[AT] Question on a hay Rake

[Larry Goss]

Driving to the left (counter-clockwise) results in windrows in a single counter-clockwise spiral (which is what you want, usually).  It's easier on the equipment because the rake  builds the windrow on the left side so the first windrow is 8-10 feet away from the edge of the field or fence row (which is also something that you want.) and the rake doesn't have to run super-fast to make a right-hand turn.  Come to think of it, maybe the drive dogs only worked on one wheel?

With what we know today about conditioning, it's no wonder that we're finding side delivery rakes parked and rusting away.  The hay we used to put up had lost most of its food value BEFORE we raked it.  More was gone before we could "put it up."  The cows still seemed to love it -- or maybe they were just hungry because they were starving?

Larry

----- Original Message -----
From: Lew Best <lew at lewslittlefarm.com>
Date: Monday, April 5, 2010 14:03
Subject: Re: [AT] Question on a hay Rake
To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group' <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>

> Ok you got my curiosity up here.  I've always raked my 
> little place here
> running counterclockwise (I've been using a NH 3PT rake; may 
> switch to an
> old ground driven IH roller bar this year tho).  I've been 
> using a JD 214ws
> baler; gonna try an IH 47 that I picked up this year.  I 
> always baled in a
> counterclockwise direction also; is this incorrect?  If so 
> why?  BTW my
> equipment is all "refugee" also.  :)
> 
> Lew near Waco, TX
> website HTTP://lewslittlefarm.com
> 
> 
> I don't know what you're raking, Charlie, but in my limited 
> experience, once
> you started raking you didn't have to touch the adjustment 
> levers until the
> whole field was done and you wanted extra ground clearance during
> transport.  If you "did it right", the whole hay field was one 
> continuouscounter-clockwise spiral with a clear swath from the 
> center to one corner
> when you left the field.  And then we'd find out that the 
> neighbors were
> going to bale it with their McCormick-Deering baler and we'd 
> have to head
> out with pitchforks to turn the spiral the other way.  Dad 
> wouldn't let us
> rake it as a clockwise spiral -- the right turn was too hard on the
> equipment.  That was a major consideration when all the 
> equipment we had was
> old and had been resurrected from a scrap heap at a farm sale. 
> 
> Larry
> 
> 
> 
> 
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