using the landscape rake

[2Lazyt2]

OK, I broke down and rented a landscape rake. Got it hooked up to the 3 point and off I went to play in the dirt.

So, I start trying to rake the stone debris out of the dirt around the house left by the builders. I set the rake down into the dirt about an inch and very shortly I'm digging a lot of dirt. It's real sandy and dry and should just fall through the tines but it doesn't. It piles up in the rake and pretty soon I have a trench across my property and lots of stones left behind!

I have the thing set pretty level. Should I adjust top link to give it less angle on the tines? Also, I have a 2320. I can't find anything in the manual that explains how to use the dang 3pt other than simple up and down. Is there a float position and would it work on a rake?

[Argee]

Set the rake so it barely touches the surface when down...that way you'll grab the stones and leave the soil.

[2Lazyt2]

Well, I tried that too and it wouldn't pick up the rock. To make matters worse, after screwing around out there for a while, I had the whole place so lumpy with piles of rock and sand and leaves, I couldn't keep the rake level enough to do much of anything except make it worse.

[ccsial]

Gauge wheels are pretty handy for this work. I added them to my rake. Otherwise I had to go real slow and keep adjusting.

Your 3PH should float up but not down. I'm not aware of anyway to make it float both ways.

[2Lazyt2]

If I drop it all the way down with the control lever, is that the float position?

[Argee]

Yes....as long as you don't have draft control. But that's not going to help...as you're going to fill it up again...it's just the nature of the beast. Try angling it while just keeping it touching until you can get the lumps flattened out.

[JDFANATIC]

2lazyt2,

3PH float is the weight of the implement. I don't know how big of a landscape rake you are using, but it probably has enough weight to start digging into the soil. As pointed out, gauge wheels make all the difference (expensive option but worth it), other than that, you need to keep playing with the position control.

[2Lazyt2]

Yep. All good advice. Thanks. I hear the rain just started. Oh well. It's gonna be an interesting day today. Got about 6 hours left on the one day rental. My main objective for renting was to see if I should buy one. Considering how long it took yesterday to make a genuine mess of my front acre...... renting is no option.

[Argee]

Originally Posted by 2Lazyt2

My main objective for renting was to see if I should buy one. Considering how long it took yesterday to make a genuine mess of my front acre...... renting is no option.

If you decide to buy one, consider one that is a foot wider than your tractor....that way when you angle it, it will cover your tire tracks.

[bontai Joe]

The one I rented was not a 3 point, but a simple pin hitch connection and had gage wheels. Used just it's own weight and worked very well. I went from the outside edges of the yard and raked toward the center until I had a single "windrow" of rocks and stones. Then I shoveled them into a cart.

[Argee]

I have a 7' unit I use on my tractor which is 5' wide.



I have this unit that I pull behind my GT5000. It's 48" wide but is available in 60" and 72".....I wish that I would have gotten the 60". My GT is 36" wide.

[Team_Green]

Would those rakes work well for leveling also?

Agree thats a nice looking ford you have there..Is that your garden space in the picture?

[Argee]

The 3PH one works fair for leveling. The pull behind works great.

Thanks for the compliment and yes that's one of my garden spaces.

[Dude11]

These are called "rock rakes"around here and if you angle it as some said it works great for leveling crush run type driveways.I used one on another home once owned with Longgg rock driveway.Angled that boy to the center on both sides then just barely hit the top down the middle.Works great!!I'm pretty sure the angle thing is the best bet any where you use it yards,fields,etc.Good Luck,Dude11

[escavader]

Ive rigged up a quick hitch that easilt attaches to my loader bucket.Here is a pic of my rake up front instead of on back
ALAN