Landscape Rake Gauge Wheels

[BukitCase]

Unless your gauge wheels "float" also? Are they mounted so they're in a FIXED position, or ???

 

[donconnery]

First off, apologies Don - I wuz starting to think you were "that dumb" (which still beats "stupid" - "dumb" is usually curable by learning, where "stupid" usually isn't

Second, I WAS "that dumb", never knew Kubota's smaller tractors didn't have position control (all my stuff is old, see my list)

Anyway, if I read your comments right your 3ph has only 2 modes, float or lift? See if this would work to get repeatability -

Set your gear up STATIC, with rake at depth (and attach angle) you want, adjust gauge wheels so they're on the ground - then set some blocks UNDER your lift arms, and try to lower the 3PH FURTHER - this is to make sure there IS no "power down" (you already "fooled me ONCE" :laughing

If the above is TRUE, you may be able to rig a couple chains and/or a turnbuckle of some sort, so that your 3PH can NOT go any LOWER than those "snubbers" - if that works, then you would just raise the 3PH between passes/turn-arounds, and lower it ALL THE WAY for the next run - that should get you the repeatability, and it's a few $$$ cheaper than a new tractor

any confusion on what I said please ask... Steve

HAHA!

As far as having two modes, that seems right. I mean, I can set it somewhere in between obviously, but yeah lever forward drops lift arms, lever backward lifts lift arms. Before I go into rigging up some blocks and chains and etc, let me ask you this....Maybe this would be better explained using my boxblade and an example, since it has a front and back as opposed to just a row of tines....

I lift the BB off the ground say, 1/8 of an inch, and it is level front to back. As lightly as I can possibly push, I lower the lift arms. The front and back of the BB contact the ground at the exact same time. The only problem is, my lift arms can still drop a little farther, which then throws everything out of wack. This is crappily demonstrated in the video I posted. Is this what you're getting at when you say to rig something up to prevent them from going further down then ground contact?

 

[donconnery]

I see what you meant by chain, my original chain comment was in regads to zzvyb6. Slowly starting to see why that reply with quote is so handy haha.

 

[donconnery]

Unless your gauge wheels "float" also? Are they mounted so they're in a FIXED position, or ???

They are mounted to the fame of the rake. There is a tiny bit of wiggle room due to machining but basically no they don't float.

 

[BukitCase]

Can you post a pic looking FORWARD at the rear (hitch) area of your tractor, specifically including where the toplink attaches?

 

[donconnery]

 

[Avenger]

After just watching (and commenting) on your video Don, I think I may have an idea:

Extend out your top link. Your lift arms "pull" down after you have it where the wheels are on the ground. So move your top link out and let them fall, that way your cutting angle isnt so raked back.
There must be a way to lower the lift arms completely and have the rake at the optimum angle for you. However, your cut will probably be too heavy now... CRAP! :mur:

I'll be honest, not a fan of that control lever.

Maybe get a trailer jack with a wheel. Bolt it to the frame in front of the rake. Let it ride on that wheel when it's in the down position. IDK. Now, I'm just spitballing stupid ideas.

 

[BukitCase]

OK, that helps - except there's a hose blocking the view of where your toplink hooks to the tractor - looks like there's at least one un-used hole BELOW where the toplink mounts, with some kind of pin in it - two q's, is that pin DOING anything other than filling the hole, and (2) is there more than one option for where the toplink itself goes? IME, most tractors offer at least two positions, some three. Lowest position gives you the most lift range (geometry) and highest one gives you the most lift capacity.

What I'm looking for here is a NON-moving mount for upper end of chains that is also CLEAR LINE OF SIGHT to where your snubbers mount (the turnbuckle just ahead of the lift pins) ... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

I'm not sure how far to carry this BS (Brain Storm ) 'cause I haven't seen a welder in your pics (does anybody NOT check out backgrounds??!?)
But I DO have some other possible suggestions depending on the answer... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Actually, I have a couple other ideas that do NOT involve welding but I need to re-mount the deck on my ZTR, dang weeds're gettin' the better of me - I'll check back later... Steve