Belt Style Hay Rake

[bjr]

Okay, anyone else seen these rakes advertised. Molon appears to be the only manufacturere of this style. They appear to be two larger Vee belts with tines attached. Does anyone have any experience with these? I'm needing something fairly small and very maneuverable as I'm getting more and more very small local baling jobs (the smallest is 1/4 acres) but it helps pay the bills. These look like something I should consider. I never intended on getting into custom baling, but I've just keep getting referred to because I have the only small baler, mower and tractor in the area. Now I need a small hay rake. My current rake is a very old IH no. 5 with the caster wheels in the back and if you try to go down a paved road (besides being extremely wide) you don't know where the rake going to go. Any input here is appreciated. bjr

 

[FreshRouteFarm]

I currently have an old Farendlose belt rake. I am very happy with it considering the small used price I paid for it. A lack of available replacement parts is the down side, which has forced me to start making the few things it has needed since I started using it. Mostly the plastic bushing, tine arm mount that bolts to the v-belt.
Most of my haying is done in small or irregular shaped fields and I find it to be very versatile and also very easy for the tractor to handle. I can only imagine a new one would be as good or better than this old one, plus having a dealer for replacement parts is all the better.

 

[bjr]

That's where I'm coming from small irregular shaped fields. And sometimes small access gates. I need to be small, quick and nimble with my equipment and narrow enough for highway transport. Are the big vee belts that the tine bars clamp to a standard available belt or are they proprietary to the mower? I'm always buying something that they "just quit" making parts for. I can do some fabrication to keep thing running though. Would tines be a issue or will there be some "will fit" tines available? I'll try to post the a picture of the proposed purchase. Do you recognize the manufacturer? I was told it was a ford, but I can't find any online verification of that. bjr

 

[FreshRouteFarm]

Depending on price that looks like it could be a decent rake. It appears to be in better overall condition than mine is. I don't recognize that rake model.

 

[bjr]

He's asking $1200. It's way down the freeway about 450 miles one way. I'm just apprehensive about the availability of parts as well. I've been looking at the various small rotary rakes too. The rotary's seem to be more plentiful and maybe better parts supply as well. bjr

 

[TractorToolsDirect]

Over the years there have been a few different brands of belt rakes in the US. Currently Molon is the only brand available here. As far as parts availability goes, for the Molon rakes all parts are available from Tractor Tools Direct. There is no guarantee Molon parts will work on other brands. In fact, it is unlikely.

Based on how you have described your haymaking needs, and your tractor model, you would probably want the Molon 180, at 7 feet wide. The next larger size is 9 feet, and the next smaller size is 6 feet. Here is a picture of the 180 working in an orchard, where space is very limited.

One thing to note - rotary rakes do a great job, but they will not spread hay, while a belt rake does have that functionality. So if you are in a climate that is humid or has a lot of rain, that can be an important feature.

 

[Murray54]

My Ferendlose worked well for years in BC where I was working with 9 foot swaths. Brought it to the prairies and it was a different story. 14 foot swaths were too much for it, just dragged over the swath and didn't rake it. Also there were no parts available, and I had to call my original dealer and have him send parts out. Its still parked in the graveyard out back. They are great for 9 foot swaths and if you have a parts source though.

 

[FreshRouteFarm]

I am only working with a 7 foot swath and it does work really well. I can see how it just wouldn't handle all the hay from the larger mowers.

 

[tommyrocks]

That's where I'm coming from small irregular shaped fields. And sometimes small access gates. I need to be small, quick and nimble with my equipment and narrow enough for highway transport. Are the big vee belts that the tine bars clamp to a standard available belt or are they proprietary to the mower? I'm always buying something that they "just quit" making parts for. I can do some fabrication to keep thing running though. Would tines be a issue or will there be some "will fit" tines available? I'll try to post the a picture of the proposed purchase. Do you recognize the manufacturer? I was told it was a ford, but I can't find any online verification of that. bjr

Hi live ireland and these hay turners are called hay bobs. I think they were made by a company called pz they also made mowers. I don't know if the company exists any more.haybobs were once commonly used but there are few of them to be found now.

 

[EPRanches]

I currently have an old Farendlose belt rake. I am very happy with it considering the small used price I paid for it. A lack of available replacement parts is the down side, which has forced me to start making the few things it has needed since I started using it. Mostly the plastic bushing, tine arm mount that bolts to the v-belt.
Most of my haying is done in small or irregular shaped fields and I find it to be very versatile and also very easy for the tractor to handle. I can only imagine a new one would be as good or better than this old one, plus having a dealer for replacement parts is all the better.

I have the same rake and the same problem...my plastic bushings are starting to crack and fail...how did you remedy or replace?