Rake NH 55 Rake

jlbash1 · Jun 21, 2005

I picked up a NH S55 rake at an auction this past weekend. I hooked it up and pulled it around a little last night for the first time. I think I've got a problem and I need some advice before I tear into it too deep.

This is my first experience with a hay rake so don't assume that I couldn't be doing something completely stupid.

So when pulling the rake, the rotation of rake is not smooth. The bars will rotate fine for a little bit then slow down to a stop, then start back up again. This pattern just repeats. I tried this with the teeth in the air and also so they would hit the ground. same results.

Any help would be much appreciated. I don't have the manual as of yet, but it is on order.

Jarrod

kensfarm · Jun 22, 2005

"The bars will rotate fine for a little bit then slow down to a stop, then start back up again."

I have a NH 56 rake.. sounds like some gearing is missing a few teeth. If you pick the rake up using chains w/ the FEL(I hook up in two places to one of the cross bars to try and get the rake balanced).. you can then turn the wheels by hand and get a better look to see what's turning.. and what is not.

sweettractors · Jun 22, 2005

The bars will rotate fine for a little bit then slow down to a stop, then start back up again. This pattern just repeats. 

I have seen this hundreds of times in the older NH rakes. Worn gears in the gearbox and driveshaft from gearbox to wheel hub is probably creating lost motion and backlash. Replace gears or try to shim the ones you have and rebuild the square driveline to take out the slack or replace. In addition, be sure the check your dogs, dog springs and pivot pins in BOTH drive wheels--Ken Sweet
Email sweet@scrtc.com

jlbash1 · Jun 27, 2005

Thanks for the responses, I've been out of town for a few days so I'll give you an update.

I had a guy who has some haying experience come out the other day and he thinks that my problem is not a problem. It seems that when I get up to speed the problem goes away and it rakes fine. I think I may have been overly cautious in the beginning and going way too slow when I checked this thing out. I still think the motion should be more fluid at lower speeds, but it works. It looks as if a lot of the slop in the driveline is in the 3 piece shaft between the wheel and the gear box, it is very sloppy even when the rake is lowered.

I looked in the gear box by taking the back cover off, and the gears all look fine with little wear. It is a little difficult to see all of the gears, but what i see looks fine.

Again thanks for the input and if you think I still have a problem let me know.

Thanks
Jarrod

slowrev · Jun 27, 2005

Ken knows the rake. The dogs in the hubs can be non functional and causing only one wheel or no wheel to operate the rake at times. This can cause erratic rake behavior. Just finished a helping a friend go thru the hubs on his rake.
Ben

sweettractors · Jun 27, 2005

It looks as if a lot of the slop in the driveline is in the 3 piece shaft between the wheel and the gear box, it is very sloppy even when the rake is lowered. 

You have 2 choices,1-Do Nothing and run it until it quits and then replace or repair the 3 piece shaft or 2- Try to identify all the points of lost motion, ie: U-Joints, pins and holes wore, square tubing wore (male and female parts)--Ken Sweet

SWeet Farm Equipment LLC *New First Choice Hay Tedders, Disc Mowers,Drum Mowers and Sickle Bar Mowers*

jlbash1 · Jun 28, 2005

I believe I will work on the shaft some. I used the rake yesterday for the longest time so far and it did well.

I do appreciate the input, sounds like you have plenty of experience with this stuff. I did check the dogs in the hubs, the right side hub did have the spring off. I worked on that a little and it's working properly now, but at low speed the rake is still not fluid.

Thanks again

Jarrod

sweettractors · Jun 28, 2005

but at low speed the rake is still not fluid. 

We have rebuilt hundreds of the 55-56-256 Holland rakes and as with all equipment, they have key areas that give trouble first. I think you are headed in the right direction--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New 4-5-6 ft Ferguson Yardmaker Seeders In Stock Today*