RAKES WITHPULLINGPOWER
17 May 2002
RAKES WITHPULLINGPOWER
Keeping enough grass in front of modern forage harvesters
can be a challenge but a number of new high capacity
rakes now on the market should make the job easier.
Mervyn Bailey gives a run down on the newcomers
WITH the flurry of new wide working mowers now available on the market, manufacturers have had to produce bigger capacity rakes to help feed the insatiable appetites of todays modern forager harvesters. For this season, there is a clear bigger is better emphasis, with machines capable of pulling up to 15m of grass into one big swath.
The Vicon Andex 1503 and Krone Swadro 1500 are the largest machines on the market. The Vicon has a variable working width of 11m-15m with a claimed output of up to 17ha/hour. Grass is delivered centrally providing a 1.2m-2.5m wide swath with on-the-move adjustment.
One of the more practical features is the ability to independently steer the outer rotors around obstacles such as trees or telegraph poles. This is achieved by sweeping either of the outer rotors backwards through an arc, to reduce the working width and enable the operator to maintain a straight and evenly formed swath.
To sweep the grass clearly across this wide working width the Andex uses 15 arms/rotor, each carrying five double tines. For improved manoeuvrability, the rake uses a swivelling headstock carried on the tractors lift arms allowing turning angles of up to 90í. This can be combined with auto and manual steering using a switch on the in-cab control box.
Electronic control
Another big rake is the Kuhn GA 15021 covering 13.5m-14.7m. It has full electronic control from the tractor and delivers a central swath variable between 1.5m and 2.4m. Unusually, the machine features hydraulic drive to the rotors. Kuhn says this reduces maintenance, makes the machine more flexible and improves reliability by reducing the number of wearing parts.
Each rotor has 13 tine arms and a three-dimensional suspension system that allows tilt from side-to-side and front-to-back in response to contours. For transport, the machine folds to 3m with a hydro-pneumatic suspension system built into the carrying frame to reduce risk of damage.
There is also the 12.5m Fella TS4000 Hydro Mega rake from Reco. Using four rotors with four double tines for each of the 12 arms, it has variable working width of 10.6m-12.5m and creates a central swath.
For transport, the TS4000 folds hydraulically using a double lift arm system to reduce the height to 3.6m. This arrangement is also used to set the variable working width on the move. Large flotation tyres are fitted to the central chassis to prevent the 4.5 tonne unit from marking the field.
The 9075C twin rotor rake is the latest introduction to the Taarup range from Kverneland. It has a 7.5m working width and each rotor has 11 tine arms with four sets of tines attached. Ground contour following is provided by four wheels and the unit folds to 2.85m for transport.
Lelys Hibiscus 735 Vario is a twin rotor machine with working widths from 6.5m to 7.5m producing a swath up to 1.95m wide. Twin cam rotors are used with 11 arms/rotor, each arm having four twin tines attached.
Both rotors are protected against overload by means of a maintenance-free cam coupling. For transport, the two rotors fold horizontally providing a 2.7m width.
Manoeuvrability is one of the main features of the new Stoll Drive 655ASL trailed central delivery rake from WestMac. A fully automatic steering mechanism has been made possible by a new rear axle design and lower link connection via the tractor.
Working width is variable between 5.66m and 6.35m using two rotors. Four double tines are fitted/arm with a shield protecting the cam track, which is claimed to stop the entry of dust and grass.
Krone has added the 8.81 model to the Swadro range of twin rotor rakes, with an adjustable working width of 7.8m-8.8m.
Long wheelbase
Each rotor is fitted with a castor tandem axle undercarriage, which has a long wheelbase, and wide track axles suspended on a swivel linkage. The aim is to provide good contour following in extreme conditions.
Each rotor is fitted with 13 tine arms arranged in Krones basket formation – the inner pair are angled to scoop grass effectively for a clean sweep. The cam track housing is completely enclosed and filled with liquid grease for minimal maintenance.
Individual rotors can be lifted at the headland to allow for sharp turns, which are aided by a self-steering rear axle. The working width and height can be controlled electronically from the cab. *
Centre delivery two-rotor grass rakes
Make & model Working Tine Twin Support Power Transport Transport Price
width arms/ tines/ wheels/ required width height tines £
(m) rotor arm rotor (m) attached (m)
Pottinger Eurotop 620A Multitast 6.00 10 3 2 40hp 2.70 2.90* 8,340
Pottinger Eurotop 620N Multitast** 6.05 10 3 2 70hp 2.70 2.90* 7,590
Taarup TA 9063C 6.30 11 3 2 na 2.82 3.90 8,700
Vicon Andex 633 6.30 11 3 2 na 2.82 3.90 8,700
Niemeyer RS 640 S 6.30 10 3 2 45hp 2.30 3.20 9,950
Kuhn GA 6501 5.40-6.40 10 3 3 40hp 2.50 3.45-4.00 8,150
Krone Swadro 651 6.50 10 4 4 35hp 2.80 na 9,000
Stoll Drive 655 ** 6.15-6.55 10 3 4 60hp 3.00 2.60 8,175
Fella TS 670K Hydro 5.90-6.70 10 4 3 or 5 25hp 2.98 3.70 8,675
Krone Swadro 681 6.20-6.80 10 4 4 35hp 2.80 na 9,400
Niemeyer Twin 725 ES 6.80 10 5 4 50hp 2.80 3.85* 14,300
Claas Liner 680L 6.00-6.90 11 3 4 40hp 2.67 2.95 9,050
Niemeyer Twin 715 S 6.90 10 5 4 40hp 2.50 3.40* 11,450
Pottinger Eurotop 701A Multitast 6.30-7.10 10 4 2 40hp 2.85 2.72* 10,340
Kuhn GA 7301 6.70-7.30 10 4 2 40hp 2.50 3.10 9,435
Niemeyer Twin 745 VS 6.70-7.40 10 5 4 40hp 2.50 3.35 12,750
Stoll Drive 782 8.80-7.40 12 4 4 60hp 2.98 3.20 10,800
Taarup TA 9075C 7.50 11 4 4 na 2.85 3.90 10,175
Lely Hibiscus 735 Vario 6.50-7.50 11 4 4 47hp 2.70 3.90 12,070
Vicon Andex 753 7.50 11 4 4 na 2.85 3.90 10,150
Krone Swadro 761 6.50-7.60 13 4 4 50hp 2.90 na 10,800
Claas Liner 780L 6.70-7.60 11 4 4 45hp 2.67 3.20 11,450
Fella TS 800 Hydro 6.80-7.60 12 4 3 or 5 40hp 2.98 3.50 10,725
Pottinger Eurotop 771A Multitast 7.00-7.80 10 4 4 50hp 2.85 3.35* 11,990
Claas Liner 880L 7.60-8.30 13 4 4 60hp 3.00 3.50 14,050
Taarup TA 9084C 7.60-8.40 12 4 4 na 2.82 3.90 12,000
Vicon Andex 843 7.60-8.40 12 4 4 na 2.82 3.90 12,000
Niemeyer Twin 850 VS 7.50-8.40 10 6 4 50hp 2.80 3.75 14,750
Krone Swadro 8.81 7.80-8.80 13 4 4 55hp 3.00 na 14,000
Centre delivery four-rotor grass rakes
Make & model Working Tine Twin Support Power Transport Transport Price
width arms/ tines/ wheels/ required width height tines £
(m) rotor arm rotor (m) attached (m)
Claas Liner 3000 9.60-12.20 11 4 4 70hp 3.00 3.90 27,800
Krone Swadro 1250 11.00-12.50 13 4 4 80hp 2.95 na 29,650
Pottinger Eurotop 1251 Multitast 9.90-12.50 12 4 4 70hp 3.00 3.72* 30,900
Fella TS 4000 Hydro 12.50 12 4 5 80hp 3.00 3.60 25,750
Kuhn GA 15021 13.50-14.70 13 4 4 160hp 3.00 4.00 na
Krone Swadro 1500 11.00-15.00 13 4 4 90hp 2.95 3.80 poa
Vicon Andex 1503 11.00-15.00 15 5 6 90hp 2.90 3.90 29,950
Note:* Parking height without arms attached. ** Pottinger 620N is linkage mounted. ** Stoll 655ASL has automatic steering – £8810. Niemeyer Twin models have two rows of tines on each arm.
Side delivery two-rotor grass rakes
Make & model Working Tine Twin Support Power Transport Transport Price
width arms/ tines/ wheels/ required width height tines £
(m) rotor arm rotor (m) attached (m)
Niemeyer Twin 605 ED 5.60-6.00 10/10 5/5 2 45hp 2.95 1.20 9,800
Stoll R1405 3.60-6.45 12/12 3/4 4 60hp 2.20-3.00 na 9,795
Fella TS 1402 Hydro 6.00-6.60 10/12 4/4 3 or 5 25hp 2.98 3.70 9,475
Fella TS 1602 Hydro 7.00-8.40 12/12 4/4 5 40hp 2.98 4.50 11,325
Krone Swadro 1201 12.00 10/13 3/4 4 50hp 2.80 na poa
Krone Swadro 1401 13.00 13/13 4/4 4 50hp 2.95 na poa
Note: * Refers to number of tine arms and tines per arm on front and back rotors.
Above: Kuhns GA 15021 rake is unusual in featuring hydraulic drive to the rotors, which cover 13.5m-14.7m working width.
Above: The 9075C twin rotor rake is the latest introduction to the Taarup range from Kverneland.
Left: Stoll trailed central delivery
rake from Ivybridge-based WestMac now features automatic steering actuated through the hitch.
Right: Recos newcomer
is the Fella TS4000 Hydro Mega with an adjustable working width of 10.6-12.5m.