Best Rake for Round Baler

[Tullyvernon]

Took a notion of a rake of our own just for the baler, nothing fancy just to take a nice 20' row of spread grass.
What make of rake leaves the nicest row after it in your opinions?
I always think the 10' row left behind the mowers makes the best bale so something that leaves the same shape row is what I'm after.

 

[balerman]

Any twin rotor rake should make a good enough job,that is the key to good shape bales,a good shape row.

 

[valtra 101]

we got a claas 2600 this year,perfect row from spread grass or 2x10ft rows

 

[juke]

Class 2600, on its middle setting, centre swath guard taken off, best box row you will ever bale behind.

 

[valtra 101]

Class 2600, on its middle setting, centre swath guard taken off, best box row you will ever bale behind.

why do u take the swath guard off? ours makes perfect row wit it on

 

[NiallOrm94]

Well depends on your circumstances. Are you a contractor doing big acre's each year or just doing a small amount?
The Lely Rotonde is a good non-trailed twin rotor rake that can row up two 10 foot row's, a popular rake amongst farmers/small contractors. If wanting a trailed rake with twin rotors for rowing up in front of a baler the best from my experience would be either the Fella TS671 or Lely Hibiscus 715CD.

 

[juke]

We just did it on the recommendation of the dealer, said it was the best for the baler, never tried it with the guard on, but absolutely perfect rows, n a super clean field after its been through, seen the other rakes going n none of them did the job as well as the class did, proably depends on how particular you are.

 

[Blue.]

Krone 800 is one of the best I've followed.

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Remember a good operator can make a good row with most rakes, , and a not so good operator can make a bad row with the best of rakes

 

[Tha Ulsterscot]

Anybody tried a Fransguard T6000 are they any good?

 

[An Gof]

Another vote for Claas 2600, does a superb job and follows the ground impeccably

 

[Eire t5]

Class 2600, on its middle setting, centre swath guard taken off, best box row you will ever bale behind.

can u adjust the swarth width on the 2600, would it pick 3 nine 9s

 

[James]

used to have a rotunde which was ok but not that good on corners and only gathered 5m of spread grass and if you're on rough ground with plenty of knows it won't follow as well as the twin rotor machines. bought a claas 2600 2 yrs ago no regrets cleans the ground so well follows it brilliantly next to no lumps in the swath. use it on middle setting for the baler take 2 rows if I mow it myself (or other 10ft mower) sometimes bale after a 8ft and it takes 3 rows - arguably a better row. the only downside is its a bit of a ballache to alter the working width which I would do fairly often at certain times - narrowest if raking for a trailed harvester or widest for a spfh but a cordless impact gun helps

 

[James]

can u adjust the swarth width on the 2600, would it pick 3 nine 9s

I would say it could provided they aren't too wide a swath.
while ago I raked 3 rows left by a jd 1365 but the guy did leave a narrow row and didn't use the full width of the mower had rake set at its widest was a nice row to bale tbf

 

[juke]

I'm going to say no but I stand to be corrected I think max working is 22 ft, I think u would want the next one up in the range to get three swaths, n lots of ground clearance on your tractor ours is on 42s n there some big swaths, 38 inch shod tractor just couldn't cope with that much grass under it..

 

[Tha Ulsterscot]

Another vote for Claas 2600, does a superb job and follows the ground impeccably

View attachment 209356

Surely working like that your going to get an uneven sward, heavier on one side than the other. Will this not make a bad shaped bale?

 

[RLC]

How much would you expect to pay for a new 2600?

 

[An Gof]

Surely working like that your going to get an uneven sward, heavier on one side than the other. Will this not make a bad shaped bale?

Problem was I was concentrating on taking the photo out the back and not concentrating on the steering wheel

 

[sleepy]

How much would you expect to pay for a new 2600?

12 grand with independent rotor lift.

 

[Drillman]

We have a Fella TS880 which is a big old thing but it makes a decent row and can cover the ground. I rake for one chap who has a Claas Rolland 46 and he follows it no problem. Our new Holland also runs well picking the swaths up. Just needs a tractor with decent ground clearance.