Landscape Rake Problem with BX22

[Junkman]

I have a problem with the landscape rake taking too deep a bit even with the wheels lowered as far as they can go. I was using it with the top link at its shortest distance, which allowed the rake to raise quite high. I then lengthen the top link and this allowed the rake to take a shallower bite and it worked better, but wouldn't lift but an inch or so when raising the 3 point hitch. The rake is a standard production Howse. I believe that the geometry is wrong for the BX, but don't know how to correct this. I have taken some pictures that I will post in the next few "replies" so you can see what I am referring to... The first picture is the link fully extended and the rake raised.
Thanks for the help...

 

[Junkman]

link extended and rake lowered.....

 

[Junkman]

top link closed and rake raised.....

 

[Junkman]

top link tight and rake lowered...

 

[Junkman]

I have also tried it with the top link in various states from fully extended to fully closed and it doesn't seem to work well at all in between. Only when the top link was fulled extended was I able to rake with any amount of success.

 

[DCRC]

Looks like the rake is made for a taller tractor.

I would look and see if you could modify the arm or rake to work better with your tractor. I would do this by either trying to attach the rake portion to the top side of the red arm, or by cutting the red arm and making it into Z shape, or over lap the two cut piece and weld them together. basically the red arm of the rake would extend over the top of the red arm coming off the 3 point parallel to each other. Weld them together or even add a spacer (another piece of square tubing) between them and then weld it all up. This way the portion of the rake that attaches to the tractor would be lower to the ground and extend rearward "Z"ing upward to to the rake.

Hope this helps and you can figure out what I'm trying to say.

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> I believe that the geometry is wrong for the BX, but don't know how to correct this. </font>

You may be right there...

Coming in from a different angle, I can report that I have gravitated to using my landscape rake (KK) on my B2910 rather than the BX, even if the BX is sitting there with nothing on the 3PH and the B2910 has something on the back that I have to take off first.

I think it is because the rake just works a lot better on the back of the larger tractor. I never took the time to figure out why...

That is without gage wheels though. I just ordered some this week...

I drilled holes in the lift rod ends to get more lift on my BX 3PH and I am not sure if that makes any difference or not, other than it does let me rotate the rake around without the end hitting the ground. Mine is a 6' rake.

I guess I am not being of much help...other than to confirm that perhaps standard size implements don't always work that well on the BX almost-but-not-quite CAT1 3PH... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Mrwurm]

I had the same problem with my rake when I had a John Deere 650. I solved it by modifying my rake. I lowered the top attachment point and the lower attachment points.
See photo

 

[Mrwurm]

Here's a closer view.

 

[art]

All sub-compacts built so far have a Cat 0-1 hitch which is smaller then the cat 1 hitch system. You can modify but sometimes it's easier to find the right equipment.