. My main road is asphalt milling's that are hard packed and mostly re-solidified like pavement, based on your information the rake should work without making a mess out of it. It snowed today but not enough to rake, plow, or shovel - darn it.


Builder,
Wow sounds like you got your tractor all fixed up and added some hydraulic upgrades. I bet the filled tires make a huge difference. Happy rake hunting, hope you find one to suite your needs.

I got the Worksaver MCR-6, which is a 6-footer and cost a bit over
$550 with shipping from IL. I plan to mount in on my FEL.
When you rotate the rake, do you count on momentum to continue the
rotation when it is necessay to reverse the cylinder direction?

FEL mounted rake? interesting. I have found when my rake is reversed and I'm backing up, it digs in quite a bit because it looses float. I would think FEL mounted will make it dig in even more, maybe so much so that it will bend the tines? I dunno. I'm Curious what your main application will be having it mounted on the FEL?

Oh and yes I rely on momentum and timing by reversing the valve at the right position to rotate it past bottom dead center. Once you get the hang of it, it's actually quite easy getting it past that dead spot, works like a charm.


Larry

 

[Eaglebait Ranch]

I too use a rake for plowing snow because I too have a gravel driveway. When I hit the spur road, there are boulders sproutin' up out of the ground and the tines of the rake go right over them where the rear blade would sometimes grab them.

 

[GuglioLS]

Everyone talks about adding a cylinder to a blade or rake for angling. Has anyone used a hydraulic or electric motor via chain drive or similar? This would allow the blade or rake to turn 360 degrees for forward or backward use. If you had wheel clearance, of course.

You bet - Check this thread out where two crazy guys - one named Rob (3RRL) and the other named Larry (GuglioLS) teamed up and worked together to create the worlds first -

360* Rotating Back Blade








It uses a gear box designed and built by Rob (3RRL). Not as simple as you might think. The forces at the center created by leverage of the long blade are enormous. It presented some serious challenges overcome by some unique solutions.

Builder - Sorry man, your thread has been officially hijacked to the max, better start a new one when you do get your rake. I promise not to spoil it.

Larry

 

[dfkrug]

FEL mounted rake? interesting. I have found when my rake is reversed and I'm backing up, it digs in quite a bit because it looses float. I would think FEL mounted will make it dig in even more, maybe so much so that it will bend the tines? I dunno. I'm Curious what your main application will be having it mounted on the FEL?

I bought a 3-pt blade at the same time and I want to experiment with
how it and the rake work on the FEL. I have adapted my FEL fork frame with
3-pt pins and I want to see how well the forks themselves act as skids
to keep the rake or blade from digging in while in float mode. I don't want to
take my b/h off, so I hope do any grading I need with my new 4-in-1 bkt.
Mostly, anyway. I have hopes that the rake will separate rocks well from
newly dug tractor paths. Kinda like in one of your videos, but with the FEL,
instead of the rear 3-pt. I don't know how well it will work.

Oh and yes I rely on momentum and timing by reversing the valve at the right position to rotate it past bottom dead center. Once you get the hang of it, it's actually quite easy getting it past that dead spot, works like a charm.

Very cool. The video makes it look seamless.

 

[Builder]

You bet - Check this thread out where two crazy guys - one named Rob (3RRL) and the other named Larry (GuglioLS) teamed up and worked together to create the worlds first -

360* Rotating Back Blade








It uses a gear box designed and built by Rob (3RRL). Not as simple as you might think. The forces at the center created by leverage of the long blade are enormous. It presented some serious challenges overcome by some unique solutions.

Builder - Sorry man, your thread has been officially hijacked to the max, better start a new one when you do get your rake. I promise not to spoil it.

Larry

Larry,

No worries. You guys are giving me ideas!!

If you ever want to build me an 8' rake that angles & rotates, just shoot me a price. I might take you up on it.

On the front mount rakes: Believe it or not, FFL makes a front mount rake for my CASE backhoe. It's a big mama-a 10 footer with 2 guide wheels. I believe it is power angling, too. It's about $3,500!!