Rake ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW (Version 1)

[jeff9366]

ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

I received this previously owned ABI TR3~6.5~Command~Rake December 18, 2017. Photo #1.

TR3 "Command Series" is ABI's commercial model TR3 rake, with six hydraulically operated scarifiers plus tooth sections fixed on the leveling bar.

While the Command Series is focused on the pro Landscaping market, more broadly ABI markets its various iterations of the TR3 to horse arena owners.

Why? Because this is a costly implement. Original owner, a builder in Clinton, New York, paid ABI $5,790, plus freight, in April 2015. I purchased the TR3 from the original owner for $3,000 plus shipping via eBay. I shipped NY to FL via uShip.

"uShip, Inc. is an Austin, Texas-based Internet company that operates uShip.com, an online marketplace for shipping services." The telephone quote I received from FedEx ground was $1,100. I shipped with Roadrunner Transportation for $260.53, including uShip's commission. TR3 took eight days to arrive in Florida in undamaged condition I will use U-ship again; entirely satisfactory.
LINK: uShip | The Online Shipping Marketplace


TR3 Rake weighs about 800 pounds, stabilized by a pair of foam filled gauge tires, with four closely spaced wheel height options. TR3 width is 78".

My 37-horsepower, heavy chassis, kubota L3560, 4-WD, R4 tires, with HST/PLUS transmission pulls the TR3 in HST High/low or HST Medium/high easily. Tire spread is 60".

My soil is Florida sandy-loam.

LINKS (2): TR3 Rake - 3D Spin - YouTube

TR3 Command Series - Grading & Landscape Rake - YouTube

 

[jeff9366]

Like other implements, the TR3 is adjusted via Three Point Hitch: BITE/SCIVE fine adjustment with Three Point Hitch Top Link, LEVEL with the Three Point Hitch Right Lifting Rod and TILT, for producing a road crown, by moving pin in stacked pin holes on the Three Point Hitch Lower Links.


The TR3 Rake has several adjustments on the rake itself.

Photo #1 Rake has upper and lower pin positions for Top Link pin and Lower Link pins. ABI recommends initially positioning pins in the lower holes for both Top Link pin and Lower Link pins. As you see in Photo #1 I conformed but in ABI's videos the tractor/rake connections vary by user. (I believe in reading instructions.)

Photo #2 Gauge wheels/rake center pivot point. Wheels pull off after removing a standard lynch-pin retainer. There are five frame hole choices, through which the wheel axle fits, offering five increments of implement float. ABI suggests starting with the wheel axle in the center hole. The lowest hole, on the right, offers the most rake support, therefore the least sciving effect. The topmost hole, on the left, maintains the wheel above earth contact most of the time, therefore the most sciving/dirt movement occurs.

Photo #3 Wheel removed to show six scarifies extended. Scarifiers: 9" length standard, cuts to 7" depth; 12" length optional.

Photo #4 From this balance point FINE scive adjustments are made with the Three Point Hitch Top Link. Shortening the Top Link raises the rear finishing rake and lowers the course cutting leveling bar, which has 2" teeth on ground contact edge. Lengthening the Top Link lowers the rear finishing rake and raises the leveling bar. A long Top Link deploys only the rear rake in ground contact, for final smoothing. For most work, both the floating leveling bar and the rear rake should be in ground contact. A 1/2 turn of the Top Link makes fine adjustments between the two ground contact points.

The heavy leveling bar is tensioned with big springs. When leveling bar encounters a mound it scives the mound, pulling dirt along in front of the leveling bar as a reservoir to fill low spots. Leveling bar movement can be limited through pin adjustments. Photo #5.
As leveling bar passes over a low spot, carried dirt drops in, filling low spot.

Locked down, the heavy leveling bar functions as a heavy, low capacity Box Blade; low capacity because drag bar is only 6-1/2" high. Drag bar on my model TR3~6.5 is 78" wide, including forward angle skirts. Photo #3.

Heavy leveling bar routinely takes out packed mounds. Remarkably hard mounds may require lowering hydraulically operated scarifiers.

VIDEO: TR3 Rake - Detailed Walk-Through - YouTube

 

[jeff9366]

TR3 Command Series is marketed to Landscape services. This one implement replicates functions of several ground contact implements, reducing implement space occupied on trailers and implement changes in the field.

TR3 Command Rake weighs somewhat over 800 pounds. Weight is your friend in ground contact implements.

Landscape Rake with gauge wheels (80%) (( TR3 does not gather tree debris, cannot be operated on an angle. ))
Chain Harrow and Spike Tooth Harrow
Land Plane/Grading Scraper
Box Blade (80%) ((soil carrying capacity limited))
Disc Harrow for leveling and smoothing (secondary tillage)
Disc Harrow for fire break maintenance (secondary tillage)

TR3 Rake - KIOTI 3054 - POSTED MARCH 2005
(Edited for clarity.)​

I have a TR3 rake that I use in my landscape business. I also have a box blade and landscape rake I haven't used since I bought the TR3.

TR3 is the best non powered implement I have used for landscaping. I use it to install new lawns, grade sites, install and rehab crushed stone driveways and the same for gravel drives. I have put it through its paces and it has worked flawlessly for me. In wet soil it works good to open up the soil to dry and once it is fairly dry I can do the finish work.

I have a sub that has a Harley rake on a skid steer that once did my raking but since I bought the TR3 I haven't used him. The TR3 loosens deeper than the Harley rake and pulls all the debris into a pile. No windrows to go back and scrape up. I live in New England you can go over site ten times with a power rake and not get all the stones out. The TR3 does a great gob raking and the very small stones it doesn't get it buries.

Is TR3 as fast as a power rake? No. Is TR3 faster than using a power rake, box blade and pulverizer? Yes, by far. The TR3 is all the implements in one and performs all three functions in one pass.

Now the disclaimer. I am in no way knocking a power rake they are great tools and EVERY tool has its place.

 

[jeff9366]

TR3 MODUS OPERANDI​

With the TR3 and Tractor on a hard flat surface, and the scarifiers lifted out of play, adjust the TR3 using the Top Link so the Leveling Blade/Floating Drag Bar and the Finish Rake contact earth at the same time.

Once the Leveling Blade and Finish Rake touch at the same time; lift the TR3 and set it back down. This will ensure everything is properly adjusted. The Top Link may need to be adjusted multiple times before TR3 is level. Raise and lower the TR3 after each adjustment.

Use the TR3 with a small reserve of soil in front of the Leveling Blade and a second small reserve of soil in front of the finish rake. See Photo. Reserves fill small holes with each pass, Finish Rake flattens output.

On soft ground, pull the TR3 a few feet to create reserves. On hard ground, lower the scarifiers half way, 3", which causes the TR3 to squat, engaging Leveling Blade and Finish Rake firmly with the soil. Pull the TR3 a few feet to create soil reserves, retract scarifiers to eliminate scarifier draft force resisting tractor forward motion.

Extend scarifiers to loosen notably hard ground.

Use hydraulic Three Point Hitch control to feather-drop residual reserve soil by lifting implement.

 

[jeff9366]

Could the TR3 Rake be used as a satisfactory, if imperfect, substitute for an Unverferth "Perfecta" Cultivator in secondary cultivation??????

I do not know.

(I have always wanted an Unverferth Perfecta.)


VIDEOS (2): TR3 Rake - Rolling Basket Option - YouTube

Cultivating with an Unverferth Perfecta - YouTube

 

[Old Red]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

Why? Because this is a costly implement. Original owner, a builder in Clinton, New York, paid ABI $5,790, plus freight, in April 2015. I purchased the TR3 from the original owner for $3,000 plus shipping via eBay. I shipped NY to FL via uShip.

"uShip, Inc. is an Austin, Texas-based Internet company that operates uShip.com, an online marketplace for shipping services." The telephone quote I received from FedEx ground was $1,100. I shipped with Roadrunner Transportation for $260.53, including uShip's commission. TR3 took eight days to arrive in Florida in undamaged condition I will use U-ship again; entirely satisfactory.
LINK: uShip | The Online Shipping Marketplace

My 37-horsepower, heavy chassis, kubota L3560, 4-WD, R4 tires, with HST/PLUS transmission pulls the TR3 in HST High/low or HST Medium/high easily. Tire spread is 60".

My soil is Florida sandy-loam.

LINKS (2): TR3 Rake - 3D Spin - YouTube

TR3 Command Series - Grading & Landscape Rake - YouTube

I would actually like to hear more about Uship and how that process went down. Did the eBay seller offer it or did you approach the seller about it or what? Just curious. I have found countless pieces of equipment across the country like this but had no way to get it.

 

[jeff9366]

After I shared discouraging FedEx freight quote with the seller, the seller suggested uShip to me.

I simply filled in the uShip blanks for requested information, waited a few minutes while freight quotes processed, then selected Roadrunner Transportation from the shipping company alternatives offered. Roadrunner offered the cheapest freight rate but also the slowest delivery time. Other shippers offered three or four day delivery. Roadrunner offered seven days. In actuality, Roadrunner took eight days to deliver the rake. One pays freight in advance.

Low and slow was fine with me.

Beyond suggesting uShip, and printing out the Bill of Lading, the seller had no input into freight arrangement.

Did you open the uShip LINK?

 

[Old Red]

After I shared discouraging FedEx freight quote with the seller, the seller suggested uShip to me.

I simply filled in the uShip blanks for requested information, waited a few minutes while freight quotes processed, then selected Roadrunner Transportation from the shipping company alternatives offered. Roadrunner offered the cheapest freight rate but also the slowest delivery time. Other shippers offered three or four day delivery. Roadrunner offered seven days. In actuality, Roadrunner took eight days to deliver the rake. One pays freight in advance.

Low and slow was fine with me.

Beyond suggesting uShip, and printing out the Bill of Lading, the seller had no input into freight arrangement.

Did you open the uShip LINK?

I sure did....even referred a friend of mine who owns about 75 coal trucks to take a look. They do some over the road stuff. I'm sure he probably already knew. I went to the ebay information page as well and browsed around a bit. Looks good.....I like it.

 

[Steave]

Thanks for the review. I've looked at the TR3 for years now but the price keeps my dreaming in check. I've heard of the uship way of shipping but haven't heard until now about someone actually using it. Sounds like a great way to ship and that broadens the area of finding implements or in my case junk that needs repaired.

I'll find out more when I go to uship site but did the seller have to prepare and load onto a truck?

 

[jeff9366]

I'll find out more when I go to uship site but did the seller have to prepare and load onto a truck?

The seller is a builder, presumably with equipment. Seller told me he could load the palletized rake into a freight trailer without a lift gate.

Freight is almost always FOB = Freight On Board. It is the shipper's responsibility to load, not the truck driver's responsibility to load.

That said, for $100 you can order a lift gate equipped truck to pick up your shipment, which is an easy way for shipper to "load" the truck. Tipping the driver $10 would not hurt.

 

[jeff9366]

Thanks for the TR3 Rake review. I've looked at the TR3 for years now but the price keeps my dreaming in check.

I set up a search on eBay, which notified me via e-mail of every TR3 Rake put for sale on eBay in the USA. About 1-1/2 TR3 Rakes per year appeared. I purchased after three years when the heaviest model, in my tractor's optimum width, was offered. Still expensive at $3,000 but I may now liquidate my Rollover Box Blade, HydrauLink Top Link, Landscape Rake and possibly another implement, potentially defraying TR3 $3,000 cost by $800 to $1,000.

I am age 70.
Reducing implement changeovers is attractive. Reducing implement PTO connections is more attractive.
(Besides, you can't take the $$ with you.)

Tractor House brokers used TR3 Rakes occasionally but I do not follow that site.

One thing for sure, ABI keeps raising the price of the TR3. It is USA/Texas made, heavy, and low volume. In one video the narrator claims sales of 7,000 rakes in eight years; less than twenty TR3 Rakes per week. Never going to be cheap, new.

ABI/Kriser continues to develop the TR3 concept. There is evolution evident between the earliest TR3 Rakes @ <$3,000 new and the TR3 Rakes offered today. Instance: ABI offers the lighter TR3 E-model, for 2,000 pound to 3,000 pound tractors, which has an interesting short Top Link controlling the rear finish rake.

 

[Piston]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

Jeff,
Did you consider a used power rake while you were shopping for the TR3?

 

[jeff9366]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

Did you consider a used power rake while you were shopping for the TR3?

No. My dirt is soft sandy-loam in Florida. When I encounter a rock it is a memorable event.

Did you read KIOTI 3054's comments on TR3 vis Power Rakes in Post #3 ?

 

[Old Red]

I am age 70. Reducing implement changeovers is attractive. (Besides, I can't take $$ with me.)

I love it that you are 70 and continuing to buy attachments and the like. Good deal, gives me something to look forward to.

I had a power rake on my skid steer....was an amazing piece of equipment. But I hear you...looked for a long time, bought a bobcat brand for $3,500 used it for 1 year and did a couple projects then sold it for $4,500. I wish I still had it and my bobcat skid steer...I didn't realize at the time I sold them that I was going to be building apartments. I bought all that stuff when work was drying up for contractors after the 2009 housing bubble....Good find...enjoy your equipment.....It doesn't matter that it is expensive....buy once...cry once....

 

[Piston]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

No. My dirt is soft sandy-loam in Florida. When I encounter a rock it is a memorable event.

Did you read KIOTI 3054's comments on TR3 vis Power Rakes in Post #3 ?

I did not see those comments in post #3, I think when I first read this thread post #3 just said "To be continued" so I had missed the edit. It's interesting to see the comparison though. I do find the power rake as a complete all-in-one tool where it's basically go over an area a few times, and it's pretty much ready for seed. Certainly much different conditions that your sandy soil though. It seems like the TR3 would 'fluff' the ground less than a power rake which appears an advantage to sandy soil or arenas. In addition, not being a 'powered' implement there is less failure points. For instance, I had to replace the bearings in mine shortly after buying it, which is a non issue on your equipment, and less cost to boot.

I'm assuming that the 'sub' that Kioti 3054 had used, did not have much experience with his power rake. He mentioned that he could not pull debris into piles, which is something the power rake excels at, or you can windrow, it's a choice the operator makes. In addition, it sounds like the sub still needed to use a box blade and pulverizer, which is completely unnecessary once you figure out how to use the power rake. It's basically a finish tool, no work to be done after the fact, not even hand raking.

Very interesting thread, and of course, well written as always. I love learning more about these little known implements. It would be really interesting to see some video if you had the desire

 

[TheMan419]

I drool over these for horse arena maintenance. Some day.....

 

[jeff9366]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

I do find the power rake as a complete all-in-one tool where it's basically go over an area a few times, and it's pretty much ready for seed. Certainly much different conditions that your sandy soil though. It seems like the TR3 would 'fluff' the ground less than a power rake which appears an advantage to sandy soil or arenas. In addition, not being a 'powered' implement there is less failure points. For instance, I had to replace the bearings in mine shortly after buying it, which is a non issue on your equipment, and less cost to boot.

I have no experience, YET, with a Harley Rake. ~~~~~

I try to limit Bush Hoging to three times per year, usually one day on each occasion. We are getting ever less dependable rain in North Florida. Using the Bush Hog raises clouds of lingering dust. Both I and the tractor return to the barn filthy. Dust aggravates my 'senior' allergies. The TR3 Rake produces minimal dust.

Relative to a Bush Hog, how much dust does a Power Rake put into the air? Do you use a cab tractor or an open station tractor with your Power Rake?

How about the name? Did a Harley company produce the original Power Rake, like Bush Hog and York Rake?
Is 'Harley Rake' a trademark and Power Rake generic?

I posted the comments from KIOTI 3054 after reading every TR3 Rake post I could pull up from the T-B-N archive. A few posts briefly compared the TR3 Rake to a Harley Rake, though only KIOTI 3054 seemed credible. More archive posts asked for a TR3/Harley Rake comparison.

 

[Piston]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

I have no experience, YET, with a Harley Rake. ~~~~~

Relative to a Bush Hog, how much dust does a Power Rake put into the air? Do you use a cab tractor or an open station tractor with your Power Rake?

I use an open station tractor (I'd love a cab) and have never had an issue with dust. However, I think that has more to do with the local soil conditions in central/northern New England. I've never used the power rake in sand, so I imagine it's vastly different. Keep in mind, I've never had an issue with dust using a bush hog either. I would guess that the power rake would certainly give you more dust than a TR3, because you have the drum rotating towards the tractor at moderate speeds.
I heard a lot of people who use hydraulic power rakes on skidsteers complain about the dust. In a skidsteer, your typically driving forward, towards the dust/dirt that is kicked up, whereas a tractor your pulling away from it.

How about the name? Did a Harley company produce the original Power Rake, like Bush Hog and York Rake?
Is 'Harley Rake' a trademark and Power Rake generic?

Yes, Harley is the name that made these famous. I don't know factual history on the origins of these, but Harley is a company that makes this style "soil conditioner" called a "Power Rake".

It sounds like for what you are doing, in your type of soil, you got the better machine between the two by going with the TR3.

 

[Freep]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

Can you provide an update on the TR3, Jeff? What are your thoughts, 18 months after acquisition?

You were considering selling several implements. As you know, I am just building my collection. I have disc and chain harrow, and ratchet rake. I've cooked up some plans (some of which you have helped with) to try to level my land a bit and am trying to decide how to proceed. I've borrowed a box blade and am learning to use it, but the challenges here are well documented, and the cost of a good box blade is pretty steep itself. If the TR3 could preclude the purchase of several implements it may be worthwhile. I've also starting considering the value of my time and hours/wear on my tractor, so the $4k price tag for a TR3-E is not that crazy, all things considered.

But I'd appreciated hearing your recent thoughts on the implement.

 

[jeff9366]

Re: ABI TR3 Rake - Multipurpose Implement - REVIEW 1.0

Can you provide an update on the TR3, Jeff? What are your thoughts, 18 months after acquisition?

You were considering selling several implements. As you know, I am just building my collection. I have disc and chain harrow, and ratchet rake. I've plans to level my land and am trying to decide how to proceed. I've borrowed a box blade and am learning to use it, but Box Blade operating challenges are well documented, and the cost of a good box blade is pretty steep itself.

If the TR3 could preclude the purchase of several implements it may be worthwhile. I've also starting considering the value of my time and hours/wear on my tractor, so the $4k price tag for a TR3 is not that crazy, all things considered.

With a Disc Harrow, Ratchet Rake, Chain Harrow and Box Blade a TR3 Rake will NOT assist you in land leveling; you have the tools.

I presume you are loosening soil and sod with the Disc Harrow, then cutting off high spots to fill low spots with the Box Blade, then perhaps repeating the pass with less aggressively adjusted Disc Harrow before final soil leveling with your Chain Harrow. With the complementary Ratchet Rake on your FEL bucket used throughout the process.

The TR3 Rake I have is the heavy Command Series TR3 with hydraulically operated scarifiers which is marketed to Landscapers, rather than horse arena groomers. I believe the price on a 6'-6" wide Command Series is $6,500 new. I purchased mine from a builder in NY for $3,000, plus freight. I had a search on eBay for three (3) years before the TR3 Rake I acquired showed up. I am not sure how much good an arena-grooming weight TR3 Rake would do you, relative to your existing implements.

I recommend building operating knowledge with the Box Blade and learning how to adjust your Disc Harrow, rather than serious consideration of a heavy TR3 Rake.

I did sell my Landscape Rake with gauge wheels. The TR3 is a much better rake, though TR3 cannot be angled.

I have retained my Bush Hog brand Rollover Box Blade. The TR3 does not move dirt in the volume of a Box Blade and the TR3 outside gauge wheels means TR3 outside width is ~~24"~~ wider than operating width. This can be quite limiting relative to Box Blade applications. (PHOTO #1)

Finally, the ability to push dirt with a ROBB behind a BEEFY compact tractor with RIGID Lower Link stabilizers is a big advantage filling large holes after I excavate multiple layers of Palmettos. (PHOTO #3 + #4)

I have pondered a lift/framed flexible mat Chain Harrow for years for trail maintenance but I have not been able to justify the cost given limited use I contemplate, considering the TR3 Rake is a similar function secondary tillage smoothing tool.

TR3 rake sees considerable use. TR3 has been 100% breakage and distortion free.


You may wish to read Post #5 and Post #6 attached:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/390477-tr3-rake-anyone-have-one.html