Difference in New Holland rakes

dhermesc

Well-known Member
I have an old New Holland 56 rake. It has all the teeth and and I replaced the drive shaft from the wheel to the gear box and the bearings in the shaft between the back wheels. Is there much of a difference between it and a 256 New Holland? I know that physically they look very similar but is the 256 a better rake? My 56 seems to be leave a LOT of hay behind - its as if the rolabar is moving too slow. The windrow it leaves behind is more like a loose pile of hay than a "spun" windrow. The loose pile of hay settles and spread out making it difficult to bale - especially in heavy hay. I'm all for buying a new (newer) rake if its makes a better windrow but I don't want to throw money away on something that doesn't do any better job.
 
Do you have the right height tires on it? Are the dogs in both wheels working like they should? It needs to have the short lug tires and not taller car tires on it.
 
Dogs are working - just "rebuilt" one side a couple weeks ago along with new bearings. I had not thought about the tires being a bit too tall and slowing down the rollerbar.
 
That would be your problem . My Amish friends go smaller with a 22 in tall wheel to compensate for the slower ground speed of the horses. There is no performance difference between a 256 and a 56 rake, same bars, teeth, gears etc. I use 2 different 256 NH rakes, I refer to them as the old rope makers. One day I hope to have a rotary rake that makes , those nice fluffy rows.
 
I never used any rake as good as a New Holland 55 , 56 or 356. I have used IH 15, 35, JD not know the model and AC also do not know the number I have used the old rakes like the horse drawn models and currently have an old Oliver wheel rake, I think you have the best there us but perhaps like others said your tires may be too big
 
Sounds like you have it adjusted wrong. Where the yellow meets the red is a big bolt that slides up and down.
I believe all the way up makes a tight wind row.
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Big car tires make a surprising difference in the speed of the rake. In addition car tires will slide more, which also slows the basket speed. The front basket adjustment bolt makes a fairly big difference in the shape and density of the windrow.
One way makes it small and tight, the other way makes it big and fluffy. Can't remember which is which.
 

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