Tedder Use and Setup

A tedder fluffs and spreads cut hay so it dries faster and more evenly. Used at the right time and set correctly, it can shave a day off your drying window. Used wrong, it shatters leaves.

Key points

A tedder spreads and fluffs cut hay to speed drying, mostly on heavy swaths.
Skip late tedding on dry legumes to protect leaves.
Set working height so tines skim the stubble without digging soil.
Use the PTO speed and ground speed listed in the manual for your model.
Stop everything and remove the key before clearing wrapped hay.

What does a hay tedder do?

A tedder has rotating spider-like wheels with tines that lift and scatter cut forage. Hay lying in a thick swath dries on top while the underside stays damp. By spreading and turning it, a tedder exposes more surface to sun and wind and can speed up drying, especially after a heavy first cutting.

It does not make hay dry in the rain, and it will not fix hay that was cut too thick. It helps most on heavy grass hay and on fields where the swath is dense and lying flat.

When should you ted hay, and when should you skip it?

Timing matters because dry leaves are brittle. Tedding hay that is already fairly dry, especially alfalfa and clover, can knock off leaves and lose feed value. Many growers ted soon after cutting while the crop is still pliable, and skip later passes on legumes.

Weather and crop drive the decision. On a clear, breezy day with a light grass crop, you may not need to ted at all. If rain is in the forecast and the swath is heavy, one early pass may be worth it. Ask your county extension office for local guidance on drying times for your forage.

A neighbor with a 30-acre hay field may run the tedder once right after mowing and again the next morning on a heavy first cutting. A homesteader with a small orchard grass patch might never need one. Let the crop and the weather decide.

Heavy grass swath, humid day: tedding often helps
Light crop in strong sun and wind: may not be needed
Dry alfalfa or clover: tedding late risks leaf loss
Always watch the leaf and not just the stem

How do you set up a tedder correctly?

Begin with the tractor off and the key removed. Read the manual for the hitch type, driveline length and PTO speed. Most tedders run from the PTO, and the speed is commonly 540 rpm, but confirm it for your model.

Set the working height so the tines skim the stubble without digging into soil. Digging dirt into hay hurts quality and wears tines quickly. Level the machine side to side and front to back with the top link and lift arms, and adjust any tine angle according to the manual.

What ground speed and PTO speed work best?

Faster tine speed spreads hay farther and more thoroughly, but it also beats leaves harder. Slower speeds are gentler but may not spread dense swaths well. The manual will show the intended PTO speed and a recommended ground speed range for your machine, so use those rather than a number from a neighbor's different model.

Watch the pattern the hay makes behind you. You want an even, fluffy scatter without bare strips and without wads. Adjust your speed or tine angle a little at a time and look again.

How do you stay safe around a tedder?

A tedder has many rotating tines and a PTO driveline, both of which can injure or kill. Keep every shield in place. Stop the PTO, shut off the engine, remove the key and let rotation stop before clearing wrapped hay or checking a tine.

Fold and unfold wing sections only when the area is clear of people. Folding tedders carry weight overhead, so use any transport locks the manufacturer provides and never work under a raised section unless it is positively locked or blocked as the manual describes.

What maintenance and troubleshooting does a tedder need?

Grease the fittings the manual lists, check gearbox oil and inspect the tines. Bent or broken tines should be replaced. Missing tines throw off the balance of a rotor and shorten bearing life. Look at the drive shafts, shields and hitch pins before each season.

If hay wraps on the rotors, slow down or check the swath for wire and twine. If vibration appears, look for a broken tine, a loose bolt or a bent shaft. A bent shaft or gearbox noise is a job for a qualified mechanic.

Store the tedder with the tines off the ground if the design allows, out of the weather, and fold or lock it as the manual describes. Walk around it in the off season and write down parts to order before next spring.

When to get help: For gearbox noise, bent shafts or folding hydraulics that drift down, call the dealer service department or a qualified mechanic. Your extension office can advise on drying times and whether a tedder is worth owning for your acreage.

Sources and further reading

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

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