Rake Harley rakes - why so much?

[MLB]

Ok, correct me if I'm wrong but these just look like a powered pulverizer. Spins the roller faster than a pulled only unit so it "tills" better and spits rocks out.
BUT, if "all" it is, is(?) a pulverizer with a pto hookup, why the hell does it cost 6k??????????? Thats 5k more than a friction driven pulverizer!
I see guys saying they still box blade first when the ground is hard (ALWAYS here). So what is the great thing that makes it worth those bucks? Speed? I could see that if that's the case. But by the time you put a pulverizer on it's going to be pretty quick and look very nice too.
not knocking them, just trying to understand. Hype or real benefit (for the bucks)? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Hoeman00]

I'm kicking around buying one of these type units.
I just got a card from Deere for low financing on attachments for my SSL and Deere prices are about $ 500-800 more than the company that makes them.
If u got rocks u have to have a way to get them out and the only choices are the powered rake style or the rock hound style.
I know where a used 6' Harley w/ bars on the cylinder for $1500.
I'm looking at ATI preseeder too.
Also like the Preperator for the rock collecting too.
These units will level and screen soil so u can seed afterward.
The ATI and Harley w/ carbide teeth will tear up and level sod and weedy ground too so u don't need primary tillage.
I just picked up 6 more scarifier teeth for a boxblade (my boss gave them to me) so I'm going to build a 85" 9 shank chisel plow to tear up dirt before I rototill.
Them go over w/ 8' rake to pick rocks and then seed.

 

[_RaT_]

I understand your question and am sure had I never been exposed to a Harley, would be feeling much the same as you. Why do they cost so much, I think they are a pricey when I consider what's in it and should think there is a pretty decent profit. A figure of $3500 would seem a bit more adequate for the T-6 and its 6' carbide tipped roller. A pulverizer, well does a pulverizer separate out the rocks, roots, other debris etc. and put them in a row? The Harley rake will also do an incredible job of leveling while doing the pulverizing and separating. The final result is a seedbed for near perfect lawn seeding or sodding. In a area with lots of debris, even acres of it, you might think $6000 was a cheap price to pay considerinig the amount of work just accomplished and the speed at which you did it. As a way to help pay for it, demonstrate it to a few folks who might really benefit. You will probably be on of the few folks with one and might be in demand. Around here backhoes are a dime a dozen, I know of no other Harley rakes. Mine is a Pro8, a old style double roller 8' long.

 

[MLB]

Thanks guys. DIdn't realize they leveled as well. Rocks are a sometimes thing here, not always. That was the biggest question, are they MAINLY a rock removal item? (apparently not). WOuldn't be worth it to me as again, they aren't always a problem. The leveling part would be nice as I'm still not great getting perfectly smooth with my box blade.
We have very tough clay soil here and guys talk about ripping with the box scarifiers before harley raking, so it seems/seemed somewhat redundent. As with every thing in this business, if it saves you time it makes you money. Still does seem like quite a $ premium for what you get, but then the TR3 rake at 3500 makes a harley look reasonable. (again, for what you get)

Just a poor boy with 30k in tractor/trailer/implements, trying to buy ONLY what is really cost effective.
Thanks again. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[MLB]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm kicking around buying one of these type units.
I just got a card from Deere for low financing on attachments for my SSL and Deere prices are about $ 500-800 more than the company that makes them.
If u got rocks u have to have a way to get them out and the only choices are the powered rake style or the rock hound style.
I know where a used 6' Harley w/ bars on the cylinder for $1500.
I'm looking at ATI preseeder too.
Also like the Preperator for the rock collecting too.
These units will level and screen soil so u can seed afterward.
The ATI and Harley w/ carbide teeth will tear up and level sod and weedy ground too so u don't need primary tillage.
I just picked up 6 more scarifier teeth for a boxblade (my boss gave them to me) so I'm going to build a 85" 9 shank chisel plow to tear up dirt before I rototill.
Them go over w/ 8' rake to pick rocks and then seed. )</font>

Hoeman, I wish someone had personal experience with a Harley and the ATI unit. I've looked at the websites of each, but not seen either in person. Frankly, I wouldn't trust myself to be able to recognize the design, build, function differences between them. Sure would hate to make a 6k mistake!
how much is the ATI unit? (say 6' model for comparison).
Also, I'm not much of a wrench, do these break down a lot? Seems like a spinning roller kicking up rocks and hitting roots would be subject to breakdowns?

 

[_RaT_]

MLB, I only rip the soil when it will be used for planting. for our orchards, we deep rip as deep as we can. In one instance we had a CAT D11 with a 7 foot long kelley ripper, rip, then cross rip. By deep ripping, we find we get far better growing results. Now my boxscraper may only rip about a foot, but even that is greater then most tillers. The downside is that it makes for some large clods, the upside is that the Harley doesn't care. I have only done one modification to my Pro 8. The Pro 8 has 3 sets of different hydraulic funtions. Scarifiers, height adjustment and angle. The angle cylinder when fully extended has bent twice on me when the rake caught onto a large object and the tractor was in 4WD. I not only got a much larger hydraulic ram, but longer stroke and moved the pivot point out. Problem has never reoccured. If I was in the market for replacing my Pro 8, I'd be looking hard at the T-6. The carbide teeth may only be about 1" long, but it's exactly what would be needed to renovate old turf or level, clean, rake and prepare the seed bed. It's one of the funnest tools I have ever used on a tractor.

For about $1600, Harley will build me a carbide roller for my Pro 8. When the current horizontal bars wear out, I will probably get one. Tags, a member here has a Pro 6 he did it too and swears by it.

Check out Derek's posts in the photo section. He has a T-8 Harley. I'ts under Rowski.

P.S. you can order a Harley video by caling them. The video does not do it justice, but it's still good to watch.

 

[Bob_S]

I am interested in renting a power rake but the tips (stubs) on the rental unit seem worn out and I wasent sure if it would be worth the cost and aggravation. Can anyone give me a idea what tip length is reasonable or any other pitfalls I should be concerned with when concidering a rental.
Thanks in advance.

 

[MLB]

Thanks Rat, I'll get that video and check those pics.
Bob_S - FWIW I've read here that there is a learning curve with these, much like a box blade. So a one time job may not come out looking like those pro pics /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MLB]

You out there Tim?

I should come up and check yours out, if you were willing?

 

[MLB]

Thanks again Rat - Why the T6 vs the Pro 6?
I'm looking at these for business use, would be every day or close to it (better be if I spend the bucks) putting in lawns.
I've never seen rocks like they show in the brochures around here, more the leveling and soil prepping features. Do I need a Pro model? (assuming a HD difference with the Pro?)
Anyone familar with the differences?