Idea for a dethatcher?

[LEOLAV]

I decided against going with the powerbrush for my Kubota. The guy was a real a-hole who was selling it.

I am thinking about using my agrifab tow behind, but retrofitting it for use on the 3-pt. hitch on my tractor. I would have to do some light welding, but it should work OK. It will take some fiddling, but should work once it is tuned up.

[USN_ED]

I decided against going with the powerbrush for my Kubota. The guy was a real a-hole who was selling it.

I am thinking about using my agrifab tow behind, but retrofitting it for use on the 3-pt. hitch on my tractor. I would have to do some light welding, but it should work OK. It will take some fiddling, but should work once it is tuned up.

Couldn't you get a draw-bar for your three point hitch and put a coupling (sleeve hitch or whatever fitting) on it for your agri-fab? That way your agri-fab would remain OEM and you could use it for multiple set-ups -- 3-point, GT, or whatever.

[LEOLAV]

I do have the draw bar, but I like the idea of being able to raise and lower it with slight down pressure. I have a ton of areas that have walkways, driveways, trees, etc where i have to go around or otherwise beat up the tines. With this setup I am thinking of, I would weld 2 pieces of steel to the sides of the top on the dethatcher and drill holes to accept the Cat 1 pins. I could then tweak the normal tow arm to accept the lift arm on the back of the kubota.
I could also make it that it is still towable for others to use with their LT's and GT's.

I'll give it a try and post pics of my contraption when finished.

[bontai Joe]

I'm interested in seeing what you come up with.

[Argee]

I love projects!! :wwp: I love projects!! :wwp:I love projects!! :wwp:

[LEOLAV]

WELL....it seems I had an easier than expected time with this project. I didn't need to weld anything. It simply bolted it onto the back of my tractor, and started looking at it. I put my 3 pt. drawbar under the frame of the dethatcher and used two of those Bessey Mini C clamps to clamp the dethatcher to my cat 1 drawbar. I then tried it and amazingly, IT WORKED GREAT. I didn't need any weights, I could lift it if I got too much stuff in the tines. WORKED GREAT......Until I accidently backed up when it wasn't up and ran one of the tines right into my right rear tire.... :fing20: :fing20: :fing20: Also minor bending to the dethatchers side frame, which was easily fixed.

did I mention that I also have calcium filled tires on my tractor?? :00000060:

Thankfully, the hole wasn't big enough to lose any pressure. Just a hisser. I pulled it off, put in a plug and it has been fine since.

Goes to show that it was going so well, I just forgot to lift it back up. Pics are coming soon.

[jerry_nj]

Leovav,

Seems you are an advocate for the use/effectiveness of the stationary (not powered, rotating...etc.) tine dethatcher. I have just ordered a tow-behind for use on my garden tractor (and yard tractor too).

I have read some detracting views on the value of these tine dethatchers, can you give any direct testimony to their value? Also, I've read dethatch in the fall (ant overseed) not in the spring.. also dethatch only when the grass in green and growing, i.e., not early spring for sure. Any views/experience here?

You accident recalls my experience with the sweeper mounted dethatcher, which I purchased about a month ago. I was running it on my large "grass" areas and liked the dethatch/sweep arrangement, getting a lot of dead grass on other clutter. However, when moving over some very uneven ground the dethatcher, which has a depth wheel, somehow got under the sweeper. Thus the sweeper overran the dethatcher, bending badly the poorly designed attaching pieces that hold the dethatcher to a crossbar on the sweeper. This is easy to repair, just replace the "clamps" that got bent, and their holes elongated. Looking for a cheap repair part (bet Sears wants a couple of $ each and $7.99 shipping) I think the chain-link fence post/fence clamps will work. I'll try them next time I'm at HD/Lowes and can pick up a couple of these clamps.

[LEOLAV]

I do my dethatching in the fall with a light overseeding and again in the spring to get rid of any dead grass/dead weeds/etc. that isn't growing. I then rake the entire lawn to pick up any leftover debris (sticks, dog turds, acorns, etc) and then I fertilize. In our area, we get a lot of sticks and such on the ground. They don't bother the new setup of the dethatcher too much as I raise it and keep on going when I get a small pile. I did it last weekend and the dethatcher did a great job at loosening up some of the dead stuff. I raked it with a leave rake to get it all up and then fertilized and limed the entire lawn. The next morning, it was amazing to see how green the lawn was.

[USN_ED]

Don't ya just love those draw-bars?

[bontai Joe]

Although this Ebay auction is over, here was an interesting part, usefull for possibly making your own dethatching rake attachment:

http://cgi.ebay.com/THATCH-N-SWEEP-ATTACH-38-DETHATCHER-WHEELHORSE_W0QQitemZ7755626038QQcategoryZ29520QQrd Z1QQcmdZViewItem

[LEOLAV]

Don't ya just love those draw-bars?

I was so leary when I first bought mine, thinking I would never use it. I use it all the time now.

[MadReferee]

You have welding skills? You want a dethatcher for your 3pt?

If yes then I offer free plans to build your own. Just PM me with your real email address and I will happily send you a copy of the detailed build plans.