Rake Got a Landscape Rake - Advice on Angle

[Jim_Fisher]

Steve,

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One more question - Do you apply much downward pressure to get it to bite in, or just let it's weight do the work for you? )</font>

On my Befco rake, I control how aggressively the rake digs in by adjusting the top link. The more that I lengthen the top link the more the teeth dig in.

 

[gcrabb]

Thanks for the comment on the wheels, I have pondering purchasing them for about a year.

I have KK 84" landscape rake.

Has anyone given any consideration to adding hydraulics to adjust the angle?

Doesn't seem like it would take much time with a welder and a couple pieces of metal plus the ram.

Greg

 

[Freds]

The guage wheels will help keep you from grabbing too much stuff as you can set the tines slightly above the ground and put the 3pt in float. You will find that once you start grabbing debris and stuff that a lot of dirt will get dragged along, also. Setting the rake at an angle will help some of it spill back out, but you will still have to drop your load every once in a while and then go back, not lower the rake as much and try to pull the debris away from the dirt you want to stay.
I would work a smaller area, move onto another area and then blend the two together.

 

[Boiler74]

If you're tryingt pull out limbs, sticks, etc. you might want to take off every other tine. I do that when cleaning up after taking down trees, etc. and it works well. Doesn't clog up as much.

Also, be careful if you're pulling out long branches/sticks. I had one catch up in the rake and jamb under the tractor, breaking a barb connector for a breather tube. Also ripped apart a wiring harness. They like to jump up at you.

My experience - hope it helps.

 

[bandit67]

I decided to get the rake with no wheels to start too. That was 2 months ago, and now I'm getting ready to buy the gauge wheels. It's too much of a pain to try to keep the rake skimming along especially if you're trying to level uneven areas without the wheels. My only previous raking experience was the small York rakes with wheels that drag behind a garden tractor years ago. I guess I forgot how much I used the wheels while raking (not just transporting) on that rake.

So, I'm buying a set for my 3ph rake.

 

[SteveH_CT]

Thanks for the advice - like you I'll give it a go without the wheels - and like you I'll probably end up getting them /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. I looked at your pics - very cool looking tractor!

 

[nick37]

With my Land Pride rake with gauge wheels that roll behind the tines, I find that the top-link adjustment is just the opposite of the Befco rake post. I have to shorten the top-link to get a more aggressive bite. I could adjust the wheel heights, but that's so much easier to do with 3 hands, so if I need different cuts for the same job, I use the toplink. For example when putting in new lawn, I used the shortened top-link inward angle for the rough stuff early and extended the top-link for those last passes before seeding.

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Has anyone given any consideration to adding hydraulics to adjust the angle?

Doesn't seem like it would take much time with a welder and a couple pieces of metal plus the ram.

Greg )</font>

I have considered it many times, but just haven't come up with the correct cylinder to do it and the time to make it happen. Too many other things keeping me busy. Here is a picture of one that I grabbed off a post a long time ago. Sometimes it is the simple things that take the longest to accomplish..... like cleaning the garage.. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> 'I'd want my attachments to look good and be color coordinated!" </font>

So my green and yellow tractor with the gray hydraulic cylinders, red quick hitch and rusty gold implement wouldn't be right up your alley, then? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dougzdog]

york brand makes a landscape rake with hydralic angle but it is almost 3k. you can buy the hydraulic angle kit seperaltely, on the website.