Reclaiming Gravel.

[BufordBoone]

I have about a 1 mile gravel driveway. My maintenance plan, which has worked pretty well, is:

1 - Make multiple passes with an angled landscape rake to bring gravel back onto drive.
2 - Make a few passes with LPGS to smooth the drive.

I find that the landscape rake is just "OK" on pulling gravel back onto the road. I've thought of trying to construct some type of clamp on blade but have not found anything I think will work.

I have a scrape blade that is very heavy and, while it Cuts ditches well, brings too much dirt along with the gravel if I try to use it to reclaim gravel.


I'm thinking a light blade might just do a good job of reclaiming gravel without reshaping the dirt underneath.

Anyone ever used a lightweight scrape blade for reclaiming gravel? TSC has a 6' one that only weighs 213 lbs. They also have a 6' "Professional" that will offset one foot and weighs 256 lbs.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I use my 6' to reclaim the gravel the rain takes down the driveway all the time, off course it's not 1 mile long.....more like 1/4. But I only have to do the hilly section.

 

[Chewwy]

Don’t think blade weight is the only problem. Every scrape blade I have seen is curved. When facing forward it wants to dig unto the road bed. Not so much if you reverse the blade so the curve is pointing backwards. Does more smoothing than digging in.

 

[BufordBoone]

Don’t think blade weight is the only problem. Every scrape blade I have seen is curved. When facing forward it wants to dig unto the road bed. Not so much if you reverse the blade so the curve is pointing backwards. Does more smoothing than digging in.

Current blade is too long to turn around when on my tractor (I inherited it when I bought the farm).

Current blade is so heavy duty that my welding friend said "Don't ever get rid of that".

Perhaps I should try shortening the top link to make mine less aggressive?

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I have run my somewhat heavy (1,600 lbs.?) rear blade backwards if the driveway only needs a touchup, but for getting gravel back to the surface the 8' land plane is my weapon of choice.

And I don't necessarily run either one with the 3-point all the way down.

 

[CalG]

I run this type of York rake off the 3pt tool bar.

Model TA26B2 - 6' Rake [002216B2] - $2,083.00 : York Modern

York Modern : Model TA26B2 - 6' Rake [002216B2] - The York Rake Model TA26B2, 6' Width Consists of adjustable trailing hitch and 6' rake. Can be used ...

www.yorkmodern.com

It's not particularly heavy, the sulky wheels control the cut, and the drop down scrape blade can move material efficiently.
For a while, I had the control handle replaced with a hydraulic cylinder so I could change engagement on the fly. But with the draw bar on the 3pt, the elevation is easy to control.

 

[BufordBoone]

I have run my somewhat heavy (1,600 lbs.?) rear blade backwards if the driveway only needs a touchup, but for getting gravel back to the surface the 8' land plane is my weapon of choice.

And I don't necessarily run either one with the 3-point all the way down.

I do the same to get gravel "back to the surface"

This question, however is about getting it moved from the sides back onto the top.

 

[BufordBoone]

I run this type of York rake off the 3pt tool bar.

Model TA26B2 - 6' Rake [002216B2] - $2,083.00 : York Modern

York Modern : Model TA26B2 - 6' Rake [002216B2] - The York Rake Model TA26B2, 6' Width Consists of adjustable trailing hitch and 6' rake. Can be used ...

www.yorkmodern.com

It's not particularly heavy, the sulky wheels control the cut, and the drop down scrape blade can move material efficiently.
For a while, I had the control handle replaced with a hydraulic cylinder so I could change engagement on the fly. But with the draw bar on the 3pt, the elevation is easy to control.

My issue with my rake is that too much gravel goes between the tines.

That blade attachment looks like it would help in that regard.

 

[CalG]

My issue with my rake is that too much gravel goes between the tines.

That blade attachment looks like it would help in that regard.

The fold down blade is available as an add on for about $350 from York. If it would work with your rake, I can not say.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I do the same to get gravel "back to the surface"

This question, however is about getting it moved from the sides back onto the top.

If using the rear blade I run it angled so the gravel goes from the edges towards the center of the driveway.

With the land plane it ends up there automatically since its cutting edges are angled.