Anyone fabbed up a hitch to attach a front de-thatcher?

[glenn27 71]

Has anyone taken the time to see if another 'brand' de-thatcher' could be mounted to a , say, "C' model tractor??

Just wondering--as I have a decent onej just laying around...

Tks-

glenn

[doc724 925]

Yes, I did this.  I picked up a cub cadet front dethatcher for free and had a local welder fab an adapter to snap into the front hitch and another adapter that would bolt to the dethatcher and accept a snow blower lift rod.  I think I posted some pix here about two years ago.  Do a search in implements.  It works like gang busters, but you have to remember to lift it up before you turn or it will rip the grass to shreads

[glenn27 71]

Thanks so much..will search it out..

[Lee1977 7,224]

You will need a 5/8" rod at least 7 1/2" long welded to a plate that will fit into the front hitch. Then adjust to the height of the dethatcher.

[glenn27 71]

Looking for "doc's post about it, but haven't found anything yet....

I have a very nice condition JD front De-thatcher that I  picked up years ago for like-$10. I'd like to put it to use.

 

glenn

[Tankman 3,523]

Someone gave me a Craftsman tine dethatcher, never used, I haven't used it either.

Thought, "play with the thing."  All I would need would be a lever to raise the tines off the deck.

 

Thinking, "move the lever bracket to the left side (see rope) and attack a rod to the Horses lift lever."

2nd pic is a tow behind tine dethatcher that I use at least once a month.

 

[doc724 925]

Mine looks exactly like tankman's and I found the pix on my hard drive.  If you look on Tankman's pix, he has a threaded rod where it attached to the front hitch.  I modified mine to have a welded rod  and collars so it is centered correctly for easy install.  I may even have the paper drawings to fab the hitch squirreled away somewhere

 

Here are the pix:

 

 

Note, I am using a lift rod from 5xi single stage blower and a flag from a 300 series single stage blower.  I goofed up a bit in the design, the xi lift rod is perfectlu centered on the 5xi machine while the lift flag is offset on a traditional blower.  I forgot to account for the offset and I put the adapter on the thatcher on center.

[Tankman 3,523]

Looks great Doc! I was playing but, thinking along the same as your setup. 

 

I have lots of time on my hands, will catch up sooner or later!