Why won't my hay rake fold up?

Rodeo man · Oct 23, 2016

I've hooked it to my remotes in every configuration I can think of, but it won't fold up. FEL, hooks to the same remotes and works fine. Doesn't appear to leak anywhere when I apply pressure.

rrlund · Oct 23, 2016

Does it have one of those hex inline restrictors in a line anywhere? I rented a 28% applicator one time. I was the first one to use it that year. I couldn't unfold that thing for anything. One of the guys from the fertilizer plant came out and we took that restrictor out and it worked fine. It went down fast,but it went down.

Rodeo man · Oct 23, 2016

(quoted from post at 14:59:15 10/23/16) Does it have one of those hex inline restrictors in a line anywhere? I rented a 28% applicator one time. I was the first one to use it that year. I couldn't unfold that thing for anything. One of the guys from the fertilizer plant came out and we took that restrictor out and it worked fine. It went down fast,but it went down.

This is only my second year with this hay rake. I haven't noticed one previously (not sure what to look for either). I will check it after church.

JD Seller · Oct 23, 2016

Change the hydraulic hose ends. They can go bad and not allow oil to flow through them.

Rodeo man · Oct 23, 2016

That may be the problem. They don't look so hot. Looked for a valve, and there wasn't one.

Rodeo man · Oct 23, 2016

I was able to engage the nipple on the end. Seemed to preform like I would expect.

paul · Oct 24, 2016

Is this a new to you rake?

Does the cylinder move a tad and the machine won't budge, or do the hoses jerk a bit but the cylinder doesn't move at all, or does nothing at
all, hoses, cyl, machine, move/jerk any little bit at all?

Bad quick couple, plugged restrict or, a pinned machine in the working position, a bad cylinder, lots of things. Can you narrow it down by what
does move, or get pressure, at all?

Paul

Rodeo man · Oct 24, 2016

(quoted from post at 17:25:02 10/24/16) Is this a new to you rake?

Does the cylinder move a tad and the machine won't budge, or do the hoses jerk a bit but the cylinder doesn't move at all, or does nothing at
all, hoses, cyl, machine, move/jerk any little bit at all?

Bad quick couple, plugged restrict or, a pinned machine in the working position, a bad cylinder, lots of things. Can you narrow it down by what
does move, or get pressure, at all?

Paul

New to me, but fairly new. The cylinder will move upward about an inch. The rake doesn't move at all. The cylinder will return as well. I know it can be locked upright for transport. I don't think it can be locked in the down position. It's not the tractor (I don't think). The front end loader works as it should, when plugged in the same remotes.

paul · Oct 25, 2016

If you said I forgot which tractor, what kind of pressure does it put out? I got a 4 row planter, all three of my old gas tractors didn't have enough
pressure to lift the planter full of seed and feet. Ended up planting with an 85hp tractor, that would lift it easy as 2500psi. The old gas tractors
were probably close to 1700psi, some the pump so worn was well under 1500psi.....

I'm not used to a 'folding rake' I presume it is a wheel rake that moves into a transport position? What make and model of rake is it? The more
we know the more we can figure out.

Paul

Rodeo man · Oct 25, 2016

I pull it with a 451 Massey Ferguson. The hydraulics seem strong enough. It handles hay rolls quit well. It's a Vermeer 22 (you can hold me to the Vermeer part, but could swear it's a 22). I was told by some one today, that I should completely remove the top house, and put a bleeder valve in its place. Allow gravity to lower the arms. Everybody hates to sound stupid, but I don't know what a bleeder valve is. They also said, that would be best to avoid down pressure on the rake wheels. All sounds plausible to me.

PS
A little background on me. I've farmed for 40 years. This is the first thing I've ever owned with a hydraulic cylinder. All 3 point attachments, and had a 5 bar new Holland rake prior to getting this one. Not necessarily a complete noob just no experience with hydraulics.

Rodeo man · Oct 28, 2016

All suggestions have been tried, except taking the top hose off, and putting a bleeder valve in its place. Worth a shot?

Paul swpa · Oct 28, 2016

Have you tried another tractor's remotes? Just to be sure nothing going on there. I have had that problem before.

Rodeo man · Oct 29, 2016

(quoted from post at 04:33:39 10/29/16) Have you tried another tractor's remotes? Just to be sure nothing going on there. I have had that problem before.

My other tractors don't have remotes. It is running the FEL fine off of those remotes though.

Determined · Nov 1, 2016

Almost sounds like you might have your hoses mixed up.
On my 970 for example the top two are one circuit the bottom two are the other.

Rodeo man · Nov 1, 2016

i finally got them to go up Sunday after church. I had tried about everything. Put a boom pole on one of my other tractors, and rigged a tow strap, to lift both sides at once. Once it was in motion, hydraulics lifted it fine. Raised and lowered several times after that. Unhooked, and hooked back up hydraulic connections, and it continued to work. Not sure what the deal was, but maybe it's over. Put zip ties on everything, so there's no getting things crossed up. Had already done the tractor and FEL that way a long time ago.

Why won't my hay rake fold up?

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