Undulations when raking?

[Rakemania]

Not had the rake that long doing what we wanted it to do, but my bigger issue is the fact it keeps leaving wave like mounds when i drive around on the tractor. Our soil is sand basically we can grow things in it with soil improvers and lots of water. Just done our fire breaks they are ok but wavey? Anyone have any ideas where i might be going wrong or how to stop this from happening or do I have to back drag the bucket to level off (try to).

Thanks.

 

[Tractorable]

Have you considered gauge wheels? Drop the rake so it floats and let the gauge wheels control the height.

 

[oosik]

You must be adjusting the height of the rake with the 3-point hydraulics. If so - every time the nose of the tractor goes down - rake goes up - etc, etc.

Before you get the gauge wheels - which should DEFINITELY help - just drop the rake all the way and let it float. Maybe that will help with this problem.

 

[Rakemania]

Have you considered gauge wheels? Drop the rake so it floats and let the gauge wheels control the height.

View attachment 579702

Thanks for the reply mate, i think wheels would be an hindrance in our soft sandy soil.

 

[Rakemania]

You must be adjusting the height of the rake with the 3-point hydraulics. If so - every time the nose of the tractor goes down - rake goes up - etc, etc.

Before you get the gauge wheels - which should DEFINITELY help - just drop the rake all the way and let it float. Maybe that will help with this problem.

Thanks for the reply, and yes I use the three point linkage, do you mean remove the top link altogether and let it float on the other two arms?

 

[RjCorazza]

You seem against gauge wheels, but when I was maintaining my gravel driveway gauge wheels made an incredible difference. Set the wheel height, drive.

 

[Rakemania]

You seem against gauge wheels, but when I was maintaining my gravel driveway gauge wheels made an incredible difference. Set the wheel height, drive.

No mate not at all, just here the sandy soil is very beach like when dry. The tractor alone must sink about four inches just driving through it. The neighbor as a set might ask if I can borrow is as he as grassed all of his because they have sheep.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Thanks for the reply, and yes I use the three point linkage, do you mean remove the top link altogether and let it float on the other two arms?

I believe he just means to lower the 3pt all the way and let it set on the ground under it's own weight. The common term for doing this is called "floating".

 

[3Lfarms]

Open the valve under your seat to let the 3pt drop quickly so the undulations of the tractor don’t influence the motion of the rake.

 

[Rakemania]

Been having a think would taking top link off and still use it but put 6" of strong chain between it and three way top arm.thus leaving hydraulics in play and having the rake sit under its own weight ?

 

[groundcover]

Got a piece of chain link fence you could drag behind the rake to help level off the high spots?

 

[LouNY]

Angling your rake may help a bit.

 

[Rakemania]

Angling your rake may help a bit.

Yeah tried that didnt really change the problem, but thanks for thought.

 

[oosik]

I think by combining several of the suggestions you could get a fairly leveling effect. The up/down actions of the front wheels are amplified by the position of the top link. Try running without the top link attached or with a chunk of chain in place of the top link. Make a bridle and drag a section of chain link fence behind the rake.

That is probably going to give you the best situation without spending quite a bit on such as a set of gauge wheels.

 

[JJT]

Gauge wheels and slow down. I've been maintaining an 800' gravel driveway for 20+ years and have raked dozes of acres of raw ground prepping for grass seed.