Bush Hog (Rake) - don't buy, IMHO

[jake98]

I can't see the cracks, can you do a close-up of them?
Anyway, it's winter, why not make them fix it?

 

[Jay4200]

Anyway, it's winter, why not make them fix it?

Because it is winter. I'll have to load the rake up onto my truck, drive all the way over there and dump it off. Maybe leave it, although they'll probably just zap it up while I wait, then drive all the way back and have to unload it. Of course, they will just re-do the cracked welds, so I'll still have to re-build it anyway if I want it stronger. No advantage there, just a waste of time and more PITA.

JayC

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I have a Mid West rake, don't know if their even in business anymore. Anyway, bad design, I rebuilt so that I would not have anymore problems with the rake. Used a 4x7x3/8 tube, pretty much took care of my rake problems.

 

[jake98]

That does look like a cheap-***** design. Mine's from TS, where I would expect to get the minimum but it at least has a c-channel there. Still, the weld should be stronger than the surrounding metal. I'd make them fix it, and warrantee the fix.

 

[nickel plate]

I have a Mid West rake, don't know if their even in business anymore. Anyway, bad design, I rebuilt so that I would not have anymore problems with the rake. Used a 4x7x3/8 tube, pretty much took care of my rake problems.

Very good looking structural re-build MVR, but why do we have to structurally redesign the product to overcome the inept attempts of the manufacturer? Glad it worked out for you. Nice paint!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Very good looking structural re-build MVR, but why do we have to structurally redesign the product to overcome the inept attempts of the manufacturer? Glad it worked out for you. Nice paint!

Thanks, I had it powder coated. The re engineering that so many of us have to do may very well be because we use the implement as it was never intended to be used. I think that landscape rakes are supposed to be used to rake up loose materials such as leaves, sticks, small rocks etc. Many of us use them for grading. Now I'm sure that moving around a little bit of loose dirt is no big thing, but I know that I twisted mine up like a rope by grading my dry stream beds and at many times had more than a full rake of dirt. I doubt that the manufacturer ever intended for the implement to be use as harshly as I was using it. But what I was doing could only be accomplished with something that was flexible, otherwise I would have had to have a different look when I was done.

There are huge differences in the quality of implements out there and if you have much weight, you are better off with a higher quality implement.
Just my :2cents:

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Very good looking structural re-build MVR, but why do we have to structurally redesign the product to overcome the inept attempts of the manufacturer? Glad it worked out for you. Nice paint!

Because like so many other things, the people that design this stuff have NEVER even been on a tractor let alone use any of the products that they design.

 

[djradz]

Because like so many other things, the people that design this stuff have NEVER even been on a tractor let alone use any of the products that they design.

Yes, it is amazing to see how poorly some implements are designed. Rakes and rear blades seem to be at the top of the list. Over the last couple of years we've seen plenty of documented photos here at TBN of both of these implements failing due to some very basic flaws, undersized or poorly chosen (such as C-channel vs Box) members or lack of adequate bracing. Seems as if the designers are exactly as you say, and/or have no common sense or mechanical aptitude.