well that didn't last long

[barneyZ]

This spring, I bought a landscape rake at a local ranch supply. There were no brand name markings on it but they sell mostly King Kutter. Yesterday, the bolt that holds the rake to the 3pt arm broke free of the arm. The weld snapped. I probably had 20 hours on it. I was using it to rake rocks from my future yard, and occasionally, rake the gravel driveway. I never did get the hang of raking rocks. Mostly, I got 80% dirt with a few rocks. I was going to try and fashon some guage wheels. I'm glad I never got around to that as I'm sure it would have voided any warranty or return policy.

Tomorrow, I take it back and ask for a refund. any bets on my success?

P.s. I've got blisters from using the 2pt (left hand, right hand) landscape rake. those old machines don't have much power, but they get the job done.

 

[Ductape]

I'll bet a dollar they don't take it back. If it broke within a week..... that might be different. Sounds like a good excuse to beef it up, and maybe modify it with hydraulic angle control?

 

[john_bud]

I doesn't sound like a KK rake. They sticker up their product pretty good. Sounds more like a china made POS. Could be wrong, hard to tell from just words!! If you have a welder (or a welding buddy) you can beef it up pretty easy, but plan on spending a bit of time and 40-50$ worth of steel.

jb

 

[madpogue]

They won't give you a refund; you used it. The KK mowers have a one year warranty (90 days for commercial use); presumably it's the same for the rakes. If it's a KK, or it has a one-year or more warranty, AND you have the reciept, you should be able to exchange it.

If it's a KK, and you can't find the receipt and are told you're SOL, you could buy a KK blade. The hitch section is, AFAIK the same part. So that part could do double duty on the blade and the rake.

Shhh -- typing this very small in gray so nobody sees it. Buy the blade, save the receipt, then, a coupla months from now, return the blade with the busted hitch section from the rake and exchange it on warranty.

 

[Loogie]

I'm with you. I just got done raking rocks from 2 acres and got 70% dirt. My rake even HAD gauge wheels, but they are useless unless it's perfectly flat and the rake is not angled. If it's angle then one side will naturally sit higher than the other. I was trying to rake piles of dead grass and rocks and I was on a strict timeline so I finally had just go with it. Now I have a huge pile of grass/dirt/rocks! It worked great for that!
I couldn't get a top link short enough to get the rake level in order to fix the "low rake end" problem when it's angled.

Sorry to hear your broke. Mine was a rental and it was pretty heavy duty. No problems with it and I was pulling a LOT of material at some points.

 

[barneyZ]

They won't give you a refund; you used it. The KK mowers have a one year warranty (90 days for commercial use); presumably it's the same for the rakes. If it's a KK, or it has a one-year or more warranty, AND you have the reciept, you should be able to exchange it.

If it's a KK, and you can't find the receipt and are told you're SOL, you could buy a KK blade. The hitch section is, AFAIK the same part. So that part could do double duty on the blade and the rake.

What a great concept, modular attachments. why do you need all those identical hitches?
The store manager isn't in until tomorrow so I'll find out about an exchange then.

small grey text? I don't see no small grey text.

 

[madpogue]

What a great concept, modular attachments. why do you need all those identical hitches?
The store manager isn't in until tomorrow so I'll find out about an exchange then.

Actually, there's a one-man operation fabber here in WI who sells a blade and rake this way, a 3-piece kit (hitch base, blade add-on, rake add-on). Peddles 'em on eBay. But it's all "limited cat 1".

 

[barneyZ]

Shhh -- typing this very small in gray so nobody sees it. Buy the blade, save the receipt, then, a coupla months from now, return the blade with the busted hitch section from the rake and exchange it on warranty.

why not? nobody is out except the original manufacturer who should have built it right the first time.

 

[Rowdius]

I'm with you. I just got done raking rocks from 2 acres and got 70% dirt. My rake even HAD gauge wheels, but they are useless unless it's perfectly flat and the rake is not angled. If it's angle then one side will naturally sit higher than the other. I was trying to rake piles of dead grass and rocks and I was on a strict timeline so I finally had just go with it. Now I have a huge pile of grass/dirt/rocks! It worked great for that!
I couldn't get a top link short enough to get the rake level in order to fix the "low rake end" problem when it's angled.

Sorry to hear your broke. Mine was a rental and it was pretty heavy duty. No problems with it and I was pulling a LOT of material at some points.

I don't guess I understand your angle problem. You tractor does have at least one lift arm that is able to be adjusted, right? If you angle the rake, or blade, you'll need to shorten or lengthen one side of the 3ph so the the rake or blade is level to the ground, if you want to rake level.

Personally, I do not have gauge wheels, and I okay with it. If I am raking smaller rocks or limbs and am picking up too much dirt, I quickly raise and lower the 3ph. Not enough to lose the rocks or sticks, and really not enough to lift the times off the ground, just enough to take some of the load off the tines, allowing them to spring forward a little, pushing the rocks forward, and losing the dirt I do not want.

Also, if the material I am trying to rake is large enough, I'll remove every other tine, so that dirt does not build up as easy.

 

[madpogue]

They won't give you a refund; you used it. The KK mowers have a one year warranty (90 days for commercial use); presumably it's the same for the rakes. If it's a KK, or it has a one-year or more warranty, AND you have the reciept, you should be able to exchange it.

If it's a KK, and you can't find the receipt and are told you're SOL, you could buy a KK blade. The hitch section is, AFAIK the same part. So that part could do double duty on the blade and the rake.

Shhh -- typing this very small in gray so nobody sees it. Buy the blade, save the receipt, then, a coupla months from now, return the blade with the busted hitch section from the rake and exchange it on warranty.

Oops, my bad! Yeah, the hitch section is common between the KK rake and blade, but the rake (or blade) section is welded in place. Well, not welded TO the hitch. The pivot on the rake goes up through a collar on the hitch section, and a pin holds it in one of several (seven?) positions. I thought that if you took that pin out, you could separate the two sections, but no, there's a top plate welded on the top of that pivot keeping it captive in the "collar" of the hitch section. I paid for a rake (closeout at Blain F&F last night, thinking it would separate, and that I could fit it (try not to laugh) in my Saturn wagon. It would've fit if the two sections separated. Well, it's still sitting in their yard, waiting for me to come back with a trailer. (red face for embarrassed, not mad).

As Emily Litella used to say, "Never mind!"

 

[N80]

Shhh -- typing this very small in gray so nobody sees it. Buy the blade, save the receipt, then, a coupla months from now, return the blade with the busted hitch section from the rake and exchange it on warranty.

Nowadays everyone has their own ethics, and who's to say what's right and wrong anymore.......but I wouldn't do that and wouldn't want anyone to do it to me. If I buy junk and it behaves like junk I feel like I'm as culpable as the guy who makes and sells the junk. Just my opinion....and there's only gray these days.

 

[Loogie]

I don't guess I understand your angle problem. You tractor does have at least one lift arm that is able to be adjusted, right? If you angle the rake, or blade, you'll need to shorten or lengthen one side of the 3ph so the the rake or blade is level to the ground, if you want to rake level.

I was switching the angle back and forth depending which way I was going. I was trying to windrow the debris down the hill rather than 1/2 of it up the hill. Messing with the arms would have been a real PIA, but your right, it can be done.

 

[3RRL]

I was switching the angle back and forth depending which way I was going. I was trying to windrow the debris down the hill rather than 1/2 of it up the hill. Messing with the arms would have been a real PIA, but your right, it can be done.

This is where hydraulic side links makes life soooo much easier. A good testimony for Top N Tilt sytems.

 

[barneyZ]

I'll bet a dollar they don't take it back. If it broke within a week..... that might be different. Sounds like a good excuse to beef it up, and maybe modify it with hydraulic angle control?

You owe me a dollar ) I was given 3 options, refund, exchange, or upgrade to KK for the price difference. The store manager didn't recommend an exchange because "it will just break again". I took the refund but will most likely get the KK from them. If for no other reason, their honesty and return policy.

 

[BTI]

Good for you glad it worked out well.
With TSC's and stores like them, alot of times it just depends on the manager and if they like you or not.
Sad to say but that's the way it is. If it's written store policy "1 yr warranty".
That maybe what you get or you may do a bit better.
You bought in spring so it was only around 6mons old anyway.

BTI

 

[Double Orange]

Now thats customer service!!! I which a lot more companies would take note! This will give customers piece of mind on future purchases
. Good For You!

 

[Rowdius]

I was switching the angle back and forth depending which way I was going. I was trying to windrow the debris down the hill rather than 1/2 of it up the hill. Messing with the arms would have been a real PIA, but your right, it can be done.

Yes, not having top and tilt can really suck. It is one of the things I really miss from stepping down from heavy construction equipment to my little yanmar. The only good thing about not having hyd top and tilt is that it teaches you to look at every jobsite very close, to see how to get the most work done without having to mess with how you are set up. The makes you more efficient over all, but it takes time to learn, and sometimes you just have to do things the hard way!