Rake Cheap Harley Rake?

[atomichead]

I received an Agri Supply catalog the other day and found a 3-point implement called a Yard Tool with Mulcher. It features scarifier teeth, leveling blade, spiked roller, sealed ball bearings, and is 6' wide. Price is $565.95

I'm asking about this because I've longed for a Harley Rake (who hasn't), but can't afford one. So I thought that buying a box blade and a landscape rake would be a cheaper (even if less effective) way out.

My question is does anyone have any experience with the Yard Tool and what are its strengths and weaknesses?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Sounds very interesting. Can you post a picture? Where can I get a catalog? Do they have an online catalog? By the number of views, it appears this may be quite popular.

 

[PaulT]

Their web site is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.agri-supply.com>www.agri-supply.com</A>, but they don't have any pictures. I joined their mailing list. Anyone out there with a hardcopy catalog and a scanner?? Here's a challenge to John Miller, can you come up with a picture? (Its probably an easy one for him, I've seen him find what I thought was obscure stuff in just a few minutes.)

 

[HalseyGreen]

At stopped at the Petersburg, Va Agri Supply store back in the fall, I beleive that the unit you are talking about is similar to this Bush Hog pulivizer. Heres the link for the Bush Hog unit - www.bushhog.com/turftoc.htm . It looked like it was well built and if I was doing a lot of yard making, I'd consider getting one.

 

[HalseyGreen]

Sorry the link doen't work right. Go to "www.bushhog.com" and select the commercial turf and landscape section and go to the pulivizer.

 

[MChalkley]

There's a picture and description of one that a friend of mine and I designed and built <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=other&Number=94632&page=&view=&sb=&o=&fpart=12&vc=1>here</A>. Just scan down the page until you see the subject "Home-made Soil Pulverizer". I think they're excellent general purpose soil prep tools.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mark

Your link isn't working for me. Can you post a picture here?

tia

 

[MChalkley]

micromike - The link may not be working because you're not registered. But should get you to that particular post in threaded view and <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/19-94632-PC270061b.jpg>this link should get you to the picture only. There are more construction details in the posts following the one I posted the link to above, though...

 

[micromike]

Mark

Well, I registered and still no picture. Here is the addresss...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/19-94632-PC270061b.jpg

but I only get a blank screen with a small red X in the upper left hand corner. Not sure what the problem is. I can access other pictures you have posted, just not this one.

micromike

 

[MChalkley]

micromike - Weird. I actually clicked on the link in the e-mail notification I received of your message, and it open IE and took me right to the picture. I'm attaching it to this message again. Let me know if this one works.

 

[micromike]

Mark

Now that one worked perfectly! Thanks.

Very nice pulverizer. I have a few questions if you don't mind.

On your roller, did you weld a stub on the ends or use a continuous "axel"? What size axel stub did you use? I am assuming you used pillow block bearings of some sort on the end brackets, is this correct? Are they greasable or sealed?

On your roller ends, did you have the centers machined for your stub axels to eliminate ALL wobble, or can you get away with finding the center and drilling out with a drill and welding in the stubs?

Thanks

micromike

 

[MChalkley]

<font color=blue>Now that one worked perfectly!</font color=blue> Strange. I did reduce the size from 800x600 to 640x480 this time, but that's all.

<font color=blue>On your roller, did you weld a stub on the ends or use a continuous "axel"?</font color=blue> Continuous axle. <font color=blue>What size axel stub did you use? </font color=blue> 1 1/4", not because I thought it was necessary for strength, but because that was the size the scrap dealer had for cheap. <font color=blue>I am assuming you used pillow block bearings of some sort on the end brackets, is this correct?</font color=blue> Yep. <font color=blue>Are they greasable or sealed?</font color=blue> Greasable.

<font color=blue>On your roller ends, did you have the centers machined for your stub axels to eliminate ALL wobble, or can you get away with finding the center and drilling out with a drill and welding in the stubs?</font color=blue> We just drilled them. It's not super easy, but it's doable without too much difficulty.