JD 640 side delivery rake-Teeth placement

[JBMac]

Thanks to y'alls help, I identified my rake and have started getting it ready for the season: Had to "un-stick" the ratchets in the hubs. Install tubes in 30 year old tires, grease what I could. Just a couple of questions: Why are there no grease zerks on the bars? Could one drill and tap some,and if so where on the knuckle would be best? Also, what is the proper arrangement of the the teeth on the bars? It seems that you could install 1000 teeth on the rake, but many holes look unused from the factory. Any advice on a crop like perennial peanut (like alfalfa but not so thick)? I am guessing that crop type would be a determining factor on teeth placement. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

 

[Dave S.]

Send me a e-mail and I will send you a picture of one I rebuilt, think you will be able to see the tooth arrangement.

 

[Tim(nj)]

There were rakes that were sold as 'bean' versions, with more teeth to rake curing rows of cut bean vines. In short-stem or leaf-only crops, the more teeth per bar, the more crop the rake will get into the windrow.

 

[Tx Jim]

Parts cat for 640 calls for 72 teeth. If I was going to drill and insert grease zerts I drill straight toward brg shaft from the closed end opposite the nut that holds bar on wheel.

 

[Virginia Mike]

The bar knuckles require no lube. They are sealed and lubed for life. If they are loose, replace them.

 

[Tx Jim]

I doubt if JD engineers imagined a 640 rake would still be in service in 2011 when it left the factory. All that's inside are 2 tapered roller brgs(JD8914), 2 brg races(JD8244) and a lip seal(AE15199 NLA). This is basically the same setup as impl wheel brgs that require occasional re-packing.

 

[tomstractorsandtoys1]

We completly rebuilt our 640 in 2010 we replaced ever bearing in the rake,new tires,paint and teeth. Not cheap but it the same as a brand new rake.One huge improvement was adding a fifth tooth bar it is much better in raking later cuttings of alfalfa and fine stemed grass hay. If your rake has set you should consider replacing the bearings in the tooth bars. You need to remove the snap ring and we drilled a hole in the casting so that you can press the stub shaft and bearings out. We drilled a small hole and then tapped it for a grease fitting.