Hay Rake

[R Bruce]

suggestions on used hayrakes, I am currently using a well wornJD 640, looking to up grade. Small operation (30acres), Looking at 256 NH, with or without dollies, possible Miller Pro. I'm not sure about the wheel rakes, plenty around that are cheap. My budget is about 2500.00

thanks in advance.

 

[wildwes]

(reply to post at 14:27:24 05/07/23)

We have an old 256, it is a good rake. Ours does not have a dolly, but I pull it with a 3pt mounted drawbar, and can turn extremely sharp. It does great in thick hay, not quite as well in really fine stuff.
I also have a Kuhn 10 wheel V rake, it is great in fine hay, but in really thick stemmy stuff it can plug up with annoying frequency. It will leave a field clean and get pretty much ALL of the hay off of it, but will also pick up any sticks, rocks, etc. in the field and put them in your winrow. The 3 pt wheel rakes are pretty the same, other than only raking one side. I have borrowed one of them and used it a lot over the years and they work well too.

If I could only choose one, I would probably choose the 256. You should be able to get a decent one on your budget. It is not hard to rebuild all of the moving parts on one either.