Rake My next attachment...a rake???

Redbug · Dec 11, 2007

I noticed that guage wheels are an option with the Landpride and Woods. I suppose they can be taken off and on, depending on the job? After reading the opinions, 7' is OK for me after all.

cmhyland · Dec 11, 2007

Redbug,
I own a Landpride 6' rake. I purchased it without the wheels amd used it for about 3 or 4 years without the wheels.... I then went and picked up the wheels and have been very happy... The Landpride equipment is well made...
My rake is heavy. The heavier the better .... IMHO

Land Pride LR15 Landscape Rakes

Everyone's experiences may vary... Especially in different conditions.

Out in the west you get that baked hard soil... It's like stone... It has to be pulverized rather than raked.

farm23 · Dec 11, 2007

I have been following this thread with interest as I need to get a landscape rake or a chain harrow. For some reason the Land Pride web site is down. Are they still in business? For the uniformed when would a landscape rake be better?

MJPetersen · Dec 11, 2007

Andy is right in that a very experienced operator can get a good looking surface with a RB or a Rake. However, if you have a shorter tractor, less experience, and uneven surface, you will get a nicer looking, smoother surface faster with gauge wheels than even an experienced operator can get it done.

Mike

Redbug · Dec 11, 2007

I think the LandPride web site is temporarily down, because I was on it Monday and it was OK.

I was quoted $960 today for the Woods medium duty 7' rake...model LR107-2. Without the guage wheels, which is extra. I have not done any shopping around or haggling, yet. That was just at one place.

I noticed that if you want a Woods 7' wide, it has to be medium duty. The standard duty is only in the 6', model LR72. I will look at the LandPrides, also.

cmhyland · Dec 11, 2007

I think it makes sense to go with the medium duty or higher if you can swing the bucks. Stronger is better..

The Landpride site was up earlier today. I went there in the am.

Regards,
Chris

WayneB · Dec 11, 2007

TC29-dude said:
Has anyone used a FC or any rake with a gauge wheel? Is it worth getting that option? What kinds of things have you guys done with yours?
TC29-dude

One Word YES

bobmisi · Dec 11, 2007

I know at least ten people with rakes and everyone agrees that having one without wheels is a poor investment, unless all you want to do is rake out roots and rocks, or clear an area of junk. If you have to grade then do yourself a favor and get the wheels. Also raking and grading takes its toll, so get the best you can afford, unless you're buying it for limited or short term work. Then again, maybe you are an expert tractor operator who can also walk on water.......................

Tact · Dec 12, 2007

cmhyland said:
Andy,
Are you saying you can follow the contour of the ground by feel better than the guage wheels? Or are you saying you can make adjustments anticipating something?

The only thing the guage wheels would prevent you from doing is digging deeper in a specific spot, or backing up closer to something.

I'll agree I don't have near your experience with the tool but I have used it both ways.

So as a learning experience what is it that the wheels prevent you from doing?

Thanks,
Chris

I think what Andy is saying by "feel", and I do the same, is that I "feel" the contour of the ground with my tractor and anticipate the adjustment with the lift arms for the rake. I hope that makes sense. Again, it come with practice and it's very similar to grading with a box blade.

flINTLOCK · Dec 12, 2007

I made a mess of my asphalt millings driveway topping before I got my wheels for Landpride 2584. Very pleased with it. Like the hydraulic toplink to change attitude of teeth. Don't have power tilt though.

jake98 · Dec 13, 2007

bobmisi said:
I know at least ten people with rakes and everyone agrees that having one without wheels is a poor investment, unless all you want to do is rake out roots and rocks, or clear an area of junk. If you have to grade then do yourself a favor and get the wheels. Also raking and grading takes its toll, so get the best you can afford, unless you're buying it for limited or short term work. Then again, maybe you are an expert tractor operator who can also walk on water.......................

there are quite a few of those operators, apparently...
jake

ps seems to me that no matter how nice it looks when you're done, if you did the rough grading with a rake, it all settles crooked in a year or so. i think you need to do rough grading with a dozer.

Solo · Dec 14, 2007

I've been real happy with the Leinbach rake I bought this summer. $450 for the 6' rake and $285 for the guage wheels. I use mine for my driveway, 1100' of gravel. Take a look at my photo gallery for some pics.

Solo

TC29-dude · Dec 22, 2007

Got my rake home today...to rainy to play with it. It looks sturdy enough.

TC29-dude · Dec 27, 2007

Field test review...
I got to put my rake to work yesterday. It did an amazing job picking rocks,
grading my logging trail and herding contruction trash.

Of course I was so busy having fun that I forgot to take any pix. I didn't get gauge wheels and am now glad I didn't as I don't think I would use them. I really didn't have any trouble getting it to float along behind me.

The only concern is that I wish it was a little heavier but I am working on that. And it would look better if it was blue!

pitt_md · Jul 28, 2008

I have been using a friends york rake that has the wheels on back and at first I thought they just got in the way and adjusted them all the way up to let the teeth do their thing on a freshly graded construction site. Later I was trying to use it to remove LOTS of rock from another site where I buried the old house. Lots of chunks of bedrock and root debris. What I found was that with the wheels all the way up you just keep digging up more rock with each pass. This is good to a point but when you have a couple inches of soil on top it's time to leave it alone and the wheels were great for this. I put them down to only let the teeth dig in a little and I was able to gather all the rock on the top and not dig up more. I have used tractors a lot and I understand what is ment by anticipating a required change in the 3pt height. I just don't think you can do it as well or with as much ease as with the wheels.

jwnge · Jul 28, 2008

I saw a rake behind a tractor doing some final work on a seed bed for grass. This one had a piece of maybe 4X6 angle iron bolted with u bolts to the bottom of the tines about 2 or 3 inches up in maybe 4 or so places .This kept it from digging deep and also acted like a drag. This did a very nice smooth job. It was for a new resturant im my area and was being done by a professional landscaper. This might work for some other applications also.

Gizmo2 · Jul 28, 2008

Funny, I never, or hardly ever, adjust the gauge wheels (once set) up or down. I leave the gauge wheels alone and adjust the depth of penetration by use of the top link. On the finish run I adjust the top link so the teeth just barely touch. Smooth as glass every time!

bob_wood · Jul 31, 2008

Gizmo2 said:
Funny, I never, or hardly ever, adjust the gauge wheels (once set) up or down. I leave the gauge wheels alone and adjust the depth of penetration by use of the top link. On the finish run I adjust the top link so the teeth just barely touch. Smooth as glass every time!

Thats Just the way I operate too Gizmo, I never touch the gauge wheel adjustment and use my hydraulic top link to fine tune the tine depth. Having the wheels allows the rake to fill in the voids and knock off the high spots. I would not have a rake without wheels ! I have a 1200 foot driveway and its topped off with hardpack ( crushed stone ). The rake works Real good in maintaining the driveway as well as miles of woods roads. I have said before, the rake is my most used attachment.

Bob