Kuhn GA6501 or Krone TC640

[Boss Man]

Looking at the two above rakes. Currently running a kuhn GA6501 but the hydraulic width adjustment on the krone is tempting which isnt an option on the kuhn. Looking at these two rakes for the narrow transport width. The current kuhn isnt steering axle but don’t really have any trouble getting in or out so will steering axle be of much benefit?

 

[Chuckie]

The pottinger fan club will be here soon........

I think steering and hyd adjustment are both options on the krone, like you say the kuhn is manual width adjustment but that's much better than none at all!

 

[DrDunc]

I've a Krone 640

Mine doesn't have steering or hydraulic width adjustment, and to be honest it doesn't need them I don't think.

It's small enough that you can easily steer the tractor to suit for the two outside rows around the field. After that you want right angle ends for the baler anyway.

Hydraulic width adjustment would save a couple of minutes if you're switching between a round and a conventional small square baler pickup, but it's only a couple of minutes once in s blue moon for myself.

I've added an electrohydraulic switch valve to lift a single rotor. That has transformed it for ease of use in fields with "points". There aren't many square fields here!

If you've fields on slopes, I've added a centre curtain. It makes a big difference to the swath, eliminating uneven rows when you're crossing the hill.

I'm very pleased with my wee rake. It leaves a wonderful square swath in any crop. Attention to the rotor and forward speed is necessary to get the best from it, but that is the case for any rake, including pottinger

 

[Boss Man]

I've a Krone 640

Mine doesn't have steering or hydraulic width adjustment, and to be honest it doesn't need them I don't think.

It's small enough that you can easily steer the tractor to suit for the two outside rows around the field. After that you want right angle ends for the baler anyway.

Hydraulic width adjustment would save a couple of minutes if you're switching between a round and a conventional small square baler pickup, but it's only a couple of minutes once in s blue moon for myself.

I've added an electrohydraulic switch valve to lift a single rotor. That has transformed it for ease of use in fields with "points". There aren't many square fields here!

If you've fields on slopes, I've added a centre curtain. It makes a big difference to the swath, eliminating uneven rows when you're crossing the hill.

I'm very pleased with my wee rake. It leaves a wonderful square swath in any crop. Attention to the rotor and forward speed is necessary to get the best from it, but that is the case for any rake, including pottinger

View attachment 973053

On the kuhn we wind the rake back in to its shortest point before transport as felt is was unstable with it out and with the low trees. The width is normally kept the same setting while raking as the row sizes fits the baler nicely.

 

[DrDunc]

On the kuhn we wind the rake back in to its shortest point before transport as felt is was unstable with it out and with the low trees. The width is normally kept the same setting while raking as the row sizes fits the baler nicely.

Aye hydraulic width would be useful for that

Krone rake is very stable transported at full width. Trees aren't a problem here though!

Have you not considered putting a couple of hydraulic rams in place of the manual turnbuckles on the rake you have? A few hundred quid on rams and a valve would be a lot less expensive than a new rake?

 

[Boss Man]

Aye hydraulic width would be useful for that

Krone rake is very stable transported at full width. Trees aren't a problem here though!

Have you not considered putting a couple of hydraulic rams in place of the manual turnbuckles on the rake you have? A few hundred quid on rams and a valve would be a lot less expensive than a new rake?

The rake is due a change, we have pipped the two rotors individually on two different spools, the is one benefit on the kuhn as you dont need to run it in float as the rams run in a slider, as the tractor that rakes only has one float.

 

[sticky]

I bought the Kuhn this time, it's the first twin rotor I've had so I can't compare but I really like it. It does have the steering axle but no center curtain and makes a nice row for me to o follow with the baler. The first time in the field I opened it up to half way and have left it there and I don't alter it for the road and it seems to travel well.

 

[goodevans]

The rake is due a change, we have pipped the two rotors individually on two different spools, the is one benefit on the kuhn as you dont need to run it in float as the rams run in a slider, as the tractor that rakes only has one float.

Have you piped the rotors individually so as you can hold one up to move straw swaths,we run both little and big square balers and was wandering what the best option is,one likes little rows and one likes big

 

[sticky]

Forgot to say that I priced up the krone as well and there was a £1300 difference which didn’t put me off but what swung it was the £2000 difference in trade in value for my single rotor.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

Worth looking at the MF / Fendt Rk662. No hydraulic width adjustment, but once folded it's a 2 second job, just move two arms into different holes.

Comes with steering, individual rotor lift and centre curtain and I'll bet is a fair bit cheaper than the equivalent Krone or Kuhn

 

[agri knives]

The pottinger fan club will be here soon........

I think steering and hyd adjustment are both options on the krone, like you say the kuhn is manual width adjustment but that's much better than none at all!

I’ve owned a Kuhn 6501 , good rake but 5-6000 acres is their lifespan, after that the crank arms in the cam track are worn out and break, if I had a choice between the Kuhn and the krone I’d go krone , I run a pottinger now and is is a far better built and better working machine than the Kuhn.

 

[Boss Man]

Have you piped the rotors individually so as you can hold one up to move straw swaths,we run both little and big square balers and was wandering what the best option is,one likes little rows and one likes big

yes you can hold one up and just use the one rotor, which has aloud us to carry on raking with one when the one rotor stripped the threads that hold the boggie axle on. But on the kuhn when brought in narrow the small baler should take the row. We mainly did is because of akward shaped fields and makes a tider job

 

[Boss Man]

Worth looking at the MF / Fendt Rk662. No hydraulic width adjustment, but once folded it's a 2 second job, just move two arms into different holes.

Comes with steering, individual rotor lift and centre curtain and I'll bet is a fair bit cheaper than the equivalent Krone or Kuhn

how wide is the axle on the Massey? Looks to be a simple enough rake. Havent priced any rakes yet but id say itll be a new toy for next season

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

Got a GA6501 here, piped on individual spools. Lovely bit of kit. Amazing where you will get it and only 2.5m wide folded up. Manual width adjust but tend to leave it where it is and the baler man can go up a gear!

 

[DrDunc]

View attachment 973152View attachment 973154

Got a GA6501 here, piped on individual spools. Lovely bit of kit. Amazing where you will get it and only 2.5m wide folded up. Manual width adjust but tend to leave it where it is and the baler man can go up a gear!

You maybe "get away" with row a like that in hay.....

Certainly wouldn't want to bale that shape of swath if it was silage or fresh good haylage though

I reckon it's always worth a few minutes at the start of the field to get the rotor width, PTO rpm, and forward speed right to get a nice box shape for the baler.....

But then, I'm also the baler man

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

You maybe "get away" with row a like that in hay.....

Certainly wouldn't want to bale that shape of swath if it was silage or fresh good haylage though

I reckon it's always worth a few minutes at the start of the field to get the rotor width, PTO rpm, and forward speed right to get a nice box shape for the baler.....

But then, I'm also the baler man

It's main purpose is for our little Massey inline baler, anyone else I don't give the option to be fussy unless they ask!

 

[Pistonbroke]

I have come to the conclusion there's a lot of lazy baler drivers who just drive straight and blame the rows when the bale comes out lop sided. What happened to weaving about? Especially with wide pickups now, it's not impossible to get a square shouldered bale with any size row with a bit of effort

 

[James]

Here's my 2 peneth for what it's worth.
Out of kuhn and krone I'd get the krone and this was the decision I was close to making earlier in the year when I toyed with the idea of a second rake.
Having said that I'd be keen to try the Massey rake. Local dealer has one sitting and looks to have plenty of adjustability.

 

[KB6930]

Once you've got a rake with a steering axle and hydraulic width you'll wonder why you didn't have one sooner

 

[v8willy]

I've a Krone 640

Mine doesn't have steering or hydraulic width adjustment, and to be honest it doesn't need them I don't think.

It's small enough that you can easily steer the tractor to suit for the two outside rows around the field. After that you want right angle ends for the baler anyway.

Hydraulic width adjustment would save a couple of minutes if you're switching between a round and a conventional small square baler pickup, but it's only a couple of minutes once in s blue moon for myself.

I've added an electrohydraulic switch valve to lift a single rotor. That has transformed it for ease of use in fields with "points". There aren't many square fields here!

If you've fields on slopes, I've added a centre curtain. It makes a big difference to the swath, eliminating uneven rows when you're crossing the hill.

I'm very pleased with my wee rake. It leaves a wonderful square swath in any crop. Attention to the rotor and forward speed is necessary to get the best from it, but that is the case for any rake, including pottinger

View attachment 973053

Would it not have been better to run a hose to each ram? have each rotor on a seperate spool then, likely cheaper too.