Rake Rake Gets Clogged, How to Clear it?

Oldtoad · Aug 27, 2020

Got a 7' Ringo rake, love it.
7' Rock Rake - Rock Rakes - Farm & Landscape Equipment
But it gets clogged when doing our thing.
Thinking of putting a hydraulic ram where the top link (or upper link) goes to push the rake up. Then I can back up and push the junk out of the rake.
Any other ideas?

Oldtoad · Aug 27, 2020

Well, after going at the mess with a shovel and a bar, decided on a hydraulic cylinder with a check valve.
Now, if it does not work as intended the ram is the right size to use on the main frame to swing the rake angle to and fro.
Category 1 Hydraulic Top Link: 25 9/16" - 41 5/16" | AGRISTORE USA

JohnnyMX · Aug 27, 2020

I have primarily used my right foot to clear my rake jams to date. It gets a bit old with all the on and off. I did try something new this week though and drove over my piles and dumped the rake contents on the say down. Seemed like the tractor was pitched more forward and it released better. This was raking grass clods, sticks and rocks aren't going to work. Also tried adjusting the speed of my pto release to let it down a bit faster to give it a little extra incentive to clear itself.

Oldtoad · Aug 27, 2020

Good tips. Thanks.
Backing up shakes it loose some but it jumps if I go too fast, that cannot be good.
I got the knarlies, nasty sticks, rocks and long grasses. Mowing would be brutal on the equipment.
But the deer plot is almost in for this year.
Need rain...

i7win7 · Aug 27, 2020

Removing every other tine may work better, may have to rake 2 different directions.

Oldtoad · Aug 28, 2020

i7win7 said:
Removing every other tine may work better, may have to rake 2 different directions.

Not sure if you are trying to be funny but I got a chuckle out of it. But I appreciate your suggestion. Thank you.
I rake into a pile and then go at the pile perpendicular, lengthwise to move it out of the way. Yes, that works pretty well.
At any rate the hydraulic top link with hoses has shipped, going to try that. If it does not work, have another use for the hydraulic cylinder, angling the rake.

3Ts · Aug 28, 2020

oldtoad said:
Not sure if you are trying to be funny but I got a chuckle out of it. But I appreciate your suggestion. Thank you.
I rake into a pile and then go at the pile perpendicular, lengthwise to move it out of the way. Yes, that works pretty well.
At any rate the hydraulic top link with hoses has shipped, going to try that. If it does not work, have another use for the hydraulic cylinder, angling the rake.

He was serious. I had lots of problems with stuff getting tangled in my rake also, until I removed 2 out of every 3 tines. Now it works just fine and most of the time when I lift the rake the stuff falls out. I still manage to rake up all but the smallest stuff and still have to dislodge some of the bigger clumps from the rake.

Oldtoad · Aug 28, 2020

3Ts said:
He was serious. I had lots of problems with stuff getting tangled in my rake also, until I removed 2 out of every 3 tines. Now it works just fine and most of the time when I lift the rake the stuff falls out. I still manage to rake up all but the smallest stuff and still have to dislodge some of the bigger clumps from the rake.

Ok, point taken. Thanks.
I use the rake on my gravel/mud driveway.
Works so good with all of it's teeth, could not imagine taking any out.

BigYoung · Sep 18, 2020

JohnnyMX said:
I have primarily used my right foot to clear my rake jams to date. It gets a bit old with all the on and off.

A rake is a wonderful tool to get a cleared area ready for the mower - I love mine and it does get old as an old fat man
hopping off to clean the rake. Like Johnny I used my foot - until I found a 2 ft section of 1x6 to slide between the tines.
Usually with the rake lifted just have slide it every couple of feet (3 spots) to get it cleared. A section of 5/4 deckboard 6 " wide is even better. Strap it to the top of the rake with rubber bungie. Quick work.

i7win7 · Sep 19, 2020

oldtoad said:
Ok, point taken. Thanks.
I use the rake on my gravel/mud driveway.
Works so good with all of it's teeth, could not imagine taking any out.

1st time I removed every other tine, I was getting washout from local cement plant. I was separating 3"+ rocks from everything else. Now removing 80-100 dead trees from our woods. Branches shatter when tree is felled, also grapple breaks pieces off transporting debris to burn pile. These 1"+ pieces wedge between the tines as they flex when dragging rake.

If you find a cheap used rake remove every other tine - different rakes for different jobs.