Landscape rake opinions

[WoodChuckDad]

I like the kick stand on that one. It looks well made and is fitted with mounts for a cylinder to change the angle of the blade. I added a cylinder to mine for that function. Being able to change the angle from the seat is a game changer for rake operation.
I rake mostly fist size rocks off the surface here by windrowing them for removal from cleared areas, horse pastures and such.

Yes, you could add a hydraulic to it

 

[bdhsfz6]

I busted up two "light duty" landscape rakes while maintaining my mile long private road. I finally spent the extra $$ and bought a York rake with scarifier, gauge wheels and drop down grader blade. Except for tire replacement, It's been trouble free for 20 years now.

Model RI HEAVY - 6' Rake [007416] - $3,368.00 : York Modern

York Modern : Model RI HEAVY - 6' Rake [007416] - Model RI HEAVY 6' Width, Consists of Category '1' Quick Hitch/Three-Point Hitch Frame Manual angle, ...

www.yorkmodern.com

 

[Captain Dirty]

Whatever you end up with, buy some spare tines. Murphy says having them on-hand reduces the likelihood of distorting tines, but you will "set" them at some point.

RjCarraza's advice to get gauge wheels is spot on; they make finish grading much easier. When shopping (I bought a LandPride LR1684--no regrets), I did note that the York Rake's gauge wheels could not rotate 360° which might be problematic. bdhsfz6 implies no problem, but with a mile long road he would not be backing as much as with a 50 x 100' lawn.

 

[Stonehaller]

on the gauge wheels. I have an 84" Land Pride landscape rake. Difficult to get a level grade without the gauge wheels. I even added brackets to my box blade so I could use the gauge wheels from the rake on it.

 

[kurtfromct]

I ended up going with the 5ft Mahindra rake. Got it for $850, after tax $900. The price was right and it had a good weight to it. Also picked up a 54” (BB1254) Landpride box blade. Had some paint scuffed up and wasn’t assembled. The dealer took $250 off and threw in a can of paint.

 

[bdhsfz6]

RjCarraza's advice to get gauge wheels is spot on; they make finish grading much easier. When shopping (I bought a LandPride LR1684--no regrets), I did note that the York Rake's gauge wheels could not rotate 360° which might be problematic. bdhsfz6 implies no problem, but with a mile long road he would not be backing as much as with a 50 x 100' lawn.

I'm not sure why you would want to back up with the rake on the ground. The York doesn't work well in reverse. The curve of the tines causes the rake to ride up over the material being raked.

Once in awhile, if I have the gauge wheels fully lowered, the 3pt hitch won't raise the rake enough to clear debris on the ground. I considered making brackets to extend the gauge wheels farther to the rear so they would rotate 360 degrees. Instead, I installed a T&T kit which solves the problem.

 

[dieselscout80]

I'm not sure why you would want to back up with the rake on the ground. The York doesn't work well in reverse. The curve of the tines causes the rake to ride up over the material being raked.

Once in awhile, if I have the gauge wheels fully lowered, the 3pt hitch won't raise the rake enough to clear debris on the ground. I considered making brackets to extend the gauge wheels farther to the rear so they would rotate 360 degrees. Instead, I installed a T&T kit which solves the problem.

View attachment 854657 View attachment 854656

I wonder if set so one pulled it with the tines reversed if it would break up manure clumps.

 

[Captain Dirty]

I'm not sure why you would want to back up with the rake on the ground. The York doesn't work well in reverse. The curve of the tines causes the rake to ride up over the material being raked.

As a late step in smoothing, reversed tines are unaggressive. I will remark that my son, who is 33 years my junior and who got his experience as a groundskeeper at a golf course during school, is faster with a 36" aluminum hand rake.