3pt POWER RAKES ...operational difference between chain driven & gear driven ?

[TSO]

I'm in the market for a 3pt power rake / Harley rake / soil conditioner...

I've seen there are two basic styles, chain reduction drives the drum, or, gear connections drive the drum. Seems like Harley brand uses chain, while FFC uses gear.

I've watched pretty much every video online regarding general operation of the power rakes, but I haven't found anything that explains the advantages or disadvantages one drive system has over the other. does anyone have the experience or knowledge to comment on that? The pricing is similar enough to not come into play. I'm looking at a six foot model.

Thanks in advance

 

[J_J]

Re: 3pt POWER RAKES ...operational difference between chain driven & gear driven ?

I believe they also use hyd motors to drive the drum.

 

[TSO]

Re: 3pt POWER RAKES ...operational difference between chain driven & gear driven ?

For skid-steer mounted ones yes, but my 11.7gpm wouldn't run them... I'm speaking specifically of 3pt PTO driven models.

 

[bcp]

Re: 3pt POWER RAKES ...operational difference between chain driven & gear driven ?

All that comes to mind is that chains and sprockets are fairly standard.

You might repair a chain drive with a part from your local industrial/farm supply, while a gear may take months to get.

Or 30 years from now a worn sprocket may be much easier to replace than a broken gear, which only exists for this implement, and the company has been dead for 20 years.

Bruce

 

[TSO]

Ok... So longevity is a consideration.

What about operation? Reading specs, the FFC gear gives the drum 211 rpm at 540. Trying to find specs on the chain driven.

Thoughts?

 

[Stonehaller]

Re: 3pt POWER RAKES ...operational difference between chain driven & gear driven ?

Ok... So longevity is a consideration.

What about operation? Reading specs, the FFC gear gives the drum 211 rpm at 540. Trying to find specs on the chain driven.

Thoughts?

My Harley brand power rake has a 2:1 right angle gear box and 1:1 chain ratio so the drum will turn 270 RPM at 540 PTO speed.

 

[TSO]

Ok thanks... So that's 4.5 turns per second, vs 3.5 for the gear drive.

Would you notice that difference? Have you ever thought your drum spins too slow or too fast?

 

[jenkinsph]

Re: 3pt POWER RAKES ...operational difference between chain driven & gear driven ?

As far as operational difference there isn't any advantage with either. I would agree that it would be easier to change a piece of chain than a set of gears. With proper lubrication both will last a long time. I went through this issue with a small right angle seed spreader once years ago, could not find a matching gear and had to junk the spreader and gearbox. If I could have found the proper gear for 20 bucks it would have been a cheap fix. The idea that gear drive is better than chain drive is a myth. Good gear drives require tight tolerances be maintained through the life of the machine. Chains and sprockets are more forgiving.

I would not loose much sleep over the difference though.

 

[Stonehaller]

Re: 3pt POWER RAKES ...operational difference between chain driven & gear driven ?

Have you ever thought your drum spins too slow or too fast?

When working in soils with clay or lots of grass root clumps, running it faster seems to help break up the clumps better.

 

[LLS]

Re: 3pt POWER RAKES ...operational difference between chain driven & gear driven ?

I have two Harley Rakes a 6' and a 4' never had a problem in 13+ years.