Kuhn Tedder question

[Northvale PA]

I recently bought a used Kuhn GF5202 four star Tedder and sold my much older GF5001 four star Tedder. The newer tedder has noticeable shorter tines but all the same length. However, it does NOT spread the hay out as well as the older tedder, which had many more newer tines, hence full length. The newer Tedder is absolutely wind rowing the hay much more than the older one did. It’s been very dry here, the hay is thinner and the hay dried very quickly so there was no problem. I am worried on thicker hay, it may be a problem. Does it seem like I need to replace all the worn tines with full length and that would solve the issue? It’s 28 tines so not an inexpensive fix.

 

[Jim.ME]

We have a Kuhn GF 5202THA, GF 5001THA, and A GF7001T. We run the same tines on all three. When we got the GF5202THA we noticed they have a different part number for the tines. The reason is they started cutting the inside tine leg about 3/4" to 1" shorter than the other one. This seems to help lessen the tine breakage as the shorter tine does not hit the ground ahead of the outer one as the equal length legs do. We have been doing it to the tines (aftermarket) we use on all of the tedders, since finding that, it has reduced breakage. You do have to cut left or right legs based on rotation of a rotor, so the spring is working in the right direction.

Try varying you engine speed and ground speed, the 5202 does lift the hay differently than the older ones but you can find a sweet spot that is likely not going to be PTO engine speed.

 

[Northvale PA]

We have a Kuhn GF 5202THA, GF 5001THA, and A GF7001T. We run the same tines on all three. When we got the GF5202THA we noticed they have a different part number for the tines. The reason is they started cutting the inside tine leg about 3/4" to 1" shorter than the other one. This seems to help lessen the tine breakage as the shorter tine does not hit the ground ahead of the outer one as the equal length legs do. We have been doing it to the tines (aftermarket) we use on all of the tedders, since finding that, it has reduced breakage. You do have to cut left or right legs based on rotation of a rotor, so the spring is working in the right direction.

Try varying you engine speed and ground speed, the 5202 does lift the hay differently than the older ones but you can find a sweet spot that is likely not going to be PTO engine speed.

I agree that slowing down ground speed and increasing PTO speed spreads farther. I am guessing the previous owner either never broke a tine or cut them to equal the shortest worn ones. They are all the same length. But a shorter tine tips the tedder angle steeper and the tip speed would be slightly slower. Hence bunching more. The last field I baled, I literally used the tedder to windrow the hay and skipped raking it. It actually worked well.