Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Best Hay Rake?

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
EWB

05-30-2004 08:29:11




Report to Moderator

I am planning to purchase a hay rake and would like to get some opinions regarding what folks consider to be the best brands and models. I plan to use it with a JD 1020 tractor w/7 ft. haybines and/or sickle-bar mowers on fairly hilly land. New Holland and John Deere parts are easiest to come by where I live so I am especially interested in those brands.

Thanks




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
HY_Moose

06-01-2004 08:36:52




Report to Moderator
 Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to EWB, 05-30-2004 08:29:11  
I just bought a IH 35 bar rake. The bearings were out of the u joints and the left drive hub. I got it real cheap because it needed work. I thought that it looked a lot like my dads old NH rake and I was right . I took the drive shaft in and the u joints and bearings where the same as the New Holland. I bought the new holland parts because they are a lot cheaper than IH parts. This happens a lot in the ag market, For example arts way years ago built all of IH model feed mixers. and Stiger built fords 4 wheel drive tractors. New holland is the best rake or one made on the same pattern.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
havvey

05-31-2004 15:40:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to EWB, 05-30-2004 08:29:11  
i have a 256 nh but have raked a lot of hay with oliver and allis chalmers. Was never crazy about ihc or john deere rakes.Dont be fooled there is a lot of good rakes for a few hundred bucks and tines are universal for many.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RickB

05-31-2004 13:57:58




Report to Moderator
 Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to EWB, 05-30-2004 08:29:11  
New Holland is the brand of choice for most, but if you come across a decent New Idea rake, they are cheaper to buy and do a very good job. The basket speed on the NI is slower than the NH which can be an advantage.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Adam B.

05-31-2004 11:52:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to EWB, 05-30-2004 08:29:11  
We've had New Holland and John Deere rakes, they're both good.

The NH 256 is a classic, dependable design that's been around a long time.

For what you're describing, you might consider a NH 254 or NH 255 (the model number changed). It mounts to the 3-pt. hitch, is PTO driven and does an excellent job as both a tedder and rake. It has the advantage of being powered instead of ground-driven, so you can adjust tractor and rake speeds independently to suit the field and crop conditions. It'll cost you more than a rake, but it does double duty as a tedder. You can also adjust the raking width to suit how small/tight or big/loose you want your windrows. Unlike trailed rakes, you can pick it up at the end of a windrow so you don't leave a loop when you turn around (although you don't have to pick it up to make turns). Also, if you are working across a slope, trailed rakes can tend to slide downhill a bit, missing hay and making curved windrows. The 254/255 will only go sideways as far as the 3 pt. lift arms will allow it to go.

The downside is that you'll probably need some weights on the front of your 1020, and you should be careful if you're turning on a slope or on the top of a hill with the rake raised up. Beware the early 254's, you can identify them by very narrow, 3-rib tires. Later 254's and the 255's have wider, 'flotation' tires that are much more durable.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
henrich Iowa

05-31-2004 06:07:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to EWB, 05-30-2004 08:29:11  
The New Holland brand is the best. You can go to any consignment sale in northwest Iowa and there might be a handful of rakes there. If there is a New Holland, it will bring a minimum of $1,000 while the other brands can be purchased for a few hundred dollars. One nice thing about the NH brand is that you can always purchase parts for them, reasonably. GWH



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
So. IL. Farmer

05-30-2004 20:11:36




Report to Moderator
 Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to EWB, 05-30-2004 08:29:11  
I have a N.H. 256 rake that I really like.It does an excellant job of raking.I also have on H&S wheel rake which also does nice job of raking.The wheel rake cuts your raking time in half,but doesnt work well on tall stemed hay such timothy hay.So it depends on your type of hay you have,but N.H. well do excellant job.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BobMo

05-30-2004 15:24:30




Report to Moderator
 Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to EWB, 05-30-2004 08:29:11  
With a small cutter like you are using the NH 256 will serve your needs best. You can pick a good one up for less than a thousand dollars. Be sure you check it over well. If the teeth are all worn off it wwon't work well and you'll have to put a couple hundred more in it plus the agarvation. Make sure the U joints on the drive aren't completely worn out and if possible get ag tires on it. Good luck...

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Vaughn Chase

06-08-2004 15:45:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to BobMo, 05-30-2004 15:24:30  
Where would I find rake teeth for a massey harris number 11 hay rake?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
TDK

05-30-2004 13:22:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to EWB, 05-30-2004 08:29:11  
Have never used the NH type rake, see them often, as they're real popular around here. I've noticed that they rake slick,large stemmed hay better than wheel rakes. Seem to be best suited for flat, even ground. On uneven or hilly ground the wheel rakes seem to work best. Leaves less hay on ground. Wheel rakes(3 point or pull type) can be had for less money also. V rakes & NH are somewhat higher priced. Just my opinion!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
paul

05-30-2004 09:41:52




Report to Moderator
 Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to EWB, 05-30-2004 08:29:11  
NH with a '56' in it is top of the line - 256, or a 56.

JD are good too.

--->Paul



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
T213R

05-31-2004 07:36:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to paul, 05-30-2004 09:41:52  
There is something wrong with my 258 then? Actually, the John Deere 640 and 660 rakes are pretty good too! The "discount pricing" only applies to IH or Ford or AC or NI rakes.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
paul

06-01-2004 05:59:13




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to T213R, 05-31-2004 07:36:59  
Like me, it's left-handed? :) Or is that the bigger model? There are so few around here, I forget about them.....

--->Paul



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Hay Dr

05-30-2004 14:04:37




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Best Hay Rake? in reply to paul, 05-30-2004 09:41:52  
In the ground drive bar rakes the NH is hands down better than the JD.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
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. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy