Bent New Holland rakes where the hitch is.,

draftx · Mar 18, 2015

I see lots of NH 256 rakes that the hitch is either bent to the left or the right. Will they pull ok like this or does it make the tires wear more and put strain on the hubs etc. How is the best way to fix them. I have seen some where it looks like the hitch its self has ben and some that look like the 2 main frame channels have bent. Thanks

Bob Bancroft · Mar 18, 2015

I suppose if the drawbar/hitch point is free to swivel like it should, then the rake will work normally. But it's hard to imagine a bent hitch being able to hitch up and turn freely.

Many years ago I completely disassembled one and pounded out the frame rails as best I could, to put it back in service.

paul · Mar 18, 2015

Well.... The tires will wear out in 20 years instead of 25 years.....

The rake is $200 cheaper because its not perfect.

A little bent, it rakes hay, whatever.

A lot bent, that's a different story?

Paul

DeltaRed · Mar 18, 2015

If it turns corners and rakes hay as it should,dont worry.The tires will still rot off before you wear them out. They get bent because they are pulled with 8N Ford (or similar) tractors useing a 3 point drawbar.Folks dont consider the reduced turning radious of that,and turn too short and bend the crap out of things.

Sparktrician · Mar 18, 2015

we have 2 256 nh rakes. They have the dolly wheels/hitch and both of them have bent frame rails. This is due to us trying to make a tandem hitch that one rake pulled off the back of the other (Bad idea) and then dad and grandpa not paying attention when using the bridge type tandem hitch I built after the lessons learned in afformentioned story.....lol. NEw frame rails from new Holland are bout 300 dollars each, so 600 per rake. I am going to paint ours some day, and they will get new rails then, just because

Traditional Farmer · Mar 18, 2015

If the hitch is bent it just pulls the rake in a different place in relation to the tractor the rake would still pull forward the same.

charlie n · Mar 18, 2015

Bent aint good but better than twisted.I have pulled some bent and had no issues.

Here's what I did to prevent it from happenin to mine.

495man · Mar 19, 2015

Will pull the same, you just won't make the turns as easily.

Straighten out.

I think they get bent pulling them with too big of a tractor, I rake with 28" rubber and and can cut the 256 quite tight, left turn I can make the left rake wheel pivot place and go back on the same windrow I just made, but not much room for error, right hand turn is not the same...

showcrop · Mar 19, 2015

I think that you are referring to it being bent so that it leans to the side and thus the axle and tire are leaning to the side. My JD rake was like that when I got it and I tried to straighten it up a few times. Finally I saw that it was because of elongated holes in both the two side rails and the heavy block that they bolt into. It is caused from pulling it with the bolts loose. I finally got a new block and filled in the holes in the rails. I had to retighten the bolts every time that I used it until maybe ten times before they would stay tight. It has now been straight for maybe five years.

Bent New Holland rakes where the hitch is.,

draftx

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Bob Bancroft

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paul

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DeltaRed

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Sparktrician

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Traditional Farmer

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charlie n

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495man

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showcrop

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