Soil Pulverisor

[prosperity]

I've been getting into more lawn installations lately, plus a bit of finish work for some local excavating contractors.

I know the Harley rake is the way to go for what i want to do, but just can't afford one right now.

Most of the work I do is right after an excavator/dozer is done. The guy is very good at getting the final grade correct. Basically what I do is come in, do the prep for seed, then lime/fertilize/seed and mulch.

I am thinking of going with a Landpride soil pulverizor as shown in the photo:

I have a box blade, and rake with gauge wheels.
My theory is to use the box blade first if neccessary to get the final grade perfect. Then, run the pulverisor over as many times as necessary to loosen everything up. Then a final pass with the rake at an angle with wheels set to windrow any rocks pulled up by the pulverisor.

Again, I know a Harley rake could do all this in one pass, but I have to do with what I can afford right now.

Can anyone who has used a pulverizor comment on my plan of attack?

Thanks

 

[deereguy]

I am in the same boat, getting started with a few lawn installs. I have used the box blade to finish, then seeded with a Brillion Turfmaker Jr. I have looked into Harly Rakes and Rockhounds and will probably go with a Rockhound so I can carry off debris and hopefully leave it on-site or pile it and load into the dump truck. Harley Power Rakes can be rented at some of the larger rental yards if you get enough work lined up for a few days or one larger job.

To answer your question- I think your on the right track, it takes $ to build up the inventory of attachments to make yourself efficient, if you are doing a good job at a reasonable price, you will have those attachments in no time.

Good Luck!

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I've got a Leinbach (sp) version of the same. I bought it about 10 years ago when I was re-doing grass waterways and filter strips on my farm. After the 'dozer, I'd hit everything with a box blade to get things cleaned up and level. Then I'd go over everything with the pulverizer. It did a fantastic job. They'll collect some rocks and sticks as you go along. Just drag that to one central spot for clean-up when done. They leave soil in great shape for seeding. Maybe 2" to 3" deep is loosened and relatively clod free. If you're broadcasting seed, the pulverizer leaves a slightly ridged surface that is less proned to washing.

"Harley Rakes" are relatively new on the scene. Until they came around, most landscapers used pulverizers to "finish" after a box blade. They're old technology that works.

 

[MarkV]

Just curious why you would not go with a tiller. That seems to be the tool of choice for lawn prep around here.

MarkV

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Just curious why you would not go with a tiller. That seems to be the tool of choice for lawn prep around here.

MarkV

A tiller doesn't do as much to LEVEL ground for one thing. Grass seeded into soil loosened deeply doesn't do as well. Deep worked soil tends to wash and also to settle unevenly. Grass grows better initially in a firm seed bed. A tiller would do a better job of incorperating soil ammendments, ect, but as far as prepping a seedbed, not much beats a pulverizer or Harley Rake.

 

[deereguy]

There is also a product called a Reveal 4 n 1, I have made something similar to it, with out the roller on back, I have a roller just not attached it yet. It is basically rippers and a box blade concept in the front and pulverizer in the back, all as 1 unit. Mine does a great job but it get a little long in tighter places on the back of the tractor.

I don't have Reveals website handy.

 

[prosperity]

Thanks for all the replies folks!

As I just can't afford a power rake right now, and don't have enough business to help pay for it - that is my reasoning for the soil pulverisor. I may have a lead on a used 72" Landpride - if I can get it cheap enough, I think I am going to try it.

I have a friend who used to do a lot of seeding work. He pretty much used a tiller for his prep work. Plus, his argurment is that you can find other uses for a tiller. But, if I can make a deal on this pulverisor, it will be 1/3 the cost of a King Kutter tiller.

Thanks for the input so for - it's kind of hard to think about buying an implement that you have never seen actually work.

 

[Beavis]

Did you ever purchase the pulverizer? How much did you give for it?

THANKS

 

[Rara Avis]

A tiller doesn't do as much to LEVEL ground for one thing. Grass seeded into soil loosened deeply doesn't do as well. Deep worked soil tends to wash and also to settle unevenly. Grass grows better initially in a firm seed bed. A tiller would do a better job of incorperating soil ammendments, ect, but as far as prepping a seedbed, not much beats a pulverizer or Harley Rake.

Actually this does a pretty good job in preping a seed bed...

The Absolute Innovations Line of Ground-Prep Tools

 

[ustobefarmer]

I've used both a tiller and soil pulverisor in my lawn service for 3yrs. I use the tiller to lossen the soil and then run the pulverisor over the area a couple of time at different angles You need the soil to be firm for good seed to soil contact. After seeding I run the pulverisor over the seeded area with just the rollers contacting the ground. If you buy a pulverisot I would recommend buying one with 2 rollers. I built my own 3 years ago and still works good.

 

[toxic]

I also built my own 6' pulverisor a little while ago and have to say that I am very impressed on how well it prepares a seed bed. It only has one roller but still does a fine job of breaking up the clumps and loosening the soil after the dozer has graded the yard. I would love to have a harley rake but it's hard to justify 9000$ CAN on one of thouse when my 300$ pulverisor can do just as good of job (taking a little longer mind you). I am now also in the process of attaching a seed box to my pulverisor making it a 2 in 1 pulverisor / seeder, saving me time and money on the jobsites.

 

[DaddyRabbit]

Most of the commercial lawn install guys I know use the pulverizers as opposed to the FFC and Harley powered rakes due to cost. I have the 6' dirt dog pulverizer which is the exact same as the others and love it. Save your cash and go w/the pulverizer, you won't be sorry.

 

[prosperity]

Did you ever purchase the pulverizer? How much did you give for it?

THANKS

I took a look at it last month - a very used one about 2 hours away.

It is an old LandPride 72" with double rollers.

All the teeth are very worn and bent - older style with round teeth. I think I would have a hard time finding replacement teeth since the newer style teeth look to be rectangular.

The bearings for the rollers were also shot - the unit was obviously used since the bearings went out, so even the bearing blocks were trashed.

He wanted $375 for it - I declined.
I know he still has it, but I am still wary because of the teeth/bearing issue.

 

[ustobefarmer]

This is a picture of the pulversor that my son and I built 3 years ago.

 

[ustobefarmer]

One more time to attach picture. I'm knew at this so bear with me.

 

[SCDolphin]

That's a great looking piece of machinery

 

[tcarter1]

I think the pulverisor is a great tool for soil prep & leveling. I used mine to level a long run of crush & run, too.

 

[Beavis]

One more time to attach picture. I'm knew at this so bear with me.

Interested in buidling one for sale ? That thing looks AWESOME !

 

[prosperity]

One more time to attach picture. I'm knew at this so bear with me.

Very nice!

Just curious - did you have to buy the rollers the way they are, or did you fabricate them somehow?

 

[lcisled]

I can't help but post on this thread.
I felt the same way - could not afford a Harley rake or that they were that good. Now that I have one, I know that I was wrong.
I have (or had) a tiller, a landscape rake, a TR3, a drag, a pulveriser, etc. They were all nice tools and would sooner or later do the job. If I had the money back on all of those attachments + the extra time that they took to get the prep that I wanted, I would have paid for 3 Harley rakes.
I am assuming you are bidding the jobs. So, the faster you can get them done, the more money you make on a per hour basis. You will get to a seeding prep faster than any other tool. Take into account that you can prep wetter soils with a Harley than anything else, hence be seeding while the other guys are waiting for it to dry-is another added bonus.
The other thing is that a Harley rake is always worth what you have in it. Look for a cheap one on ebay. There is no such thing. The cheap ones have been beat to death and they still bring good money. You will make money on it faster than it will wear out. If you decide to get out of the business, put it on ebay, it will bring what you have in it.
They are expensive for what they are - a frame, a gearbox, a pto shaft and a rotor. I still look at it and wonder how they charge what they do for them. To me, Harley figured out what you could do with them and decided to make that much profit. It is one of the best values I have found in my seeding operation.