Hay Rakes - Making an Antique Work and New Rotary

jgh · Jun 8, 2006

20060607

I believe it has to do with not allowing the hay to dry properly, and too tight a rope can cause it to be too "concentrated" to go evenly into the baler, esp older square balers. I use a 258 NH and an old 273 baler, but have not had bad problems in one season so far.

jgh · Jun 8, 2006

20060607

I believe it has to do with not allowing the hay to dry properly, and too tight a rope can cause it to be too "concentrated" to go evenly into the baler, esp older square balers. I use a 258 NH and an old 273 baler, but have not had bad problems in one season so far.

gf5205 · Jun 19, 2006

We used a Kuhn rotary rake for the first time this past weekend, and it was magic. We were opening a 25 acre field with trees on three sides. Usually we have to wait till the outer windrows are dry enough so they don't rope when raked. We were using an old International 4 bar on steel wheels, which raked nicely, but slowly. With the rotary rake we were able to rake the hay earlier and get it further away from the shade of the trees. Even with the wet ground we have here in SW Maine and the early stage of the grass, the timothy is just beginnig to head up, we were able to bale Sunday PM after mowing Friday AM. Usually our first hay takes 4 days. Later on we'll mow one day and bale the next - but not this early and not with ground wet enough that we needed 4wheel drive to pull the baler and wagon in places.
Greg