How good or useful is a tractor rake?

[wooftank]

Guess it also depends how even is your ground

 

[Onecountry]

Been looking at one of these for use in timber by wood pile and using on roads on farm.

 

[kenhar]

Depends entirely on what you're raking. Works fine around the house but not in the woods or clearing ground. Raking brush, I use a chisel plow with all the teeth on the back row. Spring mounted teeth work best. Can't use on a small tractor very well because of the ground clearance. Does wonders raking tree limbs and brush.

 

[jjeff]

Recently bought a 60," Chinese made rake plugs into a 2," receiver fortunately I had hacked together three point trailer mover with a 2" receiver so I plug it into that ran it down overgrown Xmas tree rows picks up branches and any other debris blocking my rows run into piles lift three point and it drops it off in piles usually I'll torch or chip them. Works great because it was a receiver plug in attachment was a fraction of the price of a dedicated tph attachment can take pics of my set up available on request. I do use a hydraulic top link with it seems to make it work more effectively. Finally starting to get pretty good using 8018 electrode simply turning down the amperage turns what sounded like burning bacon blow thrus into properly cooking bacon lol.
I might hard face the rake tines with 8018 especially if I'm using it to clean up branch and other debris off drivable gravel access rds.

 

[Runner]

Recently bought a 60," Chinese made rake plugs into a 2," receiver fortunately I had hacked together three point trailer mover with a 2" receiver so I plug it into that ran it down overgrown Xmas tree rows picks up branches and any other debris blocking my rows run into piles lift three point and it drops it off in piles usually I'll torch or chip them. Works great because it was a receiver plug in attachment was a fraction of the price of a dedicated tph attachment can take pics of my set up available on request. I do use a hydraulic top link with it seems to make it work more effectively. Finally starting to get pretty good using 8018 electrode simply turning down the amperage turns what sounded like burning bacon blow thrus into properly cooking bacon lol.
I might hard face the rake times with 8018 especially if I'm using it to clean up branch and other debris off drivable gravel access rds.

That is a very interesting observation. I wonder if the reduced weight (not having the three-point connection A-frame) helps it to "float" and not dig in?

When you are using it, do you have it tilted forward or backward with the top link?

 

[jjeff]

The trailer mover i Hacked together that I plug it into has A frame it was mostly off a repurposed tp attachment in derelict condition I had no use for. I did have use for a tph trailer mover though. You run the hydraulic top link retracted it does seem more aggressive and the tines dig in the ground sometimes aggressively, extended its less aggressive think because the curvature of end of tines are more parallel if not floating above ground. You really want to use the rake aggressively which I don't recommend especially the quality of this one you can retract the top link break thru the ground then extend top link until you hit rocks or roots it can dig down pretty aggressively. Not using the draft control. Both my old kubotas have two different set ups for using tph regular up down found on most tractors and draft control lever which is what I normally use when rakes on. Anyways I usually set draft control midway and use lever for controlling top link and subsequent tine angle.

 

[sixdogs]

I've heard that you can plow snow with a landscape rake, but never tried it. Never understood why it might work better than a blade, but maybe the tine arrangement allows any gravel that it picked up to fall through while the snow is lighter and keeps rolling sideways?

I'm going to have to remember to break out the rake and try it sometime.

I think the vibrating times help work the snow to the side of the blade and off the edge. It doesn't flow through the tines, nor do any stones. You can't use a rake on soft gravel and set it down hard on the gravel or it will pick some up.

I keep my 8 ft blade on a sharp angle so that also helps the snow ever to the edge. Best is on frozen ground and not possible on a snow that has set on warm ground or a few days. Shorter rakes work since you'r driving over the snow first, before the rake hits it.

 

[Rockbadchild]

"the most useful implements" ?? hard not to find that funny as a statement.

your #5 is a good idea, I would think it would work great for that

''5)We have a horse paddock that's compacted with sand on it. It's about 50x60, level & hard as concrete. Horse piles I clean area every 2 weeks or so. Would it work for that?''

 

[sixdogs]

"the most useful implements" ?? hard not to find that funny as a statement.

your #5 is a good idea, I would think it would work great for that

''5)We have a horse paddock that's compacted with sand on it. It's about 50x60, level & hard as concrete. Horse piles I clean area every 2 weeks or so. Would it work for that?''

Pretty sure of it. I'd borrow one first to try it out but should be no problem. Best if you have draft control so the dips and lumps get flattened out, rather than accentuated.

 

[sixdogs]

Understanding Draft Control---Here's a thread on draft control. Yes, landscapes rake without it but they tend to raise high spots further and the low spots lower. Draft control is where the magic happens.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/understanding-draft-control.443419/

 

[Captain Dirty]

Few of us on TBN have the practice and skill to keep implements on the 3-point of our compact tractors level as the tractor pitches on uneven ground. I'll wager fewer still have draft control on their compact or smaller tractor or even know what draft control does. As many have stated, gauge wheel are almost a necessity with landscape rakes. I concur with their usefulness. I also concur with the practice of less aggressive raking with the tines reversed (concave backwards with respect of direction of travel). A shopper for a rake should be aware of some geometries that may affect these practices.

Can one spin the rake 360° (or 180°)? Some structures may impinge on this. A long rake may not turn when attached, or the parking stand stub may interfere. Other structures may strike the arm between the 3-point and rake swivel. The quickest work-around is to rake "reversed" in reverse. How close are the gauge wheels to the tines? On York rakes the casters do not have clearance between the vertical pin and the tines. On my Land-Pride there is enough room for the wheels to pivot 360°, and the longer arms make for smoother raking but limit some close space maneuverability. This is not an endorsement for either brand but somethings to consider when shopping.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Understanding Draft Control---Here's a thread on draft control. Yes, landscapes rake without it but they tend to raise high spots further and the low spots lower. Draft control is where the magic happens.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/understanding-draft-control.443419/

Thanks. I'll have to read it carefully. When I first got my Deere the hitch arms pulsed up and down so I adjusted draft all the way where it's been ever since.

 

[garry1p]

I suspect one would be OK for gravel, but heavy cut grass limbs and stuff they get to clogged up to quick

 

[Gregster613]

In the 40+ acre corn and straw fields near me, the farmers now come thru with rakes with rear wheels.

The intent is to gather up all the stalks. Take to a paper processor making TP or paper bags. Its no more an issue cutting down the forest making paper when other organic fibers are now collected as renewable resources.

View attachment 4279152

bmaverick, Will you identify which particular brand of rake that is please. Those gauge wheels look like they are readily available for adaption to another rake and they look quite stout also. Thanks Greg

 

[Sportsman762]

bmaverick, Will you identify which particular brand of rake that is please. Those gauge wheels look like they are readily available for adaption to another rake and they look quite stout also. Thanks Greg

Its a Dirt Dog

Rakes Archives - Dirt Dog Manufacturing

www.dirtdogmfg.com

 

[Equatorial Malaise]

I've been learning to use mine as I'm clearing about 50 acres. Generally it does what I want it to but frequently gets jammed up with sticks. I'm going remove some tires as has been suggested here and see how that goes.

 

[WM75Guy]

I bought a 7' Land Pride rake when we cleared out under our trees 18 years ago. I worked OK to pile up the small limbs and such left behind after the dozer finished its work. It has sat since then. I do have gauge wheels. I have other implements for doing dirt work that work better such as a box blade, land plane, arena drag, and drag harrows.

 

[Sportsman762]

I have had good luck using a landscape rake to collect branches and brush. Currently I am in the market for one. It seems folks want to pay more than I want for everything that shows up.

 

[Tony H]

It will be to heavy and harsh on a lawn. As mentioned, leveling out a gravel driveway, angling it to rake up forest trails, raking out rocks from an area you just dug up. Maybe your horse paddock.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I ordered this from Amazon. I'm 100% sure it's Chinese but $169? It had good reviews actually and someone posted a video using it. I have a ton of pine needles to get up.
When I ordered it just now it posted $149.95.
"Hipicute" brand