Hay rakes

xmariner · Oct 4, 2015

I know this is a matter of personal preference but I'd like to "hear" your thoughts on wheel hay rakes vs rotary rakes. I realize that wheel rakes can come in very large configurations for obvious reasons.

We hay between 8 and 15 acres so it's small enough to consider both.

Thanks

foreman Etexas · Oct 4, 2015

What you growing? What type rotary rake you looking at? I have the WR22 and wish would have gotten the Kuhn speed rake or like.

LukeD · Oct 5, 2015

I learned the hard way that you REALLY have to look at the potential for breakdowns. Get the most simple, high quality tool that you can afford. I started with a rolabar rake, and I've sunk a good bit into it, just in u-joints and rubber teeth. And still had it fail while taking, with a storm coming. I hear that the rotary rake doubles as a tedder. While it sounds like a good idea, I think it's better to have that as 2 separate tools; if I'm using my tedder and it breaks, I still have my rake to finish up the job.

bjr · Oct 6, 2015

I've never had a "wheel rake", but did own a very old IH No. 5 side delivery and that thing roped the hay. I bought a Morra rotary from Agri-supply and really like the fluffy wind rows it made. I tried to ted with it and it still gpt kinda of a wind rowed. My vote is for the rotary rakes. bjr

joeu235 · Oct 6, 2015

We use a wheel rake on 70 acres of coastal bermuda hay. JD 10 wheel rake which is a really a Tonutti. Simple and inexpensive piece of equipment.

RPW · Oct 10, 2015

I'm using a IH16. Doesn't seem to rope the hay. Had to replace a couple of bearings and some teeth but otherwise pretty good rake

Texasmark · Oct 12, 2015

I like the parallel bar like the JD 600 series. Just work for me regardless of the crop. However, I don't do the work that makes the wheel rakes popular so you have to factor that into my answer too.

bulldog69 · Oct 12, 2015

I've always been curious about a rotary rake. I got the chance to bale behind one and hated it. I'm used to a v-rake which makes the windrow the same width my baler is so I don't have to drunk bale, I just follow the windrow. The rotary rake did a good job as far as cleaning the ground but made a narrow windrow that required side to side baling.

My opinion the only rake to have is a v-rake.

farmer2009 · Oct 12, 2015

I've only been around a to rolabar rake and a wheeled v-rake. The v-rake can be set for baler pickup width and takes the stress off the baler driver. Makes a nice fluffy windrow. The rolabar (NH & IH) did good jobs but seamed to leave a lot unless you really run the teeth in the dirt. Even with no missing teeth. Both rakes seamed to rope the hay. NH not as bad but they do. 256 & 258. Plus with the rolabar to rake doubles for a round baler you have to out run the baler. With the v-rake it's pass for pass.

Tx Jim · Oct 13, 2015

farmer2009 said:
With the v-rake it's pass for pass.

Except with my 14 wheel rake covering three 9 ft swaths I make less passes as I gain a round every 2 rounds that rake/baler make.

farmer2009 · Oct 13, 2015

Tx Jim said:
Except with my 14 wheel rake covering three 9 ft swaths I make less passes as I gain a round every 2 rounds that rake/baler make.

I meant pass for pass with rake and baler. Rake doesn't have to do double time. Thanks for the clarification.
If you set your windrows on the cutter tight enough you can do that with a 10 wheel and 9' cutter. Our only problem with doing that in the spring is the windrows are to large to go in the baler. So we move over and go for 2 cutter passes and spread the cutter wider.

Tx Jim · Oct 13, 2015

farmer2009 said:
I meant pass for pass with rake and baler. Rake doesn't have to do double time. Thanks for the clarification.
If you set your windrows on the cutter tight enough you can do that with a 10 wheel and 9' cutter. Our only problem with doing that in the spring is the windrows are to large to go in the baler. So we move over and go for 2 cutter passes and spread the cutter wider.

I meant pass for pass no double time for rake. In one round with rake it gathers in 27+' of hay then rd baler follows rake baling 27+' of hay. There's been a yr or 2 when I've received sufficient rain I couldn't rake 3 swaths o just move hyd lever in tractor and rake 2 swaths. In '07 there were a few fields that made 6 to 8 rd bales per acre and I could only rake one 9' ft swath and get it choked into baler. In the last few yrs where I live droughts have taken it's toll on Coastal hay production.

TractorToolsDirect · Oct 26, 2015

You might also consider a belt rake. Makes the fluffy windrow like a rotary, but less expensive and more durable. Plus it takes up a lot less space in the barn and can double as a tedder, which none of the others will do. In Florida you might not be able to justify a separate tedder, but it is awful handy if you get rained on.

svenlylethor · Oct 29, 2015

Here's a great writeup:

Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary:: Print Lesson

I've been looking into this myself. I only have 80 acres so I think I'll just get a basic wheel rake to merge two windrows into one. It cuts down the drying and baling time. The main setback with wheel rakes is that they can be hard to manage if you have hilly land and put more ash in your hay but they're the most economical choice.

Bigfoot62 · Nov 8, 2015

I have a Sitrex 10-wheel V-rake like this one, because it works, and it's what I can afford.
http://static.fastline.com/assets/item/059/101/044a3712-4ca2-462d-a812-0eaf0780f935.jpg

I've used a JD 700 hydraulic rake (same as a Vermeer R23) and loved it, but they're above my pay grade.

http://www.equipmentlocator.com/photos/equip/1103470-1.jpg

bulldog69 · Nov 8, 2015

What's wrong with the sitrex? I don't have that brand but it's a lot like your and it works great. I would love to have a 10 or even a 12 wheel.

Bigfoot62 · Dec 13, 2015

bulldog69 said:
What's wrong with the sitrex? I don't have that brand but it's a lot like your and it works great. I would love to have a 10 or even a 12 wheel.

Just found your question.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Sitrex, or other wheel rake.
That JD 700 rake just will handle more hay, rake a wider width, and do it quicker. It's also adjustable in width and rake speed with just a touch to the hydraulic controls.
I just can't justify the cost of the JD (or Vermeer). I could buy a half dozen (or more) wheel rakes for what it costs.

Norm W · Dec 14, 2015

The wheel rake has one big advantage and that is it can be pulled with about anything from a Farmall Cub to a UTV, or a jeep. The wheels are about the only major moving parts, so you can't get much simpler.

Tx Jim · Dec 14, 2015

Bigfoot62 said:
Just found your question.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Sitrex, or other wheel rake.
That JD 700 rake just will handle more hay, rake a wider width, and do it quicker. It's also adjustable in width and rake speed with just a touch to the hydraulic controls.
I just can't justify the cost of the JD (or Vermeer). I could buy a half dozen (or more) wheel rakes for what it costs.

I owned a Vermeer R23(same as a JD 700) back in the 90's and I wouldn't trade my H&S Hi-cap wheel rake for a new R23. I can change raking width from tractor seat. Changing raking width or closing/opening R23 rake to go through a narrow gate was a real PITA and I don't need ""gloves"" to disconnect the hot hyd hoses.

Bigfoot62 · Dec 14, 2015

Tx Jim said:
I owned a Vermeer R23(same as a JD 700) back in the 90's and I wouldn't trade my H&S Hi-cap wheel rake for a new R23. I can change raking width from tractor seat. Changing raking width or closing/opening R23 rake to go through a narrow gate was a real PITA and I don't need ""gloves"" to disconnect the hot hyd hoses.

I hear you.
There's not really any "perfect" rakes. All have their advantages and disadvantages.