Unplanned use for Ratchet Rake

JOHNTHOMAS · Aug 22, 2009

Planning to take PHD off tractor today so checked with my brother next door for final call on holes dug. He was weed eating in his side yard around a couple of rocks that he said were damaging his mower blades. I told him if he wanted I'd see if they may come up. I have the Ratchet Rake on my B3200 so I put large teeth tilted down at edge of rock, pushed down till stopped and then tilted bucket back with slight forward movement. After a few times the Ratchet Rake just popped them up and then just drove forward to push them the rest of the way out of the ground. Both over 100lbs maybe 200lbs. Since I was on tractor brother pushed them over into bucket and he said 300lbs.

Put them where he wanted in his yard for decorative purposes, went back and back drug the holes with small teeth and it's now ready to seed. Post hole digger is now off. As someone suggested, I just drilled it into the ground and unhooked it. Easier than I thought it would be and don't believe it will be a big deal to reinstall.

StrangeRanger · Aug 24, 2009

I'm still messing w/ my ratchet rake a bit. But my rocks are larger for the most part than you describe here so I'm worried about damaging my FEL when using the rake. I wish I had like a little "oh *****" indicator that let me know when I was tweaking my FEL harder than I should be

JOHNTHOMAS · Aug 25, 2009

I believe if your going to try prying them up with your bucket anyway that the ratchet rake will not be worse than the bucket. Looks like stress is distributed evenly across front of bucket the way it's made. Ratchet rake may actually spread stress better than a section of bucket edge that would be lifting object. As far as stressing hydraulics of fel I figure it will stop and has when it's to much. Don't think reaching max lift will hurt hydraulics since that happens often with fel when you dig in and have to back up to lift. Your indicator is that it won't lift when you reach it's maximum.

StrangeRanger · Aug 25, 2009

JOHNTHOMAS said:
I believe if your going to try prying them up with your bucket anyway that the ratchet rake will not be worse than the bucket. Looks like stress is distributed evenly across front of bucket the way it's made. Ratchet rake may actually spread stress better than a section of bucket edge that would be lifting object. As far as stressing hydraulics of fel I figure it will stop and has when it's to much. Don't think reaching max lift will hurt hydraulics since that happens often with fel when you dig in and have to back up to lift. Your indicator is that it won't lift when you reach it's maximum.

All that is true, but I'm thinking more along the lines of when say I've got the rake on the ground w/ the FEL level and I'm trying to break up the surface layer of soil. Yes of course I'm moving very slowly, but it's still un-nerving when it "catches" on something.

Bassicfun · Aug 31, 2009

John-
I have done the same with my ratchetrake, I have a pile that I'm stacking them in, until I decide what I am going to do with all of them. (brand newly built house, sitting on a 5+ acre inactive farm field). These rocks are definitely 150-300lbs, and did the same as you mentioned. I will try to get a picture or two posted of my 'findings' in this yard so far.

Strange-
I quite often did just what John did, on some others though, I would drive over the 'buried' rock, tip rake so that the small teeth (that point down) are in the dirt on the far side of the rock, deep enough to pick up front wheels slightly, step on rear diff lock, and back on up.. maybe one or two passes and it is rolled and unearthed! and for me anyway, that takes much of the "OH $#IT" or pucker factor out of it. just free food for thought.... you get what you pay for.

Papasmith · Sep 9, 2009

StrangeRanger said:
All that is true, but I'm thinking more along the lines of when say I've got the rake on the ground w/ the FEL level and I'm trying to break up the surface layer of soil. Yes of course I'm moving very slowly, but it's still un-nerving when it "catches" on something.

Are you still going to sell your Ratchet Rake?? If so, look at the pm I sent email me back.

Dave in NC