Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Landscape rake and snow

[Solo]

I asked the question last winter, Would plowing snow with a landscape rake be effective? . I got answers from no it won't work to a few positive answers of yes it will. Today I got to try it. It worked very well. All I really wanted to do was bring the gravel to the surface to provide traction. I don't think this method would do very well in deep snow. I have about 5" of snow on my driveway. By bringing the gravel to the top, what little sun we have had today, has been warming the gravel and melting the snow. I guess if the snow were really deep you could plow it off with a blade and then use the rake to finish. The other advantage with the rake is I am actually grooming the driveway at the same time. Saves me an extra trip when the snow does melt.

Solo

 

[dirtworksequip]

Solo, I think the landscape rake is the most over looked implement there is when it comes to snow removal on stone roads or driveways. If we have deep snow I high blade it off first with my front blade and then follow up with the landscape rake. It works great and as you said, pops the stone to the surface for better vehicle traction, plus it aids in faster melting. You can also use the rake on icy roads or driveways to get some stone popped on top of the ice for traction. If you angle the rake sharply it will also tear up thin ice that has formed on the road. I've been using a landscape rake and blade combination for about 13 years now and wouldn't use anything else.

Sincerely, Dirt

Note: I had attached a blue tarp on the rake to prevent stone from bouncing off the rear of the tractor or breaking the rear window. I have since improved this by using a piece of indoor-outdoor carpet.

 

[Solo]

Dirt
It works better than I had expected. Now I know what my first choice for snow is.

Solo

 

[ccsial]

Note: I had attached a blue tarp on the rake to prevent stone from bouncing off the rear of the tractor or breaking the rear window. I have since improved this by using a piece of indoor-outdoor carpet.

While I don't use my rake in the winter The carpet is a great idea. I'm going to do that to mine this winter. Grooming my trails is like target practice with me and the 1910 being the target.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Solo, I'm glad you learned that a landscape rake can be a valuable implement for snow removal.

ccsial, I'll post a couple of pics of the rake with how I put the carpet on. Maybe you can even think of ways to improve what I came up with. The main reason I installed it was because of the glass on my cab. The second reason was the rear of my old JD 870 had a million stone chips on it.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[ccsial]

Solo, I'm glad you learned that a landscape rake can be a valuable implement for snow removal.

ccsial, I'll post a couple of pics of the rake with how I put the carpet on. Maybe you can even think of ways to improve what I came up with. The main reason I installed it was because of the glass on my cab. The second reason was the rear of my old JD 870 had a million stone chips on it.

Sincerely, Dirt

Thanks Dirt, I'll look forward to that.

Al

 

[dirtworksequip]

ccsial, here are the pics of my landscape rake that I added the indoor-outdoor carpet to deflect any stone away from the rear and glass on my tractor. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

I started by doubling the carpet for added strength. Then I punched holes so I could install grommets in the holes to prevent the holes from tearing out once the bolts were installed. I put the folded edge of the carpet towards the ground. Once the grommets were installed I marked and drilled the rake frame so that I could bolt through the gromlets and rake frame. I kept the carpet about 1-1/2 inches off the ground when the rake is fully lowered,so it wouldn't wear from coming in contact with the ground.

The below pic shows the carpet mounted on the landscape rake.

The below pic is of the landscape rake from the rear.

The below pic is a close up showing the bolts thru the grommets.

 

[zzvyb6]

Before I got a front plow, I used my landsape rake at the rear to plow my driveways. I bolted a 2x6 to the tines so it worked as a rear blade. I let the teeth show an inch or so to scrape thru the gravel.

 

[ccsial]

Thanks Dirt,

That looks good. I have the same rake you do except I painted mine Ford Blue. I also added gauge wheels and a tow bar for my water trailer. I'm going to do the same thing pretty soon. I have been thinking I needed to do something but have not really thought much about it. This looks like a real good solution.

Al

 

[dirtworksequip]

ccsial, geez now I wish my rake was all painted up and clean.lol. Not my color but,nice looking set up. You will find that the carpet works really well to keep any stone from bouncing of the rear of the tractor or even you. I had been hit a time or two on my old open station JD870. I also was amazed at the amount of little stone chips on the back of the 870.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[ccsial]

ccsial, geez now I wish my rake was all painted up and clean.lol. Not my color but,nice looking set up. You will find that the carpet works really well to keep any stone from bouncing of the rear of the tractor or even you. I had been hit a time or two on my old open station JD870. I also was amazed at the amount of little stone chips on the back of the 870.

Sincerely, Dirt

I took that shortly after I painted it last year. It won't stay that way though. I'm looking forward to grading the trails this year with the carpet. I even have some blue carpet left over from my boat. Thanks again.

 

[dirtworksequip]

ccsial, blue tractor,blue rake and blue carpet..............you have OCD more than me.............everything has to match. hahahaha. One other thing. If you are doing a task with the rake and the carpet seems to be messing things up or getting in the way, you can either bungee it up out of the way or roll it up and cable tie it.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[ccsial]

Dirt: I just happen to have the blue carpet but I do like things to look good. At this time I only use the rake for grading about 1.5 miles of gravel trails. Carpet won't affect that. I do that about every two weeks. The ATV's mess them up since we ride them quite a bit.

Al

 

[ragkar]

I never thought of using a rake for snow. Of course I have an asphalt driveway, but I might consider snow raking my yard!
Seriously, instead of grommets you might have used a strip of metal strapping. Such as a six foot piece of 1/8" by 2 inch angle iron holding down the carpet to the rake.
Have you ever considered that yard snow raking might be an unknown business opportunity?

 

[tommu56]

Solo

I never though of it either.

But after looking at it that dark stones looks like a solar collector for the drive to to melt the snow.

tom

 

[NewToy]

Rake works good for me too!

John

 

[dirtworksequip]

ragkar, there have been times when I have used the rake on black top and concrete to scrape ice or packed snow clear down to the road surface.

tommu56, the exposed stones do pick up some radiant heat from the sun and help speed up melting.

I think I would invest in a snowblower if I was going to clear yards professionally.

Sincerely,Dirt

 

[ccsial]

Dirt: I build the bracket to hold the carpet today. I will mount it to the 16" square tube that holds the tines with two 3/8 bolts. The carpet is cut and sitting to the left side. I plan on keeping it almost to the ground. I can always shorten it. I will mount the carpet with 13 1/4-20 bolts and large washers.

I happened to think I won't be able to see the bottom of the rake now. I wonder if that will make it more difficult to do grading. Has this been an issue for you?

I just had another thought. I have some heavy duty stainless screen I could try too. I could see through that a bit. I'll try the carpet first. Won't know till spring now.

 

[dirtworksequip]

ccsial,that carpet is a perfect match for FORD BLUE. It will look really nice.
As far as not being able to see the rake..............I guess it would depend what task you are doing with it. I don't need to see the tines when I am grading the road or snow removal. I've done that so many times I can do it by sound and feel alone. If you find you need to see the tines, just roll it up and bungee the carpet out of your way as I suggested in an earlier post. I think you will find that even though it blocks your view of the tines, you will get use to that and still be able to do the same quality work whether you can see the tines or not.

Sincerely, Dirt