Harley Rake Advice

[Happyman]

I'll be renting a 6' Harley Rake in a couple of weeks to finish smoothing out about 8 acres of land that we cut the timber off of last fall. All the stumps and most of the roots were removed so I just need to remove some of the last roots still in the ground and partially buried as well as smooth out the terrain. Right now it will bust your fillings loose in your mouth when you drive across it. I have seen Harley Rakes in action but never used one myself. After much discussion on TBN I decided it was the best tool for what I needed to accomplish.
I'm open to advice, warnings or any other info that users of Harley's can give me. My tractor is a Kubota L3940.
It looks pretty straight forward, but I like to be prepared.
So........

 

[beenthere]

Don't see a need for any pointers. Stumps and roots will not be ground up, just bounced over or moved to the side. (Hopefully not twisted around the rake )
Plan on a couple passes, and then you will see the effects. I'm thinking you will like how fast the ground turns to level (but depends on how many roots are still present).

8 acres will take some time, but will look forward to some before and after pics.

 

[Happyman]

Don't see a need for any pointers. Stumps and roots will not be ground up, just bounced over or moved to the side. (Hopefully not twisted around the rake )
Plan on a couple passes, and then you will see the effects. I'm thinking you will like how fast the ground turns to level (but depends on how many roots are still present).

8 acres will take some time, but will look forward to some before and after pics.

I did have one landscaper tell me to be prepared to use a pry bar to remove the roots that get caught around the drum. Unavoidable, I'm afraid. Stumps are gone. Mostly roots just under the surface and some buried from the dozer. All I need is some dry weather. Between the snow and rain the ground is awfully wet. Does a Harley work in the mud :laughing:

 

[RedDog]

I own one, and I honestly think your clutch will slip on the roots, or as mentioned before, bounce over.

I hope it has wheels. It will help a lot if the top of your soil is loose.

I think it will take you a lot of time,patience, and a sore neck from looking back.

 

[TigerfaninAR]

Curious to how the Harley Rake went. How long did it take to do 8 acres? If you don't mind, how much does a harley rake rent for? I'd need to rent the tractor and rake or skid steer with front attachment so your price probably irrelevant to my needs.

Any you know we love before and after pictures.

 

[beenthere]

Friend of mine rented a skid steer and harley rake this past weekend. Rake was $189 and the skid steer $150 per day. He worked up about 2 acres.

The one he rented wouldn't angle (problem with the hydraulics) so it was more work than it should have been. Plus, the rental place didn't know about the two pins to remove to get the rake to float using the adjustable wheels to control the depth. Until we pulled those two pins, it didn't work well at all.

The final result was great. No pics. But it was ready to seed after pulling a one-section drag over the area several times with a lawn tractor.

 

[Happyman]

Curious to how the Harley Rake went. How long did it take to do 8 acres? If you don't mind, how much does a harley rake rent for? I'd need to rent the tractor and rake or skid steer with front attachment so your price probably irrelevant to my needs.

Any you know we love before and after pictures.

Sorry, no before and after's. It took me a full day (7am - 6pm) to finish 8 acres on my own. Actually went faster then I thought. That Harley Rake is one amazing piece of equipment. All the ruts from the tractor tires and all the holes from digging stumps disappered in 2 passes of the rake. Each row ended with a nice pile of roots and rocks that I scooped up with the FEL at the end of the day. Rake was $350 for the weekend.
Next day I ran a no-till seeder over the property to plant clover and pasture grass. Then last weekend we planted 1,150 Christmas tree seedlings.
I'm tired

 

[TigerfaninAR]

It took me a full day (7am - 6pm) to finish 8 acres on my own

That's quicker than I would have thought as well. I'll have about 5 acres to do and was thinking that may be too much but now definitely appears doable. Thanks.:thumbsup: