wheel rake vs 5-bar rake

pllr · Apr 15, 2014

any opinions on which would be better for raking 8 foot windrows of timothy/bluegrass mix horse hay? I have access to a reasonably priced, (almost free) 5 wheel rake. I am not so sure I want to take a chance raking dirt in with the hay I want to sell for horses... I prefer a new holland 56 or 256, but those really hold their value for a nice one...

showcrop · Apr 15, 2014

Everyone will tell you to get neither, get a rotary instead. I use a JD roll-a-bar, I tried rotary twice and didn't care for it.

dmiller · Apr 15, 2014

Small squares or Round bales? I kinda' like the old "rope makers" for the small squares. They seem to feed nicer into the baler.

rustred · Apr 15, 2014

I don't see how you would rake dirt into the hay. the wheel rake would do a better job as you could remove wheels and find the spot where it just turns the windrow over without making a rope out of it. you set it so it just grabs the windrow not dig in the ground.
the new Holland's are good also but tends to make a rope unless you get the nack to just flip it with the end of rake. also need to adjust drawbar so you are not running wheels on swath.

JD Seller · Apr 15, 2014

A wheel rake will rake everything in the field into your hay. Rocks, dirt, and bark/wood in the field. Find a cheaper bar rake and just use it.

JWalker · Apr 15, 2014

I have a 10 wheel v rake. It does get some dirt dust in the hay but very little. It is very quick and does an excellent job of cleaning the field when used correctly. If I had unlimited finances and needed a new rake I would buy another wheeled rake.

paul · Apr 15, 2014

I'm glad I got my 5 wheel 3pt rake for rough areas, but it doesn't work in heavy hay or in small odd shaped fields with tight corners. Couldn't be without my bar rake.

Paul

Nick m · Apr 16, 2014

Just don't get a wheel rake that has the rake teeth instead of the fingers. The one I had experience with missed alot. I have a gehl with the fingers and really like it. Corners are kind of a bear, but I just go around for the head lands only and back and forth for the rest.

Hay hay hay · Apr 16, 2014

I have had good luck buying New Idea or Ezeeflow belt driven bar rakes. They sell for $500 or so and I have found them to be very reliable and easier to fix than a gearbox. Belts last 20 years and cost $100. I make about 3000 bales of grass horse hay for Thoroughbred buyers, the most picky buyers.

Dachshund · Apr 16, 2014

Used to have a neighbor come rake my hay with his fancy 10 wheel rake....Then I'd go through with my 1940's era Dearborn bar rake and clean up what he missed. Never had a problem with corners or odd shaped fields.

johndeerefan · Apr 16, 2014

Bite the bullet and get a good NH 256 or 258 with a dolly wheel. Once you use one, you will never go back to the others.

Brokenwrench · Apr 16, 2014

If you don"t have to cover a ton of acres, I would stick with the 5 bar rake. To get a later designed wheel rake that has good frame clearance and adjustment with the finger style wheels, you are probably gonna pay the same or more than you will for a nice 256.

The NHs are nice rakes but they do hold value. NI, AC,and JD all make decent 5 bars as well. I have a 4 bar JD 640 that I really cant tell the difference in the job it does than the NH 56 5 bar I had before it.

Wheel rakes really depend on the rake, tooth design, and adjustment. I had a 10 wheel batwing type rake. It worked OK in light/med hay. Hay would ball up like crazy in heavy hay. I had to carry a pitchfork with on the tractor. There really was no good adjustment either as far as digging into the ground.

The bigger pull cart type wheel rakes do a great job, but that would be a lot of overkill for what you are doing. BW

rrlund · Apr 16, 2014

If it's one of those old rakes with the short spring tines bolted around a steel band wheel,there's good reason it's almost free. Somebody said you'll rake up everything in the field with it,trash included. Not with one of those you won't. It won't even rake the hay. I had a New Idea. The fiber bushing in the center of the wheel gets worn,the tines get bent back and they just slide over everything and don't rake anything.
If it's the one with the tines all the way to the center and ball bearings,ya,they do a decent job,as long as you're going straight. They don't corner worth a darn. They stop rolling and just slide.

Part Time Pete · Apr 16, 2014

I'll agree with the others. I think you're better off with a side rake than an old wheel rake. I've used NH new Idea and IH, and they all worked good. I have an Oliver, but wouldn't recommend it - doesn't seem to make as fluffy a windrow as the other brands I've used
Pete

pllr · Apr 16, 2014

thanks for all replies, auction this weekend with a new holland 256, photo on auction site looks promising, paint faded enough may be in my price range, maybe.. will check joints and bearings to be sure worth going after

wheel rake vs 5-bar rake

pllr

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dmiller

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JWalker

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