Landscape Rake Build

[GuglioLS]

I've been wanting a landscape rake. I checked a few out in person, but none were configured exactly to my liking. So I have decided to build one from scratch

Rob has been very generous and helpful in the design and build of my 360* rotating back-blade project (yet to be posted here) and in designing the jaws and brackets for my grapple project As most of you are aware, right now Rob's plate is pretty full, so maybe I should give him a break and do this on my own? For the most part, most of all my other projects have been "built then designed" instead of being "Designed then built". For this Rake project, I have decided to Design then build. Last week I picked up AutoCad ;D and are teaching myself how to use it with this project.

Here are the basic concepts of the rake I am going to build:




As you can see it will have a swivel offset and rotation angle feature. I will add index holes to pin the positions, but do plan on having it controlled by hydraulics. The design will be such that it could be manual or hydraulically operated.

Larry

[GuglioLS]

After a few hours on Autocad, I worked out details for the rotation index plate and index plate for swivel. The following pics are to verify the concept will work in real life.To keep machining to a minimum, I plan on having as many parts cut out by a computer controlled plasma cutter:




Larry

[GuglioLS]

A close up of the finalized index plates, miscellaneous brackets and spacers ready for plasma cutting:



Larry

[GuglioLS]

I got parts plasma cut on Friday (5/23/08) just now had time to upload all the video and pics. It takes longer to take picks, resize, upload and post than it does to actually build stuff I hope all this is worth it, because I could be done my now Maybe I am? who knows? Tell you what, at the end of the day, I can get a pic with the progress that includes the front page of today's Sunday paper showing the date.






Larry

[GuglioLS]

Here are a few still shots showing the plasma cut parts which are still very warm:



Yesterday Saturday as in 5/24/08 - Here the parts are now in my home basement shop all laid out pretty like for their photo op ;D



Larry

[GuglioLS]

So now it's time for me to do some actual work. I need 34 spacers 3/8" thick by 3-5/8" long, by 1" wide and 6 each 1" x 1" x 3-5/8" long to put between all the tines so as to keep them evenly spaced. This was done on the band-saw using a stop to get all the parts the exact same length:



That didn't take very long at all considering I had to take the saw apart to clean it first

Larry

[GuglioLS]

After getting all those spacers cut and the burs removed, it was time to start bolting on the rake tines in prep for welding the spacers. I picked up some extra thick 3/8" washers, grade 8 bolts, nuts and lock washers online. The washers are just shy of 1/4" thick.



So that is where I am as of right now. Time to go out and see what I can get done. My hope is to at least be able to weld all the rake time spacers into position without welding the tines

Larry

[red]

Awesome Larry I want one the check is in the MAIL! Nice Job and you don't need to post a picture with the Sunday's paper. And to think some people actually go to school to learn how to use CAD. Where did you pick up the tines? Thanks for sharing -Ed

[GuglioLS]

Hi Ed,

LOL "Check is in the mail" and no pic of the Sunday paper. I put that in there because a while back some idiot on TBN got into my public photobucket account and posted finished pictures of one of my projects before I was ready to release them. I have since locked out my photobucket account and made it private so no one can look at any of my pics until I post them.

I got the tines from Agri SupplyCLICK HERE

CAD does not seem all that hard to use, at least the basic stuff is easy enough. I'm sure there are advanced features that will take a while to master. All in good time I guess or as the need arises. Thanks for the complement.


Larry

[red]

May 25, 2008 14:30:21 GMT -5 GuglioLS said:

Hi Ed,
I put that in there because a while back some idiot on TBN got into my public photobucket account and posted finished pictures of one of my projects before I was ready to release them. I have since locked out my photobucket account and made it private so no one can look at any of my pics until I post them.


Larry

Isn't amazing how idots always seem to know how to ruin a good story? I remember the story and thats why I referred to Sunday's paper. . . Really who cares if it took you a month? To have an idea AND make it happen is what matters. Now how big of a check do I have to send! ;D -Ed

[GuglioLS]

May 25, 2008 21:07:23 GMT -5 red said:

Isn't amazing how idots always seem to know how to ruin a good story? I remember the story and thats why I referred to Sunday's paper. . . Really who cares if it took you a month? To have an idea AND make it happen is what matters. Now how big of a check do I have to send! ;D -Ed

You sure nailed that one Ed.
If I were you, I would hold on to your checkbook for now. Lets see how this turns out first. It may wind up in the scrap heap where it came from.

OK a little progress was made today -
All the Tines were bolted on with spacers in-between each one. It seems like it took forever. Had to keep everything square, several times I had to loosen a few, straighten things out, then re-tighten. It think it was worth the extra effort as it seems to be evenly spaced. Does it look straight?



I got all the spacers tack welded with my trusty Harbor freight Russian MIG, Yes you read that right a harbor freight tool made in Russia not China, go figure. Somehow I managed not to weld any of the tines, lucky me.

Here's a few pics of the inside guts of my Russian MIG:



Larry

[GuglioLS]

OK I went ahead and took a pic of my project with the Sunday paper, just because I said I would. After the spacers were tack welded in place, ALL the frigging tines were removed so I would not weld them in place laying a solid bead of weld on each spacer. After that, I cut off the un-finished end, you see I had no idea how long this thing was going to turn out, what with all those tines and spacers, there was just no telling how long it was really going to be.




Larry

[GuglioLS]

The deep welds caused a little warp-age, so I used the H/F press to whip it back into shape. OK now I have a problem, A press is not intended for what I am about to do. Here is my Redneck solution. Wheel the press under the main support beam for the house, hold the press in place at the top with a 20 ton bottle jack up against the under side of the beam, support the tine bar at both ends then go for it.




After a few tries, It came out straight. Thats it for now, I'm off to San Diego for a week long Business trip. Don't get any ideas while I'm gone - My retired Police officer neighbor is keeping an eye on it


Larry

[3RRL]

Larry,
Wow, what can I say. You got AutoCad and do you own designing now. Excellent. Where did you get it?

Your project is really over the top man. A hydraulically (or manual ... choose your poison) rear landscape rake. Very very clever Larry. Oh, and I really like the design of your rake a lot with the tines spaced like that.
I see you didn't wast any time either. I just got back from a camp out and all this happened in a matter of couple days. Shees, if Ken could take a lesson from you, he'd have less headaches, that's for sure.
Yours is an amazing project indeed. I can't wait to see it finished, paited, mounted and then working on Goldie.
Thanks for sharing all those videos and great photos for us all.
Rob-

[quikduk]

Shees, if Ken could take a lesson from you, he'd have less headaches, that's for sure.

Ha ha, very funny... More correctly, if Ken was less AR, he'd have less headaches... ;D

Yours is an amazing project indeed. I can't wait to see it finished, painted, mounted and then working on Goldie.

Me too. Have you thought about setting it up to use the 3RRL drive box from the back blade. I realize it requires a hoist to take on and off but it would be COOL to have 2 automatic hydraulic rotating rear implements.

Enjoy SD and if you get a few hours to "pop up" to Rob's and my area, maybe we could go to lunch (how does Ono sound Rob?).