Rake Question

[Hobby Farmer KS]

I am having problems raking. I have an old Ford side discharge rake. I have a Ford 641 workmaster tractor. I am having trouble raking. I have tried 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. I tend to clog every twenty feet or so except in third, but then the wind rows look crappy. The only time it raked well was when the brome was wet and I raked in 2nd gear. I have raised and lowed the rake again I clogged. Any help would be appreciated

 

[sweettractors]

Are you using a conventional "Bar" rake or 3 point hitch "Wheel" rake? Ken Sweet

 

[Hobby Farmer KS]

I ladded a pic. This is not the exact rake but it looks like this and is 3 point

 

[Hobby Farmer KS]

What happens is the hay will start to discharge and then fill up in the middle and out the top and clog. I try slowing down and it still does it. Maybe I need to slow down some more.

 

[sweettractors]

Is there a way to adjust the stripper bar closer to the rake teeth, so to keep the hay down? Adjusting your tractor toplink can make your rake more or less agressive. Longer toplink, make the rake more agressive. Ken Sweet

 

[Hobby Farmer KS]

Thanks I have a Long toplink (3') right now. I didn't thing about shorting it. It will change the angle of attack. Thanks I will give that a try. I am baling the next two days, but I will probably cut agian Tuesday and rake on Wednesday.

Thanks Again

 

[sweettractors]

I have found that hay can get too dry to be raked uniformely. Just a bit of order (moisture) to the hay could be a good thing to better move the hay out the side? Ken Sweet

 

[Hobby Farmer KS]

:thumbsup::Good News. I shortened the top link a couple of inches and it was enough to help. The rake worked great except when I was heading west and the Kansas South wind would push the hay back into the rake. I had to shorten the west swath, but other than that every thing worked well

Thanks

 

[sweettractors]

Glad all worked out for the better. Ken Sweet