Single rotar rakes. Any good?

Donald Trump

How would a single rotar rake compare to say a haybob for rowing up grass (or hay)


Obviously you'll probably get twice as much into each row, but other than that, do they actually do the job?


The twin ones are very expensive unless you'd be contracting and getting a bit of work with it. They get the job done fast alright.



Does anyone have any experience? Would it leave it in ropes or knots?

queueeye

Donald Trump wrote: »

How would a single rotar rake compare to say a haybob for rowing up grass (or hay)


Obviously you'll probably get twice as much into each row, but other than that, do they actually do the job?


The twin ones are very expensive unless you'd be contracting and getting a bit of work with it. They get the job done fast alright.



Does anyone have any experience? Would it leave it in ropes or knots?

Rakes are in a different league entirely compared to a haybob, much cleaner finish especially on grass for silage.
They don’t cause ropes or knots and will leave a far better row for a more consistent bale.

Gillespy

We had one and found it very slow. Saved us no time, added time if anything. Take most day to do 45 acres kind of pace. I'd bale that in 10' rows in a good day and be done with it. That's us, where we do every step of silage making with limited labour and tractors.

Quality of work is very driver dependent. Not roping or lumps but row width. Can't doze off for a second. I would rather one than a haybob. Cleaner field and more options in that you can make the row for a huge self-propelled or a small little baler.

Panch18

Go twin rotor i would say

cute geoge

what about the rotunde https://www.donedeal.ie/haybobs-for-sale/lely-rotonde/24231580

Donald Trump

We'd be the same here in that we do everything ourselves. Only thing we don't have is a rake.

Back in the day it was an old drum mower and row it up with the haybob. Rows would be a bit lumpy though. Then we would have moved to just leaving it to wilt after the mower/conditioner and baled it up from that. Have a big tedder now so I'd be inclined to try to always kick it out now and then leave it for the day or so before baling. But then you have to row it up and we'd be digging out the oul' haybob or getting a fella in to rake it - which is grand and quick but adds another cost. It does do a great job though and leave the field clean and the rows even. The odd time we'd get someone in as well for a light second cut to pull a few rows in together to do a neater job and make a better bale. But that's working out even more per bale.

When you look at the price of the big ones, you'd be years before you could justify it, if ever. Second hand ones are still expensive but even then, you are possibly buying someone else's problems. We tend to buy new and keep them for years. Zero (or very little) contracting. I saw a few of the single rotar ones and was wondering whether they'd be any use.

Donald Trump

cute geoge wrote: »

what about the rotunde https://www.donedeal.ie/haybobs-for-sale/lely-rotonde/24231580

They look a better job maybe than the single rotar.


What would they be coming in as new?

Donald Trump

Panch18 wrote: »

Go twin rotor i would say

Ah......... you're probably talking 200 acres worth of work per year for it here. There's probably higher priority things that would need to be taken care of before spending 20k on a rake. The inclination would be to go for it. you know yourself, but it has to make some sense as well

cute geoge

Might not be got brand new anymore
They seem to come up for sale very fresh some times like there a farmers who is upgrading to a twin rotor , imo better bet then a single rotor

davidk1394

From a baler mans point of view a single rotor rake can be a nuisance. If grass is light, farmers would keep rowing it up until theirs a few heavy rows of grass. The problem is the grass is all knots then and a nightmare to bale. If a person has the hang of it, knows how wide to leave a row then it's a fine job.

Panch18

A neighbour has a rotunde and it looks to do a great job - now i have never baled from it myself so can vouch for the sward but it certainly cleans the field very well - i would seriously consider it - and definitely ahead of single rotor rake

just on the twin rotor - you wouldn't need to spend huge money - you can get very decent 20ft second hand which would last you a long time doing your own

Gillespy

https://www.donedeal.ie/haybobs-for-sale/enorossi-batrake-v-rake/24466371

Another option maybe? The Yanks love this type rake. Must be some working in Ireland as I have seen them advertised for a few years now.

Donald Trump

Panch18 wrote: »

A neighbour has a rotunde and it looks to do a great job - now i have never baled from it myself so can vouch for the sward but it certainly cleans the field very well - i would seriously consider it - and definitely ahead of single rotor rake

just on the twin rotor - you wouldn't need to spend huge money - you can get very decent 20ft second hand which would last you a long time doing your own

You always need the bit of luck with the second hand ones though!

A quick glance at donedeal shows fellas asking for 12k+ for a clean looking second hand ones. A bit lower wouldn't be too bad if it was in good condition and wasn't going to give any trouble.

Donald Trump

Gillespy wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/haybobs-for-sale/enorossi-batrake-v-rake/24466371

Another option maybe? The Yanks love this type rake. Must be some working in Ireland as I have seen them advertised for a few years now.

I've seen those too. Look like the old acrobats. But they were terrible at roping the stuff. I'd be interested to hear how those new bigger ones leave grass. You haven't to imagine similar issues. Or maybe worse because it'd be getting rolled further along even more wheels.


Yanks like them alright but they are probably rowing up different stuff in different conditions, and maybe for different machines too


I think there's an old acrobat left buried in a hedge here somewhere. And it'd be there for a reason.

nqtfarmer

Does anyone have any experience of the Kuhn 360 tedder/rake? We couldn’t justify buying a Tedder and rake!

farawaygrass

cute geoge wrote: »

what about the rotunde https://www.donedeal.ie/haybobs-for-sale/lely-rotonde/24231580

Our contractor had an old one of those for years. Seemed to do a great job in fairness

RobinBanks

i thought of getting one of these aswell. From what i have seen certain makes have upto 13 tines compared to ones as low as 9. The higher the amount the better for rowing up shorter grass.
The one thing i am unsure of with these single rotor rakes though is first what size you would beed for an 8ft mower and another concern i would have is that you are raking one sward in on top of a sward that hasnt been touched. At least with 2 rotor rakes both swards get a ligt and fluffed up. I could be wrong on that though.

visatorro

Gerry6420 has a video on YouTube trying to pick up rows from a single rotor with a jf trailed harvester. Reckoned it was a disaster.

Just on buying second hand rakes,a neighbour bought a second hand one and it worked fine in light cuts. Got into heavy stuff and it started slipping. The cams were worn.

Gillespy

He's now gone with a grouper on the mower. Half tempted of going that way myself. Happy to bale 10' in normal cuts and the option to throw two together for light stuff would be nice. Anything in the 25 to 35 % dm is what I want, better chopping with the baler and in the feeder. And more consistent mixes too, less sorting.