Rake Power rake on a three point?

skidsteer.ca · Jul 23, 2008

Rock hounds are used on tilled soil to pick up stone and sticks, it collects them in a bucket. A harley rake loosens hard soil, levels and windrows rock and debris. They are 2 different animals
Ken

jas67 · Jul 23, 2008

skidsteer.ca said:
Rock hounds are used on tilled soil to pick up stone and sticks, it collects them in a bucket. A harley rake loosens hard soil, levels and windrows rock and debris. They are 2 different animals
Ken

OK, so, I've got some hard-compacted soil with a lot of clay, shale and rocks round a new building that I just had put up, as well as some lawn area that got torn-up during the construction. It's pretty rutted up from the skid loader activity, and pretty compacted from the mini track hoe that we used excavate for a retention wall behind the building. Now I want to prep this area for lawn.

I have a B7100HST w/ FEL, a borrowed box blade with adjustable scarcifiers, and a 5' landscape rake. I prepped some of the area with the box blade and the rake --- loosened it up with the teeth on the box, and then ran the rake through it a couple times to break it up more finely and rake out the rocks. Of course, I ended up with large piles of rock with lots of soil at the end of run. So, the rake doesn't really separate the soil from the rocks.

Here is where I started looking into the Harley rake, and Rockhound. What is the TBN consensus and the best way to complete this job without resorting to hand-raking, and screening the rocks out. My wife wants me to just take a few inches of this crap we call topsoil away and get topsoil trucked in. I'm wondering if it is better to just filter out the rocks with a Harley rake or Rockhound (both of which require renting a skid loader).

Someone else mentioned that they rented a Woods box power rake for the 3-point, and that they make one small enough for little B7100. Would this be a false economy, being that it (I assume) windrows the rocks, as opposed to depositing them neatly in the loader bucket. I guess, I should be able to scoop them up pretty easily with my FEL. $175/day for the Woods power rake (if I can find one for rent) is a lot less than $575/day for the skid loader and Harley rake (incl. delivery, I have no way to haul it). I could get the rake for a weekend for a one-day rate, and not be limited to running it for 8-hours as I would the skid loader.

Thanks in advance for all your help,
jas67

Charlesaf3 · Jul 26, 2008

if you can find a 3pt power rake to rent, its clearly the way to go. This thread is the first I've ever heard of one for rent.

Harley rake (or ATI preseeder, which I own) will turn all that area into perfectly prepped lawn base. Smoothed and with little golf ball divots to hold the grass seed. Its amazing.

You will still need to get out to pick up rocks with the harley rake. I'm guessing the combo of harley rake and rockhound might save you from that. But so far rock picking in a row is ok for me.

There is a learning curve to a harley rake, no doubt. I'd say I'm around 70% through it - which is to say I've gotten past the dumb mistakes.

BarryinMN · Jul 26, 2008

Here is my home made PTO powered, hyd lift, pull behind, rock windrower.

Clears a 9' swath knocks down high spots fills in low spots with fine dirt and kicks the rocks to the side. Have about $450 in it.

Running right after a good rain eliminates the dust clouds.

Eagleview · Jul 26, 2008

If it were me , i'd run around and scoop up the piles you have and pick up any big bits with the bucket and top dress with some good top soil . 3 or 4 inches of top soil covers a multitude of sins .

Barry , that's a nice rotary rake you have built , good job .