Calling James Howell

JBMac · Sep 8, 2011

I thought I posted this earlier, but it never showed up:

On your 640 rake, I notice you're running 3 teeth instead of the normal 2 teeth with the extra hole in the middle (if that makes sense). I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extre cost for teeth. Does it seem to help pick-up thin stemmed hay instead of having to rake twice? Thanks for your input.

James Howell · Sep 8, 2011

The photo below shows our JD 640 rake with 2 teeth with middle hole empty.

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa5/jameslloydhowell/John%20Deere%20Equipment/640%20Hay%20Rake/?action=view¤t=IMG_1003.jpg" target="_blank">

IMG_1003.jpg" width="520" height="420" border="0" alt="Photobucket

</a>

Used this "2 teeth" set up for one summer.

There is an area that gets cut at an angle and the grass is almost parallel with the rake teeth pickup direction.

The "2 teeth" set up missed more than expected.

The following summer added the additional teeth for the <a href="http://youtu.be/PlcFC8Di37s">"3 teeth" set up</a>.

Nancy walks each windrow with a yard rake and gets what little is missed.

In the long run believe I'm money ahead with the 3 teeth set up.

Hope this helps.

Nancy Howell · Sep 8, 2011

We have been well pleased with the rake's performance. In our 7 acre coastal bermuda field, it doesn't miss enough to make 2 flakes for a square bale.

It tends to miss some in tight turns which is where I come in with the leaf rake. I also sometimes re-shape the ends of the windrows to make the turns with the baler easier.

Why am I out there with a rake? There were too many years where I had to scrape around for hay (before we started producing our own) and its almost more than I can bear to leave anything on the ground.

sotxbill · Sep 8, 2011

center hole is for when you run the metal springloaded double tooth from john deere,, the outer two holes are for running the individual rubber mounted teeth.

some rakes were shipped with the metal,, most were converted back to the individual rubber mounted teeth as they were easer to get, although they dont do well when old and the rubber gets hard.

kyplowboy · Sep 8, 2011

Don't you hate it when those knobs fall off? Mine looks just like that, only paint is faded and knob is miss'n on the left side.

Dave

JBMac · Sep 9, 2011

Thanks for your help guys. Not to argue, but according to the manual, the third hole is to be used for an extra rubbber tooth for fine stemmed crops.

James Howell · Sep 9, 2011

Bought this hay rake with another that was used in tandem as a pair.

The other rake does not have a dolly wheel.

Have only adjusted this knob-less crank a couple of times since it was refurbished.

The other rake is on a very long to-do list with with about 20 other projects.

Be sure to give little Sunshine a hug for me and Nancy.

Calling James Howell

JBMac

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James Howell

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Nancy Howell

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sotxbill

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kyplowboy

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JBMac

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James Howell

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