Self-Propelled Landscape Rake Equipped With Powered Drum

2020 - Volume #44, Issue #4, Page #16

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A hydraulic-operated rotating drum is at the heart of this self-propelled landscape rake built by Bernard Wielenberg of Grey Eagle, Minn.
    He built the patent-pending machine out of an old Massey Ferguson self-propelled swather. It’s equipped with a 9-ft. wide rotating drum made from an 8-in. dia. steel pipe, with 5/8-in. rebar spaced 3 in. apart welded on in a spiral around the entire length of the drum. As the drum turns, it chews up the soil and shoves small rocks and clumps of sod off to the side.
    The machine is powered by a 6-cyl. Chrysler engine and hydrostatic transmission off the Massey Ferguson swather. The rig’s rear axle and transmission are off a Ford F-150 1/2-ton pickup. The axle and differential face backward, with the swather’s transmission used to shaft-drive the pickup transmission.
    The engine shaft-drives several hydraulic pumps and motors that rotate the drum, tilt it from side to side, and move it back and forth at an angle.
    “It does an excellent job of leveling the soil and leaves a smooth seedbed to plant grass into,” says Wielenberg. “I came up with the idea because I recently built a house with a large yard and needed a better landscape rake. I also use it to help my son with his excavation business. It works on the same principle as a road grader except for the powered drum. The front wheels even automatically tilt to the side when turning, just like on a road grader.”
    He says the self-propelled machine is easier to operate than a skid loader-mounted landscape rake. “It runs smoother and doesn’t bounce up and down as much, which can jerk up a lot of big rocks and gouge the soil. The rotating drum just slides over rocks,” says Wielenberg. “I also have a much better view.”
    The center of the drum is suspended from the wheel hub off a Ford F-350 pickup, which rides on the ball hitch off an old trailer house. The drum is rotated by a hydraulic motor that chain-drives a gearbox located at one end of the drum. Vertical hydraulic cylinders raise or lower either side of the drum independently. “Each cylinder is controlled by a separate valve,” says Wielenberg.
    The rig’s cloth seat is from a Plymouth van, the steering wheel from the swather, and the steering gear from a 1970 Chevrolet van.
Wielenberg says he’s looking for a manufacturer.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bernard Wielenberg, 25974 County 6, Grey Eagle, Minn. 56336 (ph 320-285-4218; bewjew@meltel.net).

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Self-Propelled Landscape Rake Equipped With Powered Drum HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Rakes 44 A hydraulic-operated rotating drum is at the heart of this self-propelled landscape rake built by Bernard Wielenberg of Grey Eagle Minn He built the patent pending machine out of an old Massey Ferguson self-propelled swather It’s equipped with a 9-ft wide rotating drum made from an 8-in dia steel pipe with 5/8-in rebar spaced 3 in apart welded on in a spiral around the entire length of the drum As the drum turns it chews up the soil and shoves small rocks and clumps of sod off to the side The machine is powered by a 6-cyl Chrysler engine and hydrostatic transmission off the Massey Ferguson swather The rig’s rear axle and transmission are off a Ford F-150 1/2-ton pickup The axle and differential face backward with the swather’s transmission used to shaft-drive the pickup transmission The engine shaft-drives several hydraulic pumps and motors that rotate the drum tilt it from side to side and move it back and forth at an angle “It does an excellent job of leveling the soil and leaves a smooth seedbed to plant grass into ” says Wielenberg “I came up with the idea because I recently built a house with a large yard and needed a better landscape rake I also use it to help my son with his excavation business It works on the same principle as a road grader except for the powered drum The front wheels even automatically tilt to the side when turning just like on a road grader ” He says the self-propelled machine is easier to operate than a skid loader-mounted landscape rake “It runs smoother and doesn’t bounce up and down as much which can jerk up a lot of big rocks and gouge the soil The rotating drum just slides over rocks ” says Wielenberg “I also have a much better view ” The center of the drum is suspended from the wheel hub off a Ford F-350 pickup which rides on the ball hitch off an old trailer house The drum is rotated by a hydraulic motor that chain-drives a gearbox located at one end of the drum A pair of vertical hydraulic cylinders raise or lower either side of the drum independently “Each cylinder is controlled by a separate valve ” says Wielenberg The rig’s cloth seat is off a Plymouth van the steering wheel off the swather and the steering gear off a 1970 Chevrolet van Wielenberg says he’s looking for a manufacturer Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bernard Wielenberg 25974 County 6 Grey Eagle Minn 56336 ph 320 285-4218; bewjew@meltel net

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