JD 858 adjustment

Ksracer · Jul 23, 2023

This seems like a silly question. There is obviously a height and side to side adjustment by the hitch, but what is the third adjustment that changes the angle of the wheel/bar assembly in relation to the ground for? What is ideal and when would you go one way or the other?

This post was edited by Ksracer on 07/23/2023 at 11:47 am.

Janicholson · Jul 23, 2023

After looking at the images of the rake, I (believe) I understand the question. THe tooth angle adjustment is used to change the lift angle of the teeth as they comb the stubble from mowing. Factors for adjustment change are:
Density of stubble
Stiffness of stubble
Condition of the swath
Type of hay, Timothy, clover, alfalfa, orchard grass etc.
Brittleness of leaf structures (especially with clover/alfalfa legumes
Speed of the towing tractor
speed of the rake bar.
Things to shoot for:
Not making a rope windrow that self feeds into the baler
not shattering the leafs and buds (fines)
not leaving substantial hay in the stubble
not making impossible thick windrows
creating modest windrows that feed the baler at modest baling speeds
I hope this helps! Jim

used red MN · Jul 23, 2023

You get to ring the newbie bell that signals that you
forgot to give a full description of what the machine is
in question. I saved you by performing a web search to
find out it is a side delivery hay rake. For one by
adjusting that angle you are changing the angle the
rake teeth are setting in relation to the ground. One
process this affects is the ability of the rake to pick up
the crop. Second, changing that angle changes how
much the teeth interact with the roll of crop in front of
the rake bar, particularly if it the material is heavy and
rolling quite high. With the top tipped ahead the
rotating teeth pull back behind the vertical bars lower
in relation to the crop. This for one is gentler on the
crop as in the case of alfalfa that is dry and you want
the leaves to stay in tack. I am sure others will explain
other things that this adjustment is for. You can get a
free operating manual for the rake at the linked page.
JD publications

David from Kansas · Jul 24, 2023

If you are referring to a JD model 858A hay rake, I can tell you from experience of more than 60 years that they are a good rake. There is
ample adjustments available to help performance in about any situation but we rarely do much adjusting on ours is mostly used to turn windrows
made by a swather. I recently turned 20 acres of heavy oats windrows to allow for faster drying. Have only ever had one problem with the
rake; the clutch gears wore and required rebuild with a welder. Has performed flawlessly since. I think the wear on the clutch gears was
caused by raising and lowering the basket on the go, so now we stop whenever we are raising/lowering. The rake is equipped with a hydraulic
cylinder for raising/lowering. This, along with hitching to the 3-pt bar, allow us to raise the rake high enough to travel over some pretty
large windrows when needed. The worn clutch gear is no longer available from deere.

JD 858 adjustment

Ksracer

New User

Janicholson

Well-known Member

used red MN

Well-known Member

David from Kansas

Well-known Member

Similar threads