Large bale density

Ideally if you have a windrow the width of your baler and 2-3" high you will make the best bales with this situation. You might want to look to a V-Wheel rake. They will make a big windrow and take the weaving out of baling. New Hay Max 8 wheel rakes that rake 20" in each pass start at $1,950.

But you ought to see what the windrows look like. Yucko. I watched him bale them afterwards, and I couldn't believe that he was able to bale them and not leave half of it on the ground or stuck in the entrance gate.

Second problem I have with wheels is wind and fine grass. On a windy day, you can't rake bermuda and when you work in town to make a living, you can't be choosy and wait for a windless day. Besides, where I live it is said that the wind blows harder and more often than in Chicago!

I'll take the parallel bar.

Mark

Assuming a 4 or 5 bar rake. Two options: 1. Make a 2-1/2' windrow and feed it evenly on each side 10 secs or so each. 2. Rake in towand the center of the field 2-3 x around. Then move over 2-3 rake widths and rake back. No rule says you have to go 1x or 2x in ad then 1 x out. Even better to rake 1x around and then go back and forth. I normally do this and throw 1x in and 3x out to get enough room to turn in my head lands pulling 2 rakes.

My gut feel is that if you want to unroll one, you want it loosely packed so you only want to use 2 springs per side and your pressure settings on the lightest notch.

Additionally I would suggest the pickup wide open and run as big a windrow as you can get in with the baler going forward as fast as it can bale.

All that should minimize the pressure on the belts, maximize the amount of hay while minimizing the time for it to "pack" which should result in a very sloppy bale that can be unrolled easily.

I think you want to stay centered on the row and not go back and forth.....just have a very fat row. Reason is that this should give you a single layer of hay in the chamber rather than Hay that came in to form the left side and a ways down the field more hay came in to fill the right side. I realize your bale will have a barrel shape but I think this is what it will take to do what you want to do.

Also, I'd move the outside ties in like 6 to 8" from the sides so they won't slide off.

Long stemmy crop will help too.

HTH.

Mark