Raking Hay: Wheel Rake vs. Rotary Rake

Raking turns spread-out cured hay into a windrow your baler can pick up. The rake you choose changes leaf loss, bale shape and how many hours you spend in the field.

Key points

Rake to make an even, fluffy windrow that suits your baler's pickup.
Wheel rakes are simple and good for small acreage.
Rotary rakes cost more but can be gentler on leaves across big acreage.
Set tine height so tines touch the stubble without digging soil.
Check state road rules before moving wide rakes on public roads.

Why does raking matter before baling?

Raking gathers cut and cured forage into a windrow of even size. A baler works best when it is fed a uniform, fluffy row, because that is what makes uniform bales. A lumpy or twisted windrow can give you lopsided round bales or flakes that vary in weight.

Raking also turns the hay over so damp material from the bottom gets a last bit of air. That final turn is a small advantage, but it only helps if you rake at the right moisture, because dry leaves shatter when handled too hard.

On a small hay patch, a wheel rake behind a compact tractor may finish the job in an afternoon. On a rancher's large fields, rake width and ground speed begin to decide how much hay is down before weather changes.

How does a wheel rake work?

A wheel rake has a set of ground-driven wheels with curved tines. As you drive, the wheels turn on the ground and roll the hay sideways into a windrow. There is no PTO, so it is simple, inexpensive and light enough to pull with a modest tractor.

Wheel rakes tend to be gentle when set correctly and are a popular choice for small acreage, a 5-acre hay patch or a homestead with a few round bales to make. They can be slower and may leave rope-like, tightly rolled windrows in heavy crop if you drive too fast.

How does a rotary rake work?

A rotary rake uses rotating tine arms driven by a PTO or by ground drive depending on the model. The tines lift the hay and place it in a loose windrow. Many are designed to handle large acreage and a wide range of crop conditions with less leaf loss when tine height and speed are set correctly.

They cost more, they have more moving parts to grease and maintain, and they need a tractor with the PTO and hitch the manufacturer lists. Check the manual for the power requirement and the PTO speed.

Which rake suits your operation?

Think about acreage, crop, tractor and budget. A small hay field with a modest tractor may be well served by a wheel rake. A rancher making hay across many fields, or someone trying to protect leaf in alfalfa, may find a rotary rake worth the money.

Talk to people who run both on ground like yours. Ask them about leaf loss, windrow shape, how much they trust the machine on slopes and how the maintenance really goes.

Neighbors, the dealer and the county extension office are your best sources of local information. They can tell you what works on your slopes, with your crop and in your weather.

Few acres, small tractor, limited budget: wheel rake
Many acres, legumes, tight timing: consider a rotary rake
Rough or sloped ground: ask how each rake follows contour
Local service: pick what your dealer or a neighbor can help with

How do you set up a rake for clean windrows?

With the engine off and the key out, read the manual's setup steps. Level the rake front to back and side to side, and set tine height so the tines just touch the ground without digging in. Digging soil into the windrow lowers hay quality and chews up tines.

Choose ground speed with the crop in mind. Driving too fast spills hay over the tines and makes a rough windrow. Check the first few passes behind you and adjust. Match windrow width to what your baler's pickup can swallow in one pass.

What maintenance and safety points apply?

Wheel rakes need grease at bearings, tine replacement and attention to the wheel hubs. Rotary rakes need grease, gearbox oil at the manual's level, inspection of the tine arms and cams, and a check of the driveline. Replace bent or broken tines promptly because they snag and tear the crop.

Stop the tractor, remove the key and let all motion stop before clearing hay from the tines. Keep shields in place, keep bystanders away, and lock folding sections for transport using the manufacturer's locks. For road travel, check your state DOT or state ag department rules for width, lighting and marking.

When to get help: Ask the dealer service department or a qualified mechanic about gearbox, cam or driveline problems, and your extension office about the right rake for your forage. Check your state DOT or state ag department for rules on moving wide equipment.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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