Pto-Driven Rake Converted To Ground Drive

Pto-Driven Rake Converted To Ground Drive HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Rakes 44 Allen Kimball wanted a more versatile rake so he transformed a 3-pt mounted pto-driven unit to a pull-type ground drive Since making the switch he has used the rake for many years behind multiple tractors “It is a Harry Ferguson rake so I know it is old ” says Kimball “It works great laying out about a 7-ft swath ” To make his conversion Kimball used a gearbox from an Allis Chalmers combine shafts and carrier bearings from an old Case cotton stripper and a hand clutch from an old garden tractor He removed the pto driveshaft and fabricated a tongue that attaches to the original 3-pt hitch He mounted the Allis gearbox with its driveshaft and thru-shaft on the trailing end of the rake Drive wheels attached to the thru-shaft on the gearbox and a caster wheel mounted to the leading end of the rake provide support with coiled springs on the trailing wheel for suspension The caster wheel also allows the rake to turn corners The driveshaft connects to the Case shafts and bearings They carry power forward over the rake to the hand clutch and a roller chain with a sprocket on the original rake drive “I use the drawbar on the tractor’s 3-pt hitch to provide lift and lower for the rake ” says Kimball “It lets me easily adjust height on the go I put a hinged cover over the hand clutch ” A long rod extends from the clutch to an upright lever mounted over the hitch It can easily be reached from the tractor seat to engage or disengage the drive “I’ve decided my days of cutting raking and baling hay are about at an end but I haven’t decided what to do with the rake It could easily be converted back to its original design ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Allen Kimball 236 Linker Mountain Rd Dover Ark 72837 ph 479 968-1236; kim2rc3gwr@centurytel net

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