
| a few things causing skipping, or riding-over- (machine wise)
even though you replace teeth as they break, the one's still there are shorter, so the circumference isn't as round as it was. When the new tooth hits, it's lifting the wheel, and the shorter and worn tooth right behind it doesn't have near the 'bite' at least temporarily.
We all know soon as the teeth are on top of the windrow, it takes time for it to work it's way back down.
worn bushings, twisted arms or wings-
The angle of the wheel (vertically) has to be tilted so the tooth is out front, flipping the material ahead. If the wheel is tilted so the teeth are constantly dragging from behind, it's never going to recover when it rides over the material. When you are standing in the middle of the 'v' the bottom of the wheels has to be closer to you than the top of the wheel... like 6 inches closer. think of it opposite to a spring tooth harrow, or spike drag.. What angle causes material to bunch and plug.... and what angle allows material to pass?
A hay rake tooth has to be vertical or slightly leading to carry, and 'flip' the now-rolling windrow. if its angled back, the 'flipping' action now is a 'jambing' the windrow down against the ground
a common mistake as a rake ages, and begins to leave material, is to increase down pressure. This only increases the wear the wheels and teeth receive. rakes are built to move hay, not dirt.
follow behind the rake at-speed, and look how the wheels are flexing backwards when loaded, and up to speed.
Worn teeth and holes at the bands, teeth that have lost their springy-ness, all contribute here too. |