Question regarding homemade backhoe rake

   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake #1  

old cheddar

New member
Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Messages
8
Location
Prescott Ontario
Tractor
kubota l2800
Hello

THis is my first post.

My question follows the quick description of what I plan to do with this.

I have a few acres of roots to deal with. All are shallow and fairly easy to pull with backhoe, I have been considering a root rake, but because of the volume of roots, I will constantly be jambing up and just spinning the wheels. The land is mucky, and it isn't difficult to get mired.

I think that a backhoe rake would be best suited to my needs. Since I cannot find any such thing, I prototyped this design out of mdf. and plastic pipe which I plan on getting this professionally cut and welded out of 1/2" steel and thick walled pipe. Do you think it will work. That is will it need more than pipe to keep it from racking and twisting? This prototype is 32" wide. I just took a stab at the shape of the tines, nothing scientific.

I have included pictures of a small patch of ground I cleared experimentally, and show also a picture of the mountain of roots from that small zone.

Thanks and I look forward to your inputs.
 

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   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake #2  
Welcome to TBN! :thumbsup:

Nice mock-up.
 
   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake #3  
I'll take a stab at this, and say that given the size of the backhoe, I think it'd work out.

The 1/2" thick tines should be plenty. Make sure you specify at least Schedule 40 or thicker for the pipe.

Only concern I'd have is on the total length, with the outside tines really pulling on those pipes. But since it's a small backhoe, I'd imagine you'd hit the relief pressure or drag the tractor around before it could really bend anything badly. And even slightly tweaked tines would still rake just fine.
 
   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake #4  
I think the design would work fine. If you decide to do this definitely let us know how it works out.
 
   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Thanks for the inputs. I will specify the schedule 40, and probably should add some plate steel between the pipes as well to keep the outer tines a bit more stiff. I'll be happy to post pics when it gets done.
 
   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake #6  
I have a Kubota 33 HP with a 7' Kubota backhoe. My tractor would not be able to use a tool that wide. I dig out stumps and roots all the time with the 16" bucket on my backhoe I don't see where that would do any better than my bucket with teeth but I would love to give it a try. I think your tractor is bigger than mine so maybe it will work for me the lack of weight of my tractor is the biggest limitation curling the bucket against the ground brakes the roots the best but if they are too thick I dig at them a little at a time so my limitation is not having the bucket on but the lack of weight and HP raising my HP would not help that much because the tractor is not heavy enough.

Your design looks great and may work with your tractor.
 
   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake #7  
Looks good and I agree with the others I think it would work fine. Lot of excavators that have these are designed with replaceable teeth was wondering if you had considered them of course these excavators are sometimes used day in and day out in every soil type there is. I don't think you would need them it would take years to wear down the tines digging roots if you have minimal rocks in your area. In your 3rd picture I don't see any rocks.

Looks as if your design gives you a full range of motion. Nice mock up. Later on you might want a hydraulic thumb to compliment your rake. I like suggesting ways of spending someone elses money.:)

:welcome: to TBN
 
   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake
  • Thread Starter
#8  
No rocks to dig out A thumb will come at some point I hope. My land clearing strategy is to leave the big trees alone for now. I use my brush cutter to level all the vegetation. Any big stumps will be removed by bucket. Next I'll swap over to the backhoe rake. My wife will maneuver tractor about, and I'll rake. I will sort compostable stuff from the woody roots. And finally I'll dig pits to bury the woody roots or burn them. Slow process, but it's fun.
 
   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake #9  
Beautiful prototyping job. I could probably use something like that later in my project. For now I'm digging up 5 acres of stumps.
 
   / Question regarding homemade backhoe rake #10  
Might a good discing be more effective?

Also, if the outside tines twist and torque the boom and dipper too much, you can just cut them off right?
 

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