Rake New Landscape Rake

[Anonymous Poster]

Bob, The wheels make the rake work much easier. The effort required to make an area with high and low spots smooth without wheels is considerable. I don't think top and tilt would make much difference. Without the wheels the 3pt height has to be constantly adjusted to account for the uneven terrain that the tractor wheels are driving over. A small bump under the rear tractor wheels results in a larger movement of the rake because it is cantilevered off the back end. Without constant adjustment the bumps will actually get bigger when using the rake. With the wheels all that is required is adjusting the wheel hight relative to the teeth and then just drop the rake and go. No on the fly adjustments are necessary. The wheels roll on the smooth surface behind the rake and remove the bumps. Adjusting the wheel to tooth height can be done with the top link, so the top and tilt would work great with wheels.

About 4 years ago I made my own wheels for the rake after encoutering the difficulties above. You can see the wheels at:

http://www.mgsweb.com/tractor/hacker/rake.htm

Andy

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Very cool, are the wheels adjustable at all? thanks, bw

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Guys, how much for an average LS rake with wheels? Not the best, not the worst. thanks, bw

 

[Von]

bw, Yes the wheels have about 4" of adjustment up and down by moving spacers on caster shaft. In the photo they are all the way up.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Brett,
I payed $400 for a used (rental unit) Landpride LR1572 ( 6' ) rake. New, I found it to be between $700 / $800
I also purchased a New set of guage wheels for it for $240
I have found the Landpride brand to be very well made and plenty rugged.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Brett, My rake is 6 foot and was a little over $400 without wheels. It is built like a tank, I have seen some pretty light weight rakes that may cost less and brand name ones may cost more. Rakes are more expensive than rear blades for the same level of quality. I spent about $50 in materials to make the wheels, if you buy them they cost a few hundred or more. The wheels I used, have ball bearing swivels with a grease fitting, ball bearing axles, and the tires are air filled and replaceable.

My wheel height is adjustable about 8 inches. I used square pipe for the wheel posts and frame. The wheel posts slide inside a larger section of square pipe on the frame and I welded a nut on the side of that. I used some 1/4" x 1" flat stock welded to the head of a bolt to make it so no tools are needed to adjust the wheels up and down. Even though the height is fully adjustable this way, I usually do the final adjustments with the top link once I start driving and see how big a bite the rake is taking.

Andy

 

[TxBilly]

Brett
My rake is made by bush hog. It is a 72" rake and with the wheels were $672. The wheels added about 200 to the total. It has 5 positions as pulling, swings around and has 3 positions with the rake tines in "reverse". You can swing it a full 360 without hitting the tractor in any way. Weight is about 250 lbs.
Bill

 

[Thomas]

Rake sure makes projects a lot easier around the home stead,also in the woods cleaning up...just becareful not to snag the garden hose. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Thomas,
Couldn't help but notice the Garden Hose comment /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif Was this a personal experience ? Inquiring minds want to know, C'mon, spill the beans, Tell us what you did! Where all Family here. I am sure that NOBODY will give you any grief over it. Trust us ! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Thomas]

All I'm going to say is..when I drop the rake close to a object I check before moving forward /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gifand the male end of the silcox not a strong as one thinks. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif