Rakes...which 1?

[kill]

early class could run with 1 arm up in air, newer ones can just lift clear of crop.
As said they do break arms, you can weld them but ours have now started breakling further in and that makes it difficult

Mines on independent rotor lift but it's optional.

 

[Marty6470]

I do a lot of rowing up with a claas 2700, we spread everything behind mowers so can't comment on how many swath's into the row but I find it generally makes a nice tidy even row (helped by spreading).
Our forager is an 860 but runs the small pu220 header as 3m is too wide to get round and the row fits the header nicely.
When the rake arrived in 2010 it was in kit form on a pallet, when the dealer built it up he stuck the axles in a lathe and modified them so transport width was sensible at around 2.8m and still stable at that width.
Never heard of arms breaking, ours bend on impact (from experience !!!!!) but at least you can chuck them in a press and keep going.
In the 6 years we've had it it's covered around 800 acres a year and only now some of the land wheels on the beds are needing bearings (non greaseable) and we replaced the original wide angle pto shaft.
In that area there's been some horrid rough land and lots and lots of fields as our field sizes are small, lots of start/stop and folding up etc. overall I think it's a good machine, sorry if I sound like a claas salesman, just trying to give an honest opinion.

 

[joe soapy]

I do a lot of rowing up with a claas 2700, we spread everything behind mowers so can't comment on how many swath's into the row but I find it generally makes a nice tidy even row (helped by spreading).
Our forager is an 860 but runs the small pu220 header as 3m is too wide to get round and the row fits the header nicely.
When the rake arrived in 2010 it was in kit form on a pallet, when the dealer built it up he stuck the axles in a lathe and modified them so transport width was sensible at around 2.8m and still stable at that width.
Never heard of arms breaking, ours bend on impact (from experience !!!!!) but at least you can chuck them in a press and keep going.
In the 6 years we've had it it's covered around 800 acres a year and only now some of the land wheels on the beds are needing bearings (non greaseable) and we replaced the original wide angle pto shaft.
In that area there's been some horrid rough land and lots and lots of fields as our field sizes are small, lots of start/stop and folding up etc. overall I think it's a good machine, sorry if I sound like a claas salesman, just trying to give an honest opinion.

Would agree with that, except I don't think there is any more than an inch each side to be gained

 

[Marty6470]

Would agree with that, except I don't think there is any more than an inch each side to be gained

TBH I didn't see it before so you may well be right, apparently an inch can make all the difference though

 

[James]

The class is very wide on the road , I have the Kuhn 6501 and it is over a ft narrower than the class , it also doesn't break tine arms like the class . I'll be buying another Kuhn.

@james ds wereabouts on the arms do they break?

 

[joe soapy]

@james ds wereabouts on the arms do they break?

two places, half way out which is an easy weld repair.
and on the pin hole which we havent been able to fix yet

 

[Mark C]

I have a Claas 2700 which is the smallest hydraulically adjustable one I think. We use it in haylage and hay, and usually take the outside tine off each arm for using with the small baler if the crops are big to reduce the working width. It leaves a lot nicer row than running it at 3/4 width with all the tines on. It sounds like a faff but it works well for us and only takes 1/2 hour with an air gun.

 

[Mrfarmjunk]

Iv got a Fella twin rotor. Great piece of kit. Used to have a Claas and Fella is far more superior. Makes a great job, great row, well built and simple to use. Wouldn't change to anything else. Value for money too.

 

[Vernon]

We rake with this for forager and round baler
This one new this season, our third since 2009. Keep them till they have done around 10k acres and generally very pleased with them so far. No messing around removing arms for road transport. Just a bit unhappy with the claas decision to move away from decent brand road tyres which always lasted very well and to fit these starco wheels and tyres. Half way through first season and tyres might get to the end of the second season! Previous rake did 4 seasons and still had 75% tread remaining. Not that happy as I specifically specced the oversize tyres the same as on our last one, dealer been helpful but claas are reluctant to change them for us.

 

[joe soapy]

View attachment 345412 We rake with this for forager and round baler
This one new this season, our third since 2009. Keep them till they have done around 10k acres and generally very pleased with them so far. No messing around removing arms for road transport. Just a bit unhappy with the claas decision to move away from decent brand road tyres which always lasted very well and to fit these starco wheels and tyres. Half way through first season and tyres might get to the end of the second season! Previous rake did 4 seasons and still had 75% tread remaining. Not that happy as I specifically specced the oversize tyres the same as on our last one, dealer been helpful but claas are reluctant to change them for us.

b....y tyres, krone fitted duff tyres to a whole run of tedders a few years back, no way they wouldv stand behind them, even the manufacturer wasent helpful

 

[Vernon]

b....y tyres, krone fitted duff tyres to a whole run of tedders a few years back, no way they wouldv stand behind them, even the manufacturer wasent helpful

Just annoys me that they sell us a machine that both we as the customer and they as a manufacturer consider to be a quality machine at the top of its game only to compromise it by saving a small amount by not fitting a tyre to match that. When I buy top end kit I expect it to be just that, and I'm more than happy to pay what's required for it.
Quality of work, longevity and overall reliability are what's important to us.
Vernon

 

[TractorBoyJames]

Claas linear is worth a look !

 

[Farmer mk1]

It's got to be able to do 2 into 1 at 10' swaths and able to do 3 into 1 and leave it narrow enough to go up the reel on the lely Storm. Reel is about 5'6" or so where the tines are.

 

[lynden]

class hear had vicon crap steel krone ok but we found a class best of own

 

[Andrew]

It's got to be able to do 2 into 1 at 10' swaths and able to do 3 into 1 and leave it narrow enough to go up the reel on the lely Storm. Reel is about 5'6" or so where the tines are.

So the working width has to vary from about 5.5m to 8.5m without the swath width altering. You won't be able to do this this in one pass with a normal twin rotor centre delivery rake.

I think you'd have to have a 4 rotor and run with one or two rotors in the air or Krones 3 rotor side delivery and run with some lifted. Not sure this is possible.

What about a Tonutti V rake? Think thats probably the only sensible solution.

 

[YELROM]

So the working width has to vary from about 5.5m to 8.5m without the swath width altering. You won't be able to do this this in one pass with a normal twin rotor centre delivery rake

You do not have to alter the rake much as we run a claas 2800 rake for a jf1050(about 6ft reel) and if you lay the grass in a 5ft wide swath that leaves a 5ft gap between the row,so if you set the rake at approx 25ft (nearly right in so leaves a narrow row) and drive between the rows it does 2 into 1 or drive over a row and it does 3 into 1

 

[Andrew]

You do not have to alter the rake much as we run a claas 2800 rake for a jf1050(about 6ft reel) and if you lay the grass in a 5ft wide swath that leaves a 5ft gap between the row,so if you set the rake at approx 25ft (nearly right in so leaves a narrow row) and drive between the rows it does 2 into 1 or drive over a row and it does 3 into 1

Fair enough, I stand corrected then!

 

[KB6930]

We run a claas 680 which I think it's new equivalent would be a 2600 it's perfect for 2 10ft rows for the baler and trailed forager but does struggle with 3 into 1 unless you lay as narrow a row as possible with the mower and run at a fairly high shaft speed to throw the grass into a narrow enough row but it can be done.

 

[Bullring]

I've got a Claas 780 and it will do 2 into 1 and at a push 3 into 1 from a 10ft mower as long as the mower doesn't leave it too wide, I find 2 and a half is a good compromise when the mower doors are open wide.

 

[trewern]

Any one got a class 370 single rotor ? Any good thinking of getting one cheers