yard rake using grader blade

[Mosey]

Has anyone adapted their grader blade to be used as a yard rake (landscape rake)? I'm thinking that most of the hardware that's on a yard rake is already on a grader blade. All I need is some way of attaching some tines (so they could come on and off fairly easily) and whala, I have a yard rake! Are those tines expensive if bought individually?

 

[zenmek]

Mosey,
I've thought the same thing myself, but haven't given it any serious thought! Hopefully there is some experience out there to help us!

 

[JimMc]

Many manufacturers use the same hitch frame for light blades and their landscape rakes. If you contact the maker of your blade, they may have a kit available to do just what you want.

 

[Mosey]

JimMc - I'll look into that. It's going to cost too much to buy individual teeth (or tines). I checked with Farm Star (which is the brand of grader blade I have) and they charge over $9 each. I called KingKutter and they get over $7 each. So, it would cost about $260 for enough (36) to make a 6' rake using the KK ones. I can buy a new KK 6' rake for $320.

 

[rozett]

So Jim, Does that mean that First Choice has a kit available? Since I have both items on my 'need list' I would definitely be interested.

 

[JimMc]

Although we do not have a model number assigned, our rake does interchange with our rear blade. The question of asking dealers to carry spare blade or rake components may be another matter, however. But it could always be handled on a custom order or repair parts basis.

 

[Mosey]

I was at TSC this weekend and found that they have some rake teeth for agriculture type rakes (for windrowing hay, etc.) for 79 cents each. They're made of wire about 1/8" in dia and are spring loaded with a coil near the top. It wouldn't be as heavy duty as a regular yard/landscape rake, but for my purposes they would be just right. I just want something pick up debris and to grove the soil in preparation for seeding. I use my grader blade for grading the drive and things like that.

So, I could get 72 of them and mount them 1 inch apart on a piece of flat steel for under $75. It could come on and off the grader blade with a bolt at each end. The hard part is going to be finding 72 of them, since TSC only had about 25 in stock. I'll check and see if I can special order more.

 

[tpagel]

I made a rock rake using an angle iron frame and cut
trunk lid torsion bars for teeth. I drilled through 2" box
tubing added a small angle iron on top and welded in the
teeth this way the weld did not affect the treated teeth

 

[Carl_NH]

Danny,

I have a scraper blade too and was looking at it a year ago when I borrowed a landscape rake, thinking there is a way to do this..

I like the spring tooth idea, but just a thought, the round coil at the top put on a round pipe the same diameter (thats the way the hay rakes work) - there should be a hole for a screw/bolt in the tine, bolt these on to the pipe then put two brackets on the back of the scraper blade with bolts then in use you fold it down and when not fold up.. I am thinking maybe a support bracket in the middle might help too.

Thanks

Carl

 

[rancar]

Mosey...

Can't give any specifics on adding tines to a grader blade or a grader blade to a rake, but I have a Frontier 1172 rake/blade combo (made by Woods) that works great. See attached.

Bob

 

[Tinkerman]

Bob,

Nice looking attachment. Does the blade "fold" up so you can use just the rake? Also, I'm assuming that one could pivot it and push with it? Thanks in advance.

 

[rancar]

Hi Mike....

<font color=blue>Does the blade "fold" up so you can use just the rake?</font color=blue>

Yes, it does. See the attached with grader blade in the up position. Actually, it's rather easy to raise and lower. It's held in place with a couple of pins....after these are removed the blade drops in place in the down position.

Not sure what you mean by "...pivot it and push with it..." THe blade, when in the down position can be used as a rudimentary box blade. I ordered it with the two boot caps that are attached to the end of the blade. It's not like a real box blade but it does a halfway decent job of smoothing out rough areas of loose dirt and gravel after several passes. The rake then does the finish work by smoothing and leveling out the work area to a greater extent.

BTW, Welcome to the forums. Look forward to your contributions.

Bob

 

[djradz]

Nice blade, but where's the guage wheels? See the Frontier, just like the Woods version, has the bracket for them. Once you use them you won't ever go without. They really help with providing a very quality job.

 

[Tinkerman]

Bob,

Thank you for the second attached picture -- I think it also answers my other question, about pivot: I was wondering if it could be turned around 180 so one could push dirt or snow with it. In the second pic, I think I see holes that would facilitate that.

I searched the 'net, I couldn't locate any additional information on your blade, specifically a source of supply. Where did you get yours (and cost)? Was the blade an option, or came standard with the rake?

Thank you for the welcome to TBN. Since I own a Yanmar, I posted my "introduction message" in that forum. The link is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=yanmar&Number=188576&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=/>here</A>

 

[rancar]

Duane....

<font color=blue>"...where's the guage wheels?"</font color=blue>

When I ordered the rake, I was undecided on the guage wheels....it was a $200+ option....money I didn't have at the time. I will likely get them in the future, maybe next Spring. Right now, I'm making do with what I have and I'm getting by. But, you're right. The guage wheels would make a big improvement and will make jobs go a bit faster.

Bob

 

[rancar]

Mike...

The blade does angle but I don't believe it does so by a full 180 degrees. I think it angles at most by about 60 degrees. This way one can use it to 'pull' snow or dirt forward which will then be deposited to the side of the tractor.

The Frontier model is made by Woods for John Deere. Only JD dealers carry the Frontier brand of implements. The blade/rake combo cost $935 not including the guage wheels. The wheels were a couple hundred more...money that I didn't have at the time so I had to pass this option by. The blade was an option as well as the boot caps.

I bought my rake/blade combo from KC-Canary, Fultonville, NY. Call Mark Brucker at 518-853-3405 to order or to procure more information.

Bob

 

[Tinkerman]

Bob,

Thank you very much for your invaluable info. I appreciate the POC.

Rgds, Michael