add power angling to landscape rake

[Builder]

Landpride or Woods rakes are very expensive, like $1,200 for an 8 footer. Add the factory power angling option and it goes up to ~$1,800 !!

I can get a 8' Leinbach for $4-500. Seems like adding an angling cylinder wouldn't be that tough. Anyone try this?

 

[JB4310]

I haven't done it but was thinking about doing an angle cylinder for my rear blade, some one posted a pic don't know what forum/thread but you can get an idea from this pic.
If I do it I would want it to work with blade both forwards and with blade turned around should only require a couple of extra pins. I guess if I do it to the blade the same cylinder could be used on my rake, they're both 6'.

 

[3RRL]

There have been a couple threads on adding a cylinder to a rake or rear blade.
You're right, it's not that difficult to do. Some I've seen have a cylinder mounted not only for angling the rake, but also for turning the rake around. They do that by mounting that cylinder so that when pushed out all the way and then pulled back in, the blade or rake spins completely around. Larry G made his like that. There are a lot of photos and neat ideas in his thread.
Of course he made his entire rake from scratch!!!
Landscape Rake Build

 

[AndyMA]

On my rake, a heavy duty 8' Ford rake I got over 20 years ago, I can set it up for power angle and also power offset. If any one is interested I'll post some pictures.

Andy

 

[Builder]

On my rake, a heavy duty 8' Ford rake I got over 20 years ago, I can set it up for power angle and also power offset. If any one is interested I'll post some pictures.

Andy

I'm interested!

 

[Builder]

There have been a couple threads on adding a cylinder to a rake or rear blade.
You're right, it's not that difficult to do. Some I've seen have a cylinder mounted not only for angling the rake, but also for turning the rake around. They do that by mounting that cylinder so that when pushed out all the way and then pulled back in, the blade or rake spins completely around. Larry G made his like that. There are a lot of photos and neat ideas in his thread.
Of course he made his entire rake from scratch!!!
Landscape Rake Build

Nice article!! I don't have the time to adopt such a heady project. I was thinking more along the lines of taking a manual rake and adding a power angling cylinder.

 

[joes_427_vette]

This is a Finn power landscape rake. The original mount angles the unit 15 degrees to the right. It is a solid mount with no adjustments. My plan is to alter the base, make it swival in both directions with the aid of a hydraulic cylinder. If I find a compatible pin and sleeve about 10" long I have the steel in stock to make the base.
I wonder what engineer came up with the fixed position idea ?

 

[3RRL]

Nice article!! I don't have the time to adopt such a heady project. I was thinking more along the lines of taking a manual rake and adding a power angling cylinder.

Yeah, I know. That was one heck of build.
I just linked that thread to show it can be done. Didn't mean that you had to build your own rake. I've got a rake and am thinking of doing the same as you to mine.

 

[Builder]

Yeah, I know. That was one heck of build.
I just linked that thread to show it can be done. Didn't mean that you had to build your own rake. I've got a rake and am thinking of doing the same as you to mine.

I thought of a hybrid idea. Buy a cheaper Leinbach rake and add a Landpride power angling kit. The LP p/a kit costs ~ $400. However, it's unknown if their kit would fit a different brand of rake.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Be careful with those cheaper rakes. That Challenger will pretzel a cheaper one. I had bought one of those $500 rakes, lasted just a few times before it looked like a churro. Remade the rake part with new channel and 4x7x1/2 tubing, now I need to work on the 3pt mount and add hydraulic angle.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Builder, I think I had under $300 in adding the cylinder to my rake. It's one of the best customs I've done as far as being a labor saving convience. I absolutely love the way it works. It's got a great range of angle and I can even flip it 180 degrees and angle one way if I need to.

Sincerely, Dirt

I started out with using a broken draft arm for the linkage.

Ended up looking like this.

 

[Builder]

Very nice. Let me know when you can build one for me.

 

[GuglioLS]

Hi Builder,

I see on page one of your thread Rob was kind enough to post a link to my home made rake build. The attached videos pretty much sum up it's capabilities. I hope you don't mind me posting these here as the thread is 25 pages long and these videos might be somewhat cumbersome to find.










A simple power angle cylinder would be a relatively easy add on to many rakes just like Dirt posted above. During my brainstorming , I checked out several styles of rakes prior to building from scratch and found the Leinbach Model RR to be constructed such that it would be the easiest to add a single cylinder for power angle. You might consider checking one out to see what you think for yourself. Below is a picture of a Leinbach 8 foot Model RR. As you can see there is plenty of room to place a power angle cylinder mount and cylinder. Not only that, the cylinder mounts could be placed such that one end of the cylinder could be easily un-pinned, rotated 180* then re-connect the cylinder for power angle in reverse. I'm just lazy and configured mine so it could be rotated 360* without getting off the tractor.

Larry

 

[BigD23]

Builder, I think I had under $300 in adding the cylinder to my rake. It's one of the best customs I've done as far as being a labor saving convience. I absolutely love the way it works. It's got a great range of angle and I can even flip it 180 degrees and angle one way if I need to.

Sincerely, Dirt

I started out with using a broken draft arm for the linkage.

Ended up looking like this.

Very nice!

Don

 

[2manyrocks]

Dirtworksequip, what is the black material on your rake and what is it used for?

 

[dirtworksequip]

2many, thats a piece of brown indoor/outdoor carpet doubled and bolted to the rake frame. I maintain 3000 feet of stone road. The carpet keeps the stones from ricocheting off the back of the tractor and saves millions of stone chips and hopefully my cab glass. I roll it up out of the way and hold it with two bungees if I'm raking snow, dirt or roots.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[2manyrocks]

Thank you, sir.

 

[Ductape]

Larry, i like how you made the rake so that you can reverse it, but i gotta say you cheesed out by not making it continous rotation !

 

[dfkrug]

I hope you don't mind me posting these here as the thread is 25 pages long and these videos might be somewhat cumbersome to find.

Excellent, Larry!

Now that I have seen the videos, I will have to go back and read the thread.
I just got a rake, but I have yet to use it.

 

[GuglioLS]

Dirt,
So you rake snow? I'd like to know how that works out. I was wondering how effective a rake is at "plowing" snow. If you have any tips on doing that please share. I was thinking of trying that next time we get some of the white stuff but didn't have a clue how it might work.

Larry, i like how you made the rake so that you can reverse it, but i gotta say you cheesed out by not making it continous rotation !

Thanks and HaHaHa yea your right, I did cut some corners. I guess in reality it's only about 270* of rotation, darn that king pin anyway. I suppose if the cylinder were on top and mounted such to clear the king pin it could be made to continuously rotate 360*, sort of like how a steam engine drive works, certainly do-able. Sooner or later someone here will have to incorporate that feature in the next generation hybrid rake.

Excellent, Larry!
Now that I have seen the videos, I will have to go back and read the thread.
I just got a rake, but I have yet to use it.

Thanks for the compliment, which rake did you get?

OP - Builder, are you close to making a decision on a rake?


Larry