Efficient raking has an effect on your wallet!
Proper and efficient raking does not only mean that the mown crop ends up in the swath clean and tidy – it is also a preparation for the next harvesting process. So, raking has a great effect on the speed at which the harvesting machines can pick up the swath and that is something you notice in your wallet at the end of the day! All in all – a double effect!
Flexible tines – low soil contents
Adjustment of the working height will often depend on the soil and how even the field surface is. In practice, work should be higher on undulating fields with a loose surface than on level fields with firmer conditions.
Lely Ro-tines for clean forage
Short and rigid tines that are positioned almost straight underneath the tine arm do a good job on level fields, but have trouble in adjusting to a rough terrain. Result: damage to the turf and soil in the pit. The Ro-tines of Hibiscus rakes on the other hand are long, very flexible and positioned behind the tine arm enabling the tines maximum flexibility. These tine properties always guarantee optimum results without contamination of the forage, even in difficult conditions.
Good forage in the swath good silage
Raking – the last operation before baling, picking up or harvesting – is crucial for the results of the baler, pick-up loader wagon or harvester. To make sure that the machine can pick up the crop precisely (i.e. without loss), the swath width should correspond with the pick-up width of the baler, pick-up loader wagon or harvester. In case of a baler or loader wagon, the space between the tractor wheels also plays a part.
Easy inflow due to regular swaths
A regular and airy swath ensures proper filling of the cutting rotor or cutting chamber, and hence a good cutting action or forage quality. Badly shaped or irregularities in the swath often cause blockages or loss of output. If the tractor driver cannot rely on the swath, he will never achieve the optimum output of his machine
The Ro-tine harvests results, not dirt!
Clean forage is of paramount importance for healthy and productive cattle. Depositing clean swaths comes first and foremost during the design stage of each Hibiscus rake. Lely's engineers are always focused on optimising crop movement, i.e. to construct the rake in such a way that there is less contact between the grass and ground to reduce any contamination of the crop to the absolute minimum.
Contamination of forage is one of the major spoilers and inhibitors of taste when it comes to forage intake by cows. This aspect requires particular care and attention throughout the raking process and therefore the trailing tine position is a very deliberate choice. Flexing is much easier for the machine when the tine tip is positioned slightly behind the tine arm.
Properly distributed for clean raking
Even before the rake enters the field a great deal of energy, time and money has already been invested. So why compromise that investment with a poor raking operation. It is paramount that all the grass ends up in the swath with minimal contamination. A proper distribution of the rake tines contributes greatly towards a clean pickup of the crop. The tines of the Hibiscus rakes are evenly spaced with a distance of 70 mm between the tines. With the tines having an offset position this allows space for a greater number of coils on the tine arm. The special tine fixation ensures a precise tine angle as well as tension-free mounting, which enhances overall durability.
Clean forage thanks to a consistent working height
The Ro-tine due to its curved shape picks up the grass easily thereby reducing the force required resulting in less tine flex. Reduced tine flex always gives a more consistent working height thereby reducing contamination of the forage. The combination of the material used to manufacture the tine and the number of coils utilised in this construction ensure sufficient rigidity to maintain a consistent working height while retaining the gentleness required to achieve optimum forage quality.
Minimising contamination
The Ro-tine due to its unique 90° angled tip is able to operate in a trailing position. This means that the tine is able to flex with 50% less force than that required by a straight tine mounted directly under the rotor arm. The chance of soil or stones being picked up is virtually nil. Contamination is further mitigated by the fact that due to the angle of the tine the crop is lifted from the ground rather than dragged across the ground as per the case with a traditional straight tine.
It’s all about the rotor
Obviously, the heart of any rake is the rotor and the rotors are therefore decisive for performance and machine life. Lely has merged the main functions of the rake’s rotor – turning, steering and supporting – into three types of rotor, each with its own specific benefits.
Classic – simple and maintenance-free
The Classic is a compact rotor with 11 tine arms. The main drive features a large transmission ratio so that the tractor’s r.p.m. can be kept within the optimum torque range. The tine arms are held by ball bearings, fitted in an oil-filled chamber in the cam track. The tine arm shafts as well as the main shaft are made from chromium steel, which is 50% stronger than the standard steel that is normally used for shafts. This protects the gearbox in case of an accident.
Fixed tine arms
A Classic rotor is always fitted with a tine arm made out of one piece, which is mounted on the chromium steel shaft by means of a bolt and a retaining pin. This type of rotor is fitted on machines where removable tines and foldable frames are not necessary because of their compact size, such as the model Hibiscus 725 CD Classic and 655 SD Classic.
Master – the versatile rotor for exacting conditions
Most of the machines in the Hibiscus range feature this modular rotor with 11 or 13 tine arms. Typical of this rotor are the extra long chromium steel tine arm shafts with their machined profile that the profiled tine arms can be fitted directly into. These quickly removable tine arms are pushed onto the shaft and then secured with the aid of a pin and clip. Every tine arm shaft – including housing and bearing – can be removed by means of three bolts, which reduces loss of time in case of an accident. The tine arm is held by ball bearings, which run in a cam track with durable grease.
Adjustable cam track
Due to this adjustable cam track the position can be adjusted when the rake tines let go of the crop. This makes it possible to achieve clean raking plus the ideal swath shape both in hay and moist silage. Simple working height adjustment is by means of a chromium steel main shaft with a coarse support thread, which can still be adjusted after many years of operation. The diameter of this main shaft is larger than that of the Classic rotor.
Profi – the largest rake rotor in the world
With its 4.7 m diameter, the 15-arm Profi is the largest rake rotor on the market place. The Hibiscus model 1015 CD Profi is fitted with two of these rotors.
Output due to good ground
The increasing diameters of rake rotors impose ever greater demands upon ground contour following. The tines need to be guided across a large surface while in addition a larger rotor has to be able to adjust itself more effectively. After all, there may be substantial differences in the surface of the field. Two crucial factors are decisive for a good result: correct working height and stability of the rotor.
Only stable rotors can ensure high output
The carriages under the rotors are designed so that that the wheels are as near as possible to the tines and follow the ground contours as closely as possible. The stability of the rotor is the most important factor for the machine’s output. No matter how many tine arms a rotor may have, an unstable rotor will never achieve the required output. For that reason, most Hibiscus rakes are fitted with tandem or pendulum type axles.
Castor wheels avoid damage to the turf
All rotors of the Hibiscus SD side delivery cam rakes feature castor wheels. These keep the support wheels from scuffing (both rotors not being positioned exactly in the machine centre) when turning. On central delivery cam rakes such a facility is not necessary, because the tandem axles of those models are precisely aligned with the machine’s pivoting point.
2D or 3D suspension, depending on rake model
Most of the time, a construction with a three-dimensional adjustment of the rotors – into the direction of travel as well as across this direction – is necessary and these designs are becoming ever more popular for larger rotors. Just like with the twin rotor SD rake, the distance between the rotors is so substantial that a two-dimensional adjustment is not sufficient. Then again, the major benefit of a 2D system is the outstandingly stable behaviour of the rotors. For both systems, tandem or pendulum type axles are necessary to achieve stability of the rotors as well as maximum output.
Lely Hibiscus – built to last
Hibiscus central delivery rakes are by far the strongest and heaviest machines in today’s market place. Through these outstanding machines, Lely has set a new standard for rakes that combine an excellent operation with unrivalled durability. This solid construction does not only assure you of a high trade-in value but it also provides confidence during the most critical stage of harvesting, with adverse weather conditions and the contractor “hot on your trail”…
A-frame – the most rugged type of rotor suspension
A-frame – the most rugged type of rotor suspension With many twin rotor rakes, the connection of the rotor arms and the main frame is a vulnerable part of the machine. Lely has eliminated this potential vulnerability by introducing the latest technology on its Hibiscus rakes: a carefully engineered construction with an A-frame.
Solid fixation of double tines
The slightly curved tines of Hibiscus rakes are outstandingly strong as well as flexible. Due to the unique design and the special material the risk of breakage is minimal. Because of the special construction the Hibiscus tine is not affected as much by obstacles as the straight tines of other makes. The special fixation keeps the double tines in place; “solid as a rock”. This new fixation eliminates the problem of tines being clamped so tightly that any strain will cause fatigue and hence reduced tine operation. For all Hibiscus models an extra safety facility is available to avoid damage to a following harvesting machine.
Unique protection on all tine arms
Based upon many years of experience in building rakes, Lely has developed a unique protection for the tine arms of Hibiscus rakes. If the tines hit an obstacle, the damage will be limited to the tine arm itself, while the gearbox is fully protected from any unforeseen stresses. Thus high replacements costs are eliminated, as are extended repair times.