Rear blade/rake tail wheel

Thunder chicken · Aug 1, 2021

I’m about to build a tailwheel for my 3pt hitch rear blade.
I’ve seen a few ways of doing it and have settled on a piece of 3” tube about 42” long with an old rotary cutter tailwheel. I should be able to swing the blade around with the wheel raised up.
I also plan to make the same mount on my landscape rake so I can move the tailwheel between the two.

For those that have a tail wheel/ gauge wheels on a blade or rake, how often are you adjusting the wheel height while using? I’m debating about using an adjustable top link or a hydraulic cylinder for the adjustment. I have enough tractor remotes but I don’t have the cylinder. Being occasional use and made from scrap as it is, I’m not sure how beneficial the cylinder would be for the cost. I’d think the tailwheel would be a set once during use and forget? Not getting out of the cab to adjust is always nice though.
thanks for any suggestions

bcp · Aug 1, 2021

I use a rake with tailwheels. I don't adjust the wheels at all after getting them set up the first time. I can reach the top link from the seat, and might adjust it a time or two per job.

Bruce

Xfaxman · Aug 1, 2021

Most of the ones I have seen have two wheels: landscape rake wheel kit - Image Search

Thunder chicken · Aug 3, 2021

^ thanks, yes I’ve noticed the majority of rakes have 2 gauge wheels. I’m making this to be interchangeable from my rake to my 8’ blade.
Got started with some scrap….
The vertical angle iron was already there, but may be in just about the right spot to mount one end of the cylinder…. If I need more or less travel I can mount it higher or lower

Thunder chicken · Aug 12, 2021

Got it almost all set up. Interchangeable from rake to blade. Wheel height could also be shimmed higher or lower if need be. One wheel will allow the rake to be angled for crowning road. (Have to make a hyd side link now!)
Hopefully local store has some adapters so I can use existing hoses and give it a go soon.

Thunder chicken · Aug 23, 2021

Finally had a chance to give the tailwheel a try. I set it up on the rake and moved a bunch of sawdust/bark junk across the yard.
As I went in and out of the depressions and over bumps the rake stayed more ‘level’ and worked great, moving only the material I wanted. Took some fiddling to get the wheel set in the right spot, relative to the 3pt height and the top link adjustment. Well worth the effort. Hope to try the blade later this week.