Wheel rake vs rotary rake?

[AKfish]

If moneys no object a Krone Rotary is an awesome rake, my neighbor has a twin rotor Krone, it's very nice but about $19K.

Money always factors in the decision at some point... and that's a pretty large factor for that Krone!!

Likely that the Kuhn is on the higher end of the price range, too.

AKfish

 

[5030]

A rotary rake will give you a faster drying time! Without the roping effect given from the wheel rake as well as a roll-a-bar rake you could gain up to 4 hours faster drying time according to our customers!! As well as no stones in the windrow.

I second that.

I had a side delivery roll-a-bar and it was junk compared to a Kuhn rotary. Slower, roped the hay, slowed drydown and left a tight (not wanted) windrow.

You want a fluffy windrow the wind can blow through to dry the hay down. I do everything concerning hay with Delmhorst moisture electronics. Never touch a windrow until the Delmhorst says it's ok.

 

[Grateful11]

I second that.

I had a side delivery roll-a-bar and it was junk compared to a Kuhn rotary. Slower, roped the hay, slowed drydown and left a tight (not wanted) windrow.

You want a fluffy windrow the wind can blow through to dry the hay down. I do everything concerning hay with Delmhorst moisture electronics. Never touch a windrow until the Delmhorst says it's ok.

Junk, I think not. These windrows look good enough for air circulation to me.
I've heard that roping effect thing for years but we'll stick with our 256 with
dolly wheels. They checked at 15% after baling. My wife has been baling long
enough that she knows when it ready by doing a break test with her hands.
It's not as fast but it gets the job done and with proper maintenance you
should 30-40 years out one, the last one did.

 

[Verticaltrx]

If you have big acreages to do absolutely nothing is faster than a large wheel rake. We use an 18' JD wheel V-rake and in smooth fields you can go upwards of 15mph with it. With that kind of capacity you are talking 20-25ac/hr in a good field. Even at this speed the wheels are just gently moving the hay along.

I do like rotary rakes as well, but they are more pricey and more maintenance. We have an old 9' rotary rake as well and it sure does make a nice windrow. It's about as slow as a side delivery rake also.

Lastly, I do have an old #56 New Holland rake that must be almost 50yrs old by now. I've had to do some work to it but it still gets the job done. It's a nice rake for small field and also can preform a task that none of the others can, inverting a windrow. By driving just along the edge of an existing windrow you can perfectly invert it to dry the underside. This is great if you end up raking a bit before it was ready, or if you have windrowed hay that gets rained on.

 

[5030]

Junk, I think not. These windrows look good enough for air circulation to me.
I've heard that roping effect thing for years but we'll stick with our 256 with
dolly wheels. They checked at 15% after baling. My wife has been baling long
enough that she knows when it ready by doing a break test with her hands.
It's not as fast but it gets the job done and with proper maintenance you
should 30-40 years out one, the last one did.

I'd say you have an acute eyesight problem. One, the windrows are roped, two they are at least 2 times as tight as a rotary windrow and three, you need to pull some maintenance on your mower. It's painfully obvious (from the picture) that the mower is stripping the field. You can see the uncut swath between every row.

I'd be ashamed to post a picture like that and my contract customers would never be happy with shoddy cutting like that.

Finally, is that hay? Sure looks either rained on or over sun bleached....or both. It's also apparent that your windrow is causing barrel shaped bales. A problem ascerbated by tight rows and poor feeding practice. Try altering your weave pattern to put less material in the center and more on the ends. Your rounds look less than comercially saleable.

Your 'roper' would make a nice yard ornament. I had one for years and then tried a rotary from a dealer who dropped it off for a trial. Never went back.

 

[5030]

If you have big acreages to do absolutely nothing is faster than a large wheel rake. We use an 18' JD wheel V-rake and in smooth fields you can go upwards of 15mph with it. With that kind of capacity you are talking 20-25ac/hr in a good field. Even at this speed the wheels are just gently moving the hay along.

I do like rotary rakes as well, but they are more pricey and more maintenance. We have an old 9' rotary rake as well and it sure does make a nice windrow. It's about as slow as a side delivery rake also.

Lastly, I do have an old #56 New Holland rake that must be almost 50yrs old by now. I've had to do some work to it but it still gets the job done. It's a nice rake for small field and also can preform a task that none of the others can, inverting a windrow. By driving just along the edge of an existing windrow you can perfectly invert it to dry the underside. This is great if you end up raking a bit before it was ready, or if you have windrowed hay that gets rained on.

Personal choice at best. I have had no maintenance problems at all and I still have an use a very old Geihl single rotor that's upwards of 50 years old and nothing (other than tires) has been replaced. Granted, the gearbox oil is changed bi-yearly, but that's it.

Straight line raking is a wheel rake forte'. Our fields are irregular shaped requiring many turns. Consequently, a wheel rake becomes a PITA. A rear mount rotary is much more manuverable

I'd never rake at 15 mph. For one, most hay here is on top of no till fields, 15 per and you'd be out of the seat or have bruses on your thighs from the seat belt holding you in the seat and at 15 per, you have no time to ascertain what's going on out back. I like to smell the roses a bit. 3mph is just fine with a rotary.

Europeans are almost all rotary. Maybe they know something you don't.

 

[Duffster]

Personal choice at best. I have had no maintenance problems at all and I still have an use a very old Geihl single rotor that's upwards of 50 years old and nothing (other than tires) has been replaced. Granted, the gearbox oil is changed bi-yearly, but that's it.

Straight line raking is a wheel rake forte'. Our fields are irregular shaped requiring many turns. Consequently, a wheel rake becomes a PITA. A rear mount rotary is much more manuverable

I'd never rake at 15 mph. For one, most hay here is on top of no till fields, 15 per and you'd be out of the seat or have bruses on your thighs from the seat belt holding you in the seat and at 15 per, you have no time to ascertain what's going on out back. I like to smell the roses a bit. 3mph is just fine with a rotary.

Europeans are almost all rotary. Maybe they know something you don't.

Spelling Eh?

 

[5030]

Spelling Eh?

No Canadian Bacon here........eh?

 

[foreman Etexas]

Both!!!If hay is ready dont think it matters what rake windrows it!!! Tedder would be better first before both!!Those fluffy windrows in the wind just makes for re-raking.Just my :2cents:

And im thinking the cone shape bales or not the windrows fault but maybe the one baling it!!Looks like maybe running it to heavy on the one side!!

 

[AKfish]

Both!!!If hay is ready dont think it matters what rake windrows it!!! Tedder would be better first before both!!Those fluffy windrows in the wind just makes for re-raking.Just my :2cents:

And im thinking the cone shape bales or not the windrows fault but maybe the one baling it!!Looks like maybe running it to heavy on the one side!!

One man's "fluff" is another man's "good air circulation"! As long as it will all fit into the pickup reel..

Agree with the cone shape bales - gotta weave a bit down the windrow if you're having problems getting an even feed into the bale chamber.

AKfish