Introduction
Your hay rake is one of the simplest machines on the farm — and one of the easiest to neglect. But worn rake wheels, bent tines, and improper setup cost you more than you think: scattered windrows, excessive leaf loss, slower curing times, and lower-quality bales. A few minutes of inspection and the right replacement parts before the season starts can save hours of frustration in the field.
This guide covers everything you need to know about inspecting your rake wheels, knowing when to replace them, and setting up your rake for clean, consistent windrows all season long.
Section 1: How to Inspect Your Rake Wheels
Before the first cutting, pull your rake out of storage and give every wheel a thorough inspection. Here's what to look for:
Tine condition
- Check each tine for bends, cracks, or breaks. Even a few damaged tines per wheel will disrupt the raking pattern and cause uneven windrows.
- Look for tines that have lost their original curve or tension — flat or straightened tines won't lift hay cleanly off the ground.
- Replace any tine that is bent more than 15–20 degrees out of its original position.
Tine attachment points
- Inspect the clips, bolts, or retaining rings that hold tines to the wheel hub. Loose or missing fasteners allow tines to shift position or eject during operation.
- Replace any worn or missing hardware — tine hardware is inexpensive insurance against losing tines in the field.
Wheel hubs and bearings
- Spin each wheel by hand and listen for grinding or roughness. A smooth, free-spinning wheel indicates good bearing condition.
- Check for excessive play in the hub — side-to-side wobble indicates worn bearings that need replacement before the season starts.
- Grease all hub fittings per the manufacturer's specification.
Wheel frame and arms
- Inspect the wheel carrier arms for bends or cracks, especially if the rake hit rocks or debris last season.
- Check all pivot points and linkages for wear and lubricate as needed.
Section 2: When to Replace Rake Wheels
Rake wheels don't last forever, and running worn wheels costs you hay quality and raking efficiency. Replace your rake wheels when:
- More than 20–25% of tines are damaged or missing — at this point, the wheel is no longer raking evenly and you're losing hay with every pass
- Tines are consistently breaking — repeated breakage often indicates metal fatigue; replacing individual tines on an old wheel is a losing battle
- The wheel hub is cracked or the bearing seat is damaged — hub damage can't be repaired reliably in the field
- The wheel is visibly out of round — a warped wheel creates an uneven raking pattern and puts stress on the carrier arm
When replacing wheels, replace in matched sets on each side of the rake to maintain balanced raking performance.
Section 3: Choosing the Right Replacement Rake Wheels
Not all rake wheels are interchangeable. When ordering replacements, confirm:
- Wheel diameter — common sizes range from 44" to 52"; match your OEM specification
- Tine count — more tines per wheel generally means finer, more thorough raking; match your original configuration
- Tine style — standard, heavy-duty, and pickup tines are available depending on crop type and field conditions
- Hub bolt pattern and bore — must match your rake's carrier arm mounting
- OEM compatibility — confirm the wheel is rated for your rake brand and model (New Holland, Kuhn, Sitrex, H&S, Vermeer, and others all have specific fitments)
Quality Farm Supply stocks rake wheels and tines for a wide range of rake brands and models — if you're not sure what fits your machine, our team can help you find the right part.
Section 4: How to Set Up Your Rake Wheels for Best Performance
Proper rake wheel setup is just as important as the condition of the wheels themselves. A well-maintained rake that's improperly adjusted will still produce poor windrows.
Ground clearance and tine angle
- Set tine ground clearance so tines just skim the surface without digging in. Tines that dig into the ground pick up dirt and debris, contaminating the windrow and increasing ash content in the bale.
- Adjust tine angle per the manufacturer's recommendation for your crop type — a more aggressive angle moves more material but increases leaf loss in legumes like alfalfa.
Wheel overlap
- On multi-wheel rakes, ensure adjacent wheels overlap slightly to avoid leaving strips of unraked hay between wheels.
- Check overlap after any wheel replacement, as slight diameter differences between new and old wheels can create gaps.
Rake angle and windrow width
- Adjust the rake angle to produce a windrow width appropriate for your baler pickup — too narrow and the baler struggles to pick up cleanly; too wide and the windrow won't cure evenly.
- For rotary rakes, ensure both sides are set symmetrically to produce a centered, consistent windrow.
Ground speed
- Match ground speed to crop volume and conditions. Too fast in heavy hay causes tines to throw material rather than roll it into a clean windrow, increasing leaf shatter in dry conditions.
- Slow down in thin or dry crops to minimize loss.
Section 5: Seasonal Maintenance Checklist
Use this checklist at the start of each season and after every 50–75 hours of operation:
- Inspect all tines — replace bent, broken, or fatigued tines
- Check all tine fasteners — tighten or replace as needed
- Grease all hub fittings
- Spin each wheel by hand — check for bearing roughness or play
- Inspect carrier arms and pivot points for wear or damage
- Verify wheel overlap and ground clearance settings
- Check rake angle and windrow width settings
- Inspect hitch and transport components
- Confirm all safety shields are in place
Conclusion
A well-maintained rake with properly set up wheels is one of the most cost-effective investments you can make in hay quality. Replacing worn tines and wheels before the season starts is far cheaper than the hay you'll lose — or the downtime you'll face — running worn equipment through your first cutting.
Quality Farm Supply stocks rake wheels, tines, and rake parts for a wide range of brands and models. Shop online or call our team — we'll help you find the right parts for your machine and get them to you fast.
