Very Nice implement.
It’s next on my bucket list. Couple questions:
1. Can your rake grass effectively without ripping out the grass with that? Is it reasonable to think you go rake a large lawn with that and maybe offset the blade at an angle to make a winrow, so you could come back and collect with the bucket? Could you do that with grass and leaves without destroying the lawn?
Not really, you'd tear out the grass. Some success when pushing the rake backwards but it's of limited utility. I'd think that you'd be better served with a spring rake/de-thatcher.
2. in your opinion, is there any reason to add hydraulics to it or reason not include hydraulics on that implement?
Not that I see. I wouldn't bother with the extra associated costs for hydraulics. I would say that the gauge wheels (although expensive) are worth the investment.
thanks.