How Do Gauge Wheels Work.??

[JDGreenGrass]

I have a 6' rake without gauge wheels. It does a good job but it does leave some minor hills and valley's.

How do gauge wheels work differently than no wheels at all.??

Seems to me the rake would still dip down and raise up.??

Can someone explain this to me.....

Thanks.

 

[Baby Grand]

I don't have gage wheels and have never used gage wheels (even though I want them) so who better to explain!

Without gage wheels, if you set your 3 Pt implement to hold your rake at a given height above the ground it won't let it drop from there, so when your front end goes up & down over obstacles your implement goes up & down with it until it "touches down" on the ground. This will leave a wavy suface.

When the implement touches down it floats and it follows the terrain independently of the up & down pitching of the front end. The weight of the implement will determine how deeply the implement cuts in.

With gage wheels set up right, the implement should follow the terrain all the time, minimizing the wavy surface.

I'm sure I mangled that, but now someone can correct me and the OP (and I) will learn something valuable.

Let the schoolin' begin!

-Jim

 

[JimW1950]

You may want to look at a 3 point finish mower with gauge wheels on all four corners to better understand how they might work with your rake. The implement is set to the proper working height on level ground using spacers on each gauge wheel. Generally, the implement's three point top-link attachment point is designed to flex via a chain arrangement allowing the implement to pivot up or down and in some cases that 3 point pins are not fixed, but attached to brackets that pivot also. This allows that implement to better follow the contours of the terrain and maintain a more consistent cut. Once the implement is picked up and transported to the area to be worked the 3 point is adjusted to allow maximum flexibility.

But, the wider the implement the less effective the gauge wheels are in addressing relatively small irregularities (i.e. washes, small gullies, etc.). Gauge wheels are not a perfect solution to irregular surfaces.

Jim W

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Ah ha.!!

That's just what I was thinking.....The top link of the 3pt. hitch would have to be dis-connected to allow a pivot point at the lower links.

It's beginning to make sense now.

Thanks.

 

[pitt_md]

the wheels jsut set up the inital "depth" of the tines on the rake.
Pidture you have a nice level yard and you get a wind storm the knocks down lots of small branches. The rake with wheels can be set to lightly skim the grass and collect the debree without tearing up the grass. Works the same on dirt when picking up loose rocks.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Pit Md....

You give a great example of use and of the gauge wheels following the ground, however, the "real " reason that the rake skims the ground is that the top link of the 3pt. hitch is dis-connected. (or chained).

I needed the "why" part.

Thanks for your reply. And everyone else.!!

 

[have_blue]

The main advantage of gage wheels is, they prevent digging in too deeply and stressing the tines, or gouging your soil.

Gage wheels will not prevent ridges unless there are 4 of them, with a very long wheelbase.

 

[CHDinCT]

Hmm. I have gauge wheels, but use them with the top link connected and they definately keep the rake from going too deep, but don't help if the front of the tractor dips, raising the rake too high and thus "skipping or skimming" a spot. Chaining the top link is an interesting idea that I'll have to try. I would guess within the limits of how much slack you allow, the rake will float more than with the gauge wheels alone. Always learning something on this site. Thanks for the idea.

 

[leveller]

A 3 pth does not put any down pressure on the implement, so I put my 3 pth lever all the way down, with my regular top link, whenever I use an implement with guage wheels. There may be cases where you would need a chain or flexable top link, but in most cases what I do works fine for me. I added guage wheels to my box scraper, makes it much more useful I find.