Enrossi Bat Rakes
- Thread starter tom4018
- Start date
WFfarm
Well-known member
We tried a similar one last summer by a different manufacturer. We have a 5x6 big round baler and 11ft discbine, so we are always doubling up rows before bailing. Using this type of rake speed up your time versus a single rake.
There were two things we didn't like about it and ended up not buying. First, it seemed to rope up hay instead of fluffing it into a windroll where it could get air and continue drying. It may be more for hay that's completely dry before you rake it. We like to let it finish drying for 1/2 a day in the windrow so we don't lose the leaves on alfalfa and clover mix. Second, it's kind of a big unit and hard to maneuver if you have small odd shaped fields like we have. We usually do 3 double rows around the outside and straight cuts with what's left. When raking the center rows, you have to lift the rake before the ends are done so you don't cut into the outside rows and leave these whale tail ends. Maybe we were doing it wrong and have to do the center of the field first and do outside last.
It didn't work out for us like we thought it would. We demoed it for a day, not to say we were using it correctly.
There were two things we didn't like about it and ended up not buying. First, it seemed to rope up hay instead of fluffing it into a windroll where it could get air and continue drying. It may be more for hay that's completely dry before you rake it. We like to let it finish drying for 1/2 a day in the windrow so we don't lose the leaves on alfalfa and clover mix. Second, it's kind of a big unit and hard to maneuver if you have small odd shaped fields like we have. We usually do 3 double rows around the outside and straight cuts with what's left. When raking the center rows, you have to lift the rake before the ends are done so you don't cut into the outside rows and leave these whale tail ends. Maybe we were doing it wrong and have to do the center of the field first and do outside last.
It didn't work out for us like we thought it would. We demoed it for a day, not to say we were using it correctly.
chevytaHOE5674
Well-known member
Rake the center of the field first. Clean up your outside rounds last.
CowboyRam
Well-known member
We tried my cousin's rake that is similar to that. We were pulling two 16' windrows together. In order to get enough width we had to extend it out pretty wide in order to catch the two windrows. That made it to perpendicular to the window, so the wheels didn't turn all that well and kind of skipped across the ground. Maybe it was just to small for 16' windrows. I can't remember how many wheels it had. I have a Circle C rake and really like it.
chevytaHOE5674
Well-known member
Whatever rake you choose get one with independently mounted and suspended wheels. None of the tandem mounted pairs.
The Enrossi and Bush Hog are the Kuhn isn't.
Yes, inside first. We usually do six trips around the perimeter in a circle like you, so I'll rake up the outside four, skip the remaining inside pair, and then do my back and forth passes. I also rake every other pair as I'm going across the field, so I can turn shorter without running over those outside windrows. Do the inner perimeter windrows that you skipped last, that will clean up all of those whale tales from the back and forth passes.
It can get very tricky in odd shaped fields, and if you're the type that just mows in a big circle, these rakes won't work right in a tight corner.
The rope thing can be an issue. They really work best with a discbine, ideally you want the windrows to hit only about halfway up the rake, so they're just flipped over one time and pushed together out the back. Unfortunately, if you've just got a disc mower, the crop is going to contact most of the wheels as it's gathered and get turned over several times before it's through, there's not much you can do about that.
That one looks very much like the NH ProCart rake that my neighbors bought last year, it's a nice machine. Wonder just how many manufacturers there are out there for those rakes and who is just putting their name on them?
The local Coop has some 4 sale that looks just like that, but a different name. I have a Kuhn and an older M & W and they will rake hay left by my older NH 256 one side rake. Mine has the double wheels (less moving parts to go south) to each section, center flip wheel, and I can about eat what is left in the field after I am finished. Also my balers have the Pro pickup and they clean up good especially after the center rake wheel lifts it off the ground.
chevytaHOE5674
Well-known member
The NH procart rakes are built by Sitrex.
There's actually quite a few manufactures but they all look similar because the design works therefore they all have to look the same.
That is the name, Sitrex the local Coop has, and I noticed in their sale paper a 10 wheel with the center wheel they had listed for $8500. That is less than Kuhn or Vermeer I know.
chevytaHOE5674
Well-known member
The independently mounted rake have more pivot point but much less stress on each one. The tandem mounted style have huge amounts of stress on the pivot when turning because of the added leverage (ive welded up the pivots on multiple tandem mounted wheel rakes). Also the independent follow uneven ground better and do better at higher speeds.
I have a Kuhn and it does pretty good but I do like the ones with independent wheels better. Would love to run an Ogden Hayrunner but afraid that would leave me wanting an upgrade. Pretty sure if I was buying one today that would be it.
