Rake RAKING BEACH W/LANDSCAPE RAKE

[polkapoppy]

Does anyone have experience raking a beach with a landscape rake(york rake)? The sand is very loose and dry, which makes the wheels of the tractor sink in a few inches.
I have a 20hp Farm Pro, 2 wheel drive, with four stock weights on the front. The front tires are the three rib ag. tires. The rear are V ag tires.The front tires dig into the sand and skid when I'm turning. The rear tires don't seem to have much traction in reverse.
I cannot seem to lift or lower the rake fast enough to compensate for the irregular terrain of the beach. The York rake digs in and stalls the tractor.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

1) Add gauge wheels to rake?
2) Add more weight to the front?
3) Install wider front tires, i.e. flotation type used on hay wagons?
4) Replace rear tires for better reverse traction? What type?
5) Buy a 4wheel drive tractor?

PLEASE HELP!

Beachcomber

 

[sweettractors]

I vote for: 1 Add gauge wheels to rake? That should help a lot. Ken Sweet

 

[bjr]

I've adjusted the top link in more to get the rake tines to just drag more instead of digging in. The top link adjustment is critical for mine operations. I've found in some instances that a little more speed really helps just have make more passes. bjr

 

[polkapoppy]

Thank You for that advise I will buy a shorter top link and give it a try...

 

[djradz]

I vote for: 1 Add gauge wheels to rake? That should help a lot. Ken Sweet

I'll second that. You could also try turning the rake around, but that might be too much of a reduction then.

 

[sweettractors]

The wider the gauge wheels, the better. Ken Sweet