An optional glide bar has been introduced by Austrian maker Pottinger to replace the conventional jockey wheel on its TOP 842 C rotary rake.

The implement firm says that dirt ingress into the crop will be reduced, as there is ground contact close to the tines across the entire raking width. The upshot here is that on softer soils such peat or wet ground, the guide bar doesn’t sink into the ground like a wheel, removing the likelihood of flicking debris into the swath.

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The glide bar is made from a wear-resistant plastic and has a half-moon shape, which apparently helps with gliding, even when moving sideways.

A couple of other benefits include a 10% higher travel speed due to the extended point of contact and lower vibration on the rake. Prices and availability are yet to be announced, though we’re told the option will be “cost-effective” and can have a positive effect on yield.