Hay rake question... Duetz Fahr Basket or Vicon Fingerwheel rake.

[aczlan]

we have a Duetz Fahr KH40 (tow behind PTO powered 4 basket hay tedder) however it it currently having problems with one wing, it looks like it will need the arm cirled in this picture replaced .

the drive shaft inside the arm has a circlip that keeps it from sliding too far in and causing mayhem, however the groove that the circlip goes into is worn and rounded, this lets the shaft slide out and disengage itself from the driveshaft.
the arm has been worked on before (and welded) so that I cant get the shaft out.

all in all this tedder seems to be quite troublesome, in the meantime I have found a 8 wheel fingerrake on craigslist for $300.

I like the idea of being able to lift the rake up and the finger rake seems easier to work with/on than the current one.

so essentially I am asking: should I put the $$$ into fixing the Fahr rake or should I get the Finger wheel rake.
it would appear that the finger rake could replace both the side delivery rake and the tedder, has anyone used one that way or am I missing something?


Thanks

Aaron Z
edit: change conclusion to a more readable paragraph

[tude]

I don't think finger wheel rakes do any tedding. They will turn a windrow over but are not designed to be used as a tedder.

[aczlan]

Originally Posted by tude

I don't think finger wheel rakes do any tedding. They will turn a windrow over but are not designed to be used as a tedder.

ok, I had run across this page: BEFCO - Products - Hay Equipment - Finger Wheel Rakes on the BEFCO site and they talk about using a fingerwheel rake to spread a windrow...


anyone used a fingerwheel rake as a tedder???


Thanks

Aaron Z

[RickB]

Wheel rakes generally don't ted. In fact, a great many hay growers do not prefer them even for raking. They are, without a doubt the least expensive type of rake out there, though.

[zzvyb6]

Well any way you work it, it has to be fixed. Just a question of when and how. Meanwhile, the wheel rake could do the job but I've found them to dig up a lot of mud into the hay. I have a Kuhn tedder rake and it serves both functions ok, but my NH 56 does the best raking for square baling in my relatively small fields.

Can't you fix the C-clip grove somehow? Can you weld a button on the end, use a hose clamp, drill a hole and punch in a roll pin, or pein over the end? Keeping it working preserves the value. Trade the rotary + the wheel rake for a better implement.

[aczlan]

Originally Posted by zzvyb6

Meanwhile, the wheel rake could do the job but I've found them to dig up a lot of mud into the hay.

good to know, the wheel rake is looking worse and worse...

I have a Kuhn tedder rake and it serves both functions ok, but my NH 56 does the best raking for square baling in my relatively small fields.

we have a rake (unknown vintage or make) that is the same style as your NH56, it works great for combining or rolling windrows.

Can't you fix the C-clip grove somehow? Can you weld a button on the end, use a hose clamp, drill a hole and punch in a roll pin, or pein over the end?

I would like to fix the C-clip groove but the shaft is stuck in there, it feels like there is a weld or a pin inside the shaft that is keeping it from coming out, and a previous mechanic welded the holes that used to be on the shaft shut. however, the roll pin is a great idea, I will have to look at doing that, if I can get it just out from the C-clip groove it will hold the C-clip from sliding out... alternatively I may try to have the shaft pulled out and make the C-clip groove deeper, then use a wider C-Clip.

Aaron Z