Rake What size Landscape Rake?

dogfarm · Apr 6, 2006

Will a 6' landscape rake from TSC be ok behind my 50+hp Kama or will I be happier with a 7' or even an 8' rake? I need to straighen up a 2 acre field used for a log landing for a logging done this past year and maintain woods trails on my 60acre tree farm in western Mass. I can see a wider rake will cover more ground, but, maybe more importantly, will also reach farther beyond the wheels. But maybe a narrower one will be more manageable behind the tractor. I've never used one, so I don't know the pros and cons. I would think power isn't the limiting factor here with the Kama. The 6' rake has a Cat 1 hitch, the kama is a Cat 2. I can pick up the 6' rake in Enfield, but would have to order a bigger one. How about wheels - how important and useful are they?

Steve

dubba · Apr 7, 2006

Get a rake that is at least wide enough to cover your tire width when fully angled.

Wheels, yes. A properly adjusted rake with wheels takes hours out of a job when compared to not using wheels IMHO

GabeTX · Apr 7, 2006

The corollary to "wide enough to cover your tracks when angled" is "but not so wide that you can't rotate it around while it's still on the tractor". I bought a 6' rake for my Jubilee, and it just barely clears the rears when I reverse it. Wouldn't clear them if I didn't have them set real wide. Might want to measure how much space you have between the inside edges of your rear tires...

dogfarm · Apr 7, 2006

Thanks for the input

It sounds like running the rake "backwards" is something that I would want to do. Which direction do you normally run it in to clean up/level off a field without tearing up the turf? I could see where backwards is gentler, but will it also rake up branches and bark?

Any Kama 554 or 454 owners out there who can address the rake size issue with respect to being able to turn it around without taking it off the 3pt?

Steve

dogfarm · Apr 7, 2006

Dubba

Thanks for the insight on the angle. Sounds like I need a wider rake for that, based on my experience with my 6'
rear blade. Also, good point on the wheels.

Steve

dubba · Apr 8, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I could see where backwards is gentler )</font>

I am not sure they are still driving forward with that rake pointed backwards..

I am no know it all, but I have never turned my rake around. But then I also don't work in any close quarters.. I do know that the hydraulic angle on my rake will not allow it to be turned around & even if it would, it would hit the tires.