best type of hay rake

BayView · Oct 15, 2002

Seems to me there are three basic styles of hay rake .... the side delivery .... the pinwheel.... and the gyrator. They all move and fluff the hay slightly differently. Which is the best? Does it make a difference if you are doing small scale square bales? ..... or a high leaf content like clover or alfalfa? Is there a substantial price difference or maintenance requirement?
I'm a newbie to haying and would like to avoid mistakes. Thanks -David-

cowboydoc · Oct 15, 2002

Overall a side delivery rake like the JD 640 will be your best bet. The wheel rakes are nice and it's a real time saver to be able to row two rows into one. However, if the hay is wet or heavy at all then the wheel rake will miss alot of hay. You get all of it with the side delivery rake. Also if you want to rake three rows into one it's harder to do with a wheel rake. I have both and it just depends on the condition which ones I use.

As far as price goes you are looking at from around $1200 for a good used one, either type, up to $7k for a nice hydraulic wheel rake.

BayView · Oct 20, 2002

Cowboydoc, Thanks for your reply. Sounds like there is really no one best type of rake. What do you think of the combination tedder/rakes? Is that a smart way to go ....?
David

cowboydoc · Oct 21, 2002

Usually they are more money. The only time you really need a tedder rake is if you are sickle mowing the hay. If you are doing that then a tedder is better. If you are using some kind of a mower or rotary conditioner then a regular rake is a better choice.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 24, 2002

Hi
i have made a lot of hay and the best rake for small scale and small squares in my veiw is the side delivery rake, they do a good job, if you want to turn wet rows they fluff it up well. With making small bales you do not want big windrows anyway. However saying all of this it is important to match the width of your mower and rake, in other words if you have a 8 foot rake you probably should only use a 6 foot mower. This then enables you to rake one row into the other at the same time turning the second row. This is very important particularly when handleing alfalfa or other leafy crops because it is best not to tun them any more than you need. I hope this made some sence.

DUMBDOG · Oct 24, 2002

Guess I am going to be showing my age here but what about a dump rake, that is what I used to rake hay with.

Guess they probably do not make them anymore.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 24, 2002

I am not trying to be rude but your username is appropriate

DUMBDOG · Oct 25, 2002

Personally, I think your remark was very rude, and if you feel that I have inferred anything of other than what your inference was of, please let me know.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 27, 2002

Dumbdog

I apologise if you have taken any offence, but i did take your post as being written in jest as was mine

DUMBDOG · Oct 27, 2002

No, that is all we had on the farm was the dump rake, spent many hours on the tractor pulling that thing around, it seemed to work a lot better than the neighbors side delivery rake. Was wondering if they still made them yet?