Hey, if it works...

[Fred Werring]

Hay is real thick, couldn't rake with the 10 wheel v-rake.
Thought, what if I take a front wheel off?
But that messed up the balance of the rake.
My solution.....still get the occasional wad, but better than it was

 

[DRussell]

Hay is real thick, couldn't rake with the 10 wheel v-rake.
Thought, what if I take a front wheel off?
But that messed up the balance of the rake.
My solution.....still get the occasional wad, but better than it was


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View attachment 77494

Wouldn't just hanging over a bit to one side so you're not raking a full swath do the same thing on all except the first swath?

 

[Fred Werring]

Wouldn't just hanging over a bit to one side so you're not raking a full swath do the same thing on all except the first swath?

I've seen the hay wad up in the 3 places indicated with arrows. So the side that was in the thick stuff would still wad up on me.

Seems to me if a guy was to fill in those spots with sheet metal, with a lip bent up on the leading edge, it would guide the hay underneath to flow on through rather than pop up and wad.

 

[tom upton]

I dont get the logic in why even with heavy hay people consistently raking at least 2 rows into one for baling? I see a lot doing this so must be something to it?

 

[showcrop]

Wouldn't just hanging over a bit to one side so you're not raking a full swath do the same thing on all except the first swath?

I am constantly varying how wide I rake as I cross between dry and wet portions of the same field.

 

[DRussell]

I dont get the logic in why even with heavy hay people consistently raking at least 2 rows into one for baling? I see a lot doing this so must be something to it?

Round balers and the big square balers like a big windrow of hay. The newer small square balers also can eat a big windrow compared to the older small square balers.

 

[DRussell]

I've seen the hay wad up in the 3 places indicated with arrows. So the side that was in the thick stuff would still wad up on me.

Seems to me if a guy was to fill in those spots with sheet metal, with a lip bent up on the leading edge, it would guide the hay underneath to flow on through rather than pop up and wad.

View attachment 77503

I've never used that kind of rake. My first thought on a fix for wadding is the angle of the rake wheels. Can you change the angle? Have you ever compared the angle of that rake vs some of the other brands of wheel rakes? I would think there is a continuum on that style of rake where a steeper angle would work better on thicker hay vs a wider angle for thinner hay and covering more of the field on each pass.

 

[Tx Jim]

I'm glad I have a H&S hi-cap rake. Just move scv control lever to narrow raking width & no rake frame in the way blocking hay flow.

 

[Fred Werring]

I've never used that kind of rake. My first thought on a fix for wadding is the angle of the rake wheels. Can you change the angle? Have you ever compared the angle of that rake vs some of the other brands of wheel rakes? I would think there is a continuum on that style of rake where a steeper angle would work better on thicker hay vs a wider angle for thinner hay and covering more of the field on each pass.

Changing the angle on these affects the windrow width.
I've got it as steep as I can make it, the windrow is as wide as my baler pickup now.

 

[showcrop]

Round balers and the big square balers like a big windrow of hay. The newer small square balers also can eat a big windrow compared to the older small square balers.

I want to have a good sized windrow going into my baler. Itr simply enables it to put out a better more consistent bale, and means fewer times around the field. In a dry year and for second cut I often double or even triple the windrows. If one rake pass makes me a good sized windrow then that is it.

 

[Fred Werring]

I'm glad I have a H&S hi-cap rake. Just move scv control lever to narrow raking width & no rake frame in the way blocking hay flow.

Showoff

Would like a high capacity rake, but $$$.

And am not going to be doing this much longer (cows/calves).
Had thought about getting out this spring, and then got the check from my calves, decided maybe another year or two.

 

[flying belgian]

I've never used a wheel rake but I've seen fields that have been raked. I went from a bar rake to a rotary rake. No bunches....ever. Around tight corners, around the ends, heavy hay, light hay, no bunches.

 

[Russ from MN]

Whatever works for you! I added a concrete block to the end of one of my pole gates, made it much easier to open/close, but then a moose came along and broke it!

 

[Tgrasher]

Good engineering. The delay in being able to bale has made it a challenge to rake, with differences in soil in a hay field, making some spots so heavy, wads are inevitable. Hate getting off the tractor and clearing a wad and straightening out the row. On one field I went back to the old kick rake and single rowed it first, then put two rows side by side. Then in spots it was almost too much for the round baler.

 

[timcasbolt]

You'd enjoy seeing the weights I've added to my lawn sweeper. It ain't pretty, but no blade of grass remains.

 

[wore out]

Hay is real thick, couldn't rake with the 10 wheel v-rake.
Thought, what if I take a front wheel off?
But that messed up the balance of the rake.
My solution.....still get the occasional wad, but better than it was


View attachment 77492

View attachment 77494

GREAT idea!

That would make MacGyver proud!

 

[Fred Werring]

GREAT idea!

That would make MacGyver proud!

Those cheap orange ratcheting 15ft tie-downs are one of the best things Harbor Freight sells.
They rank right up there with duct tape, baling wire, and cable ties.

 

[abuelo]

The frame should be on other side of the wheels.

 

[crsutton81]

Those cheap orange ratcheting 15ft tie-downs are one of the best things Harbor Freight sells.
They rank right up there with duct tape, baling wire, and cable ties.

X2.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Last time I put 2 windrows together like that I got 2 bales in one at about half the width of the regular bales. I have to have the windrow so it makes one total windrow or it will do that with 2 side by side like yours. If I rake double or even triples I make sure they are just one windrow. I like my Hesston front fold rake not as open as the hi cap rakes but if it ever bothers it is at the back end exit and I just widen it out some with the ratchet jack screw for that. I also like my double rake for 2 single windrows at the same time. By turning the wheels over and flipping the frame It rakes 2 single swaths. I also had to extend the frame a bit so the left rake would set right for the swath. Will rake 20 acres in no time that way. Those side fold rakes like a disk or field cultivator don't look good to me with no clearance under them and the wheels in the way of the hay flow.