What kind of rake - bar vs. wheel

[rtimgray]

So far this year, I've picked up a small roller, an old square baler and disc mower. This is my first year for doing hay all by myself, and so far it's going pretty well. However, at this point, I'm still using a borrowed rake that I will need to return. It is an old 5-bar rake, ground driven via wheel and shaft. I've been looking for a rake but so far haven't found anything local and cheap. I will finish out this season with the borrowed rake, so I should have most of a year to look, so I am wondering about differences between bar rakes and wheel rakes.

I've seen several of the bigger farmers pulling the large V-rakes, but that might be a bit much, in terms of dollar outlay for me. I've seen several 3 pt hitch wheel rakes advertised, but just don't know the plus/minus of each type. I would welcome any opinions and the goods/bads about each one.

If it matters, I'll be doing a couple of cuttings of about 60 acres of fescue/grass hay. I will be square baling and rolling some.

Thanks.

Good luck and take care.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I used to put up 10000 small square bales a year and always used a NH trailer bar rake and that is likely what I would buy now if I went in to hay again. But I will say that was 25 years ago and new equipment comes out every year.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Not sure if it's going to make much difference between a roller bar versus wheel rake. It's been decades since I did any haying, but I seem to recall the 5 bar rakes had better ground coverage and didn't tend to miss any hay; whereas the wheel sometimes dropped clumps, especially at the end of the rows on turns. (Neighbors used a bar rake, my maternal grandfather used a wheel.)

 

[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

Okay here's my opinion after 30 years of owning and operating on rolling KY hay ground. Two groups, in general, "side delivery" and "center delivery". Side delivery needs two "passes" to make one windrow, Center delivery needs one pass. Side delivery rakes include, the old 5 bar rakes, the wheel or "ferris" wheel rakes and the 3PTH rakes and some rotary rakes. Center delivery include the V or Y rakes. Side delivery disadvantages: slow, like I said two passes for one windrow. Advantages: time proven design, does not need a tractor with hydraulics, will rake clean in most situations even rougher ground. Center delivery: Advantages, will rake fast and wide, up to 24 plus feet on some models. Disadvantages: None of the three separate makes and models I've used like rough ground or think hay. Neither did they like hay that was not tedded or raking across mower swaths. Lessons I've learned. I like the 5-bar rakes, but get one with "dolly wheels" the others can be tongue heavy. I had a drawbar pull wheel rake that was a good one, it had a hand crank to raise and lower the wheels. Take that off, throw it in a hole and replace it a hydraulic cylinder. That will allow you to rake back and forth in the field inside of around and around. I hope this helps some. Again it's just my opinion.

 

[bsrfarms97]

I have raked plenty of hay with rollbar rakes and v rakes. If all I'm putting up is grass hay and no silage hay, I would go with a v rake 10 to 1. At even just 60 acres of hay you will spend many more hours in the field raking and that will burn up alot more fuel in no time. Especially when the cost of fuel has gone up in the past several years the way it has. Besides I think you will find a decent Walton v rake or Vermeer type v rake is not much more expensive than a decent NH 256 roll bar for instance. The v rake will save you time and money in the long run in my opinion.

 

[Tx Jim]

I too vote for the "V" type wheel rake. It's very difficult to build a "GOOD/even" windrow for rd baling with a roll-a-bar rake making 2 passes plus as mentioned it takes twice as much time to rake or longer. Ease of rd baling starts out with a good windrow. I personally prefer the wheel rakes as shown in picture with the rake wheels next to the windrow being formed instead of the "butterfly" type rakes that the frames are closer to the windrow. 3 pt wheel rakes are a cheap get-by but I wouldn't own another one as I had that BAD experience 20 yrs ago.

 

[bsrfarms97]

Another thing to think about if your going to be round baleing is when raking with a rollabar rake you will find many times you will have to constantly weave your baler back and fourth to feed the sides of the round baler evenly. If you don't feed them evenly it can result in poorly shaped bales which will result in more hay lose if you store your rolls outside.
Again with a V type rake it will eliminate the weaving motion with the tractor and baler and your result will be more consistantly even shaped bales with less hay lose.

 

[rtimgray]

Thanks for all the replies, fellas. However, all of this may be moot because only a couple of hours after I started this thread, I was talking to a friend that I hadn't spoken to in quite a while and he said "Hey, you know anybody that need a hay rake?" Turns out that he has a 5-bar New Holland with a dolly wheel that has been sitting in his barn for the last 10 years (ever since he wised up and got out of cattle/haying). We went over last night and looked at it and it seems to move freely and looks to be in good condition - 3 of 4 tires were flat, but that's to be expected after setting 10 years. He drug it out of the barn last night (after airing up the tires) and called me this morning - said they still had air in them. I'm going to go pick it up today - I've got hay ready to be raked right now, so if it doesn't get rain on (probably will, the way it looks this evening), I'll give it a try in the next few days.

I figured the V rakes would be much quickers, but I worry that some of my fields have too many dips/hills/etc. One thing I know I can do with the bar rake is do multiple passes in each direction in light hay to build a bigger windrow - I don't know if the V rakes can be easily reconfigured to do that or not. At any rate, I got a pretty good deal on what looks to be a good rake, so I'm not gonna say that I'll never upgrade from it, but I'll see how it works out here in the near future.

Once again, I really appreciate all the thoughts and comments. Take care.

 

[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

For whatever it's worth I think you made a good choice. A solid piece of equipment, with a proven design at a good price.

 

[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

One more thing, the rol-a-bar rakes come in a right handed and left handed model. I have seen some frames made and bought that would allow you to pull two, making them a V rake of sorts. Just something to consider if the rake works out for you. I converted my rol-a-bar to rubber mounted teeth to lessen tooth breakage and I think it helped. However, I think sun and weather was pretty tough on the rubber so I parked it in the barn when not in use.

 

[rtimgray]

Here's a pic of the new (to me) rake - sorry if it is poor resolution.

I picked it up yesterday afternoon and pulled it home in the rain at about 20 mph. Went over it thoroughly last night, greased and adjusted everything as noted in the manual, including changing the gearbox oil, which has turned into a mash-up of solid oil and extra-extra heavy stuff. It took quite a while to get it cleaned out and I will probably change it again after it gets good and hot with use.

It does have one tire that won't hold air on the dolly wheel. I aired it up a few times on the way home, but it won't stay up. I engaged and disengaged the clutch a few times and pulled it around and everything seems good so far. If the weather forecast is correct, I'm going to give it some use on Friday.

Once again, thanks for the advice and comments. I certainly won't rule out a wheel rake as an addition to the collection, but I can wait on a good deal now.

Good luck and take care.

 

[redman135]

Hello, "roller bar " is obviously a us-of-a term .Can some one please explain what they look like? I am from new zealand. Around here (waikato) we use single, twin or 4 rotor rakes and very few v rakes as they are more a hay tool then dual purpose hay and silage.Also v rakes are said to do a poor job on hills and uneven ground. This part is all hills, and some is quite rough.

 

[farmall 55a case]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=329752"/>
Here's a pic of the new (to me) rake - sorry if it is poor resolution.

I picked it up yesterday afternoon and pulled it home in the rain at about 20 mph. Went over it thoroughly last night, greased and adjusted everything as noted in the manual, including changing the gearbox oil, which has turned into a mash-up of solid oil and extra-extra heavy stuff. It took quite a while to get it cleaned out and I will probably change it again after it gets good and hot with use.

It does have one tire that won't hold air on the dolly wheel. I aired it up a few times on the way home, but it won't stay up. I engaged and disengaged the clutch a few times and pulled it around and everything seems good so far. If the weather forecast is correct, I'm going to give it some use on Friday.

Once again, thanks for the advice and comments. I certainly won't rule out a wheel rake as an addition to the collection, but I can wait on a good deal now.

Good luck and take care.

Great find and I wish you luck!

 

[Turbys_1700]

My dad sold literally hundreds of those rakes back in the day...
Most smaller cattle operations here still use them and they fetch good prices at auction...
They are slower than the wheel rakes but for the smaller fields and rolling terrain here they work very well...
Several years ago I purchased a front end loader from the NH dealer and he came and picked up my tractor...
He wanted to buy the square baler and rake while he was here...
Good used equipment sells...
Those old NH roller bar rakes are easy sells...

 

[rtimgray]

Hello, "roller bar " is obviously a us-of-a term .Can some one please explain what they look like? I am from new zealand. Around here (waikato) we use single, twin or 4 rotor rakes and very few v rakes as they are more a hay tool then dual purpose hay and silage.Also v rakes are said to do a poor job on hills and uneven ground. This part is all hills, and some is quite rough.

The pic I posted earlier is what I have always heard called a roller bar. This may be a mispronunciation of the New Holland ROLABAR rake, which I guess is actually the proper spelling/name. Some one correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks.

 

[JasG]

Hello, "roller bar " is obviously a us-of-a term .Can some one please explain what they look like? I am from new zealand. Around here (waikato) we use single, twin or 4 rotor rakes and very few v rakes as they are more a hay tool then dual purpose hay and silage.Also v rakes are said to do a poor job on hills and uneven ground. This part is all hills, and some is quite rough.

A roll bar rake is in the picture of post #11. Or your could google images of New Holland 256 rake.

Personally around here people like rotary rakes. Nice fluffy windrow and seem to get dry faster that any other rake. Our windows to put up hay are very narrow between rain and we also get heavy dew every night.

 

[aczlan]

Hello, "roller bar " is obviously a us-of-a term .Can some one please explain what they look like? I am from new zealand. Around here (waikato) we use single, twin or 4 rotor rakes and very few v rakes as they are more a hay tool then dual purpose hay and silage.Also v rakes are said to do a poor job on hills and uneven ground. This part is all hills, and some is quite rough.

It is on of these:

View attachment 329752

Aaron Z

 

[JasG]

The pic I posted earlier is what I have always heard called a roller bar. This may be a mispronunciation of the New Holland ROLABAR rake, which I guess is actually the proper spelling/name. Some one correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks.

I believe you are correct, for New Holland rake, other are roll bar, or roller bar.

 

[bsrfarms97]

I believe V rakes and other wheel rakes have come along way in the past several years

 

[bsrfarms97]

I for one live in the mountains of east Tennessee. Almost the very eastern tip of Tennessee. So there are plenty of hills and uneven ground around here. Here is a hay field I done this year that I raked with a v rake and as you can see the ground is nowhere near flat or smooth. As for what little hay is left vs a rollabar rake im much happier with my V rake. Not speaking bad about rollabar rakes, because they do wonderful for silage. And have been around many years and are very proven to get the job done with very low maintenance. Its just my personal preference for regular grass hay even on hills to use a good V rake.