Am I going to hate a 3 point wheel rake?

[StuartDK45SE]

It seems my leading wheel has more pressure on it than the other three. I have adjusted the three point arm as high as it will go on that side.

Unrelated question. What happens if I swing the rake to the opposite of the tractor. Right now the leading edge is on the starboard side of the tractor.

 

[M5farms]

You will need to lengthen your top link to relieve pressure on front wheel . It has been a long time since i have worked with a single sided rake . It would be fine if your wheels are still turning in the right direction

 

[quicksandfarmer]

It seems my leading wheel has more pressure on it than the other three. I have adjusted the three point arm as high as it will go on that side.

Unrelated question. What happens if I swing the rake to the opposite of the tractor. Right now the leading edge is on the starboard side of the tractor.

I have the same issue and haven't found a solution. I don't think the answer is adjusting the 3 point arm, I think it's a matter of balancing. To follow uneven ground the rake arms need to pivot. If they aren't balanced they won't pivot. Adjusting the angle without equalizing the balance won't allow it to pivot.

I don't know what running the rake on the opposite side will do. It would only take a minute to try and find out, but I'll opine from my keyboard anyway. The direction of rotation of the wheels is determined by their shape, they rotate so as to move hay toward the middle of the tractor. On the opposite side they'll move hay away from the tractor and it will jam up. The rakes come in right-hand and left-hand versions, but you can make the wheels spin the other way by flipping them around, so I think the only difference is how the wheels are mounted.

 

[StuartDK45SE]

I built some stands. With all four wheels attached, the front wants to rare up when you detach it. I took two wheels off and it has just the right tongue weight to keep the front down and it makes it easier to get in this stall.

 

[M5farms]

on the rake balance do you have the pivot pin locked ?

 

[DaveOmak]

Pivot pin...

 

[Texasmark]

Hay got cut this morning. I got the new rake out and put it in the "spread" configuration. I'm pleased with how it did that. This thing has a learning curve for sure. Still trying to figure out how much pressure to put one the wheels, angle of attack etc.

Great. Just keep trying different things like height of 3 pt, ground speed (they like it fast), angle...highest angle rakes cleaner/better but doesn't move much.

Just understand that each haying episode probably will be different requiring a new set of what to dos. Know that and keep your chin up. It's part of the process.

 

[Tx Jim]

Yrs back I disliked the performance of a 3 pt hitch 8 wheel rake so much that I had a rubber tired frame built to convert rake to pull type.

 

[StuartDK45SE]

on the rake balance do you have the pivot pin locked ?

Yes sir.

I wished the two J arms that attach to the main J arm were able to undulate more than they do, but they are pretty much latched into position. Remove the latch and the arms will fall off.

 

[Texasmark]

Yrs back I disliked the performance of a 3 pt hitch 8 wheel rake so much that I had a rubber tired frame built to convert rake to pull type.

I assume that was 4 per side. How did it work? I see you still use one but looks to be a newer model, larger, pull type with hydraulics? Seems to me to be what you want when fields are scattered and have to run down the Farm to Market.