Rake Rake Gets Clogged, How to Clear it?

[Oldtoad]

Got a 7' Ringo rake, love it.
7' Rock Rake - Rock Rakes - Farm & Landscape Equipment
But it gets clogged when doing our thing.
Thinking of putting a hydraulic ram where the top link (or upper link) goes to push the rake up. Then I can back up and push the junk out of the rake.
Any other ideas?

 

[Oldtoad]

Well, after going at the mess with a shovel and a bar, decided on a hydraulic cylinder with a check valve.
Now, if it does not work as intended the ram is the right size to use on the main frame to swing the rake angle to and fro.
Category 1 Hydraulic Top Link: 25 9/16" - 41 5/16" | AGRISTORE USA

 

[JohnnyMX]

I have primarily used my right foot to clear my rake jams to date. It gets a bit old with all the on and off. I did try something new this week though and drove over my piles and dumped the rake contents on the say down. Seemed like the tractor was pitched more forward and it released better. This was raking grass clods, sticks and rocks aren't going to work. Also tried adjusting the speed of my pto release to let it down a bit faster to give it a little extra incentive to clear itself.

 

[Oldtoad]

Good tips. Thanks.
Backing up shakes it loose some but it jumps if I go too fast, that cannot be good.
I got the knarlies, nasty sticks, rocks and long grasses. Mowing would be brutal on the equipment.
But the deer plot is almost in for this year.
Need rain...

 

[i7win7]

Removing every other tine may work better, may have to rake 2 different directions.

 

[Oldtoad]

Removing every other tine may work better, may have to rake 2 different directions.

Not sure if you are trying to be funny but I got a chuckle out of it. But I appreciate your suggestion. Thank you.
I rake into a pile and then go at the pile perpendicular, lengthwise to move it out of the way. Yes, that works pretty well.
At any rate the hydraulic top link with hoses has shipped, going to try that. If it does not work, have another use for the hydraulic cylinder, angling the rake.

 

[3Ts]

Not sure if you are trying to be funny but I got a chuckle out of it. But I appreciate your suggestion. Thank you.
I rake into a pile and then go at the pile perpendicular, lengthwise to move it out of the way. Yes, that works pretty well.
At any rate the hydraulic top link with hoses has shipped, going to try that. If it does not work, have another use for the hydraulic cylinder, angling the rake.

He was serious. I had lots of problems with stuff getting tangled in my rake also, until I removed 2 out of every 3 tines. Now it works just fine and most of the time when I lift the rake the stuff falls out. I still manage to rake up all but the smallest stuff and still have to dislodge some of the bigger clumps from the rake.

 

[Oldtoad]

He was serious. I had lots of problems with stuff getting tangled in my rake also, until I removed 2 out of every 3 tines. Now it works just fine and most of the time when I lift the rake the stuff falls out. I still manage to rake up all but the smallest stuff and still have to dislodge some of the bigger clumps from the rake.

Ok, point taken. Thanks.
I use the rake on my gravel/mud driveway.
Works so good with all of it's teeth, could not imagine taking any out.

 

[BigYoung]

I have primarily used my right foot to clear my rake jams to date. It gets a bit old with all the on and off.

A rake is a wonderful tool to get a cleared area ready for the mower - I love mine and it does get old as an old fat man
hopping off to clean the rake. Like Johnny I used my foot - until I found a 2 ft section of 1x6 to slide between the tines.
Usually with the rake lifted just have slide it every couple of feet (3 spots) to get it cleared. A section of 5/4 deckboard 6 " wide is even better. Strap it to the top of the rake with rubber bungie. Quick work.

 

[i7win7]

Ok, point taken. Thanks.
I use the rake on my gravel/mud driveway.
Works so good with all of it's teeth, could not imagine taking any out.

1st time I removed every other tine, I was getting washout from local cement plant. I was separating 3"+ rocks from everything else. Now removing 80-100 dead trees from our woods. Branches shatter when tree is felled, also grapple breaks pieces off transporting debris to burn pile. These 1"+ pieces wedge between the tines as they flex when dragging rake.

If you find a cheap used rake remove every other tine - different rakes for different jobs.


The old "junker" rake was not QH compatible. How I modified it can be found here
Ideas to make implements QH compatible | OrangeTractorTalks - Everything Kubota

 

[dragoneggs]

Yeah... it is a bit of effort but changing your rake tine spacing works great. If you have a little job, hard to justify vs. hopping off and using your foot or a 4 tine fork. All depends on your different tasks and requirements. Branches and stuff I like the every other tine. Rocks and smoothing for lawns, I go full tines.

 

[dougtrr2]

Has anyone ever made a "comb" for a landscape rake? I could envision a hydraulic actuated comb that could clear the tines when needed. Raise the three point, hit a lever, and a comb sweep between the tines to clear the debris. With some of the other tools/attachments members here have fabricated I don't think it would be that hard. (If you get rich off my idea I can tell you where to mail the royalty checks.)

Doug in SW IA

 

[shooterdon]

Has anyone ever made a "comb" for a landscape rake? I could envision a hydraulic actuated comb that could clear the tines when needed. Raise the three point, hit a lever, and a comb sweep between the tines to clear the debris. With some of the other tools/attachments members here have fabricated I don't think it would be that hard. (If you get rich off my idea I can tell you where to mail the royalty checks.)

Doug in SW IA

Not a bad idea. If you did not have a spare cylinder and remote, a 12V linear actuator would have plenty of force for the job. I have the stick sticking in the tines problem too, but not enough of a problem to solve it.

 

[JohnnyMX]

This is why I love this site. The removal of tines is a great idea for when you are doing a lot of clean-up and the board/stick is good for those where you don't want to screw around with taking tines on/off. A second rake is pure gold if you got the space to store it and money to buy it