Raking may well break stems. I would just prune them down to about three buds pairs per stem if the dead leaves bother you or wait and let the new growth knock them loose. In my garden, there are always a few dead stems and in years like last season when I haven’t gotten around to prune all my Clematis, there are always some unsightly dead stems mixed in with the live ones.

If they are type 3 (hard prune) you will likely have fewer blooms, especially in the lower parts of the plant if left unpruned.

Thank you, NHBabs. I think you are right about the rake. So I went out yesterday and knocked off most of the dead leaves from the smaller one using my hands. Not much breakage. Now onto the larger one!