Suggestions finding the right tedder

[Hay Dude]

I think I will explore the Kuhn and Italian tedders over the winter.
Maybe I can find something with strong enough road gear in the 20 or 30 (+/-) size.

The Pequea was well built and easy to maintain, but it’s 26’ width and sloppy road gear didn’t make for an ideal piece for me.

 

[Farmer495]

I think I will explore the Kuhn and Italian tedders over the winter.
Maybe I can find something with strong enough road gear in the 20 or 30 (+/-) size.

The Pequea was well built and easy to maintain, but it’s 26’ width and sloppy road gear didn’t make for an ideal piece for me.

Kuhn was actually my original choice for a tedder. They made the Deere and New Holland ones for years. The two rotor Kuhn here lasted almost 40 years and I only replaced it since the gearbox shaft it needed (OEM part was still available from local dealer) was 10 days out in the middle of an already wet hay season.

I have a good Kubota dealer and they had a tedder on the lot so I only lost half a day and was a worthwhile operational upgrade.

 

[Hay Dude]

I might even try a Pequea 8’ fluffer type tedder since they’re dirt cheap.
Not leaving any ideas off the table.

My new wheel rake does a great job drying hay, so raking is now a much bigger solution to the drying process.

 

[Gregster613]

I might even try a Pequea 8’ fluffer type tedder since they’re dirt cheap.
Not leaving any ideas off the table.

My new wheel rake does a great job drying hay, so raking is now a much bigger solution to the drying process.

What exactly does a "Tedder" do differently than a rake? I've heard of them but have never seen or used one. Does it fluff up already rake windrows if they have gotten rained on? I would think just re-raking would do a similar job? Just curious, thanks.

 

[Sportsman762]

What exactly does a "Tedder" do differently than a rake? I've heard of them but have never seen or used one. Does it fluff up already rake windrows if they have gotten rained on? I would think just re-raking would do a similar job? Just curious, thanks.

Raking takes a wide swath of hay and makes it into a narrow windrow for the baler to pick up. Rakes generally will make the hay more dense in a window compared to density of a swath. Re raking can mix the hay up and does some light fluffing but it still leaves denser areas and does not completely mix the hay up. Some types of rakes such as parallel bar and wheel rakes will rope the hay making it harder to dry.
A Tedder "fluffs" the hay moving wet hay in the bottom to the top to allow it to dry. You can set a tedder to be more aggressive to spread the hay out to assist with drying. Another use is to remove water off the hay after a rain and fluff it to dry better.

 

[zzvyb6]

What would it take to make a '2 into 1' ? Meaning 2 separate towable units in combination, then spread out for field use. I'm seeing a lot more balers and rakes done this way. It requires a beam hitch with a PTO power driveline off the back of the lead unit, then maybe a hydraulic fold out mechanism.
Could a pair of offset ground drive tedders work in tandem ?

 

[LouNY]

Our 4 rotor Kuhn trailing tedder does a good job of tedding, traveling can be another story. I see that they have a 6 rotor 21'4" which would give just a bit of over lap and it is 3 point mounted so the transport should be much more stable then a trailered unit.

 

[Farmer495]

I might even try a Pequea 8’ fluffer type tedder since they’re dirt cheap.
Not leaving any ideas off the table.

My new wheel rake does a great job drying hay, so raking is now a much bigger solution to the drying process.

2 rotor brand new, 10" wide.

They have a four rotor vertical fold at 19'

 

[Farmer495]

What would it take to make a '2 into 1' ? Meaning 2 separate towable units in combination, then spread out for field use. I'm seeing a lot more balers and rakes done this way. It requires a beam hitch with a PTO power driveline off the back of the lead unit, then maybe a hydraulic fold out mechanism.
Could a pair of offset ground drive tedders work in tandem ?

Likely be doable, but just cheaper the buy a wider unit by the time you get the power divider unit. I am not aware of any ground drive tedders currently made.

 

[Farmer495]

What exactly does a "Tedder" do differently than a rake? I've heard of them but have never seen or used one. Does it fluff up already rake windrows if they have gotten rained on? I would think just re-raking would do a similar job? Just curious, thanks.

Tedder lets you turn and fluff the hay so the "bottom" hay comes to the top, but is still spread out wide to dry in the sun & wind.

Normally you use on hay after it is mowed to speed up drying. I normally ted once, even for haylage, since it gains me half a day minimum for little time spent.

Sometimes ted twice if it gets rained on.

Can ted out windrows if they get soaked, then rerake when dry.