pros and cons of types?

My initial thoughts were that I wanted a 3-pt (if possible for easier maneuvering) pto driven side delivery rake. I have an old Ferguson DE-O-20, but haven't had time to get it in working order - needs a good bit - so am looking for another working rake to replace it.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of different types: towed versus 3-pt, ground drive versus pto drive? Other thoughts?

Any to avoid, or any problems to be watching for?

Thanks!

I put a "wanted" ad in the local classified tabloid, and have gotten three replies - two John Deere ground driven towed, and one a guy who was looking for a rake and asked what I'd found.

I looked at one that replied to my ad today - an old John Deere ground drive towed rake today - poor condition, $350, and seller of questionnable reputation. Passed on that one. The other response was apparently in better shape - wanted $500, so I passed that on to the other guy who was looking for one.

Slim pickings around here.

I also dropped by small gray market tractor dealer who also refurbishes rotovators and also handles a few new implements. He had a two-wheel wheel rake for abot $380 - 6-1/2 ft working width. That has possibilities.

In the meantime, I'm finding that the sickle mower I bought may be unusable. So, may be out of luck anyhow.

Thanks again for replies.

--->Paul

Last night, I actually got the mower running. Still needs structural fix and still needs one guard and at least one new cutter blade, but after a bit of cleaning and greasing, I connected the shaft and with great uncertainty, let out the clutch (MF35 with live power, 2-stage clutch and ground/engine selector). Darned if it didn't work like it's supposed to. Mom - 80 years old and who lived most of her life on a small Colorado farm where they had wheat and alfalfa - said it sounded just like it should. :)

Guess I'm a bit more encouraged. Still have to figure out how to engage the mechanical lift, and also how to lock the frame that connects the drive mechanism to the bar in a raised position. If I can get there, looks like it will work. Right now, chasing manuals and advice.

I thought it would take only minor repairs, but last night I took a hard look at it and am on the verge of bush hogging this year and forgetting trying to rake and bale. It's not that the repairs are extensive, but that what a previous owner did to it might have made it no beter than a parts mower.

I bought a New Idea 7 ft. sickle mower and think I got taken! No wonder the guy threw in the Ferguson rake for nothing - he was asking $30 for it. The rake is not good for much but parts I'm thinking, unless I have lots of time to give it. The mower was a towed, but somebody tried to convert it to a 3-pt, and I'm not sure what they did was workable. Gotta chew on that a bit more.

If I had everything working, I'd be mowing tonight...weather has been nice nad the grass in one field is up to almost knee high. Gonna either have to mow for harvest or bush hog and let it lie just to keep it manageable.

A good buy for you would be a similar type, not JD or NH. They sell more like $150-300, and would work just fine for 5 acres. Make sure you can find fingers for it in your area, and have fun. New Idea, IH, etc.

I think in all my auctions & years I have only seen 2 pto driven 3-point rakes. No one wants them around here. They weren't even junked out - just no one ever bought them new in the first place! I guess I really couldn't say good or bad about them - just would not buy one because no one has one - must be for a reason.

There are the old 'wheel' rakes where the spring fingers are turned by pulling on the ground. They have 4 or 5 very big wheels with the fingers around the edge. They work, but not as well in all conditions. Round about $200.

There are the new 'wheel' rakes that are on wheels or 3-point, they have very long wire flexable spring fingers and many people are quite happy with them. They work just like the old wheel rakes, but the long curved tine & more of them seem to work a lot better than the older style above. They do corner kinda odd, esp 3-point in one direction. Being newer, you are back to the $300-700 range. These are probably the 2nd most popular.

Then there are the old 4-wheel side delivery rakes, mostly on steel. About $25, if you can get it home. These DO NOT back up well and are not as manuverable, but for the money & your few acres, if in good shape it will last you many years and do a fine job. They do tend to 'crab' to one side if you do a lot of hills (road ditches on the slope).

I would spend my money & pay the most attention to getting a good baler, then a good mower, and for a small acrage I would put the least effort (if I run out of money, buy the cheapest! :) into the siderake.

These prices & ideas are relative to southern Minnesota. Different conditions & regions have _very_ different ideas about haymaking, so I might be all wrong for your situation.

--->Paul

My second choise for small acerage would be the long finger wheel rake, economical.

Where I disagree with you is on the $50. to $150. bar rakes with large wheels on front and casters behind. Good enough rakes in their day, however I doubt if there are any around that are little more than scrap metal. If there is a good one left, it is worth more than you say.

I always tell the guys over at the Farmall page that Harry Ferguson won the hitch war before IH sold their first fast hitch. It wasn't fast hitch either that killed fast hitch, it was the operator sitting on top of it thus not allowing enough lift range. Believe me I well remember a lever on fast hitch corn planter, hooking in my hip pocket, taking me and seat with it, as I lowered planter, moving at 3 mph and at 1800 rpm on the 560D. I did manage to get foot on clutch, but couldn't reach any of the hand controls.

On that ground drive Fergie pto. A lot of guys in my area built what they called power trailers. They would use a truck rear end with right ratio to match the Fergie pto and ground speed. They used them mainly in farm woodlots. Quite a unit in their day.