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Makita Paddle Sweep - Review

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Urbish
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Location: Manchester, MI

Makita Paddle Sweep - Review

Postby Urbish » Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:25 pm

The last 100' or so of my driveway is gravel and with the mild winter we had, I ended up pushing a lot of that gravel up into the lawn while plowing snow. When I lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the local municipalities would spread crushed mine rock (stamp sand) on the roads in the winter time. Sometimes you'd end up with an inch or more of this sand in your lawn come spring. I used to rent a Shindaiwa Power Broom from the local Rent-All place to sweep the sand back to the edge of the road where the township would come along with vacuum trucks for reclamation.

I looked around my local area here in SE lower MI and nobody rents something like this, so I bit the bullet and bought one. I got the Makita EX2650LH power head (4-stroke, 1.1hp) and the SW400MP rubber flap attachment. I joined them, put engine oil and fuel in the power head, and fired it up. It started on the first pull and ran like a champ. 45 minutes later I had all the gravel out of my yard. There were some areas I had already gone after with a leaf rake, but it was a lot of effort and missed both the larger rocks and the fine gravel. This thing got it all!

PROS: It runs great, has plenty of power, is quiet, doesn't produce smoke like a 2-stroke,and was way more effective than raking, no mixing fuel

CONS: It is quite heavy, and takes a lot of effort to push forward against the opposing rotation of the paddles

I look forward to seeing how this does cleaning up the wood/bark debris after I do my summer wood cutting/splitting. I suppose you could do some light snow removal from sidewalks/parking areas with it too. As a bonus, when my weed whip finally bites the dust, I'll simply buy one of the string trimmer attachments for this and have a multipurpose power head.
Attachments
Makita EX2650LH.JPG
Makita SW400MP Paddle Attachment.JPG
Last edited by Urbish on Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:41 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Jim

Circle of Safety

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User avatar
Urbish
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2428
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:45 pm
Zip Code: 48158
Tractors Owned: ~
1958 International Cub LoBoy
1947 Farmall H
1946 Farmall B
1953 Willys CJ3B
2022 Massey Ferguson GC1723E Subcompact

Cub Loboy L-54 Leveling and Grader Blade
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Manchester, MI

Re: Makita Power Rake - Review

Postby Urbish » Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:28 pm

Here's a video of another person using one. Do yourself a favor and hit the mute button. I don't know why anybody would couple Toto's 'Africa' with a power equipment demo video. :roll:

Jim

Circle of Safety

User avatar
Urbish
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2428
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:45 pm
Zip Code: 48158
Tractors Owned: ~
1958 International Cub LoBoy
1947 Farmall H
1946 Farmall B
1953 Willys CJ3B
2022 Massey Ferguson GC1723E Subcompact

Cub Loboy L-54 Leveling and Grader Blade
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Manchester, MI

Re: Makita Power Rake - Review

Postby Urbish » Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:31 pm

And here is a during and a couple of after photos. I didn't think to take photos when I was doing the worst parts. Note that some of the gravel it didn't get is impacted in the dirt/clay from previous seasons.
Attachments
Gravel - During.JPG
Gravel - After 2.JPG
Gravel - After.JPG
Jim

Circle of Safety

User avatar
Urbish
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2428
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:45 pm
Zip Code: 48158
Tractors Owned: ~
1958 International Cub LoBoy
1947 Farmall H
1946 Farmall B
1953 Willys CJ3B
2022 Massey Ferguson GC1723E Subcompact

Cub Loboy L-54 Leveling and Grader Blade
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Manchester, MI

Re: Makita Power Rake - Review

Postby Urbish » Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:33 pm

So the bottom line is that handling this thing was quite a bit of work, but was much less strenuous and more efficient than using a rake. And if I keep even one rock from becoming a missile and hitting a passing car on the highway while I am mowing, I call that a win.
Jim

Circle of Safety

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Slim140
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Re: Makita Power Rake - Review

Postby Slim140 » Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:40 pm

That don't even look like fun.
Every home is a school, what are you teaching?

Circle of Safety

User avatar
Urbish
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2428
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:45 pm
Zip Code: 48158
Tractors Owned: ~
1958 International Cub LoBoy
1947 Farmall H
1946 Farmall B
1953 Willys CJ3B
2022 Massey Ferguson GC1723E Subcompact

Cub Loboy L-54 Leveling and Grader Blade
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Manchester, MI

Re: Makita Power Rake - Review

Postby Urbish » Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:42 pm

Shane N. wrote:That don't even look like fun.


Next winter, I do fully intend to kneel on a plastic sled and turn this around backward to propel me around the yard. That might be fun if it works.
Jim

Circle of Safety

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Slim140
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Tractors Owned: .
1970 International 140
1972 International 140
1949 John Deere A
1993 Ford 4630 W/Loader
1965 John Deere 110
1961 Cub Cadet Original
Circle of Safety: Y

Re: Makita Power Rake - Review

Postby Slim140 » Thu Apr 02, 2020 1:44 pm

Urbish wrote:
Shane N. wrote:That don't even look like fun.


Next winter, I do fully intend to kneel on a plastic sled and turn this around backward to propel me around the yard. That might be fun if it works.

Please have your wife video it :lol:
Every home is a school, what are you teaching?

Circle of Safety

outdoors4evr
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Re: Makita Paddle Sweep - Review

Postby outdoors4evr » Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:34 am

Turn it around to the rear of the sled and have it push the sled.
184 w/ Creeper & 3-Point
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IH Model 15 Tiller
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mcwinter
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Re: Makita Paddle Sweep - Review

Postby mcwinter » Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:54 pm

We have a similar Stihl version of the power head that currently has a tiller and edger attachments, and it has a set of wheels. I tried out someone else's Stihl version of the gravel broom (looks just like the Makita pictured) this spring and it works well. I think the wheels really help in supporting the head and letting you adjust how much downward force to put onto the broom. I plan to get the broom attachment for our Stihl power unit.

coppersmythe
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Re: Makita Power Rake - Review

Postby coppersmythe » Sat Apr 04, 2020 5:56 am

Shane N. wrote:
Urbish wrote:
Shane N. wrote:That don't even look like fun.


Next winter, I do fully intend to kneel on a plastic sled and turn this around backward to propel me around the yard. That might be fun if it works.

Please have your wife video it :lol:
Urbish wrote:
Shane N. wrote:That don't even look like fun.


Next winter, I do fully intend to kneel on a plastic sled and turn this around backward to propel me around the yard. That might be fun if it works.
:Dito: :Dito: It does look like you have to " lean into it " . but if it gets the job done . coppersmythe......

User avatar
Urbish
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 2428
Joined: Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:45 pm
Zip Code: 48158
Tractors Owned: ~
1958 International Cub LoBoy
1947 Farmall H
1946 Farmall B
1953 Willys CJ3B
2022 Massey Ferguson GC1723E Subcompact

Cub Loboy L-54 Leveling and Grader Blade
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Manchester, MI

Re: Makita Paddle Sweep - Review

Postby Urbish » Wed Apr 22, 2020 4:41 pm

Update: The engine is leaking oil where the plastic oil fill tube meets the aluminum crankcase. I contacted Makita customer service which directed me to ship/take it to the nearest authorized service center for possible warranty repair. The closest one is 30 miles away, so I think I will just pull it apart myself and check the o-ring.
Jim

Circle of Safety


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