Used Excavator Root Rake for Sale: Tonnage Buyer's Guide
· 9 min read
Key takeaways
- Match the rake width, tine count, and overall weight to your excavator's tonnage class to avoid stalling the hydraulics or snapping the coupler.
- Verify whether you need a pin-on mount or a quick-attach system by measuring your stick pin bore and center-to-center lug spacing with calipers.
- Inspect tine roots, weld toes, and hanger ears for cracks, and test pin bores for slop before purchasing a used rake.
- Price a used rake as a percentage of new replacement cost, factoring in repair expenses for bent tines or worn pin bores.
- Ask sellers for pin diameter, ear-to-ear width, and photos of the rake mounted on a running machine to avoid scams.
Finding a used excavator root rake for sale means matching rake width, tine count, and mounting type to your machine's tonnage class before you pay. Generic listings on MachineryTrader and eBay skip Takeuchi compact compatibility checks. This guide gives you the framework those sellers omit.
What should you confirm before searching for a used excavator root rake for sale?
Measure your stick and coupler first
Write down four specs before you browse used excavators: machine tonnage, pin diameter, coupler type, and whether you run a hydraulic thumb. Pin-on mounts require exact pin dimensions and center-to-center spacing. Quick-attach systems need the matching coupler plate profile. Measure the stick pin bore directly with calipers, then cross-check against Takeuchi TB-series spec sheets for compact models.
Why tonnage class decides everything else
Tonnage sets the rake width, tine count, and overall weight you can lift without stalling the machine. A 6-ton mini needs a narrow rake with closely spaced tines. A 20-ton machine handles a wider rake with thicker tines for heavier pulls. Mismatch the tonnage class and you either stall the excavator or leave the rake underutilized.
What size root rake fits your excavator's tonnage class?
Match the rake to the machine before you search, or you'll buy something that bogs the hydraulics or snaps the coupler. Width, tine count, and spacing all scale with operating weight. The figures below are illustrative starting points for common classes, not a substitute for your machine's spec sheet.
Tonnage-class matching table
| Excavator class | Typical rake width | Tine count | Tine spacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 ton | 36–48 in | 8–10 | 6–8 in |
| 3–6 ton | 48–60 in | 10–12 | 8–10 in |
| 6–10 ton | 60–72 in | 12–14 | 10–12 in |
| 10+ ton | 72–96 in | 14–18 | 12 in+ |
Oversized rakes and the tipping risk
A rake wider than your machine's track base turns every loaded pass into a leverage problem. On a 3-ton Takeuchi, a 72-inch rake full of wet root ball can lift the tracks on the uphill side during a swing. Stay within one width class above your machine and check the attachment's listed weight against your lift chart.
Listings on YardSwaps farm equipment often state width and mounting, but rarely tine spacing, so ask the seller directly before you commit.
Which coupler types affect what used rakes you can buy?
Pin-on: cheaper used market, slower swaps
Pin-on rakes bolt directly to the stick, so the used pool skews cheaper and older. You lose quick-swap capability, but gain rigidity under load. A pin-on rake listed as a used excavator root rake for sale was almost always built for one machine family, narrowing what fits your excavator.
Quick-attach: wider pool, verify lug spacing
Quick-attach couplers open the market considerably. The two dominant patterns are Wain-Roy style and wedge/ISO mounts. Wain-Roy uses a pair of horizontal lugs and a vertical hook, common on mid-size machines from 8 to 20 tons. ISO 60mm and 80mm pin grabs cover most compact and mid-size excavators and let one rake move between machines if tonnage class matches.
Before buying, measure center-to-center lug spacing on your coupler and confirm the seller's rake plate matches. Manufacturers publish recommended tonnage ranges per rake model, so cross-check the spec sheet against your machine's operating weight before committing. A rake built for a 15-ton excavator on a 6-ton machine will overstress the stick and underperform in the dirt. Mismatched couplers are the most common reason a used rake sits unsold, so verify the mount first, then negotiate price.
How does tine spacing change what material a root rake can clear?
Tine spacing is the gap between the tines on the rake face, and it decides what passes through and what gets pushed. Match it to your job before you pay for a used excavator root rake for sale.
Tight spacing for soil screening
Spacing of roughly 3 to 4 inches works for screening topsoil, separating rock from dirt, and clearing small debris on a jobsite. The tighter the gap, the more material stays on the surface and the more drag resistance you get, so a tight-spaced rake needs a machine with the hydraulic weight to work it. If you're cleaning rock out of a grading job, tight spacing is the point.
Wide spacing for slash and stumps
Spacing of 6 inches or more lets brush, slash, and small stumps roll through while soil falls back to grade. Wide spacing also reduces the chance of a stump wedging between tines and bending one. For land clearing ahead of an excavation, wide spacing moves more material per pass.
If you're pairing a rake with a specific Takeuchi or other compact machine, run the machine match first. Our guide on how to buy used excavator attachments right walks through coupler and tonnage checks before price.
What should a used Takeuchi excavator owner check for attachment compatibility?
TB-series pin and ear measurements
Takeuchi compact excavators mostly run pin-on buckets rather than a proprietary quick coupler, so a used rake has to match your machine's pin diameter, distance between the ears, and pin spacing exactly. Measure your bucket's pins with calipers before you search, and ask the seller for the same three numbers on the rake. Two rakes described as "fits mini excavators" can be an inch apart on ear width and neither will pin up correctly. If a seller can't state pin diameter and ear-to-ear width, treat that as a red flag and verify who you're dealing with using the FTC's advice to search the seller's name plus "complaint" or "scam" before sending money.
Adapter brackets: when they are worth it
An adapter plate converts a pin-on rake to a different pin size or a quick-attach, which widens your options on listings like safety equipment. It's worth it when the rake itself is sound but the mounting isn't; skip it when the adapter costs more than a direct-fit rake.
How do you verify a used root rake's tine and weld condition before buying?
Start with the crack points, not the paint. Paint hides hairline fractures, so scrape or wire-brush suspect spots before judging.
Crack points: tine root, weld toes, hanger ears
Tines fail at the root, where tine meets the frame bar, not at the tip. Flex each tine by hand or pry it with a bar: movement at the base means a cracked weld or fatigued metal. Run a magnet or fingernail along every weld toe, the edge where bead meets parent metal, on both sides of the frame. Check the hanger ears and mounting lugs with a light and mirror; a cracked ear on a pin-on rake can drop the attachment mid-lift. Any weld with a visible crack, undercut, or sloppy repair beads is a walk-away unless the price reflects a rebuild.
Pin bore wear and the slop test
Worn pin bores show up as slop you can feel before you see. With the rake on the ground, grab the hanger and rock it side to side and front to back. More than a few millimeters of play at the ear means an ovalized bore, which compounds into hammering on your excavator's stick and coupler. Measure the bore with calipers against the pin diameter if the seller allows it, and price in new bushings or a line-bore repair if the fit is loose.
How do you price a used root rake against new replacement cost?
Start from the new price for a matching rake in your machine's tonnage class, then work down by condition. The bands below are illustrative, not appraised values:
- Ready to work: 50-65% of new
- Usable, cosmetic wear or minor tine bends: 35-50% of new
- Needs tine replacement or weld repair: 20-35% of new, minus repair cost
Price matters, but so does friction. In an ICERTIAS survey on shopping irritations, "prices" topped the list of consumer complaints, and value for money now includes terms, service, and aftercare. A cheap rake that costs you a jobsite day is the expensive one.
When a cracked tine kills the deal
A bent tine is a straightening job. A cracked tine at the weld or a cracked carrier bar means cutting out and re-welding heat-treated material, and repair bills can pass 50% of a used rake's value fast. Below three cracked tines with sound base metal, repair can beat replacement. Beyond that, or any crack running into the mounting frame, walk away and keep searching for a used excavator root rake for sale elsewhere.
What listing details separate a trustworthy used root rake seller from a risky one?
A listing worth a phone call shows the rake mounted on a machine, not floating on gravel. If the seller can't produce a photo of it working on a jobsite, they may be flipping a rack they never ran.
The five photos a good listing includes
- Full side profile showing rake width and tine count.
- Close-up of the mounting plate or pin ears, so you can match pin-on vs quick-attach.
- Tine tips from ground level, showing wear and bends.
- The rake mounted on an excavator, ideally your tonnage class.
- Serial stamp or builder plate.
Running the FTC scam check
Before you drive, search the seller's name plus "complaint" or "scam," and never rely on star ratings alone, since fake ratings are common on marketplaces. Ask for a video call showing the rake running. A verified seller or dealer who refuses both is a pass.
FAQ
Will a root rake for a 5 ton excavator fit my Takeuchi TB260?
No, the TB260 is a 2 to 3 ton compact machine, so a 5 ton rake will be too wide and heavy, creating a tipping risk during swings. Match the rake to your machine class and verify pin diameter and ear spacing against your bucket before buying.
How much should I pay for a used root rake?
Expect to pay 50 to 65 percent of the new price for a rake ready to work, 35 to 50 percent for cosmetic wear or minor tine bends, and 20 to 35 percent minus repair costs for one needing tine or weld work. Walk away if the mounting frame is cracked.
What is the difference between a root rake and a brush rake?
A brush rake has wide spacing of 6 inches or more to let slash and stumps roll through while soil falls back. A root rake has tighter spacing around 3 to 4 inches for screening soil and pulling rock. Sellers use the terms loosely, so confirm actual tine spacing.
Can I convert a pin-on root rake to quick attach?
Yes, an adapter plate converts a pin-on mount to a different pin size or quick-attach pattern. It makes sense when the rake is sound but the mounting does not match your coupler. Skip the conversion if the adapter costs more than a direct-fit rake.
Where can I find a used excavator root rake for sale near me?
Check MachineryTrader and eBay for volume, plus local classifieds and equipment sites like YardSwaps for regional listings. Filter by tonnage class and coupler type, then ask sellers for pin diameter, ear-to-ear width, and a photo of the rake mounted on a running machine.