Economical Tandem Rake Hitch

Economical Tandem Rake Hitch HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Rakes (44) 17-3-6 "I used to hate raking hay because it always seemed to take forever. About 12 years ago, I bought a New Holland dual rake hitch and it was a big improvement over using a single rake but it was a real hassle getting it to the field, hooking it up, or even going through a gate or hedge row. I figured there had to be a better way," says Tom Crittenden, Mansfield, Penn. "I saw a couple articles on commercial dual rake hitches in FARM SHOW (Vol. 12, No. 6 and Vol. 15, No. 3) and I liked their ideas but not their prices so I decided to build my own. "I bought an old Hesston 1010 hydro-swing mower conditioner at an auction for $200 (it needed repairs). I sold the pump off for $100 and the cutterbar and guards for $25. Then I stripped it down to the frame, raised the front up 52 in., put a hitch on the back, and ran extra hydraulic hose up front to reach the tractor. When I took it to the field I found I had to extend the rear hitch so I could turn sharp to the right, so I took it back to the shop. After that, it worked perfectly. "I can make two single windrows or a double windrow or any combination in between. It's easy to steer to either side with just the flip of a hydraulic lever. I can even use it as a single rake. It works as good in a small field as a big one and, on steep hills, it stays wherever you put it because it's heavy enough to keep from sliding. "I sold the first one I built and am now building a second one. I'd like to build more, if there's interest." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tom F. Crittenden, 207 Crittenden Dr., Mansfield, Penn. 16933 (ph 717 662-2742).

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