Spring cleanup made easy- new dethatcher

[HarleyScooter]

I started on this last fall and finally finished it and put it to use. It worked very good. I used the modified BX grill guard to mount the dethatcher and the hyd. lift cylinder.

 

[HarleyScooter]

Here it is mounted on the tractor. Since the valve for the snow blade was unused all summer I thought I would hook something up to it.

 

[HarleyScooter]

My little tractor with the bagger system finally gave up last fall so I bought a lawn vacum to replace it. The plan was to use the dethatcher to loosen up acorns,small sticks stuck in the yard, and left over leaves. It worked real good, but you really have to watch out when you turn this thing with the front dethatcher and rear bagger mounted solid, no pivoting it sure covers alot of ground.

 

[HarleyScooter]

After the yard was clean, a couple of passes with the roller got it flat again. Then core areation and fertilizer, now I am waiting for it to grow. The yard looks really bad right now (like a flock of geese used it for a dump site) but it will get better.
Scott

 

[milkman]

Genius!!!! I like the use of the grill guard mount system, better patent it before Kubota steals it, that looks like a good place to start a system for front TPH attachments for the BX series, all kinds of possibilities and a good way around the costly Kubota front hitch. Like I said GENIUS!!!! If I could fab metal like that, I'd steal it.

 

[Blagadan]

Good work HS. Nice fabrication. Really like your lawn vacuum rig. looks like a lot of cu ft there in the bag... Ideal for thatch. When I made my front rake I didnt realise just how much thatch would be torn out and with my little bagger I make one 100ft pass and I'm heading for the compost corner... Having a huge bagger on the back like your one is the way to go...

 

[milkman]

Scott, can I get a pic. of this area only full size, I'd like to see how you have the loader control hooked up. I'd appreciate it. Guess I could figure it out though. The work on that dethatcher is amazing, looks like something from the factory.

 

[HarleyScooter]

Thanks for the comments. Milkman; I just bought two more couplers and they are hooked to the up/ down / float side of the valve. I put the chain on the lift arm so there would be no restriction on the up and down movement of the thatcher even though the valve has a float position. (just click on the picture and it should get big)
Scott

 

[sixdogs]

What a beautiful system! Congratulatiosn.

How did you post the photos that way? Seems like the way to go.

 

[wedge40]

Wow Scott. I agree, I'd patent that system. I have one that you drag behind the mower and since you're dragging it you have to be careful or alway be looking back to make sure you don't get hung up on something.

I do need to get a core aerator this spring.

Wedge

 

[HarleyScooter]

Sixdogs; the pictures were just posted using additional options/ manage attachments, someone on this forum must have set it up to show the little pictures instead of just the link to the pictures. I like it better too.
Wedge; I think the core areation really helps the yard, I do it 2 or 3 times a year. I just have a Agre-Fab tow behind that I converted to a 3 point attachment. I would really like to have a good one like a Woods, maybe this year.
Scott

 

[milkman]

Sixdogs; the pictures were just posted using additional options/ manage attachments, someone on this forum must have set it up to show the little pictures instead of just the link to the pictures. I like it better too.
Wedge; I think the core areation really helps the yard, I do it 2 or 3 times a year. I just have a Agre-Fab tow behind that I converted to a 3 point attachment. I would really like to have a good one like a Woods, maybe this year.
Scott

You're too good, putting a lot of us to shame and filling our heads with ideas. Thanks.

 

[ELMO67]

Wow I didn't realize it would be that easy to post pictures ( computer illiterate and "time challenged" as well). I have to start taking pictures and posting my projects!

 

[hansoncarla]

I started on this last fall and finally finished it and put it to use. It worked very good. I used the modified BX grill guard to mount the dethatcher and the hyd. lift cylinder.

I'm curious how you anchored the spring sets on the shaft. I see the spring sets with the flat connector between them, but don't see how you hold them for tension, yet still be able to take them off for replacement. I trying to modify my pull behind to mount on the front of my zero-turn.

 

[PhysAssist]

Wow Scott. I agree, I'd patent that system. I have one that you drag behind the mower and since you're dragging it you have to be careful or alway be looking back to make sure you don't get hung up on something.

I do need to get a core aerator this spring.

Wedge

I'm not as cleaver as Scott, but I still like our "dethatcher" or poor man's yard rake.

It does a pretty bang up job too.

But unfortunately, like Wedge's it mounts on the rear 3-point hitch:

I had originally made the frame with the angle irons as a light duty carry-all- all parts of that were salvaged from a dumpster at my old hospital job.

The gray frame I was able to use with the only mods being adding the 3-point mounts on it.


I bought [oh that phrase hurt me] the 1.25 " black iron pipe from Lowe's, and the hay rake teeth on Ebay.




The hooks just happened to be laying around so I thought they might be useful on the carry-all.



When we tried the rake without the 2x4, the all-thread wanted to bend and sag, which let the rake teeth rotate forward and get uneven, so I notched a board I had nearby and used some metal strapping to reinforced the all-thread and hold it up into the retaining hooks on the teeth.



It works great for all manner of yard debris including the drifted leaves and branches that the trees spent the late fall and winter spewing all over the "yard"



It was even pretty good to spread out and level some of the loose piles of gravel left from snow plowing.



It wouldn't be good for anything too heavy or packed though, because at present it only held down by the weight of the angle irons and attached bits and bobs.

If we think it needs more downforce at some point. I'll add some springs.

Thomas

 

[Muhammad]

Nice work, PhysAssist. Thanks for posting.

 

[PhysAssist]

Nice work, PhysAssist. Thanks for posting.

Hi Muhammad,

Thanks, it's a little crude, but very effective at what we need it to do.

I'm flattered by your noticing, as I don't often see you commenting on threads other than n administrative issues here.

Thomas