Landscape rake how to?

[JonR]

Tip your rake up as much as you can (lengthen your top link) and add some weight. A few passes with the rake will clear up the bulk of the branches so that you can mow.[/QUOTE]

If you have gauge wheels, should they be removed for brush clearing and picking up sticks and such?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

If you have gauge wheels, should they be removed for brush clearing and picking up sticks and such?

For brush clearing, etc. I can't see where the guage wheels would help you. If you have extra weight, remove them. If you don't have extra weight, just raise them all the way.

 

[djradz]

If there is much to pick up, you'll be at it for days. Plus, rakes are notorious for getting branches stuck in the tines. Unfortuneately, the stuff goes in easy as you tractor around, but getting the stuff loose can be a bear and pretty much ends up being a manual job you do by hand off the tractor.

Like some are questioning/suggesting, I'd brush hog first. You'll bust up much of the stuff and maybe even make some nice wood chips! In the end, there will be much less to have to rake up.

 

[RobJ]

These rakes don't "dig" that well....being springy and all. They will move around some loose dirt but that's about it.

Mine just floats on the ground and I make a few passes. It's a lightweight to because it's homemade.n It's a really neat tool!

Good Luck,
Rob

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I've got a weeping willow that hangs over one of my pastures, so you can guess that I am constantly dealing with trash branches. Any time I've brush hogged before raking, I've regretted it.

Raking gets rid of the bigger loose stuff. There's still plenty left to be eaten up by the brush hog. I always seem to hit the bigger branches just right so that they flip up and get caught in the ROPS, 3 pt., or worse: PTO Shaft.

 

[pitt_md]

I have a Leinbach landscape rake with no gage wheels. I'm trying to clear area of trees and such before bush hogging. My question is to get the greatest amount of "dig" should I lean the the front of the rake forward, backward or just keep it level. It looks like I could add gauge wheels if I wanted. I may have someone weld up something so I can hang another 100lbs or so on the rake. I really hate having to go over an area three or four times.

Wedge

I have the leinbach 7' rake with wheels. I have used it to clean up under pine trees clearing the dead braches and junk. i have just left the thing level and had good luck with it. If you have a lot of area to do make several piles and clean up with the FEL/grapple or what ever you have.

 

[wedge40]

I found that I can purchase gauge wheels for about $300. I think I only payed about $300 for the rake. I'm not home till Sunday so sometime next week I'll post photos of my rake. I appreciate all the suggestions. I did mange to get a nice pile of debris that I can move with the my new grapple. I guess I'll have to figure out a way to add weight. If I get the gauge wheels I could hang stuff off those.

Wedge

 

[intel]

Robj i like your homemade looks good

 

[RobJ]

Robj i like your homemade looks good

thanks, there was a rash of rake builds a while back so I had to jump in. NOT a fancy as the others, no hydraulics, it goes front or rear, that's all! But I have found it to be useful and works like its supposed to.

Here the original link.

Rob

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/124554-my-rake-build.html

 

[jake98]

I'm no authority on this but I've had a york rake on a 53 cub for years. I think the rakes are made for smoothing topsoil, or if you're cheap like me, dirt. A more experienced operator once told me that you run it as fast as you can, and I think that's so that it stays fluid as you drag it.

jake


ps, as for adding weight, I can't see that. a rake with a load of dirt stops a tractor. but then, again, mine is on a cub.