Help with fixing a landscape rake?

[bumperm]

Shield Arc,

I though about doing it similarly, but bolting a lever to the outermost bolt hole as I don't have a 36" pipe wrench. Only issue with that approach is that the twist in the heavy top channel looks to be evenly distributed along it's length. Using a rose bud would tend to put the "correction" at one location unless the whole length were heated and bent sequentially. Doable, but I think I'll try the "cold iron blacksmith" approach first :c).

My attempts to straighten it out by hooking the tines on concrete and pulling, did spread the "legs" of the C channel some, dishing the top, so I'll be beating the snot out of it with a drilling hammer and anvil too. If none of the above doesn't works, I'll break out the rose bud.

 

[Clay45]

I'd see if Tarter Gate built it and if so give them a call. Might can purchase the part or atleast find out the best way to address your situation.

 

[Xfaxman]

For straightening big bent stuff, I use jacks and chains.

 

[bumperm]

Yeah! Good hydraulics (or explosives) can fix or solve most any problem (grin).

Unfortunately, they welded the channel in question to the main pivot, the outer part of which is welded to the rake frame and 3 point. The pivot has a top plate welded to it with angle adjust holes. Without cutting steel there is no replacing parts frame or pivot parts, other than tines and lower tine clamp channel that are bolted on. Really a dumb design in that regard - but I suppose expedient to build.

I have the requisite cutting stuff, plasma etc, and welding stuff . . . I'd just rather not cut it up to fix it. I have the hydraulic stuff too, but if I can't bend it back straight, then cutting off the one side of the main tine channel near the pivot and welding on a new straight piece would be an option - maybe not the most attractive option, but doable, and better than letting it sit and rust cause it ain't straight.

There is a certain satisfaction in using shear force to straighten things, less so when it ruins things . . .

bumper

 

[Sodo]

Maybe you can weld on a lever arm to approximate the tines contact location with the tree. Then all you have to do is cut off your lever arm. And you haven't burt off ALL the paint, (just in the weld area).

Or, since it's square-ish shape maybe you can just weld up a box-wrench type engagement. Fill the channel with hardwood shims and clamp with U-Bolts. Kind of like what Bru/yce proposed. Then you can employ brute force, even go back to the same tree for payback. :licking:

There are plenty of ways to do it, you just need to wait for a workable idea to surface (and some scrap steel will help too). I have a feeling xfaxman don't take NO guff from a peice of steel.

 

[Xfaxman]

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There are plenty of ways to do it, you just need to wait for a workable idea to surface (and some scrap steel will help too). I have a feeling xfaxman don't take NO guff from a peice of steel.

Yep, if the little press won't straighten it, I use the big press.

 

[Shield Arc]

Xfaxman you are working way to hard! You need to get an oxygen & acetylene torch, and this book. Learn how to heat shrink material.

 

[bumperm]

Got 'er fixed. Removed all the tines and used the "motorhome 3-point hitch" method. Worked like a charm and with semi-minimal effort. It does help having top and tilt on the tractor, as it was necessary to go back and forth between raising the 3 point and lengthening the top link to keep the tine channel flat on the ground so the straightening torque was only applied in the right direction.



Thanks again for all the suggestions!

bumper

 

[Sodo]

Bravo. :thumbsup:

When you think about it, you OFTEN already have the right equipment (just have to look at it a little different).

 

[bumperm]

Xfaxman,

That is a cool looking bell you have sitting on the floor in the lower right of the first picture. Is it steel? Looks like it might have come off a locomotive or??

BTW, about half your straightening "rigs", viewed in two dimensions, look like if a fly came and landed on one there would be a horrendous noise and flying chunks of steel!!

Sodo,

That is so true . . . the hard part, sometimes, is getting the old brain to reset and think about things from a different perspective. This list, and the input from all you guys, is a huge help.

bumper