Brought this info from my previous post
Here are my next questions on this topic:
Which side delivery rake does a better job the four or five bar? Does it matter?
Spring fingers or rubber?
Why are some fingers grouped in three?
Why have a hydraulic driven?
John Deere or New Holland heavier built?
Quoted:
There are four styles of rakes.
1. four bar with circular motion, like IH #5.
2. 5 bar (sometimes 4 bar) parallel motion.
3. Wheel.
4. Rotary.
Neglecting the ancient dump rake.
The four bar (I call it a beater) rake according to my machinery design text book kicks the hay at 5 mph when pulled at 3 mph. When I've raked with one in alfalfa I could see the leaves separating from the stems if I pulled it too fast. All the value of alfalfa hay is the leaf, the stem is just saved to hold the leaves.
The parallel bar rake (with the bars hinged to disks close to the plane of the bars) moves the hay at about the same speed as the ground speed, so when pulled at 5 mph, it moves the hay at 5 mph.
The wheel type rake is said to move the hay at 5 mph when its being pulled at 8 mph. So for fast work its much easier on the hay. When the wheels are driven by ground contact of the rake teeth, it can add some dust to the windrow which some horse owners don't appreciate, especially when they can't tell the difference between dirt and mold.
The most modern rakes are PTO driven rotary rakes and can be adjusted to treat the hay gently without adding dust from rake teeth against the ground.
Wheel rakes, like the Farmhand with short stiff teeth on a rigid rim, aren't as nice to the hay as those with long willowy teeth, but are cheaper to buy.
Gerald J.
Here are my next questions on this topic:
Which side delivery rake does a better job the four or five bar? Does it matter?
Spring fingers or rubber?
Why are some fingers grouped in three?
Why have a hydraulic driven?
John Deere or New Holland heavier built?
Quoted:
There are four styles of rakes.
1. four bar with circular motion, like IH #5.
2. 5 bar (sometimes 4 bar) parallel motion.
3. Wheel.
4. Rotary.
Neglecting the ancient dump rake.
The four bar (I call it a beater) rake according to my machinery design text book kicks the hay at 5 mph when pulled at 3 mph. When I've raked with one in alfalfa I could see the leaves separating from the stems if I pulled it too fast. All the value of alfalfa hay is the leaf, the stem is just saved to hold the leaves.
The parallel bar rake (with the bars hinged to disks close to the plane of the bars) moves the hay at about the same speed as the ground speed, so when pulled at 5 mph, it moves the hay at 5 mph.
The wheel type rake is said to move the hay at 5 mph when its being pulled at 8 mph. So for fast work its much easier on the hay. When the wheels are driven by ground contact of the rake teeth, it can add some dust to the windrow which some horse owners don't appreciate, especially when they can't tell the difference between dirt and mold.
The most modern rakes are PTO driven rotary rakes and can be adjusted to treat the hay gently without adding dust from rake teeth against the ground.
Wheel rakes, like the Farmhand with short stiff teeth on a rigid rim, aren't as nice to the hay as those with long willowy teeth, but are cheaper to buy.
Gerald J.