Ratchet Rake

[Sam French]

Hey guys been awhile since I posted on this thread. Just wanted to throw up some pics. Bobcat 743B with 4N1 bucket the Ratchet Rake is 72 in wide bolted on with 2 3/4 bolts. Bucket also has bolt on tooth bar.

Thank You

Sam French

 

[cdupuy]

I bought a 72" ratchet rake for a Bobcat S-220. Installs very quickly and easily. I used it on some limbs that have fallen, some nasty "elbow brush", and a gravel road. No teeth were bent, and the attachment stays securely on the blade. Some posters expressed concern that the teeth might bend. I think your tractor would stall before you bend a tooth.

 

[Sam French]

cdupuy How did yours do on gravel? I am new at this have tried mine on gravel and didn't do so well. Going to regrade parts of my yard next. Next on the docket is some "brush" work.

Thank You

Sam

 

[cdupuy]

Sam, I did not have enough time to really try it out on gravel. The time I did spend on gravel looked ok. It loosens up the packed in gravel, and spreads it out. I am hopeful.

 

[placecraft]

I purchased a 72" ratchet rake at TSC two weeks ago. LOVE IT! I have an antique farm last owned by a 96 yo lady who did her best, but could not maintain it fully. I'm thrilled at how well the ratchet rake clears brush and undergrowth from my old growth trees and fence lines. It takes minutes to do work I was spending hours doing by hand.

Yes, I wish the loader bucket was not blocked by the straps. Yes I get the attachment moving side to side. But after hammering it back to center a few times, I've learned it tends to recenter itself.

The ratchet rake has increased my tractor's functionality for cleaning and clearing - for grooming and grading. I'm still working on its forward motion uses, I admit. But I've taken out 3" diameter trees (and larger roots) and even knocked low hanging branches off much bigger trees. Teeth bending does not seem to be an issue at all. I worry about strap failure, and will deal with it if and when it happens.

I only wish it bolted on as my normal loader teeth do. Overall I'm very, very happy at the function I've gotten for the price. Love it.

 

[Sam French]

I never had mine with the straps. I took the rake and Bobcat to a welder. Only way to fasten one on. I was working some dirt with it today.

Sam

 

[Bdavis]

Went in to my local TSC store today to get an idler pulley for a riding lawn mower. The pulley was located in the far back corner of the store . I got the pulley off the shelf and when I turned around I almost tripped over several rachet rakes. Couldn't believe they had about 4 just laying on the floor behind me. The employee that was helping me find the pulley , was not overly impressed with them. He said they had only sold one. (Most people probably don't even know what they are)

Needless to say I spent a few minutes looking them over, almost forgot about my idler pulley. I was very impressed with the weight and thickness of the metal. They really look well made and I am certain that I would break something on my FEL before i break one of these rakes.

I decided that Santa Claus is bringing me a rachet rake !

 

[Robert6401]

I found out about the RatchetRake right when they stopped selling them themselves and were finalizing the deals with TSC. I was really wanting one but never got around to buying one. I mainly want to use it to clear some wooded areas on my property, but would also use it for leveling out the dirt part of my driveway, etc. I haven't seen many pictures of before and after results of someone using one to clear wooded areas. Does anyone have any that they'd be willing to share? I am currently on an overseas deployment, but I'm thinking a RatchetRake is in my future as soon as I get back home.

 

[KU Gator]

I bought one a few months ago for clearing brush at our other property but have not had a chance to use it much. I decide a week ago after putting 2-4-d on our yard that I wanted to overseed some of it, especially the back yard. So I put the ratchet rake on the tractor and back dragged over the areas I wanted to seed with the FEL in float and it did a pretty good job of cleaning some of the dead weeds out and putting grooves in the soil to hopefully help with germination.

It varies where they put them in the TSC. Some are outside in the lot with other implements but at another store I found them inside on a shelf. I doubt most of the employees know what they are other than they are heavy and in the way.

 

[IslandTractor]

I haven't seen many pictures of before and after results of someone using one to clear wooded areas. Does anyone have any that they'd be willing to share? I am currently on an overseas deployment, but I'm thinking a RatchetRake is in my future as soon as I get back home.

I don't have any photos but it is pretty easy to describe. Imagine using a hand rake to attack an area of light brush. It would take you about ten or twenty times as long but that is what the ratchet rake does. You will see debris moved out of the way, raked dirt, and a few straggler roots that look like they have been combed in the direction of the raking. Depending on how aggressive and experienced you are with the ratchet rake you can either just skim off the surface debris or you can dig out a few inches of top soil/debris. If you wanted the soil to then be planted as a finish lawn you might need to roll it after seeding etc but if you just want to reclaim pasture/field then just leave it be and mow it regularly.