"Practice tests are very important to the development of new machines"

At the farm Agrar GmbH Sonnenberg in Schönermark - with land in excess of 1,700 hectares - roughage for 300 milking cows and 140 head of young cattle is harvested by means of a full range of Lely machines. After the grassland (540 hectares) has been mown with the aid of the Splendimo 320 F and 320 T mowing combination, a Lotus 770 Stabilo is used for tedding the crop. For the first time this year, the farm also uses a Lely Hibiscus rake to rake the dried forage together.

Manager Friedemann Karl explains "that the farm's preference for Lely equipment stems from the good impression that the first Lely machine has left at the farm". Shortly after the Fall of the Wall the company bought its first Lotus 675 Stabilo tedder, which was sold in the federal state of Brandenburg at the time. Ten years later this machine was replaced by its bigger sister, the Lotus 770 Stabilo. In the process, the presence of dealer Lamadi as well as the quality of the machines definitely had an influence on the decision of Agrar GmbH Sonneberg to opt for Lely grassland machinery.

For the 2007 season, Agrar GmbH Sonnenberg has undertaken to test a prototype of the new Lely Hibiscus 1315 twin rotor side delivery rake in practice conditions. "So far, we are pleased with this new model", says Friedemann Karl. The Hibiscus 1315 is based upon its bigger sister Hibiscus 1525 but it is fitted with smaller rotors and features a simpler construction and control. Operator Manfried Bloch explains that the machine ensures very clean raking, which is also due to the stable wheel assemblies underneath the rotors, the sophisticated three-dimensional rotor suspension and the rugged H-frame.

The construction of this machine makes it possible to rake at high speeds, which - in conjunction with the large working width - gives an outstanding output. Manfried uses the machine to rake grass together for both big self-loading forage wagons and Welger balers. The Hibiscus 1315 rake makes it possible to rake the appropriate amount of crop into an exceptionally even swath. These swaths can be handled very well by harvesting machines. Throughout the testing process, Manfred noticed some details that might be improved. This is exactly the type of input - emerging from working in real practical conditions - that Lely always greatly appreciates and consistently improves when going to serial production. Before any prototype is being tested in practice, it is subjected at Lely's to rigid strength gauge testing as well as arduous field testing. Consequently, all prototypes that are deployed for field testing are already in their final development stage.

All in all the prototype of the Hibiscus 1315 rake has done such a great job at the Agrar farm that manager Friedemann Karl was happy to purchase the machine at the end of the season.

"A versatile rake with guaranteed output"

In Groß Schönebeck, the Schorfheider Agrar Gesellschaft are working - for the second season - with the world's largest twin rotor central delivery rake: Lely's Hibiscus 1015 Profi. "After having tried several high output rakes, the farm management has opted for the Hibiscus 1015 Profi because of its simple control, high output as well as the excellent swaths that the machine produces", says Rainer Dickmann, the plant production manager. This farm consists of approx. 2,500 hectares in total. An area of approx. 500 hectares is used as grassland, while rape, cereals and maize are grown on the remaining 2,000 hectares. The roughage that is produced on the farm is used for the 2,000 head of cattle.

The Hibiscus 1015 Profi rakes silage and hay together, but it is also used to gather together straw swaths made by harvesters. Due to its large rotors, the machine has a large working widthso that the crop is laid down in a perfectly swath, Without take-over of crop between rotors. The sophisticated three-dimensional suspension of the rotors ensure - together with the Octosense wheel assembly underneath the rotors - optimum ground contour following by the rake tines. Rainer Dickmann says that "due to the stable suspension of the rotors with the integrated ground pressure relief system, the machine can achieve working speeds in excess of 15 km/h." The combination of high working speeds and a large working width ensures the huge output of the machine. The overall machine construction including the rugged carrier and the A-frames guarantee a long lifetime. Rainer Dickmann points out that the infinitely adjustable working width is sometimes used in the evening to produce wide night swaths by using the largest width, which are then raked in a narrower position the next day, as soon as the dew has disappeared.

"I would be surprised if this Hibiscus rake does not last 10 years"

Gerhard Giebisch in Langenselbold (Hessen) has been operating his Hibiscus 855 central delivery rake since 2007. Together with his son, Mr Giebisch runs a mixed farm with 80 milking cows, 40 hectares of grassland and another 50 hectares of arable land. Each year they rake approx. 150 hectares of grassland. The test conducted by the farming magazine Top Agrar in the spring of 2007 impressed Gerhard Giebisch. In particular the narrow swath width as well as the rugged construction of the Hibiscus appealed to him. As it happens, he was looking for a central delivery rake at that time. The Hibiscus 855 can be easily operated and due to its working width large swaths can also be raked together, even in the last cut of grass. Gerhard Giebisch is very satisfied with the machine's ground contour following, even when operating at a speed of 12 km/h on his hilly fields. "Due to the machine's working width of 8.50 m I can rake together exactly three swaths from my mower. This suits the self-loading forage wagon ideally. The linked steering system ensures that the rake remains true to track in bends."

Lely Hibiscus 1015 CD Profi offers huge capacity with a simple design

Previous problems with swath rakes being too weak sent Irish brothers Martin and Arthur Murphy looking for a solid, robust, well designed machine that would have minimal down time and maximum productivity. The agricultural contractors found it in the Lely Hibiscus 1015 rake and replaced two rakes with this robust model as it ideally suited their harvester.

They currently rake 1500 acres of silage into 40 ft swaths for a Claas Jaguar 870 as well as rowing up 2000 acres of straw into 50ft swaths after two John Deere combines for two square balers. Martin wanted a rake that could pick up the crop precisely without leaving any clippings behind. "The Hibiscus twin rotor rake is ideal for our contracting business as we can rake up the crop into perfect swaths quickly and it cleans the ground far superior due to ro-tines touching the ground", comments Martin.

The unique wheel assembly ensures excellent ground coverage by the 150 tines due to the ball joint suspension providing ‘three dimensional' ground hugging coverage. ‘'The fabrication of the main head stock is extremely solid, it makes for a solid back bone to the whole machine,'' says Martins son Philip.

A simple but solid ‘T' frame set up provides a well balanced platform for the twin rotors which are fitted with a unique parallelogram pivoting frame connecting into the A frame of the arms. The benefits are greater adjustable working width on the go and the ability to lower and lock the rotor in transport position.

Lely has an innovative design to spread the load, with the two rotors weighing 1.5 tonnes each, the weight is spread between a hydraulic pressure system and an eight wheel assembly, minimising the ground pressure and damage, even in the softest soil conditions. ‘'The machine had already raked over 1500 acres in its first few weeks and it is surprising to see how well it is able to follow the ground contours on challenging fields.'' says Philip

‘'The machine is operator friendly with only a few hydraulic functions and no electronics." Narrow gateways are easily negotiated despite the rake's size, with a forced steering system running via a steering rod from the tractor linkage through to the rear wheels. This system also means the rake can be turned on headlands in one attempt. The machine also folds down easily for road transport and is also able to rake at a higher speed.

The Hibiscus has its own hydraulic brake system and its' large rear tyres offer excellent stability and safety on the open road", says Martin. The detachable tine arms and foldable safety guards keep the Hibiscus less than 4m high in transport position.

‘'We really appreciate having a machine that is this productive, yet is relatively simple and easy to operate; it certainly does a great job for us.'' concludes Philip.

Lely Hibiscus 725 Classic takes it all in its stride

The Drebes family of Alraft (Hessen) has an intensive dairy farm with 95 cows. The farm itself consists of 70 hectares of grassland with an average field size of 2 hectares. To be able to harvest sufficient good quality silage, they even mow grass on the very steep slopes surrounding the farm. They rake a total of 180 hectares of silage and hay per year. The Lely Hibiscus 725 Classic with its working width of up to 7.35 m truly comes to life in these demanding conditions. This machine, fitted with 15 inch wide tyres and linked to a 100 HP tractor has no problem in clean raking on the slopes. On the not too steep slopes a speed of 15 km/h is easily achieved, which makes the Hibiscus 725 a true "output machine". Mrs Drebes comments that the Hibiscus is very easy to operate, or as she puts it: "a no-nonsense machine". Due to the linked steering on the rear wheels, the machine can be easily manoeuvred, so that the corners of smaller fields are also raked clean. The Hibiscus 725 Classic rake makes ideal swaths for self loading forage wagons.

Hibiscus offers huge capacity with simple design

Ryan Parkes of M & D Contracting with the 10.2 m Hibiscus rake operating near Te Awamutu this spring.

PREVIOUS problems with swath rakes breaking sent Antony Metcalfe of M & B Contracting looking for a solid, well designed machine that would have minimal down time and maximum productivity.

He found it in the Lely Hibiscus twin rotor rake that has put simplicity and solidness first. He says Lely designers have put solid build quality into a twin rotor design, rather than the complexity of a four rotor configuration.

While offering the huge 10mtre capacity of a four rotor rake, the machine folds down easily for road transport and has eliminated a lot of moving parts that a four rotor requires.

''The fabrication of the main head stock is extremely solid, it makes for a solid back bone to the whole machine,'' says Antony. A simple but solid 'T' frame set up provides a well balanced platform for the twin rotors . The 1015 does not have the long and breakable frame arms often found on machines to support the outer rotors. Lely engineers have designed completely new rotors that offer high performance and strength.

The rotors are fitted with a unique parallelogram pivoting frame which connects into the A frame of the arms. The benefits are greater adjustable working width on the go and the ability to lower and lock the rotor in transport position.

With the two rotors weighing 1.5 tonnes each, Lely have an innovative design to spread the load. The mass of each rotor is divided in two, spread between a hydraulic pressure system and an eight wheel assembly. This minimises the ground pressure and damage, even in softest soil conditions which have been prevalent this spring in the Waikato.

The unique wheel assembly also ensures excellent ground coverage by the 150 tines due to the ball joint suspension providing 'three dimensional' ground hugging coverage. ''The machine has already raked over 1000 ha in its first few weeks and it is surprising to see how well it is able to follow the ground contours on challenging fields,'' says Antony.

''We have found the 1015 is simple to operate, and can be run pretty much from the drivers seat with only a few hydraulic functions and without any electronics on the machine,'' says Antony. The high rotor speeds are achieved at only around 1600 rpm, and operators can expect to cover 6 hectares an hour.

Narrow gate ways are easily negotiated despite the rake's size, with a forced steering system running via a steering rod from the tractor linkage through to the rear wheels. Steering radius has therefore been kept to a minimum at only 4.5 meters.
The forced steering system also means the rake can be turned on headlands in one attempt.

With much of the company's business in the Te Awamutu area, with its combination of busy state highways and country roads, a machine that was safe and easily transported was essential. The detachable tine arm and foldable safety guard keep the Hibiscus under 4m high.

The Hibiscus has its own hydraulic brake system and with large 18 inch rear tyres offers excellent stability on the open road, says Antony.

''We really appreciate having a machine that is this productive, yet is relatively simple and easy to operate, it certainly does a great job for us.''

Stable and user-friendly machines, which accelerate harvesting noticeably

In Frankenberg - Geismar Mr Häcker operates a dairy farm with 200 head of cattle, of which 85 are milk cows. The farm consists of 70 hectares of grass, which is used for the production of roughage. Mr Häckers large three point tedder as well as his trailed twin rotor side delivery rake needed to be replaced. Therefore, his dealer - Krummel in Edertal - Bergheim - arranged for a demonstration at the Häcker farm of a Lely Lotus 900 Profi tedder and a Hibiscus 855 Master central delivery rake.

After having used the Lotus 900 Profi tedder after the second cut on 25 hectares of grassland, Mr Häcker noticed the machine's outstandingly quiet operation in the field, which is a striking feature of the carrier plus long draw bar. In addition, the hook tines ensure an exceptionally gentle and clean pick-up of the crop. Due to the combination of these two characteristics this machine achieves a far more substantial output than Mr Häcker's formerly used tedder of another make. In addition, the distribution of weight in relation to the tractor is far more favourable. The former machine with its weight of 1,100 kg was coupled to the tractor's hydraulic lift, which meant that transport always had to be done very gently. In respect of the trailed Lotus 900 Profi tedder there are no such problems. When in the transport position, the machine runs behind the tractor in a very compact and stable manner.

With the Hibiscus 855 Master rake, Mr Häcker has raked approx. 100 hectares of grass as well as some straw. Mr Häcker noticed right at the start that this machine has an outstandingly rugged build. In addition, thanks to the Ro-tines and the rotors with 13 tine arms, the machine achieves a high output. Herr Häcker operates his machines in hilly conditions and even there he achieves operating speeds of 12 to 13 km/h. The large rotors with their large number of tine arms ensure that the crop is raked together consistently and laid down in even swaths. The difference with Mr Häcker's former twin rotor side delivery rake is especially noticeable if the crop is collected by the pick-up loader wagon. "With the previous rake, I just did not manage to process the crop from 50 hectares of grassland in one day with the aid of two self-loading forage wagons. Now that we use the Hibiscus 855 Master central delivery rake, we can easily manage that output. The loader pick-up wagons can process the swaths made by the Hibiscus 855 Master far more easily."