LH/RH rolabar or V wheel rake?

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Any opinions on which is better?  I've never used a wheel rake just a NH 56 rolabar. 

I'm cutting around 40 acres for hay.  I have an old 14' swather that makes my windrows.  I've been using a NH 56 rolabar rake to combine 2 rows into 1.  Every so often I see a LH and RH rolabar come up for sale and I was thinking that would be nice to speed up raking.  I can rake pretty fast with the rolabar.  The old used LH and RH rolabars are kind of expensive compared to a wheel rake.

	This site is not affiliated with AGCO Inc., Duluth GA., Allis-Chalmers Co., Milwaukee, WI., or any surviving or related corporate entity. All trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. All information presented herein should be considered the result of an un-moderated public forum with no responsibility for its accuracy or usability assumed by the users and sponsors of this site or any corporate entity.
	The Forum	Parts and Services	Unofficial Allis Store	Tractor Shows	Serial Numbers	History

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
structures Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Location: Beggs, OK Points: 335	Post Options Post Reply Quote structures Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: LH/RH rolabar or V wheel rake? Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 5:49am
	Any opinions on which is better? I've never used a wheel rake just a NH 56 rolabar. I'm cutting around 40 acres for hay. I have an old 14' swather that makes my windrows. I've been using a NH 56 rolabar rake to combine 2 rows into 1. Every so often I see a LH and RH rolabar come up for sale and I was thinking that would be nice to speed up raking. I can rake pretty fast with the rolabar. The old used LH and RH rolabars are kind of expensive compared to a wheel rake.
	Robert 1964 D15 Series II

Sponsored Links

klinemar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Points: 8029	Post Options Post Reply Quote klinemar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 7:05am
	Wheel rakes are fast,cover wider swath if you get a v rake. The downside to wheel rakes is they gather dirt and small stones in with the hay as they follow the ground with more pressure. If you adjust them to less ground pressure then they leave hay. They also have a tendency to rope the window which can leave hay that didn't get dry. I traded my New Holland Rollabar Rake for a Rotary Rake. I know they are more money,but they do a fantastic job of raking. And you can rake early with less leaf loss because a Rotary Rake stands the window up so air can get through to dry the hay.

jvin248 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 17 Jan 2022 Location: Detroit Points: 398	Post Options Post Reply Quote jvin248 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 Mar 2025 at 8:22am
	. I grew up with the old roll bar rakes and whenever I see those rotary rakes run it looks like all the leaves get beat off the stems so you have stem bales. Watch the feed value disappear. The wheel rakes are fragile. YouTube channel onelonelyfarmer did a couple of episodes on his wheel rake woes and was considering building his own to be more durable. Get a demo unit for any proposed rake to run the same field conditions as your old rake and really compare hay quality side by side. You might rake more acres in a day but if your bale-yield per acre drops plus nutrition drops then you are behind the game. .