Raking After a Sickle Mower. (small scale)

[bulldog69]

Can one of you explain what exactly a tedder does? I was under the impression that it just spreads the hay out again so it can dry better.

Basically your right. A tedder will lift the hay up off the ground and spread it out over the field evenly. Because it's lifted off the ground it dries faster and when you rake it the windrows are even and fluffy. I don't really understand why but it's like night and day difference baling hay that had a tedder pulled over it. The hay just feeds better for some reason and the bales even look better when they come out of the baler. Another plus to using one is the rake doesn't hardly miss anything. If you have never had one you don't know what your missing. I bet anybody that does have one will say they can't live without it.

 

[D7E]

Dont use a tedder in alfalfa , you will knock all the leaves off . roll bar rakes sell everyday for $4-700 on auctions we do 300+ acres with a 12ft haybine and 2 old siderakes .
lighter crop second cut thats heavier in alfalfa often never gets moved unless the weather is catchy ,just bale 2 days behind the mower !

 

[TravisTractor]

I have read others but did not want to hijack them with my questions. I am looking to put up hay on about 80 acres alfalfa with some grass mix. I will be getting a 9ft pull behind sickle mower. I am looking for a rake that will sweep all of the alfalfa into a windrow/swath. Also a rake where I can turn the swath if it happen to get rained on. Will be mostly alfalfa so it will be pretty heavy in places. What is the best style of rake for this style of cutting without breaking the bank? Concerned about time, leaf loss, price and overall bang for my buck.
Size of the windrow I have a bit of flexibilty as I have not purchased a baler yet. Any opinions or suggestions?

we use a IH 1300 sickle alot still in rockier fields. if it is dry cuts nearly as fast as khun 600. as most ground here is to ruff to travel very fast. we have had good luck with the v-rakes.like the ones with the center wheel. we have a tedder but i usually just flip the main bars on the v-rake and stand it up after one day of sun, fluffs it nice helps here with drying by about a day. fluffed or tedded i can't tell much differance. that is a function of a disc rake that i think is under utilized. just my two cents.