Proper tedding operation

[powerscol]

After using my Kuhn GF 222T a few time now and after reading the manual and watching numerous videos, I am still a but confused at the proper PTO operating speed.

At full 540 operating speed it throw the hay wide and high (a good thing), almost too wide as it covers the windrow left by the drum mower that I need to tedd next time through. At about 1/2 speed it leaves clumps, but does not cover the next windrow so I can see it to tedd on the next pass.

Videos show various speeds.

I was thinking of going slow to break up the windrows left by the drum mower, then a second full PTO speed run to let it fly high and distribute better. However this takes time.

The manual specifies 540 and varying ground speed, except for very dry crop, then reduce PTO RPM. Not sure what they mean by dry crop, as then you would rake and bale.

So how do you operate your tedder?

 

[hosspuller]

Operate the Tedder to turn and distribute the crop. I would not do two passes with the tedder. Every time you ted, you lose some of your crop. You might try different angles of your tedder to fine tune it your crop and conditions.

 

[powerscol]

Thanks
I have tried some different angles, but the tedder tends to skip over some areas at lower ones. Its the angle adjustment that puts the tines closer to the ground. There is no vertical adjustment that I know of on this unit.

I dont have any alfalfa (all grass in this field with a bit of clover), so I am not sure of the crop damage you speak of. Can you enlighten me more? I do want to bruise the stems for faster drying.

Thanks - Keith

 

[hosspuller]

Leaves will dry much faster than stems. The crop damage is the tedder tines shattering grass leaves, then the pieces fall to the ground. The leaves are the most nutritious part of forage. If you have a 3 point tedder you could try raising one side of the tedder. That "Might" help direct the output as you desire. Or fit a deflector to the tedder as some of the rotary rakes have I don't worry about the over lap at all when I tedder the windrows. I'm following a haybine that crimps & windrows.

 

[powerscol]

Ill haft to look into the deflector. There are some holes in the rear frame. I wonder if that was a factory option? Its not a 3 point, so it just is what it is, I do like what it does and it did not damage the seed heads. I think it really made a difference.

 

[Farmer495]

I've run a Kuhn GF22N for years, the older version of your tedder. They used to be made in 3pt or pull type, 222 only pull type now.

Are you taking TWO mower swathes at once, or straddling one windrow?

A 222 is wide enough to grab 3 swathes from a 7 foot disk mower in two passes if the mower swath wheels/boards are narrowed in. Should be easy to grab two swathes with a 2 drum mower swath. Don't worry about driving on the hay, you do that when you rake anyways.

In grass hay leaf loss isn't a big issue. I run just under PTO RPM, enough to shake out the swath.

No need for deflectors on tedder, 222 only adjusts on the tongue for tilt. I run 3pt model level side to side and tilt so tines just grabbing hay in front.

3 swathes in two passes:

 

[RedNeckRacin]

no deflector needed on a tedder. Run enough pto rpms to scattter the windrow well. Don't worry about the overlap on what hasn't been teddered yet. The whole object is to get the crop as spread out and dried ASAP. I usually liked to keep my chute on my haybines in a lil tighter if I knew I had a damp field or that I was going to tedder it the next day. The day after I mowed the field, sometime after the dew has been well burnt off, I would go back and spread the crop out as wide as possible. Don't worry about the overlap, the rake will pick it all back up.

 

[leeave96]

I have a similar tedder to yours, only in New Holland colors. It is trailed and model 156.

Here is a post I made on another forum that might be helpful - especially with the unevenness/missing hay part

Saved a Tedder Today - Yesterday's Tractors

Bottom line is - aside from the other repairs, getting this tedder to pickup hay across the width of it was a massive improvement. The above post outlines how I did it.

RPMs and speed - I try to run mine fast enough to fill up the width of the tedder and maybe a little more. I don't see the point in covering the swath next to the one I'm working. I'm still relatively new to this tedder and tedders - so take my advice with a grain of salt.

My advice is just keep playing around with rpms and ground speed that gives a nice fluff, a ground speed that won't beat the tedder to death and bounce you out of the tractor seat.

Good luck,
Bill

 

[powerscol]

Great information. In a few weeks I will put it into practice.