Rake Wheel rake question

[flusher]

I'll be looking a a used wheel rake next week. It's got 10 wheels in a 5 and 5 V-configuration. Just to be clear on terminology, it's not a rotary basket type rake. This wheel rake has vertical wheels and horizontal axles similar to the one below.

Question: is it possible to use that kind of wheel rake as a tedder?

I've seen the basket rakes that are rake/tedder combos. They're nice, but so far I haven't come across one for sle in my neighborhood.

 

[farmerjim]

i doubt that you would be able to use that as a tedder. they are designed to make a "windrow". as you move along the wheels because they're at an angle inline they will basically form the hay into a row.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I like the idea behind the wheel rake buy my experience is they are not very good for anything other then ideal conditions. If your hay gets rained on and you can't jump back in the field immediately then the wheel rakes don't work very well.

A wheel rake is not a tedder and can not be used as a tedder.

If you are looking for a rake/tedder then keep waiting as Kuhn makes one and I think they might make New Hollands also and you can usually find the New Holland brand on ebay every couple weeks.

The best rake is a rotary rake as it will work in any type of condition and do a great job regardless of the conditions. Some day I want to buy a Kuhn 6002 to speed up my raking operation.

 

[flusher]

I like the idea behind the wheel rake buy my experience is they are not very good for anything other then ideal conditions. If your hay gets rained on and you can't jump back in the field immediately then the wheel rakes don't work very well.

A wheel rake is not a tedder and can not be used as a tedder.

If you are looking for a rake/tedder then keep waiting as Kuhn makes one and I think they might make New Hollands also and you can usually find the New Holland brand on ebay every couple weeks.

The best rake is a rotary rake as it will work in any type of condition and do a great job regardless of the conditions. Some day I want to buy a Kuhn 6002 to speed up my raking operation.

That's what I've heard regarding wheel rakes (hard to set up to get working properly, don't do a very good job).

I'd really like to latch onto a rotary rake. I see them on eBay regularly. Unfortunately, these are invariably located on your side of the Rockies so shipping cost becomes an issue. But I may get lucky here in CA and find something that I can use.

 

[chh]

Have used the wheel rake style for several years. They don't work very well in heavy hay and they don't do well on corners. We do 2 circles around a feild then rake back and forth in rows when possible. They will not tedder (as already stated by the other posts) About all you can do is roll a windrow over if it gets wet. Do not try to roll it more than about twice though or it will "rope" up and be a nightmare to bale.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I've tried wheel rakes on a couple occasions and didn't much care for them. It was my experience that they tend to pick up any rocks they can find and mix 'em in with your hay. I've always favored New Holland roll-a-bar rakes.