Hay Rake

[Mickey_Fx]

FWJ, the disadvantage to the roping is that it makes it harder to dry the hay down in wet areas. I do agree though that the roping makes it great for feeding into the baler. If you are in an area where you have great drying weather then the roping is not a problem at all. It only affects us guys where we need all the help we can get with drying. This is why the rotary rakes are gaining a lot of popularity.

Been a long time since I was making hay. Have to agree with Robert about the roping. Here in the PNW I found the side delivery rake I started with was totally useless for spring haying when either clover or alfalfa being put up. Never could get it dry enough to bail in a reasonable amount of time. What I ended up with and really enjoyed was a Madds Amby. Had a pair of belts with mech linkage to fingers and it swept from side to side, no twisting. At the end of it sweep it flicked the hay up and a stop gaurd prevented the hay from being flung out a distance. Without the gaurd the rake would serve as a tedder. I've taken a rained on windrow that was flat on the ground and make a pass with the MA and have wind rows a couple feet high. Never a problem for to bailer to pick up. Don't think they are imported any longer but if I ever got back in to the haying business I'd want another one of these rakes. May not be the right rake for other areas but was great for the conditions I had to deal with. Don't recall seeing wheel rakes in this area.

 

[zzvyb6]

I have an extra NH-56 5 bar rake you could have for cheap ($250). Its in great condition, new rubber extra tines. Its just in the way now in the yard. I use a Kuhn combo tedder rake now. I'm here in SE Michigan if you would be interested. If I got some help, maybe I could post a picture... I often ran this behind my 4 wheeler to rake the fields using a dolly setup.

 

[BigMccorm]

Just to let everyone into the loop...A friend of ours was selling a John Deere dual rake hitch with 2 NH258 rakes on it. So we bought it. Man does that thing work like a DREAM! Excellent purchase in my mind.