Whats the best way to turn hay for drying? Having a h**l of

BlaineF · Jul 12, 2010

a time.Using side delivery J.D. rake.Have for years and got by.This year the hay is heavier and damper.Normally only have to turn a little bit this year all the hay.Makes a fine mess and really makes the day long.Whats the best equipment to use?Pictures would be great ,but information works to .Thanks BlaineF(WA)

P.S Rake leaves big bunches and skips over top of the hay.Have to rake windrow oneway then turn around and rake it the other. :x

Traditional Farmer · Jul 12, 2010

Short answer is to buy a New Holland rake.Like you I used a JD rake for years didn't know what I was missing unitl I got a great deal on a NH 256 what a difference.The New Holland will 'throw' the hay instead of 'roping' it like the JD.Now turning wet windrows to dry is a breeze.Also if you can find an old New Idea Cutditioner they will spread out a windrow better than anything but its about all they are any good for.

showcrop · Jul 12, 2010

Blaine, There have been some big discussions about this recently. It seems that in many areas of the country all you need is to rake it. Many chimed in that as it is here where I live, if you have moisture in the ground you need to ted it. There are many brands of tedders you can buy, but I would say that the Kuhn is probably the biggest seller. getting it dried down good before raking should cut down a lot on your bunches. Most of us in my area will ted twice but sometimes three times.

bradk · Jul 12, 2010

I'm completely sold on the 3pt. wheel rakes.been using one for quite a few years.

Flurette Farm · Jul 12, 2010

Showcrop, I think he may be referring to damp windrows and not uncured hay.

Shetland Sheepdog · Jul 12, 2010

Anybody remember the windrow turners from the '60's? Typically, 2 pinwheels (like the wheel rakes) that mounted to the front of the tractor. I remember that you really had to move to get them to work well, prolly 6 or 7 MPH. Have often thought it would be handy to have one on occasion! I think that the last time I used one was when I was in Addison County, VT the summer of '68.

As for the present, I either ted or roll with my rotary rake.

Vernon in Ks · Jul 12, 2010

My Oliver 107 will flip windrows without roping. I baught it on a whim but find I use it an awful lot when dealing with damp hay.

BlaineF · Jul 12, 2010

Windrow wet underneith.Hay cut with 830 J.D. SP swather with conditioner.Hay dry on top wet on bottom.

Doug in IL · Jul 12, 2010

Maybe a New Holland windrow inverter? I have a model 144 I use to flip rained on hay. I think the current model number is 166. The 144 is ground driven. The 166's, I think are hydraulic motor driven. The older, used, 144's can be bought for around $1500 and up.

JOCCO · Jul 12, 2010

107 a hell of a rake!!

State of Jefferson · Jul 12, 2010

I had very good luck with my old Case side delivery rake in all but the lightest hay. Turnes hay well, without roping it. @ just the right speed, it flips it, and leaves a nice fluffy windrow without spreading it around bad.

It just happens to be for sale, and only about 7 hours south of you...

Ben

Anonymous-0 · Jul 12, 2010

Years ago when I helped dad make hay we used the regular rake, to turn the windrows it was a matter of using just the tail end of the rake, which would flip the windrow over. The more you toss the dry part the more leaves you lose.

jimva · Jul 12, 2010

Get ya a Pequea 710 fluffer most can be gotten used for less then $1000 bucks. It basically fluffs up the windrow, i still use this with my alfalfa hay has its gives me the least amount of leaf loss as compared to a tedder. Now for just grass hay then then you need two basket tedder.

Roger in Iowa · Jul 12, 2010

Blaine, raise the front of the basket adjustment as high as possible. It should make a fluffier windrow. Down in front makes a rope. LIke some said below, just touch the windrow with the end of the rake, may have to drive on the windrow or offset drawbar, then the windrow should flip.

Raked a lot with a JD rake but don't know what model you have.

DeltaRed · Jul 12, 2010

I have one on a farmall H,drive in 3rd or 4th-wideopen-drive ih lefthand circles(makes turning easier),try to follow the windrowers travel direction.very gentle on alfalfa,doesnt "rope".

0

Bret4207 · Jul 12, 2010

Jim, ya ain;t gonna touch a Peaqua tedder for less than a grand up here! I've seen them go $1800-2K and they looked like they went through a war. I want one BAD! They work so much better than the basket tedders.

fixerupper · Jul 12, 2010

Like others said, the brand of the rake is some of your problem. I grew up with Deere rakes and I always wondered what I was doing wrong cause I could never do a good job turning windrows. Two neighbors had New Holland rakes and they did a good job. Ended up the Deere rakes that I was so proud of weren't so good after all. Jim

showcrop · Jul 12, 2010

Yes, I understood that the problem was damp windrows. I was referring to discussions about getting the hay dry before putting it in windrows. Shetland Sheepdog mentioned recently running over it with the tedder 3 times.

jimva · Jul 12, 2010

Come on down to VA, the past coupla years they have dropped like a rock in price at least in this area, everyone is getting rid of them as they all want the basket type tedders.

I agree in my alfalfa the pequea is all that i will use if i have to speed up drying, we"ll usually run two at a time to cover some ground, but as far as all my other hay ground i have a 6 rotor basket tedder.

GordoSD · Jul 12, 2010

SOunds like your hay is way too wet to rake. Give it another day / Then as others say, tilt the rake up. Also adjust the windrow side about an inche higher than the field side.
Or get a NH256 or IH 16.

Gordo

showcrop · Jul 12, 2010

Hey Dave, I have one of those. I have been planning to mount it on the front of the baler since I can't seem to keep the baler in the windrow.

tjdub · Jul 12, 2010

Which JD model is the rake? We used to have one with a straight axle and a chain drive (can't remember the model) and it was the biggest piece of junk we ever had. We upgraded to it from an ancient steel wheel JD rake and wished we had the steel wheel one back. Now I have a JD 672 and it's been a fine machine.

When your rake skips over hay, does that mean it jams up and the wheels slide on the ground? If so, maybe you need tires with more bite?

BlaineF · Jul 13, 2010

Hays been in the feild over a week down.Don't know the model number of rake.Ground driven gear box and drive line on back.Rake stops turning bunches hay under it.Wheels skid not turning rake and leaves bunch of hay untouch.Thanks guys going to start looking for different equipment.BlaineF(WA)

tjdub · Jul 13, 2010

> what a difference.The New Holland will 'throw' the hay instead of 'roping' it like the JD.

Many of the later JD rakes had an adjustable bar on the front that caused the roping. You could take it off if you wanted the hay tossed. I like the roping because if I get the speed right I can get all the green hay that was on the ground right on top of the window. It is kind of annoying when trying to make nice wide windows for the round baler though. If I didn't make any squares, I would take this bar off my rake.

bg/mo · Jul 13, 2010

that might be a 858 model hay rake i got one just like it.

Allen57 · Jul 13, 2010

(quoted from post at 01:56:59 07/13/10) Hays been in the feild over a week down.Don't know the model number of rake.Ground driven gear box and drive line on back.Rake stops turning bunches hay under it.[b:040d4532a1]Wheels skid not turning rake [/b:040d4532a1]and leaves bunch of hay untouch.Thanks guys going to start looking for different equipment.BlaineF(WA)

Both wheels skid or just one.......if just one is skidding you could have a busted cam or the cam is stuck and not engaging.

Whats the best way to turn hay for drying? Having a h**l of

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