NH 256 Rake vs Kuhn GA300GM

[blainesdad]

Just looking for some advice from you guys that may know more about these than I do. I am currently using a NH 256 rolabar rake and have been for several years. The rake has done a good job for me but I have ran across a really good deal on a basically new Kuhn GA300GM rotary rake that I am considering. The kuhn has very little use and is set up with 4 wheel set up as well. I like the fact that it is 3 pt design(seems to me it would work well in some of my small fields with tight corners, etc). Just not sure about how reliable these machines are, but thinking of taking the plunge and selling off my 256. I just round bale fescue hay for cattle here locally. Anybody with experienc with the two please chime in. Thanks in advance for any advice or input both positive and negative on either.

Thanks
Steve

 

[JasG]

Never used a 3 pt one.

I talked a friend of mine that I help into buying a Kuhn rotary 10-12 years ago. He still has his NH 256 (?) which we don't use but maybe once a year now. The rotary we found early on we gained at least hours and in many cases a day in drying. Because the hay isn't being roped but fluffed up it really does make a difference.

Now I just rebuilt the rake for him. We kind of think the cause was from he loaned it out and it been broken and repaired 4-5 years ago. We knew the guy broke it and fixed it. What we didn't know was when he repaired the arms he bent, there are dust covers between each arm around the rotor. Or at least the arms he repaired didn't have the little plastic covers. Dirt got inside the rotor and wore the center cam that makes the arms turn. Late last year this broke and a couple of arms broke. Took a while to get apart and about $800.00 in parts, but we replaced everything as long as I had it apart.

 

[blainesdad]

So how tough are the rotary rakes? I mean some of my hayfields are a little rough and I have on occasion bent or even broke raker teeth off of my 256 rake. It seems to me that have the 4 wheel set up will be much better for keeping the tines off the ground as well though..

 

[zzvyb6]

I have a 56 rake AND a Kuhn combo tedder and rake. (You shift gears on both turrets and swing the bar a bit. The Kuhn is heavy so I need extra nose weight when picking it up, otherwise my front tires can loose traction momentarily. The tines are very expensive to replace, unlike the 56 style which can be obtained at TSC. I have trouble with the small tires loosing air, too because they tend to dig in on hard turns. This is hard on the bead area of the wheel and valve stem. That cuts into the tubes

I still use the 56 because anything can pull it, even my atv or truck if necessary. I adjust the rake angle to give me the best feed into the baler throat. The rotary rake just pushes it into a windrow. Its not roped.

So, I'm back to the 56 for the most part and use the Kuhn for tedding as necessary.

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

Just looking for some advice from you guys that may know more about these than I do. I am currently using a NH 256 rolabar rake and have been for several years. The rake has done a good job for me but I have ran across a really good deal on a basically new Kuhn GA300GM rotary rake that I am considering. The kuhn has very little use and is set up with 4 wheel set up as well. I like the fact that it is 3 pt design(seems to me it would work well in some of my small fields with tight corners, etc). Just not sure about how reliable these machines are, but thinking of taking the plunge and selling off my 256. I just round bale fescue hay for cattle here locally. Anybody with experienc with the two please chime in. Thanks in advance for any advice or input both positive and negative on either.

Thanks
Steve

I have a 3pt Kuhn GA300GM and love it. I still have my Deere rollabar but loan it out. The Kuhn 300 Fits my Kioti DK45S like a glove. It easier to rake small fields.

 

[jagyzf]

I have a 56 rake AND a Kuhn combo tedder and rake. (You shift gears on both turrets and swing the bar a bit. The Kuhn is heavy so I need extra nose weight when picking it up, otherwise my front tires can loose traction momentarily. The tines are very expensive to replace, unlike the 56 style which can be obtained at TSC. I have trouble with the small tires loosing air, too because they tend to dig in on hard turns. This is hard on the bead area of the wheel and valve stem. That cuts into the tubes

I still use the 56 because anything can pull it, even my atv or truck if necessary. I adjust the rake angle to give me the best feed into the baler throat. The rotary rake just pushes it into a windrow. Its not roped.

So, I'm back to the 56 for the most part and use the Kuhn for tedding as necessary.

Combo tedder rakes and rotary are not the same thing. Rotarys work great fro raking only, combo rakes IMO don't rake good, or ted good, just kinda sorta do on OK job at best at both.

I have never had any issue with tires on rotary rakes.

 

[JasG]

So how tough are the rotary rakes? I mean some of my hayfields are a little rough and I have on occasion bent or even broke raker teeth off of my 256 rake. It seems to me that have the 4 wheel set up will be much better for keeping the tines off the ground as well though..

Yes 4 wheels are better, our only has 2 and does bounce a little at times.

I have little doubt had the rake not been damaged years ago, it would still be going today without issue. Now it is good as new. The teeth are a little more but seem to last longer. It has held up well for us, the friend that it was loaned to hit a chunk of wood as I remember. Keep the thing greased and very little has gone wrong. The 1st couple years we didn't so much as break a tooth.

 

[blainesdad]

I appreciate all of the info and advice so far. How much are the raker teeth on these and how prone are they to breaking. They look very similiar to my tedder teeth on my walton tedder and those things are tough as nails in my opinion. The NH teeth are dirt cheap, but are pretty flimsy as well.

 

[JasG]

I appreciate all of the info and advice so far. How much are the raker teeth on these and how prone are they to breaking. They look very similiar to my tedder teeth on my walton tedder and those things are tough as nails in my opinion. The NH teeth are dirt cheap, but are pretty flimsy as well.

Over time the teeth do get weaker from all the flexing. We usually go through 2-3 per season 3 cuttings on about 80 acres of land. It would be very similar to how many teeth on a tedder you will be breaking.

That is average, some seasons none break others 5-6.

 

[BeeferMan]

We went to a Kuhn rotary a few years ago (towed model) and would never go back to the bar rake. They make a totally different windrow.

Have never heard any reliability issues with the Kuhn rakes, biggest complaint of those (over other style rakes) is the purchase cost, they are pricey.