best type of hay rake

[jtn]

I like the Kuhn Gyro Rake myself.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorsmart.com/kuhn/kuhn_rakes.htm>http://www.tractorsmart.com/kuhn/kuhn_rakes.htm</A>

I made a lot of hay with one of these. It is nice because, being 3pt hitch mounted, you can pick it up to avoid obstructions (rocks and stumps) and jump wind rows. The downside is it is very difficult to turn while raking with one, but hey, hay is better in straight rows anyway, right?

Just noticed the size raks they are talking about on that link. The one I am used to using is about 8' and 3pt mounted.

JT

 

[poorboy]

We have seen alot of rakes come and go in this area over the years. We've still been using a side delivery rake. A New Holland model 56. Few things to go wrong until it is plum wore out. Cattle market was up a few years ago and we up graded the 1950's model to the 256 with the dolly wheels. By the way almost all parts are interchangable between the two. That's got to say something about the design. A wheel rake would be a good cheap alternative. Considering the 256 was about $3600. Neighbor had the Kuhn and it is still laying in a pile after he stripped the gears or something. He went and bought a New Holland. Not putting down the Kuhn though because some people just have those kind of problems when using machinery.

Patrick

 

[HayDR]

Ground drive Bar Rake technology has change little since the New Holland 56 and now the NH256. We have a NH56 that has to be 50+ years old. What sells 4 or 5 wheel rake is price of utility. The V-rake buys time and rakes everything in the field. In my area small round balers are king but a few square balers are used for horse hay. The advantage of a V-Rake is that you can set the windrow width to the same width of your round baler so one does not have to weave and or watch a monitor all day. The Hydraulic driven bar rakes are often used in heavy crops like Sudan grass or putting up haylage. Vermeer makes a twin rake that will do it all and last a lifetime but it a bit pricey. Vermeer makes the JD so you Deere guys settle down. The Gyro-rakes have their niche in Alfalfa and Clover hay areas. They tend to handle the hay a bit easier and make a fluffy windrow but will break many tines in rough fields. Once you use a carted V-Rake you will never go back to a bar rake because one can rake 10-15 acres and hour where a bar rake would take all afternoon for the same amount of raking. I 've seen the used NH 256 rakes going for as little as $700 where 10 years ago they would bring $2500-3000. Times change and time is getting more valuable so farmers want to save time and buy the largest equipment they can use in their region.

 

[BayView]

What exactly is a carted V-rake? Sounds like it does a great job but i can't picture it in my mind.
Thanks-David @ BayView

 

[HayDR]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://vermeerag.com/equip/wrrake.html/> Carted V-Rake</A>
This is what they look like.

 

[johnsonauto]

I grew up useing a ferguson 3pt pto driven side deliver rake, works great for small scale farming, things do wear out over the years but have found a newer on in real nice shape and parts interchange. we now use the ferg. rake and kuhn tedder. We mostl have timothy and orchard grass, As far as type of hay i was always told with alfalfa you want something thats gentel and shake the leaves off but never have done alfalfa.

 

[HayDR]

 

[Egon]

Were they pulled by horses? I got to spend many hours on the metal seat watching the rear of two horses that didn't need any steering. All I had to do was to remember to dump in a straight line. Remember the horses need nose guards and were always covered with flies. And some of them flies would even find the round ventilation holes on the seat.

Wish I had one of those rakes for the farm.

Egon

 

[Egon]

Perhaps off topic but I beleive the farmers back home now use self propelled swathers with a crimper attatchment for cutting hay. Unless it rains there is no need for a rake.

Egon

 

[DUMBDOG]

IH model A