Powerrake recommendations?

["Ground Control"]

I am trying to figure out what to do about dethatching lawns this year. Last year i rented a power rake, but this year I want to buy one since I will be doing a lot more dethatching. I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a power rake?

[J&R Landscaping]

Ryan Ren-O-Thin. I have one and it is a great machine. Its got a 5hp briggs engine on it and has seen a good amount of use and seems to be holding up quite well!

[pugs]

The Ryans are fine if all you are doing is Dethatching...what they are meant for.

However around here, alot of people use them as clod busters...or light rototillers...LOL. The Ryan will not do that job.

If thats what you want to do, look into the Classen with the solid knife tines...I think they come on their Seeder model. Just take the seeder part off and go. The Flail blades wont hold up to this kind of work...well they will but not as long.

We have some customers that use the Bluebirds for this as well. We found they work better for this purpose if you only put in half the blades with spacers. But the classen is still the best I think.

Again if you are actually just going to be Dethatching then you can use any of these machines...The Ryan is probably the easiest one to remove the shaft from for maint...

[carcrz]

I've got a Bluebird (I think that's what it is anyways). I haven't had any problems to date.

[Jason Rose]

Beware, the solid knives used in a slicer type machine is NOT a powerrake. It will not pull up thatch, it will merely slice through it. Powerrakes use either a flail type blade that free swings or some have a spring tine type reel.

Prepare to hold on to your butt, if you are looking at new ones they run $1,200 to $1,400. Best thing is to find used, usually from rental places that like to have newer equipment on hand, they usually sell off the old stuff and it's perfectly good for a smaller LCO.

I have a Bluebird, I bought it new and got both the Delta (slicer) reel and the flail type powerrake reel, they interchange in 10 minutes or so. Bulletproof machine for sure. powerrake tends to always dump the thatch in large clumps instead of flowing out like it should. I have no idea why though, others Iv'e used don't do that...

[gene gls]

What time of year do you do your dethatching. If its in the spring before the grass gets growing good, you can use a power brush. I have an MB, its about 36" wide, with polly bristles. I works great for spring clean-up and does a good job of removing dead grass. My buddy has a Sweepster brand. York also makes one.

["Ground Control"]

I do my dethatching in the spring just before the grass starts growing. I went to the local rental places and they want a lot for their old rental power rakes (almost as much as the new ones). So i will probably buy a new one. One rental places sells husquavarna and the other sells Ryan. I went and talked to them and I am waiting on prices for both.

[Shawns Lawns]

For dethatching i use a honda fg100 with the dethatching tines and it works great for me:waving:

[jk landscape]

I have a bluebird lawn comber with the honda engine very reliable machine. In 4 years of use besides regular maintenance i had to replace the drive belt.

[DiyDave]

If you are primarily doing 1/4 -1/4 acre lawns, a lesco power seeder is hard to beat for ease of use, durability and overall value. If you are doing bigger lawns, There are several 3 point hitch attachments such as befco, olathe, rota dairion etc which do a good job. Depends on size of your average job.:waving:

[TomB]

Jason, Who did you get your Blurbird from in Hutchinson?

[Jason Rose]

I bought it from L&B equipment, I don't know if they sell them still of not. They have 2 stores now, one rental place and a small engine shop that sells Toro mowers and Kawisaki handheld stuff. I think anything else can still be special ordered though.

[LawnSolutionsCP]

You might want to take a look at our Turf Revitalizer.

There is nothing like it on the market.

Seeder, Dethatcher, and Power Rake all in 1 with full hydro static controlled drive system.

www.LawnSolutionsCP.Com

["Ground Control"]

My local rental place can get me a Husquavarna power rake with a honda motor for around $900. I have never used any Husquavarna power equiptment but I like that it has a Honda engine. What do you think?

[Jason Rose]

Husqvarna is Bluebird, actually the other way around... Husqvarna owns Bluebird, yes, they are the same machine, just a different color.

["Ground Control"]

Husqvarna is Bluebird, actually the other way around... Husqvarna owns Bluebird, yes, they are the same machine, just a different color.

ok thanks, I know that the Honda motor will be great but how are husquavarna's? I never hear about anyone using them.

[Jason Rose]

ok thanks, I know that the Honda motor will be great but how are husquavarna's? I never hear about anyone using them.

Do you prefer orange or blue? That's the only difference. I saw BOTH sitting at a dealer the other day, side by side. same machine, different paint. If you want it to last a good long time, get the Honda on it. The briggs will likely last fine if you want to save like $200.

[chriscraft]

look into the billy goat also its a great machine for maybe 1000 or so