O.T. PTO Hay Rake Question

Kelly in tx · Nov 9, 2021

I posted this on the Implement section, but got no reply. What are your thoughts on this?:
I've got some incredibly heavy fall hay that I'm trying to rake. It is grass hay. I cut it with a cutter/conditioner and it was extremely tough cutting, then it rained. My old John Deere ground driven side delivery just can't rake it. My neighbor has an old Ford three point, pto driven rake. It has been sitting for ten years. I'm wondering if it could be helpful in trying to rake and turn over the hay. If so, what should I offer? I looked at TractorHouse.com and found one Ford side delivery rake for sale and the asking price is over $700. 26 auction Ford rakes sold for an average of $244. I think $200- $250 depending on condition, tires, v-belt, etc would be fair. Whaddya think?

SVcummins · Nov 9, 2021

I dont know about a Ford but a pto rake will turn heavier hay because you slow your ground speed down while the rake turns the same speed

moresmoke · Nov 10, 2021

All I can offer is that I used to bale red clover for sileage. My baler much preferred that the windrow was flipped dry side down. I had an old Ferguson PTO rake that worked great for the job.

Traditional Farmer · Nov 10, 2021

When I had a JD rake it had a problem raking heavy hay,after I bought a NH 256 rake it'll rake anything.

redforlife · Nov 10, 2021

I think what your wanting to offer is fair. At one point in time, a 3 point pto rake may have been preferred and brought some premium money. But, I think times have changed. Alot has happened. In my country, just about everyone has went to swathers and wheel rakes. Even front dolly wheel side delivery rakes, and 9 ft. sickle mowers don't bring the money at auction that they use to.

John in Md. · Nov 10, 2021

Can you tedder it first then rake it?

Tx Jim · Nov 10, 2021

PTO should rake the hay. If Ford rake is in usable condition I'd think $750-$1000 should be a fair offer.
What type crop are you attempting to rake? What is the estimated bales per acre production? If JD rake tires are sliding on ground when attempting to rake thick hay have you considered adding weight to rake rear frame? Have you attempted to change angle of rake basket to give more lift to hay being raked?

I've raked some Coastal/mix grass hay with my HI-cap 14 wheel rake that made over 8 rd bales per acre that were 4X5.5 in size.

Bret4207 · Nov 10, 2021

(quoted from post at 01:37:31 11/10/21) I posted this on the Implement section, but got no reply. What are your thoughts on this?:
I've got some incredibly heavy fall hay that I'm trying to rake. It is grass hay. I cut it with a cutter/conditioner and it was extremely tough cutting, then it rained. My old John Deere ground driven side delivery just can't rake it. My neighbor has an old Ford three point, pto driven rake. It has been sitting for ten years. I'm wondering if it could be helpful in trying to rake and turn over the hay. If so, what should I offer? I looked at TractorHouse.com and found one Ford side delivery rake for sale and the asking price is over $700. 26 auction Ford rakes sold for an average of $244. I think $200- $250 depending on condition, tires, v-belt, etc would be fair. Whaddya think?

If it's a 503 Ford rake it's supposed to be used with a tractor with a ground speed PTO. Try and run it off a 540 PTO and you'll quickly realize it won't work and you may well shake it apart.

BTW- You asked the question at 9PM in the implement section and then here at half past midnight. It's not that no one answered you in the implement section, it's that you didn't wait for anyone to answer you.

This post was edited by Bret4207 on 11/10/2021 at 04:54 am.

Mike(NEOhio) · Nov 10, 2021

I have a 503 rake, PTO 3-piont, if that's what you're looking at. It has trouble with real heavy windrows as the frame doesn't have a lot of clearance so the hay bunches up under it. Also the shaft is low so if the laying hay is thick it will wrap around it. Raking into the breeze can cause the hay to lift up and wrap around the stripper. You can always take a half width then rake them together later, or just go real slow. Some have a way to switch the shaft to get a lower reel speed, mine doesn't. Pics show right and left ends of the stripper. The right end is pretty low so if the hay is thick it will wrap there and push the belt off. PITA to get it cleared and back on.

Determined · Nov 10, 2021

My thoughts are as you have hay on the ground right now you want something ready to use, the pto rake may well work but being that it has been sitting 10 years the odds are against it.

Like Traditional Farmer I prefer the NH bar rakes.

When set right there is not much that will stop them.

Not sure how big a windrow you are dealing with but I do know mine will flip rain soaked feed that ran 2+ ton an acre on an 18 foot cut.

showcrop · Nov 10, 2021

When you post "fall hay" you are implying that it is second or third cut, which if it is dry should rake no problem with a roll-a-bar rake. Now if this is first cutting I could see it being enough combined bulk that it would tend to not rake well. You need to get it dried first. I agree with tedding, and after it being rained on you need to run the tedder over it 2-3 times.

Traditional Farmer · Nov 10, 2021

BTW over the years I've seen a lot more of those rakes they were broken up at auctions than in working condition,don't think I have ever seen one break $500.

JK-NY · Nov 10, 2021

It sounds to me like you need to ted this hay out to get it dry before you can rake it.

SVcummins · Nov 10, 2021

The newer rakes will turn about anything

David Snipes · Nov 10, 2021

I have a 503 as well and I've experienced all of your problems. I bought an old John Deere 604 ground driven rake and it works great. I'm taking the Ford rake to the auction.

O.T. PTO Hay Rake Question

Kelly in tx

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SVcummins

Well-known Member

moresmoke

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Traditional Farmer

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redforlife

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John in Md.

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Tx Jim

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Bret4207

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Mike(NEOhio)

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Determined

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showcrop

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Traditional Farmer

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JK-NY

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SVcummins

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David Snipes

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