Grounds Keeper Rake Handle Replacement

This is a rake handle replacement for the Grounds Keeper scrape rake, so a snapped or cracked handle does not mean buying a whole new tool. Swap the handle, keep the head and the rake is back on the truck.

Why handles break on tree crews

Rakes on a tree crew live hard lives. Someone uses one to lever a round off the trailer, another gets left under a log on the ground, and a third gets backed over in the driveway. Most of the time the head is fine and only the handle is done.

Replacing the handle costs a fraction of a new rake and keeps a head you have already worn in. That is the main reason the Grounds Keeper design is popular: wear parts are sold on their own.

Rebuilding also keeps the rake's feel consistent. A head whose tines are already set the way you like them rakes better than a brand-new one, so many crew leaders would rather swap a handle than buy a new rake.

Swapping the handle

Remove the old handle from the head, following the fastening method used on your rake. Clean out any splinters or dirt from the socket, seat the new handle fully and refasten it so the head does not wobble. Check it again after the first day of use, since a new fit can settle a little.

If your tines are bent or broken while you have the rake apart, this is a good time to fit replacement tines as well. A rebuilt rake with a fresh handle and tines works like a new one.

Confirm that the handle matches your rake before ordering. Grounds Keeper has offered more than one rake model over time, and handles for other brands of rakes are often a different size or attachment style.

Making handles last

A rake is for raking. Use a pry bar, a cant hook or a hookaroon to move wood instead of the rake handle, and you will replace far fewer of them. Store rakes on a rack or in a tube on the truck, not loose in the bed where logs and gear get thrown on top.

If a handle has a crack, replace it before it fails mid-pull. A snapped handle can leave a sharp, splintered end that is easy to get hurt on. Wear gloves when handling a broken handle and when cleaning up debris.

Wipe handles down at the end of the day and keep them out of standing water when the truck is parked. Sap and grime make them slippery and harder to grip, especially in the rain.

A rake that is dragged across asphalt or concrete at the end of the day also takes wear at the head and the handle joint. Carry it to the truck instead of dragging it behind you.

Keep a spare at the shop

Crews that run several trucks often keep one or two spare handles at the shop so a broken rake can be fixed the same evening. It is a cheap way to make sure every truck goes out in the morning with a working cleanup rake, and it keeps the customer's yard looking right at the end of every job.