how wide a hay rake

Ray IN

Member
I am looking for a Y wheel rake for alfalfa mostly. Would an 8 wheel (4 each side) be big enough for merging two swaths of a 12' mower, or would it be stupid not to get the 10 wheel? This is in Indiana where hay is thick, so don't always need maximum width.
 

Some of the 10 wheel V rakes are built where the front wheel can be flipped up out of the way, in heavy hay you raise the front wheels up making it an 8 wheel rake, for thin hay and second cuttings you put the front wheels down to get more hay in the windrows.
Some are built with the center wheel being the odd single, on those it's a 10 wheel rake all the time.
 
I have a carted wheel rake..sitrex 10 wheel.. Have had it for 10 years or more.. I throw two 9 into one on 2nd cuttings. I raise the front or most outside wheel makes 8 wheel and is perfect for two 9's. Also depends on how you adjust it, the angle etc..

My opinion is the 8 is two small for 2 -12's..
 
In my experience a 12 wheel bi fold is what you would want and not have to spread it out all the way so it does a better job of raking, but you and I have different terrain I bet.
 
Is your cutter leaving the hay in a tight windrow , or spread wide ? I have a 10 wheel carted style Kuhn , and find it works very well for me. I tried a Bi-fold style rake on a demo, and found the castering front wheel would go into a speed wobble when traveling the road. I have friends that have Bi-fold rakes , and both broke the front wheels off of the rakes.
It many not save you many $$$ buying a 8 wheel compared to a 10 wheel model , but the 10 wheel rake may be easier to resell some day later.
 

I've owned a H&S hi-cap 14 wheel rake since '02 when I bought it new. It has raked 1000's upon 1000's of acres. It has adjustable brake pads for caster wheels & my caster wheels don't shimmy at transport speeds. I've had the right spindle on caster wheel bent twice from hitting chug holes on the side of black top roads BUT never a wheel axle broken off.
 
I used 10 wheel Vee rake with 12 ft conditioner. It laid 2 windows side by side. Don't think 8 wheel will give wide enough coverage if you lay wide spread down behind conditioner.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top