Product Marketing Bulletin - Nc Tractor & Farm Supply · 2021. 3. 5. · Massey Ferguson Feucht Hay...

Product Marketing Bulletin

RK Series Rakes, TD Series Tedders, DM Series Mowers

Date: Bulletin: Subject:

February 13th, 2017

MF17-12PMB

Massey Ferguson Feucht Hay Tools

Sales and Operation Guide

Our Massey Ferguson Conventional Hay Tools lineup offers a wide range of products. Understanding your customer and what our products have to offer is vital in creating a successful sale. The following document will provide an in-depth overview of the Massey Ferguson DM Series disc mowers, TD Series tedders and RK Series rotary rakes.

Subject: Massey Ferguson DM Series Vs. Kuhn GMD Series

Massey Ferguson Feucht Hay Tools Sales and Operation Guide


Table of Contents

Feucht Factory Overview…………………………........……….......

Model Number Interpretation……………………………………….

Model Number Reference Chart…………………………………….

DM Series Disc Mowers- Farmer Series - Overview………………………………………………………………………… - Key Features…………………………………………………………………… - Optional Equipment……………………………………………………………. - Key Adjustments………………………………………………………………. - Competitive Model Overview…………………………………………………

DM Series Disc Mowers- Professional Series - Overview……………………………………………………………………… - Key Features………………………………………………………………….. - Optional Equipment…………………………………………………………….. - Key Adjustments………………………………………………………………. - Competitive Model Overview………………………………………………....

DM Series Disc Mowers- Triple Mowers - Overview……………………………………………………………………….. - DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Key Features…………………………………… - DM306 FZ Key Features……………………………………………………… - DM306 FZ Optional Equipment………..........……………………………… - DM306 FZ Key Adjustments…….………………………………………….. - DM9314 TL Key Features…………………………………………………….. - DM9314 TL Optional Equipment……………………………………………… - DM9314 TL Key Adjustments…………………………………………………. - Competitive Model Overview………………………………………………....

5

4

6

7 8 11 12 13

16 17 22 25 26

34 35 38 41 43 45 51 53 55



Table of Contents

TD Series Tedders - Overview………………………………………………………………………. - Tedder Selection Tool………………………………………………………… - Key Features………………………………………………………………….. - Optional Equipment…………………………………………………………….. - Key Adjustments………………………………………………………………… - Competitive Model Overview…………………………………………………

RK Series Rotary Rakes - Overview………………………………………………………………………. - Rotary Rake Selection Tool………………………………………………… - Key Features………………………………………………………………….. - Optional Equipment…………………………………………………………… - Key Adjustments……………………………………………………………… - Competitive Model Overview…………………………………………………


62 64 65 72 73 75

81 83 84 99

102 105

Feucht Factory Overview


Massey Ferguson Rotary Rake and Tedder Selection Tool


AGCO Feucht Operations

German produced products are synonymous with

innovation, ingenuity, reliability, and quality. These traits are

why we are proud to offer our Feucht, Germany produced

Massey Ferguson hay tools in the North American market.

Our Feucht produced products receive their design

inspiration from European hay markets where environmental

factors, crop types, and farming operations make silage

production a popular choice for farmers. The production

requirements for silage based operations are tough due to

heavy, damp conditions. Therefore our Feucht tools are

designed from the beginning to be heavy duty and durable.

Our Feucht based production facility has a rich history that

makes our products industry leading:

• AGCO Feucht produces the following Massey Ferguson

hay tools: DM Series disc mowers, TD Series tedders and

RK Series rotary rakes.

• The Plant is located in Northern Bavaria, near Nuremburg

and encompasses roughly 17.5 acres of total area

• Operations in Feucht were founded in 1918, creating the

Fella brand in 1921

• Feucht produced hay tools have been sold in North

America for over 20 years

• In 2011 AGCO acquired 100% ownership of operations in

Feucht, Germany making all tools produced there 100%

AGCO produced equipment

• The fact that Massey Ferguson hay tools are 100%

produced in our own factory and not sourced from a 3rd

party ensures that we can control all areas of a products

life, from design to component sourcing to assembly to

shipping and delivery.

• Feucht produced products have a global presence,

roughly 75% of the plant’s production is for export outside

of the German domestic market.

4



Interpreting the “Smart” Model Numbers

Take a draw bar pulled single rotor rake with 14’ 9” wide working width. This rake was formerly known as the MFRK3814. With the new “Smart” model number, this same rake will be the MFRK451TR.

Breaking the Smart model number down is explained below:

What is the benefit?

Our new model numbers allow dealers and customers to quickly and easily determine the working width of the tool, number of rotating components present, and other critical information regarding the configuration of the machine. No guess work needed to determine the exact size and configuration of the machine.

RK451TR

The first 2 letters in

the name indicate

the unit type.

DM- disc mower

TD- tedder

RK- rotary rake

The first numbers in

the model number

indicate the working

width of the tool in

meters.

For example, this

tool would have a

4.5 meter working

width.

The final number in

the model number

indicates the number

of rotating

components found on

the tool.

In this example the

rake only has a single

rotor.

The letters found at

the rear of the model

number indicate the

configuration of the

machine.

In this example, TR

means this is a trailed

rake. Additional

options will be

explained later in the

document.


5

Old Model Number

Full Model Number

(Decals and

Publications)

Price Page Model

(What’s displayed

in price pages and

Eordering)

Working Width

ft. (m)

RK3802 RK 361 DN MFRK361 11’ 10” (3.6)

RK3814H RK 451 DN MFRK451 14’ 9” (4.5)

RK3814 RK 451 TR MFRK451T 14’ 9” (4.5)

RK3835 RK 702 TR-SDX MFRK702 20’ 8” (6.3) or 23’ (7.0)

RK3845 RK 662 SD-TRC MFRK662 18’ 10” (5.8) or 21’ 10” (6.6)

RK3855 RK 772 SD-TRC MFRK772 21’ 8” (6.6) or 25’ 3” (7.7)

RK3879P RK 802 TRC-PRO MFRK802P 23’ 7” (7.2) to 26’ 3” (8.0)

RK3891 RK 1254 TRC-PRO MFRK1254P 41’ (12.5)

TD1620 TD 252 TR MFTD252 8’ 2” (2.5)

TD1635 TD 524 TR- HYDRO MFTD524T 17’ 1” (5.2)

TD1635H TD 524 DN MFTD524 17’ 1” (5.2)

TD1636 TD 676 DN MFTD676 21’ 8” (6.7)

TD1638 TD 776 DN MFTD776 25’ 3” (7.7)

TD1661 TD 1008 TR-HYDRO MFTD1008H 33’ 6” (10.0)

TD1663 TD 1310 TR-HYDRO MFTD1310H 41’ 8” (12.7)

TD1648 TD 776 TRC MFTD776T 25’ 3” (7.7)

TD1655 TD 1008 TRC MFTD1008 33’ 6” (10.0)

TD1665 TD 1310 TRC MFTD1310 41’ 8” (12.7)

DM1305 DM 164 MFDM164 5’ 5” (1.6)

DM1306 DM 205 MFDM205 6’ 9” (2.0)

DM1308 DM 246 MFDM246 7’ 11” (2.4)

DM1309 DM 287 MFDM287 9’ 3” (2.8)

DM1358 DM 255-P MFDM255 8’ 4” (2.5)

DM1361 DM 306-P MFDM306 9’ 10” (3.0)

DM1362 DM 357-P MFDM357 11’ 6” (3.5)

DM1398 DM 9314 TL MFDM9314 30’ 6” (9.3)

DM1340 DM 306 FZ MFDM306F 9’ 10” (3.0)



Model Number Reference Chart


6




DM Series Disc Mowers & Conditioners

Farmer Series- Overview

Model Working

Width ft. (m)

Std. Swath

Width in. (m)

Shear

Protection cutter bar

Cutting

Disc

PTO

Requirement

Weight

(lbs)

Hydraulic

Requirement

DM287 9'3“(2.82) 6'7“(2.0) Shear Pin Spur Gear 7 60 1047 1 Single

Acting


Acting


Acting

DM164 5'5“(1.66) 2'11“(.65) Shear Pin Spur Gear 4 30 820 1 Single

Acting

Unique Selling Proposition

• Farmer Series Disc Mowers offer producers an Economically Priced disc mower that provides an

effective cut in a wide range of crops, while being simple to operate, set and easy to maintain.

Customer focus

• The Farmer Series Disc Mower would be an effective solution for the small scale hay producer. This disc mower would be ideal for customers covering a minimal number of acres per year, likely using

smaller compact/ utility sized tractors.

• These operations might be hobby farmers, or small scale horse or cattle operations baling hay for their own consumption.

• Farmer Series mowers should not be targeted toward hay producers operating on a large or

commercial scale, or who participate in roadside mowing applications.

7





Farmer Series- Key Features

Lightweight Robust Design

• Farmer Series mowers consist of the 3 point head

stock (cat 1 or 2), drive/ lift components, cutter bar

and curtain frame.

• The protective curtain lifts on the front and rear side to

provide easy access to the cutter bar for service.

• Simple design allows the mowers to be effective and

long lasting without un-needed weight, parts or

complexity.

• The mowers match with a wide range of tractors due

to minimal HP and weight requirements.

Wide Operating Range

• The frame design allows the mower to be operated on

slopes as steep as -30 degrees to +90 from the

horizon.

• This wide operating range allows the mower to

effectively follow the contours on a wide range of

ground conditions.

• This means operators can maximize their efficiency

through handling their mowing with a single pass

rather than having to make multiple passes in the

same area, terraces for example.

• Floatation is provided through a single spring

mounted on the headstock.

• No need to unhook or adjust the floatation spring to

unhook the mower from the tractor

8






Spur Gear Cutter Bar

• Power is effectively transferred through gear to gear

contact in the cutter bar.

• Common oil bath lubrication provides lubrication to

the drive gears in any condition. Oil must be changed

at recommended service intervals.

• Low profile design allows the discs to achieve the

desired cut height at a flatter angle leaving a clean cut

field.

• The cutter bar can be split for service if needed. All

gears are connected to the top half to simplify

maintenance.

• Each disc is protected with hardened skid plates to

effectively handle rough terrain while still cutting

clean.

• 10o top bevel knifes are used to provide adequate

crop lifting while providing a long service life.

Roll Pin Shear Protection

• Protection of the cutter bar’s internal components is

provided by a roll pin located under each disc.

• The roll pin shears in the event an obstacle is hit.

• This method of shear protection minimizes downtime

and is easily and economically replaced.

• No chance of contaminating internal cutter bar

components

9






Impact Guard Break Away

• Each Farmer Series mower is equipped with a

spring loaded break away mechanism.

• This break away mechanism allows the mower to

swing rearward in the event a large obstacle is

impacted.

• If the mower breaks away, simply reverse the tractor

to reposition the mower and return to the mowing

position.

• This simple mechanism ensures downtime is

minimal and the mower is protected from expensive

damages.

Headland Position

• The design of the 3 point headstock allows the

operator to hydraulically raise the mower to a

headland position while the mower is operating.

• This increases efficiency when approaching

headland turns or obstacles in the field.

• Raising and lowering should not be done with the

tractor 3 point hitch.

• The 3 point is designed to be set at 19.7” from the

ground and not adjusted, any adjustments are done

hydraulically.

• Folding to transport position is done hydraulically.

10





Farmer Series- Key Features & Optional Equipment Self Tensioned Drive

• Power is transferred from the tractor PTO to the cutter

bar through a flexible V belt.

• This flexible V belt is automatically tensioning meaning

down time and service requirements are minimal.

• Initial adjustment is required to ensure the self tension

design works as intended. Tension should be released

from the belts prior to storage at the end of the season.

• The PTO shaft is equipped with an overrunning clutch to

provide further protection to drive components.

Optional Equipment

• Swath Guide (left)- 700960868, 700960869- the left swath

guide should be utilized to narrow up the swath behind the

mower. The kit also includes swath boards for the left and

right side to further define the swath behind the mower.

• Welded on Skid- 700960870- these should be attached to

the bottom side of the standard rock guards to provide

additional mower protection in rocky terrain. It is suggested

to install one of these per cutting disc, but at minimum 3

should be utilized on the mower.

• Quick hitch adapter kit- FEL428928- (parts)- the quick

hitch adapter kit is required to attach a Farmer Series

mower to a tractor with a quick hitch. A quick hitch is highly

suggested for producers utilizing a single tractor for

mowing and other farm tasks as it greatly simplifies the

attachment procedure. The kit includes top link adapter

plates, and bottom linkage quick hitch pins.

• High cutting skids- FEL134764, FEL134765,

FEL134768- (parts)- installing the high skids kit increases

cutting height by 54 mm (2”). This kit should be utilized

when the desired cut height cannot be achieved with the

adjustment on the standard configuration. The kit includes a new end skid and spacers for the standard left side skid.

11





Farmer Series- Key Adjustments

Farmer Series disc mowers include a number of adjustments to allow producers to optimize mower

performance across a wide range of conditions.

• 3 Point Hitch- (A)- The 3 point hitch height is designed to be set at 19.7” from the ground to the center

of the link pin, and not adjusted. Properly setting this height is required for floatation and cut performance.

• Cut Height- (B)- Cut height is adjusted using the tractor top link. Extending the top link raises the cut

height, shortening the top link lowers the cut height.

• Knife Speed- (C)- Knife speed is adjusted using the PTO rpm speed from the tractor. The mower is designed to run at 540 RPM, and this should be adequate under normal conditions. However, dropping

rpm in light hay may help improve the cut by reducing blow over.

• Ground Speed- (D)- ground speed should be set so that the mower achieves a clean cut while properly following the ground. Speed may be increased or decreased as needed to match conditions.

• Floatation- (E)- a single floatation spring provides lift to help the mower follow the ground. Lengthen

the spring to make the mower heavier, shorten the spring to make the mower lighter on the ground.

• Swath Former- (F)- A right hand swath forming disc is standard equipment. The angle of this disc can be changed to adjust the width of the swath behind the mower.

A

B

C D

E F

12





Farmer Series- Competitive Model Overview

Competitive Model Overview-

New Holland & Kubota

Competitive Series

Farmer Series Advantage

New

Holland

HM200 Series

- Limited model lineup, only 3 models of economy mowers offered, largest

cutting width is only 7’11”

- -30/ +18 operating range is limited compared to the Farmer Series

meaning it will be difficult to adapt the mower to tough terrain

- HM200 series mowers utilize NO means of cutter bar protection other than

an overload clutch. The operator is likely to cause major damage when

impacting an obstacle.

- The main drive belt requires the operator to regularly inspect and adjust

tension. This means increased maintenance hassle over the self tensioning

system on the farmer series.

Kubota

DM1000

Series

- Limited model lineup, only 3 models of economy mowers offered, largest

cutting width is only 7’ 9”

- 3 blade design greatly increases down time and expense at every blade

change interval

- For instance the 7’9” cut Kubota DM1024 uses 18 blades while the 7’11”

cut MFDM246 uses only 12 blades

- Welded cutter bar halves make service and repair difficult if the producer

damages the cutter bar halves

- Complex design of key system shear protection is difficult and costly to get

back running

- Kubota uses the same cutter bar in the professional focused DM2000 that

they do in the DM1000 economy mowers meaning it is either overbuilt for

the DM1000 series or underbuilt for the DM2000 series

- While the DM1000 Series is targeted at smaller scale operations using

small tractors, the mowers are noticeably heavier than comparable Farmer

Series mowers. This means the mowers are less friendly to the small

tractors these customers are likely running.

- For example, the 7’9” cut Kubota DM1024 weighs 992lbs while the 7’ 11”

cut MFDM246 weighs only 964 lbs.

- -45/ +15 operating range is limited compared to the Farmer Series


13






Competitive Model Overview- Kuhn

Competitive Series


GMD

Select

16, 20, 24

& 28

- While Kuhn matches the Farmer Series in number of offerings and working

widths, the GMD select mowers are much heavier weight mowers. This

means they cannot easily match to lighter weight tractors found on the

farms of the target economy customer.

- GMD 24 & 28 mowers are only compatible with category 2 3 point linkages

again meaning they are not compatible with small sized tractors being

utilized by many economy customers

- GMD Select mowers are not compatible with quick hitches. By installing

the necessary parts, Farmer Series disc mowers can be hooked with quick

hitches to save time and hassle when hooking and unhooking the mowers.

- Cutter bar and curtain frame are not joined on the far end of the cutter

reducing the rigidity of the mower and placing additional stress on the main

headstock

- GMD select mowers require the operator to work their hydraulic valve and

3 point lift height to get maximum clearance for headland turns. An optional

chain can be installed to make it easier for the operator to return to their

desired operating height. This makes headland turning more difficult and

less intuitive than operating a single hydraulic valve like when headland

turning with a Farmer Series mower

- Complex Protectadrive shear protection for each hub, costly and time

consuming to replace as the full gear and bearing assembly must be

swapped

- Changing out the shear mechanism exposes internal cutter bar

components to debris, very difficult to keep clean due to material build up

that happens on cutter bars

- Kuhn uses the same cutter bar in their premium series that they do in their

economy line. This means the cutter bar is either over built for the

economy mower or under built for the professional mower

- A PTO shaft with over running clutch is only standard on the GMD28, it’s

an option on the smaller mower requiring additional expense from the

customer to protect main mower drives. All Farmer Series mowers includes

a PTO shaft with over running clutch as a standard item

- -22 (or -15)/ +35 operating range is limited compared to the Farmer Series


14






Competitive Model Overview

Competitor Competitive Series


Krone X - Krone does not offer a mower that competes with

the Farmer series to fill the needs of the economy

customer

Claas X - Claas does not offer a mower that competes

with the Farmer series to fill the needs of economy

customers

Vermeer X - Vermeer does not offer a mower that competes


customers

Pottinger X - Pottinger does not offer a mower that competes


customers

John Deere X - John Deere does not produce a Farmer Series

equivalent mower. They rely on Frontier to provide

solutions to these customers.

15





Professional Series- Overview

Model Working

Width ft. (m)

Conditioner

Option

Std. Swath

Width in.

(m)

Shear


Cutting

Disc

PTO Requirement

(W/ Cond.)

Weight –

(no Cond.)

(lbs)

DM357-P 11’6” (3.5) N/A 7'6“(2.3) driveGUARD

Compact

Angle Drive

(Shaft)

7 68 1760

DM306-P 9’10” (2.8) -Tine 5'11“(1.6) driveGUARD

Compact

Angle Drive

(Shaft)

6 61

(86) 1596

DM255-P 8'4“(2.6) -Tine

-Roller 5'11“(1.6) driveGUARD

Compact

Angle Drive

(Shaft)

5 54

(75) 1455


• Professional Series Disc Mowers offer producers a strong, heavy duty 3 point mounted disc

mower capable of covering a wide range of mowing applications. In some cases a Professional

Series mower may be sold as an economical alternative to a pull type machine.

Customer focus

• These mowers would be an ideal fit for small to mid size operations looking for the ease of use

and transportation that a 3 point mounted mower provides.

• Typical operation size would be 100+ acres per year where hay production is not only for their

own use, but also likely for sale in the local area.

• Professional mowers can have substantial weight so they need to be paired with larger sized utility

and mid range tractors, typically found on these larger scale haying operations.

• In some cases, professional series mowers may be offered as an economical alternative to a pull

type disc mower conditioner.

16





Professional Series- Key Features Commercial Grade Design

• Professional Series mowers consist of the 3 point

head stock (cat 2), heavy duty frame, drive/ lift

components, cutter bar, and optional conditioner.

• The protective curtain lifts on the front and rear side to

provide easy access to the cutter bar for service.

• Sturdy design allows the mowers to be effective and

long lasting meeting the needs of large scale

producers.

• Larger utility and mid range tractors are required to

meet the power and weight requirements of

Professional Series mowers.

Wide Operating Range

• The frame design allows the mower to be operated on

slopes as steep as -30 degrees to +90 from the

horizon.

• This wide operating range allows the mower to

effectively follow the contours on a wide range of

ground conditions.

• This means operators can maximize their efficiency in

areas with obstacles i.e. terraces by mowing with a

single pass rather than making multiple passes to cut

around the obstacle.

• The DM255P & DM306P are equipped with a single

floatation spring. The DM355P utilizes 2 floatation

springs.

• No need to unhook the springs to unhook the unit

from the tractor

• Attaching a conditioner to the DM255P or DM306P

adds a second floatation spring to help handle the

additional weight of the conditioner. 17





Professional Series- Key Features Headland Position

• The design of the 3 point headstock allows the operator

to hydraulically raise the mower to a headland position

while the mower is running.

• This increases efficiency when approaching headland

turns or obstacles in the field.

• Raising and lowering should not be done with the

tractor 3 point hitch.

• The 3 point is designed to be set at 19.7” from the

ground and not adjusted, any adjustments are done

hydraulically.

• Folding to transport position is done hydraulically.

• The single acting lift cylinder includes a choke valve

that allows the operator to adjust the lowering speed of

the mower. This means the mower can easily match up

to tractors with different hydraulic flow rates.

Self Tensioned Drive

• Power is transferred from the tractor PTO to the cutter

bar through a flexible V belt.

• This flexible V belt is automatically tensioning meaning

down time and service requirements are minimal.

• Initial adjustment is required to ensure the self tension

design works as intended.

• Tension should be released from the belts prior to

storage at the end of the season.

• The PTO shaft is equipped with an overrunning clutch

to provide further protection to drive components

18





Professional Series- Key Features Compact Angle Gear Cutter Bar

• Power is transferred through the cutter bar via a

1.18” hex shaft along the back side.

• Placing the hex shaft behind the module rather

than under it allows height to remain minimal so

aggressive tilt is not required for ideal cutting.

• Gearbox side of the drive shaft includes a

designed shear point to protect the gearbox in

the event a major obstacle is encountered.

• Each disc sits atop a compact angular gear

module which transfers power up to the cutting

disc.

• This design provides smooth power transfer

through the entire cutter bar. An added benefit of

this design is it’s very quiet in operation

enhancing operator comfort.

• Cutter bar maintains a low profile allowing

desired cut heights to be reached with minimal tilt

reducing component wear and ash content in the

windrow, as well as leaving a clean cut.

• Cutter bar and gearbox drive components run in

a common oil bath with a lifetime service life. The

operator simply needs to ensure proper oil level

is maintained.

• Cutting disc are designed to run in a pairwise

pattern. This means the discs work to lay out a

wide even swath, or load the conditioner evenly

as the mower moves through the field.

• Additionally, a pairwise cutter bar can be capable

of higher speeds and more even wear as the

center discs are not overloaded with material.

• However, should the producer desire the disc can

be swapped to central running to produce a tight

centrally delivered swath

19





Professional Series- Key Features

Compact Angle Gear Cutter Bar- Continued

• Cutter bar is protected by hardened rock guards

designed to provide a long service life with

minimal maintenance costs and reduced field

damages.

• The front edge of each rock guard includes a

hole that allows simple removal of the knife bolt

simplifying knife swaps. Also, a provided tool can

be inserted to restrict movement of cutter bar

components for service.

• The 24” diameter from knife tip to knife tip

ensures a clean cut while providing adequate lift

to move cut crop into the windrow.

• Knives overlap 5.3” between disc ensuring no

crop passes through without getting cut. This

leads to a cleanly cut field after the mower runs

through.

• The large diameter discs mean the knife cuts 2.4”

per rotation meaning the mower can be operated

at higher ground speeds before over running

uncut crop.

• 10o top bevel knifes are used to provide

adequate crop lifting while providing a long

service life.

20





Professional Series- Key Features

driveGUARD Protection

• Protection of internal cutter bar components is

provided by a “shear plate” located under each disc.

• If an obstacle is impacted, the disc will shear at the 4

contact points separating the disc from power

transfer.

• Replacement of a broken driveGUARD disc is simple

and cost effective. Down time and repair expenses

are minimal.


components

Impact Guard Break Away

• Each Professional Series mower is equipped with a

spring loaded break away mechanism.

• This break away mechanism allows the mower to

swing rearward in the event a large obstacle is

impacted.

• If the mower breaks away, simply reverse the tractor

to reposition the mower and return to the mowing

position.

• This simple mechanism ensures downtime is

minimal and the mower is protected from expensive

damages.

21





Professional Series- Optional Equipment Additional Accessories

• Swath Disc (left)- 700960871- the left swath guide should be utilized to narrow up the swath behind the mower. Swath

width approx. 5’11” (DM255-P), 6’7” (DM306-P).

• Swath Guide (left)- 700960873- the left swath guide should be utilized to narrow up the swath behind the mower. Swath

width approx. 6’7” (DM357-P)

• Adjustable high skid- 700960874- increases cutting height by up to 80 mm (3.1”). This kit should be utilized when the

desired cut height cannot be achieved with the adjustment in standard configuration. Order 1 per cutting disc.

• Quick hitch adapter kit- FEL428929- (parts)- the quick hitch

adapter kit is required to attach a Professional Series mower to a tractor with a quick hitch. A quick hitch is highly

suggested for producers utilizing a single tractor for mowing and other farm tasks as it greatly simplifies the attachment

procedure. The kit includes top link adapter plates, and bottom linkage quick hitch pins.

Conditioner Compatibility

A key selling feature of Professional Series disc mowers is the

ability to utilize a conditioner if the producer requires it.

• The Professional Series is the only 3 point disc mower on the market capable of utilizing a conditioner, this allows the

professional series to be offered as an economical option to a pull type disc mower conditioner.

• Either the tine or rubber roller conditioner can be installed or

removed as needed in the field by the operator.

• A conditioner increases the power requirements and weight of the mower requiring the operator to run a larger tractor.

• Power is provided to the conditioner via an additional gearbox

and shaft, overload protection is provided by shear bolt.

• Both conditioner options include forming shields to allow the operator to lay out a well defined, consistent swath. 22




Professional Series- Optional Equipment

Rubber Roll Conditioner- 700960875

• The DM255-P can be equipped with a rubber roller conditioner option.

• A rubber roll conditioner would be suggested for those operating in leafy, delicate crops such

as alfalfa.

• The intermeshing deep rubber lugs provide a gentle crimp to the stem as crop passes

through, while preserving leaves.

• This action increases the dry down of forage allowing the producer to bale sooner, preserving

hay quality and avoiding inclement weather.

• The position of the bottom roll is fixed, the top roll is floating with tension provided by a

tensioning spring. Adjustment of this spring is how the aggressiveness of the conditioner can

be set for conditions.

• No multispeed gearbox required

• The conditioner assembly weighs approximately 706 lbs.

Additional Accessories

• Stone Guard for DM255-P with Roller Conditioner- 700960881- the DM255-P roller conditioner

can be fitted with a stone guard. The stone guard mounts under the fixed bottom roller. A stone guard should be installed when operating a mower with roller conditioner in rough or rocky terrain

as it protects the roller from damage.


23




Professional Series- Optional Equipment

Tine Conditioner- 700960875 & 700960876

• The DM255-P and DM306-P can be configured with a tine conditioner.

• Tine conditioners are ideal for grass type crops, not suggested for use in leafy crops such as

alfalfa.

• The tines effectively breakup or remove the waxy coating on the forage to allow moisture to

escape, improving drying time. At no point is forage crushed or broken up.

• The rotating tines move crop through an adjustable comb assembly. This comb assembly has 4

adjustments which impact conditioning intensity. No multi speed gearbox required for changing

conditioning intensity.

• Conditioner tines are a sturdy long lasting design, and include tine loss protectors to minimize field

hazards.

• Adding a tine conditioner will build a light, fluffy swath that promotes better air flow to further

improve dry down.

• Conditioner assembly weights:

• DM255-P- 492 lbs - DM306-P- 633 lbs

Additional Accessories

• Spreader device for tine conditioner- 700960878 & 700960879- the DM255-P and DM306-P tine conditioner can be equipped with a spreader device. The spreader device will help spread the cut crop

in the swath improving dry down time over the same crop laid out in a narrower swath.


24




Professional Series- Key Adjustments

Professional Series disc mowers include a number of adjustments to allow producers to optimize mower

performance across a wide range of conditions.

• 3 Point Hitch- (A)- The 3 point hitch height is designed to be set at 19.7” from the ground to the center

of the link pin, and not adjusted. Properly setting this height is required for floatation and cut performance.

• Cut Height- (B)- Cut height is adjusted using the tractor top link. Extending the top link raises the cut

height, shortening the top link lowers the cut height.

• Knife Speed- (C)- Knife speed is adjusted using the PTO rpm speed from the tractor. The mower is designed to run at 540 RPM, and this should be adequate under normal conditions. However, dropping

rpm in light hay may help improve the cut by reducing blow over.


• Floatation- (E)- a single or double float spring configuration provides lift to help the mower follow the

ground. Lengthen the spring to make the mower heavier, shorten the spring to make the mower lighter on the ground.

• Swath Former- (F)- A right hand swath forming disc is standard equipment. The angle of this disc can

be changed to adjust the width of the swath behind the mower. When a conditioner is installed, the swath former is removed and swath width is set by forming shields on the conditioner.

A

B

C

D

E

F


25




Professional Series- Competitive Model Overview

Competitive Model Overview- John Deere

Competitive Series

Professional Series Advantage

R Series

- Model lineup only offers a maximum cutting width of 10’ 2” compared to

11’ 6” for the DM357

- R series mowers from John Deere are rebranded Kuhn GMD disc

mowers, not something that John Deere has in depth knowledge or

experience with

- While Kuhn separates these mowers into an economy segment and a

professional version, John Deere brings them all in through the R series

and tries to cover the professional market with mowers others target the

economy customer with.

- These are light weight mowers. The largest R series mower is 30

pounds lighter than the smallest Professional Series mower which

means they are not built for the demands of large scale producers like

the Professional Series is

- John Deere relies on their Frontier offerings to cover the “economy”

customer

- Complex shear protection for each hub, costly and time consuming to

replace as the full gear and bearing assembly must be swapped


components to debris, very difficult to keep clean due to material build

up that happens on cutter bars

- No conditioner compatibility

- Spur gear design increases noise levels when compared to shaft driven

systems

- R Series disc mowers utilize smaller cutting discs meaning more discs

are required to cut the same width. More discs means more down time

and expense when changing blades.

- For instance, the 10’2” cut R310 uses 16 blades while the 9’10” cut

MFDM306 only uses 12

- R series mowers require the user to inspect and adjust main belt

tension AND to adjust a special wrench is required. Professional Series

mowers feature an automatic tensioning system

- -28 (or -22)/ +35 operating range is limited compared to the Professional

Series meaning it will be difficult to adapt the mower to tough terrain


26





Competitive Model Overview- New Holland

Competitive Series


HM6700

Series

- While NH offers 3 professional level mowers, their largest cutting width is

only 9’2”. The Professional Series offers 2 mowers with larger cutting

widths to handle the needs of the customer type this mower is targeted

towards

- -32 (or -30,-28)/ +18 operating range is limited compared to the

Professional Series meaning it will be difficult to adapt the mower to tough

terrain

- No conditioner compatibility

- HM6700 require the user to inspect and adjust the main drive belt for

proper function. This increases down time compared to the self tensioning

system of the Professional Series

- While the HM6700 series is equipped with the ShockPro shear system,

this system is complex and expensive to replace. The driveGUARD

system on the pro series mowers can be replaced quicker and with less

expense.

- While both the NH and MF mowers utilize a shaft driven cutter bar, the NH

drive shaft runs under the turtle drive components rather than behind. This

means the profile of the cutter bar is very tall requiring the operator to

aggressively tilt the mower to get a desirable cut which can cause

scalloping and streaking in the field.

- The drive system is comprised of multiple small, splined shafts that can

twist, wear and fail over time requiring the entire cutter bar to be pulled

apart for repair. This can get very time consuming and costly.

- The individual module cutter bar design means each disc has it’s own oil

reservoir. Multiple oil reservoirs means more chances of leakage, and

increased time to perform required maintenance. This is huge when

compared to the lifetime common oil design of the Professional Series

- New Holland uses smaller discs meaning more discs are required to

achieve the same cutting width. More discs means more knives to inspect

and swap, and increased areas for failure to occur. For example the 7’10”

cut HM6740 uses 6 discs while the 8’4” cut MFDM255 uses only 5 discs

for a wider working width


27





Competitive Model Overview- Kubota

Competitive Series


DM2000

Series

- Limited model lineup, 2 models offered with a max working width of only

10’ 6”

- 3 blade design greatly increases down time and expense at every blade

change interval

- More discs are required in the same cutting width which increases moving

parts and opportunity for failure

- For instance, the 9’2” cut Kubota DM2028 uses 24 blades while the 9’10”

MFDM306 uses 12 blades

- Swath disc is an option costing the producer additional money

- No conditioner offering


damages the cutter bar halves


back running


systems

- While the DM2000 is targeted at the professional producer, these are light

weight mowers. For instance the 10’5” cut Kubota DM2032 weighs 174 lbs

lighter than the comparable 9’ 10” cut MFDM306

- Kubota uses the same cutter bar in the DM2000 that they do in the

DM1000 economy mowers meaning it is either overbuilt for the DM1000

series or underbuilt for the DM2000 series

- -35/ +35 operating range is limited compared to the professional series


- Kubota is new and lacks experience in the hay tools industry. Their

mowers are simply rebranded Vicon units meaning Kubota lacks the in

depth product knowledge needed to truly promote their products


28





Competitive Model Overview- Kuhn

Competitive Series


GMD

Premium

240, 280

& 310

- While the Kuhn Premium series offers 4 models in total that match the

working width of the Professional Series, the largest model the GMD350

utilizes hydro-pneumatic floatation rather than springs which significantly increases the cost of the mower

- So comparing apples to apples, Kuhn’s largest professional mower is 10’2”

working width compared to 11’6” in the Professional Series

- Complex Protectadrive shear protection for each hub, costly and time consuming to replace as the full gear and bearing assembly must be

swapped

- Changing out the shear mechanism exposes internal cutter bar components to debris, very difficult to keep clean due to material build up that happens

on cutter bars

- No conditioner compatibility - Spur gear design increases noise levels when compared to shaft driven

systems

- Kuhn uses the same cutter bar in their premium series that they do in their

economy line. This means the cutter bar is either over built for the economy mower or under built for the professional mower

- Cutter bar and curtain frame are not joined on the far end of the cutter

reducing the rigidity of the mower and placing additional stress on the main headstock

- In order to fold the GMD240, 280 or 310 for transport, the operator must get

out of the tractor and raise the protective curtain. This costs time and increases fatigue compared to the professional series. Kuhn offers an

optional cylinder that allows the operator to fold the machine totally from the

cab but this greatly increases machine cost and complexity

- -25 (or -30)/ +35 operating range is limited compared to the professional series meaning it will be difficult to adapt the mower to tough terrain

- GMD premium disc mowers utilize smaller cutting discs meaning more discs

are required to cut the same width. More discs means more down time and expense when changing blades.

- For instance, the 10’2” cut GMD310 uses 16 blades while the 9’10” cut

MFDM306 only uses 12 - GMD Premium mowers require the user to inspect and adjust main belt

tension. Professional Series mowers feature an automatic tensioning system


29





Competitive Model Overview- Krone

Competitive Series


Easy Cut/

Active

Mow

- Krone offers a vast selection of disc mowers targeted toward the

professional customer. This large selection of mowers can make it difficult

for a customer to understand which model will most effectively cover their

needs.


systems

- Power is transferred from the tractor to the cutter bar through a gearbox

and shaft system. Gearboxes rob power reducing the amount of power

that actually makes it to the cutter bar and shafts require additional

maintenance. Additionally, when a gearbox fails it is significant expense to

replace it. The belt driven system on the Professional Series is a simpler,

cheaper to maintain system

- The SafeCut individual shear protection system allows protection to the

internal cutter bar components in the event an obstacle is encountered.

The heart of the system is a roll pin, that once fails forces threads up into

the disc so that the failed disc raises up and out of the way of the other

spinning discs. This is a complex system that can result in serious internal

damage if the thread mechanism doesn’t work as designed, in the event

rust forms on the threads for example

- The cutter bar is a welded design making service difficult in the event

major damage occurs. The stub shaft, gear and bearing assembly under

each disc can be lifted out the top of the cutter bar, but the other larger

spur drive gears must be slid out the sides of the bar. Down time and

expense will be substantial if a failure occurs

- The discs on the cutter bar are located in an inconsistent pattern, on the

path where knives swing out, the discs are closer together, where the

knives come together, the discs are further apart. This inconsistent

spacing leads to inconsistent swath formation, or inconsistent loading of

the conditioner

- In transport position, the mowers raise past a true 90o angle, Krone claims

this is to clear the right hand tractor mirror for better visibility. However, by

tilting past 90o, the view directly to the rear of the tractor is obstructed.


30





Competitive Model Overview- Claas

Competitive Series


Disco

2750,

3150,

3150C &

3550

- Limited conditioner options. Claas only offers a tine conditioner on the

3150C, a 3m working width machine. Professional Series mowers can

be equipped with a roller or tine conditioner on the 2.5m model, and a

tine on the 3m model providing more options for producers


systems

- SafetyLink protection provides a designed failure groove in the stub

shaft that powers each cutting disc. In order to replace the failed stub

shaft the whole gear and bearing assembly must be removed from the

cutter bar which opens the cutter bar exposing internal components to

debris, additionally a replacement stub shaft will be costly. The

driveGUARD mechanism provides superior protection in a simpler and

cheaper to replace package

- Disco mowers utilize smaller cutting discs meaning more discs are

required to cut the same width. More discs means more down time and

expense when changing blades, as well as more opportunities for failure

to occur.

- For instance, the 9’10” cut Disco 3150 uses 14 blades while the 9’10”

cut MFDM306 only uses 12

- Disco mowers use a 2 piece cutter bar design, the bottom is pressed

from a single piece of steel while the top is bolted on. Holes in the top

part of the bar are only large enough to remove the stub shaft under

each module, if additional work is required the cutter bar must be split.

The modular, shaft driven design of the Professional Series cutter bar

provides producers with multiple options to service the bar in the event

of a failure.


31




Professional Series- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview- Vermeer

Competitive

Series Professional Series Advantage

M40

Series

- Vermeer offers 4 models in the M40 series, however their largest model is

only 10’6” in working width compared to 11’6” for the Professional Series.

- Vermeer M40 series mowers are much lighter weight than the comparable

Professional Series mower. Lighter weight construction means they are not

designed with the same kind of durability and longevity in mind, these are

needs that most Professional Series customers are looking to cover.

- For example the largest M40 mower is the same weight as the smallest

Professional Series mower

- M40 series mowers are equipped with a shaft driven cutter bar, but unlike the

Professional Series, the shaft is located directly under each disc and drive

components sit above the drive shaft. This creates a very thick cutter bar that

requires aggressive tilt to achieve a low cut height. Aggressive tilt can lead to

an unclean scalloping effect on the stubble, increased ash content in the

swath, and increased wear on blades

- The shaft drive system on M40 mowers means they require significantly more

PTO HP than their Professional Series competition. More horsepower

requirements means they need larger tractors which burns more fuel

reducing increasing the cost of ownership. This may also mean the customer

than can run a 9’10” Professional Series mower can only run a 7’10” M40

series mower

- For reference, the 9’10” MFDM306 requires 61 PTO HP while the 9’3” M7040

requires 70 PTO HP

- M40 disc mowers do not utilize any kind of individual shear hub for protection

of cutter bar internal components. The Professional Series driveGUARD

mechanism means repair time and expense is minimal in the event an object

is struck

- The individual module design of the cutter bar requires the operator to check

the oil level in each individual module extending service down time.

- Vermeer utilizes smaller cutting discs meaning they require more blades to

get the work done. More blades means more down time and expense when

blades wear from use,

- Multiple drive modules means more gearboxes the operator must check oil

levels in for maintenance.

- For example, the 7’10” cut M6040 uses 6 discs (12 blades), the comparable

MFDM255 uses 5 discs (10 blades) for a slightly larger 8’4” working width .


32





Competitive Model Overview- Pottinger Competitive

Series Professional Series Advantage

NovaDisc

- The Novadisc ops manual indicates the operator should fold the protective

cover up prior to raising the mower to transport position. This requires the

operator to get out of the tractor which increases down time and reduces operator comfort. The Professional Series folds to transport position

completely from the cab hydraulically

- In the event an obstacle is contacted the stub shaft below the disc “MAY”

shear. Pottinger does not promote this as a dedicated shear hub, but the manual says to inspect this shaft if an obstacle is encountered, and they

suggest the mower be checked by a “specialist workshop”. In the event

damage does occur to the stub shaft, the shaft must be swapped requiring the operator to open the cutter bar exposing internal components to debris.

Compared to the driveGUARD mechanism this is an unreliable shear

mechanism and costly to repair in the event of failure - While Novadisc mowers contain a breakaway protection mechanism, the ops

manual makes it clear this is only to protect the mower while running at slow

speed, not when operating at “Full Speed”. The lack of individual hub shear

protection and a limited use breakaway mechanism means the operator is in danger of major damage when hitting an obstacle while actually operating

the mower as intended

- -30/ +22 operating range is limited compared to the Professional Series meaning it will be difficult to adapt the mower to tough terrain

- The Novadisc 225 & 265 utilize a 3 v drive belt, the 305 & 350 get the 4 v

drive belt. Additionally, the belt system of the Novadisc requires regular inspection and tensioning adjustments from the operator. The Professional

Series utilizes a 4 v drive belt system in all mowers to efficiently transfer

power in all conditions. The Professional Series self tensioning belt system

reduces down time and failure related to the drive belts - No conditioner compatibility


systems - Novadisc mowers utilize smaller cutting discs meaning more discs are


expense when changing blades, as well as more opportunities for failure. - For instance, the 10” cut Novadisc 305 uses 14 blades while the 9’10” cut

MFDM306 only uses 12


33



DM Series Triple Mowers

DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Overview

Model

Working

Width ft.

(m)

Conditioner

Option

Std. Swath

Width in.

(m)

Swath Width in.

(m)

w/ tine cond.

Shear


Cutting

Disc

PTO

Requirement

(W/ Cond.)

DM306

FZ

(front)

9' 10“

(3.0m) Tine

6' 8"

(2.0m)

4' 9" - 7' 3"

(1.45-2.2m) driveGUARD

Compact

Angle

Drive

(Shaft)

6 75

(95)

DM9314

TL

(Rear)

30' 6“

(9.3m)

Tine or Tine

with Mergers

2x 8' 3“

(2x 2.5m)

2x 6' 1"-10' 8"

(2x 1.85- 3.25m) driveGUARD

Compact

Angle

Drive

(Shaft)

2x7 175 w/DM306

200 w/DM306


• DM Series triple mowers offer producers a high capacity, versatile mowing platform capable of

meeting the needs of the largest scale operations where haying is a primary source of income.

Customer focus

• Triple mowers fit well into large scale haying operations already utilizing other large scale

equipment such as HHP tractors, large square balers, large round balers or forage harvesters.

• A triple setup can be sold as an alternative to a windrower based on increased capacity in the

field, and improved road transport for areas concerned with transport width.

• Additionally, a triple mower means you have a tractor that can be available for other functions,

versus a windrower tractor that may only be utilized when mowing hay.


34




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Key Features

Compact Angle Gear Cutter Bar

• Power is transferred through the cutter bar via a

1.18” hex shaft along the back side.

• Gearbox side of the drive shaft includes a

designed shear point to protect the gearbox in

the event a major obstacle is encountered.

• Each disc sits atop a compact angular gear

module which transfers power up to the cutting

disc.

• This design provides smooth power transfer

through the entire cutter bar. An added benefit of

this design is it’s very quiet in operation

enhancing operator comfort.

• Cutter bar maintains a low profile allowing

desired cut heights to be reached with minimal

tilt reducing component wear and ash content in

the windrow, as well as leaving a clean cut.

• Cutter bar drive components run in a common

oil bath with a lifetime service life. The operator

simply needs to ensure proper oil level is

maintained.

• Cutting disc are designed to run in a pairwise

pattern. This means the discs work to lay out a

wide even swath, or load the conditioner evenly

as the mower moves through the field.

• Additionally, a pairwise cutter bar can be

capable of higher speeds and more even wear

as the center discs are not overloaded with

material.

• However should the producer desire the disc

can be swapped to central running to produce a

tight centrally delivered swath


35




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Key Features Compact Angle Gear Cutter Bar- Continued

• Cutter bar is protected by hardened rock guards

designed to provide a long service life with minimal

maintenance costs and reduced field damages.

• The front edge of each rock guard includes a hole

that allows simple removal of the knife bolt

simplifying knife swaps. Also, a provided tool can

be inserted to restrict movement of cutter bar

components for service.

• The 24” diameter from knife tip to knife tip ensures

a clean cut while providing adequate lift to move

cut crop into the windrow.

• Knives overlap 5.3” between disc ensuring no crop

passes through without getting cut.

• The large diameter discs mean the knife cuts 2.4”

per rotation meaning the mower can be operated at

higher ground speeds before over running un cut

crop.

• 10o top bevel knifes are used to provide adequate

crop lifting while providing a long service life.

driveGUARD Protection

• Protection of internal cutter bar components is

provided by a “shear plate” located under each

disc.

• If an obstacle is impacted, the disc will shear at the

4 contact points separating the disc from power

transfer.

• Replacement of a broken driveGUARD disc is

simple and cost effective. Down time and repair

expenses are minimal.


components


36




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Key Features Conditioner Compatibility

• The MFDM306 FZ and MFDM9314 TL can be fitted with

a tine conditioner.

• Installing a conditioner increases the power

requirements and weight of the mower requiring the

operator to run a larger tractor.

• The tine conditioner addition is suggested in grass type

hay crops, it is not suggested for use in leafy crops such

as alfalfa as it may cause additional leaf loss.

• A tine conditioner is designed to strip the waxy coating

from the forage to allow moisture to more easily escape.

• This improves the dry down time of the crop allowing

the producer to bale sooner, preserving quality and

missing inclement weather.

• If a MFDM306 FZ or MFDM9314 TL is ordered with the

tine conditioner option, it can be easily removed and

reinstalled in the field by the operator to meet

production requirements.

• If a conditioner is removed in the field the operator

needs to be sure and install the protective covers for

proper operation. These covers need to be ordered

through whole goods.

• Conditioning aggressiveness can be adjusted to 1 of 4

positions to match production requirements.

• No multi speed gearbox required to alter conditioning

intensity

• The conditioner rotor is powered by a shaft off the main

gearbox, no belts to inspect or possibly slip in heavy wet

conditions.

• Overload protection is provided by means of a shear

bolt in the driveline.

• Conditioner assemblies are equipped with forming

shields allowing the operator to match swath size to

their needs.


37




DM306 FZ- Key Features

Mowing Versatility

• The addition of a MFDM306 FZ front mower allows

producers to greatly increase their productivity with

minimal expense.

• In order to run a MFDM306 FZ, the tractor must be

equipped with:

• 1000 RPM, 1-3/8” 21 spline, front PTO

• 3 point front mounted linkage

• 1- Front mounted single acting hydraulic valve

• 1- Double acting hydraulic valve

• Single ties, no duals.

• The configuration of the MFDM306 FZ allows it to be

used in the following combinations:

• Utilized as a standalone front mounted mower

• Utilized in combination with a side cut rear

mower

• Utilized in combination with the MFDM9314

TL rear butterfly mowers

• Producers may equip the mower with a tine

conditioner which can be removed and reinstalled as

needed in the field.

• Conditioners must be ordered from the

factory, no field installed conditioner kit is

offered.

• If an operator wishes to remove a conditioner

from a MFDM306 FZ originally equipped with

it from the factory, they must install the

following items for proper operation.

• 700961878- Protective Cover

• 700963267- Swath Former


38




DM306 FZ- Key Features Overhead Frame Design

• The overhead frame design provides a pulling

motion on the mower rather than pushing.

• Headland lifting can be accomplished by raising

the mower via on board hydraulics, this provides

15” of clearance.

• Additional clearance can be provided by raising

the tractor 3 point hitch providing 18.9” of overall

clearance.

• The high clearance frame provides the mower a

large range of lateral motion, 20o, so that ground

contours can be precisely followed for a clean cut

with minimal wear on mower components.

• The frame is designed to easily allow install and

removal of a tine conditioner making changes very

quick and simple.

• Cut height is adjustable from 1.5” to 2.8” and is

adjusted separate from the hydraulic or 3 point lift

so field settings are quick and repeatable.

• Mower unit can be hydraulically shifted from side

to side by 10” for cutting on slopes and around

curves.

• Moving from field to field is comfortable as the

entire package is capable of folding into a 9’ 10”

package to fit on roads and narrow field entry

ways.


39




DM306 FZ- Key Features

Drives

• Mower components are driven by means of a

universal joint shaft, no belts utilized for power

transfer.

• Driveline equipped with an overrunning clutch to

protect mower components in the event a foreign

object stops component rotation.

• The gearbox is reversible so that machine rotation

direction can be matched to the tractor PTO

rotation direction.

• Cutter bar and conditioner (if equipped) are driven

from a single gearbox on the edge of the cutter

bar.

• The drive system on the DM306 FZ front mower

ensures maximum power is reliably transferred

from the tractor to mower components.

Floatation

• Mower floatation is provided by a set of spring

parallelograms.

• Floatation can be adjusted from 440 lbs up to the

weight of the mower on the ground.

• This systems ensures ground pressure remains

even and constant accurately following uneven

terrain. This provides a desirable cut as well as

minimizing wear on mower components and

reduced field damage.


40




DM306 FZ- Key Features & Optional Equipment

Cutter Bar Mounting

• The cutter bar is mounted at the outer most point on the

frame.

• This mounting position ensures a clean cut all the way

across the width of the cutter bar.

• Cutter bar components are secured from both ends so no

twisting action occurs and the cutter bar is visible from the

tractor seat.

• No complicated drive mechanisms are required to power

the cutter bar. Protection is provided by an over running

clutch.

Optional Equipment

• Adjustable High Skid- 700960874- This kit should be

utilized when the desired cut height cannot be achieved with

the adjustment in standard configuration. These adjustable

high skids can Increase cutting height by up to 80 mm

(3.1”). Height is adjusted by spacers on the back side of the

skids.

• It is suggested to order 1 per cutting disc, at minimum 2

should be installed per cutter bar.

• Swath Former- 700963267- In the event the conditioner is

removed from a DM306 originally equipped with one from

the factory, the swath former kit must be installed.

Installation of the swath former kit ensures that cut crop is

laid in a neat swath behind the mower so as the tractor

passes the tires do not run over the swath. The swath discs

can be adjusted to lay a swath as narrow as 5’ 6”.

• The swath former kit should only be installed on a DM306

not equipped with a conditioner, protective cover kit

700961878 must also be installed for proper function.


41




DM306 FZ- Optional Equipment

Optional Equipment

• Mower Disc with Conveyor Wings- 700963260- Compact

angle drive cutter bar mowers can be equipped with a set of

mower disc with conveyor wings. These discs should be

installed in heavy crop conditions where material is building

up on top of the cutting discs and not getting thrown on the

field behind the cutter bar, or through the conditioner.

Installing these discs will improve feeding and cut quality in

these heavy forage conditions.

• Order 1 mower disc with conveyor wings kit per cutter bar.

These disc replace the standard ones positioned in the

middle of the cutter bar.

• Crowned Drum Hat Kit- 700963266- For improved crop

flow in heavy crop conditions, and enhanced division

between swaths behind the mower, the crowned drum hat

kit can be installed on compact angle gear cutter bars.

• The crowned drum hat kit includes a set of hats that attach

to the top of the drums located on the outside cutter discs.

These hats make the drums more aggressive and improve

crop flow. Order 1 kit per cutter bar.

• Protective Cover- 700961878- When the conditioner is

removed from a MFDM306 FZ originally equipped with one

from the factory, the protective cover kit must be installed.

The protective cover kit fills the void left when the

conditioner is removed.

• The protective cover kit may only be installed on a

MFDM306 FZ that does not have the conditioner attached.

It must be installed with catalog # 700963267 swath former

kit so the swath is properly deposited behind the mower.


42




DM306 FZ- Key Adjustments

The DM306 FZ front mower includes a number of adjustments to allow producers to optimize mower

performance for their specific application.

• Cut Height- (A)- Cut height is adjusted using the crank located in the center on top of the mower.

Clockwise turns on the crank raises cut height, counter clockwise turns lowers cut height.

• Knife Speed- (B)- Knife speed is adjusted using the PTO rpm speed from the tractor. The mower is

designed to run at 1000 RPM, and this should be adequate under normal conditions. However, dropping rpm in light crop may help improve the cut by reducing blow over.

• Ground Speed- (C)- ground speed should be set so that the mower achieves a clean cut while properly following the ground. Speed may be increased or decreased as needed to match conditions.

• Floatation- (D)- While running in the field, the single acting lift valve should be placed in the float position. Spring parallelograms help carry the weight of the mower. Lengthen the spring to make the

mower heavier, shorten the spring to make the mower lighter on the ground. If the mower reacts sluggishly or appears to be gouging the ground, floatation should be added. If the mower floats above

the ground, or is slow to return to the ground after a bump, floatation should be reduced.

• Hydraulic Side Shift- (E)- Due to the attachment of the mower in front of the front axle, the mower will

need to be shifted left or right in sharp turns so no un cut streaks are left. The mower should be shifted by the operator using the double acting hydraulic valve they have the function hooked into.

A B

C

D

E


43




DM306 FZ- Key Adjustments Continued

• Frame Height-(F, G, H, I)- Proper orientation of the mower frame and tractor front 3 point hitch are

critical for proper performance. When properly set, the overhead frame (G) should be level to the ground, this is adjusted by the 3 point top link (F). Additionally, the ball eye of the lifting cylinders

should be 2’ 10” off the ground (H). These dimensions remain constant during operation, the supplied chains and turnbuckles (I) should be installed and adjusted to help the 3 pt lift arms carry the mower. If

the tractor is equipped with a double acting front 3 point, it should be configured so no down pressure forces the mower frame down.

• Swath Formation- (J)- Mowers equipped with a tine conditioner utilize the forming shields behind the

conditioner to adjust swath width. If a wider swath is desired when using a conditioner the mower can be equipped with a spreader device. When not equipped with a conditioner, the mower utilizes a left

and right forming disc. The angle on these discs will adjust swath width. In most cases the swath should be deposited so it is not run over by the tractor tires.

• Conditioner Intensity- (K)- Mowers equipped with a tine conditioner utilize a 4 position adjustment

handle to change the conditioning effects. The conditioner should be set so crop stems are stripped of the outer wax coating, but crop should not be macerated.

H

G

F

J

K

I


44




DM9314 TL- Key Features Merger Option- 700963788

• Depending on the operation, adding mergers can

increase efficiencies for follow up activities:

• Reducing the number of swaths in the

field, which reduces passes from follow up

operations.

• Reduced passes leads to increased

efficiency through:

• fuel usage

• machine wear and tear

• operator time and fatigue

• field compaction

• crop damage.

• Forage harvesters and balers can

consistently be fed at maximum capacity

to maximize productivity.

• Merging to produce fewer, larger windrows

will increase crop dry down time over

laying out more wider swaths. Therefore,

mergers are typically found in a silage

role.

• The MFDM9314 TL with tine conditioners may be

equipped with optional merger belts. In order to

equip a mower with mergers, it must be ordered

with them from the factory. No provisions are

offered to install mergers in the field.

• The merging belts on the MFDM9314 TL are

designed with wide, unobstructed crop flow so

that large amounts of crops can be handled

without stalling belts or restricting machine

capacity.


45




DM9314 TL- Key Features

Merger Option- 700963788

• The load sensing hydraulic configuration of the

mower means all mower and merger functions

are conveniently selected with touch buttons in

the cab.

• Left/ right mower raise and lower to

transport, working and headland position.

• Belt speed can be adjusted on the go to

match crop volume and windrow

formation needs.

• Belts may be turned on/ off as

needed

• Belt position can altered to provide the

following options:

• Both merger belts raised to

deposit 3 swaths.

• A single left or right merger down

with the other up to merge 1 swath

on the center swath and deposit a

single normal swath

• Both mergers down to leave 1

central windrow

• While the merger belts do add weight to the unit,

they are among the lowest weight mergers in

the industry to ensure tractor requirements are

kept minimal.

• Adding mergers to the rear butterfly mowers

increases tractor requirements. Tractors must

be equipped with a load sensing hydraulic

system and additional horsepower will be

needed over standard mowers.

Both Mergers Up

Both Mergers Down

One Up, One Down


46





Mower Configuration

• The butterfly design of the MFDM9314 TL requires

it to be used in conjunction with the DM306 FZ

front mounted mower.

• In order to run a MFDM9314 TL, the tractor must

be equipped with a 1000 RPM, 1-3/8” 21 spline,

cat II or cat III linkage, as well as load sensing

hydraulics or 2 single acting valves and 1 double

acting valve. Single ties, no duals. Additionally, the

tractor must meet the requirements to run the

MFDM306 FZ front mower.

• Producers may equip the mower with a tine

conditioner which can be removed and reinstalled

as needed in the field.

• Conditioners must be ordered from the

factory, no field installed conditioner kit is

offered.

• If an operator wishes to remove a

conditioner from a MFDM9314 TL originally

equipped with it from the factory, they must

install the following items for proper

operation.

• 700961879- Protective Cover

• MFDM9314 TL mowers may be equipped with tine

conditioners as well as belt mergers for improved

efficiency.

• The butterfly design allows the package to fold into

a compact 9’ 1” wide and 12’ 10” tall package for

comfortable road transport and field access.

• May be stored in working or transport position.


47





Main Frame Design

• Mowers are mounted so that the main frame

pulls them rather than pushing.

• Pulling is easier than pushing leading to

increased tractor efficiencies, and improved

mower floatation.

• The main mower attachment points are located

at the center of gravity on each mower so they

can react quickly and accurately to ground

contours for reduced mower wear and a clean

cut.

• The main frame is designed to keep the center

of gravity low on the butterfly setup to reduce

load on tractor lift arms for improved roading

comfort and minimized transport height.

• Integrated headland position allows the operator

to quickly lift each mower individually while in

operation to clear small obstacles or previously

cut crop.

• Headland position is operated through a single

acting valve, no need to adjust 3 point lift height.


48




DM9314 TL- Key Features Drives

• Mower components are driven by means of universal joint shafts, no belts utilized for power transfer. This provides a simple to inspect

and maintain system compatible with a wide range of tractors.

• Each mower is individually protected with an overrunning clutch in the event a foreign object stops component rotation.

• Cutter bar and conditioner (if equipped) are driven from a gearbox

mounted on the inside edges of the cutter bar.

• Gearboxes share oil with the cutter bar and are equipped with protective skids for protection against field hazards.

• The drive system on the DM9314 TL butterfly mower ensures

maximum power is reliably transferred from the tractor to all mower components, even in heavy, wet conditions.

Breakaway Protection

• DM9314 TL butterfly mowers are equipped with an industry leading obstacle impact protection system.

• In the event an obstacle is encountered, the mowers are able to

swing rearward and upward. This movement protects the mowers and allows the obstacle to pass.

• Mowers are moved rearward and lifted up mechanically, they do not

require complicated hydraulic mechanisms found on some competitive models

• The mowers swing upward at a 20o angle to a maximum height of

24.4”.

• This movement is created by the forward angled positioning of the main kingpin each mower mounts to.

• Each mower may breakaway individually even if an obstacle is

encountered with one of the inner discs.

• In the event a mower breaks away, it is easily returned to working position by stopping the tractor and lifting the mower to the headland

position. It will go back into position under it’s own weight.

• The force required to allows mowers to breakaway can be adjusted through a spring loaded mechanism.


49





TurboLift Floatation System

• The goal of mower floatation is to protect the mower

and crop while providing a clean cut. Traditionally

springs have been used to provide floatation but springs

are difficult to adjust and over time, springs become

inconsistent requiring replacement.

• Individual mower floatation is provided on the DM9314

TL through the hydro pneumatic TurboLift system.

• The TurboLift system works through a combination of

hydraulic fluid sourced from the tractor and nitrogen gas

filled accumulators which provide a long lasting,

consistent and reactive means of carrying and

cushioning the mowers. The system performs optimally

in a wide range of field conditions making it easy to set

and use.

• Floatation pressure is adjusted by a knob located on the

mower and adjustments are repeatable thanks to a

visible pressure gauge. Pressure automatically adjusts

when the mower is placed in float position.

• When operating, the tractor single acting valves should

still be placed in the float position as fluid needs to be

able to drain.

• Pressure is easily dumped by an escape valve near the

accumulators so that the mowers can be unhooked.

• When properly set, the TurboLift floatation system

provides industry leading performance. When passing

over soft ground, or going into dips, the system will

carry the mowers and let them down slowly, to protect

the field and crop as well as minimize wear on the cutter

bar rock guards.

• Utilizing the TurboLift system to carry a portion of the

mower’s weight ensures they can quickly and easily

react to rises in the field, and the mowers resist

sideways pulling that can occur when mowers are set

with too little floatation.


50




DM9314 TL- Optional Equipment


51

Optional Equipment

• Adjustable High Skid- 700960874- This kit should be utilized

when the desired cut height cannot be achieved with the adjustment in standard configuration. These adjustable high skids

can Increase cutting height by up to 80 mm (3.1”). Height is adjusted by spacers on the back side of the skids.

• It is suggested to order 1 per cutting disc, at minimum 2 should be

installed per cutter bar.

• Electro- Hydraulic Load Sensing- 71445576- Installation of the

electro- hydraulic load sensing controls kit converts the MFDM9314 TL over to function through the load sensing power beyond tractor

hydraulic system. This option places a control box in the cab of the tractor with switches that control the lifting of the rear mowers. This

control box would be used in place of working the traditional in cab hydraulic controls.

• Utilization of this kit promotes increased operator comfort and ease

of use, as well as freeing up non power beyond tractor valves for other functions. Mower floatation is regulated through the load

sense capability on the tractor rather than placing traditional spool valves in a float position. This kit includes the in cab control box,

electro hydraulic control module for flow diversion, new lines for hooking to tractor and all hardware to mount the kit.

• PTO Yoke 1-3/4” 20 Spline- 71440199- Customers who desire to run a DM9314 on a tractor with the large 1-3/4” 20 spline PTO

shaft need to order a replacement shaft yoke. The dealer will need to swap out the yokes and then the shaft can be adapted to those

larger tractors.

• Filler Pan- 700963259- When operating a MFDM9314 TL

equipped with factory installed mergers, it may be necessary to install a filler pan. The filler pan kit mounts behind the conditioner

and in front of the merger belts, this closes off the gap in this area eliminating crop loss. Installation of the kit would be recommended

for any MFDM9314 TL sold with mergers.




DM9314 TL- Optional Equipment Continued


52

Optional Equipment

• Mower Disc with Conveyor Wings- 700963260- Compact

angle drive cutter bar mowers can be equipped with a set of

mower disc with conveyor wings. These discs should be

installed in heavy crop conditions where material is building

up on top of the cutting discs and not getting thrown on the

field behind the cutter bar, or through the conditioner.

Installing these discs will improve feeding and cut quality in

these heavy forage conditions.

• Order 1 mower disc with conveyor wings kit per cutter bar.

These disc replace the standard ones positioned in the

middle of the cutter bar.

• Crowned Drum Hat Kit- 700963266- For improved crop

flow in heavy crop conditions, and enhanced division between

swaths behind the mower, the crowned drum hat kit can be

installed on compact angle gear cutter bars.

• The crowned drum hat kit includes a set of hats that attach to

the top of the drums located on the outside cutter discs.

These hats make the drums more aggressive and improve

crop flow. Order 1 kit per cutter bar.

• Protective Cover- 700961879- When the conditioners are

removed from a MFDM9314 TL originally equipped with them

from the factory, the protective cover kit must be installed.

The protective cover kit fills the void left when the conditioner

is removed.

• The protective cover kit may only be installed on a

MFDM9314 TL that does not have the conditioner attached.




DM9314 TL- Key Adjustments

The DM9314 TL rear mower includes a number of adjustments to allow producers to optimize mower

performance for their specific application.

• Cut Height- (A)- Cut height is adjusted using the top link of the 3 point hitch. Shortening the top link reduces cut height, lengthening the top link increases cut height.

• Frame Height-(B)- During operation, the center of the lower link pins should be placed at 27.5” from

the ground. Once this is set, this height should not be altered, headland lifting should be accomplished through the single acting valves. 3 point hitch height may be reduced for transport height if less height

is required, but the hitch should be set back to 27.5“.

• Knife Speed- (C)- Knife speed is adjusted using the PTO rpm speed from the tractor. The mower is designed to run at 1000 RPM, and this should be adequate under normal conditions. However,

dropping rpm in light crop may help improve the cut by reducing blow over.


A

C

D

B


53




DM9314 TL- Key Adjustments

• Floatation- (E)- During field operation, the single acting hydraulic valves should be placed in the float

position. The TurboLift floatation system includes a pair of hydraulic accumulators, as well as an adjustment knob, an escape valve and a pressure gauge. Floatation adjustments are made with the

adjustment valve located near the accumulators and pressure gauge. Pressure should be increased if the mowers appear to be heavy on the ground, pressure should be reduced if the mowers appear to be

light on the ground. Pressure is automatically matched to the user setting each time the mowers are cycled into float position. The escape valve should be pressed to dump pressure for unhooking the

mowers.

• Swath Formation- (F)- Mowers equipped with a tine conditioner utilize the forming shields behind the conditioner to adjust swath width. If a wider swath is desired when using a conditioner the mower can

be equipped with a spreader device. When not equipped with a conditioner, swath width may not be adjusted.

• Conditioner Intensity- (G)- Mowers equipped with a tine conditioner utilize a 4 position adjustment

handle to change the conditioning effects. The conditioner should be set so crop stems are stripped of the outer wax coating, but crop should not be macerated.

G

F

E


54




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview- John Deere

Competitive

Series MFDM306 FZ & MFDM9314 TL Advantage

F & R

Series

- Multiple product offerings increases complexity for the customer unsure

of which units will effectively cover their needs

- Complex quill assembly shear protection for each hub, costly and time consuming to replace as the full gear and bearing assembly must be

swapped


components to debris, very difficult to keep clean due to material build up that happens on cutter bars


systems - F & R series disc mowers utilize smaller cutting discs meaning more

discs are required to cut the same width. More discs means more down

time and expense when changing blades. - For instance on front mowers, the 10’2” cut F310R uses 14 blades while

the 9’10” cut MFDM306 FZ only uses 12

- The same can be said for rear mowers, the R870R uses 28 blades to get

a maximum of 28’7” in working width. Compare that to the MFDM9314 TL which also uses 28 blades, but can achieve a working width of 30’6”

which equates to more productivity for the same time and expense on

blades - All mowers equipped with tine conditioner, no non conditioner option

- Forcing a customer to take a tine conditioner that may not need one

equates to more cost at the time of purchase, a larger tractor is required to run the mowers, and in a crop like alfalfa it can cause excess damage

and loss.

- John Deere offers no means of removing the conditioner. This limits

flexibility when compared with the Massey Ferguson mowers. Our conditioners can be removed and reinstalled as needed.

- Depending on the specific John Deere mower, transport width will be

9’10” or 11’ 5”. The Massey Ferguson triple mower setup can fold down into 9’1” making it a much more comfortable unit to transport on the

roads or through gates and narrow field entrances.

- At the end of the day, the offerings from John Deere are rebranded Kuhn units. John Deere does not have in depth knowledge or experience on

these mowers.


55




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview- New Holland

Competitive


MegaCutter

- The working width of the NH rear mowers is only 29’ 6”, a foot less than the

MFDM9314. This narrower working width equates to less productivity

- In total, the Megacutter uses 50 blades while the Massey Ferguson triple

mower uses only use 40. The fact that Massey Ferguson uses 10 fewer

blades equates to significant time and money savings each time the blades

need to be changed.

- Combine the smaller working width with 10 more total blades and the

Megacutter becomes a much more expensive unit to operate than what

initially met the eye


systems

- All mowers equipped with tine conditioner, no non conditioner option

- Forcing a customer to take a tine conditioner that may not need one equates to more cost at the time of purchase, a larger tractor is required to run the mowers,

and in a crop like alfalfa it can cause excess damage and loss.

- The MegaCutter offers no means of removing the conditioner. This limits

flexibility when compared with the Massey Ferguson mowers. Our conditioners can be removed and reinstalled as needed.

- Transport width is substantially larger on the Megacutter. The New Holland

front mower can only achieve a transport width of 11’3” while the rear mowers

can only achieve 9’10”. Comparing these widths to the Massey Ferguson

triple mowers makes it clear the Massey Ferguson is a more comfortable

package to move from field to field on the road

- Floatation for the rear mowers is provided by springs. Springs can wear over

time requiring the operator to constantly monitor their settings and make

adjustments. The MFDM9314 TL utilizes hydro-pneumatic flotation for the

rear mowers which is a consistent floatation method and allows the operator

to make adjustments by turning a single knob, adjustments are repeatable

with the provided pressure gauge

- In order to control the Megacutter, the operator must use an ISOBUS

compatible tractor or install a standalone monitor. Additionally, the tractor

must be capable of running implements through power beyond. Compared to

the non ISO, traditional hydraulic control design of the MF mowers, this adds

complexity to the system and adds expense for the customer that might be

running an older non ISO or power beyond capable tractor


56




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview- Kubota

Competitive


DM3087

&

DM4032

- Kubota’s rear mowers only offer a working width of 28’7” which is just shy 2’

less than the MFDM9314 TL, this adds up into substantially less productivity.

- For example, both machines running at 10 mph, with a setting of 6” overlap

means the MFDM9314 TL can cover 2.4 acres more per hour, in a 10 hour

day that means the operator is done sooner, or he can get more work done in the short harvest window

- 3 bladed disc design greatly increases down time and expense at every blade

change interval

- More discs are required to achieve a smaller cutting width which vastly

increases moving parts and opportunity for failure while being less productive

- In total, the Kubota front and rear triple mowers require 72 blades compared

to 40 on the Massey Ferguson unit.

- No conditioner offering meaning they miss the needs of large scale producers

that want the benefits of reduced dry down time.

- Kubota rear mowers use hydraulics to allow floatation adjustment from the

cab, but springs provide the actual floatation. Springs are prone to wearing

and stretching over time leading to inconsistent performance that the operator

must continuously monitor and adjust.

- The MF9314 TL uses hydro-pneumatic floatation for consistent repeatable,

easy to adjust floatation over the life of the mower.


damages the cutter bar.


back running.

- Spur gear design increases noise levels when compared to shaft driven systems

- Kubota uses the same cutter bar in their triple mowers that they do in the

DM1000 and DM2000 3 point mounted mowers meaning it is underbuilt for

the needs of serious producers.

- This point is further supported by the fact that Kubota lists the weight of their

rear mowers as 3000 lbs. The MFDM9314 TL weighs 4675 lbs, the increased

weight on the Massey Ferguson unit makes it clear it’s got the robust build

needed to handle the demands of large scale, high acreage producers.

- Kubota is new and lacks experience in the hay tools industry. Their offers are

simply rebranded Vicon units meaning Kubota lacks the in depth product

knowledge needed to truly promote their products.


57




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview- Kuhn

Competitive


GMD or FC

- Multiple product offerings increases complexity for the customer unsure of

which units will effectively cover their needs

- Kuhn rear mowers mount to their frame at the top, center portion of the

machine. The Massey front and rear mowers are mounted to pull the

mower rather than push. Pulling rather than pushing is more efficient for

the tractor, reduces crop damage and minimizes wear on mower

components. - Kuhn front mowers are not equipped with hydraulic side shift capabilities,

they rely on adjustable overlap from the rear mowers to minimize skips in

turns and on hillsides. Relying on overlap reduces the effective working

width of the machine and add complexity to the rear mowers

- Complex Protectadrive shear shaft protection for each hub, costly and time

consuming to replace as the full gear and bearing assembly must be

swapped

- Changing out the shear mechanism exposes internal cutter bar components

to debris, very difficult to keep clean due to material build up that happens

on cutter bars


systems

- GMD & FC disc mowers utilize smaller cutting discs meaning more discs

are required to cut the same width. More discs means more down time and

expense when changing blades.

- For instance on front mowers, the 10’2” cut FC3125 DF uses 14 blades

while the 9’10” cut MFDM306 FZ only uses 12

- The same can be said for rear mowers, the GMD8730 uses 28 blades to get

a maximum of 28’7” in working width. Compare that to the MFDM9314 TL

which also uses 28 blades, but can achieve a working width of 30’6” which

equates to more productivity for the same time and expense on blades

- Kuhn rear mowers utilize a complex breakaway system, the mower

rotates horizontally around the bracing pin, but lifting action is provided

by the floatation cylinder. This is a more complex, less reactive design

than the MFDM9314 TL which rotates rearward and upward around the

tilted bracing pin.

- Transport width is substantially larger on the Kuhn GMD or FC mowers (9’8”

11’). The Massey Ferguson triple mower setup can fold down into 9’1”

making it a much more comfortable unit to transport on the roads


58




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview- Krone

Competitive


Easy Cut


systems

- Depending on which front mower is chosen it may be powered by a single

drive shaft, dual drive shafts or a belt system. Belts can slip in difficult

conditions and require constant inspection and adjustment. A second PTO

shaft means an additional gearbox to rob power, and more service points

that require maintenance.

- The SafeCut individual shear protection system allows protection to the

internal cutter bar components in the event an obstacle is encountered. The

heart of the system is a roll pin, that once fails forces threads up into the

disc so that the failed disc raises up and out of the way of the other spinning

discs. This is a complex system that can result in serious internal damage if

the thread mechanism doesn’t work as designed, in the event rust forms on

the threads for example

- The cutter bar is a welded design making service difficult in the event major

damage occurs. The stub shaft, gear and bearing assembly under each disc

can be lifted out the top of the cutter bar, but the other larger spur drive

gears must be slid out the sides of the bar. Down time and expense will be

substantial if a failure occurs

- The discs on the cutter bar are located in an inconsistent pattern, on the

path where knives swing out, the discs are closer together, where the

knives come together, the discs are further apart. This inconsistent spacing

leads to inconsistent swath formation, or inconsistent loading of the

conditioner

- The breakaway system on the krone rear butterfly mowers is not a truly

independent system. If one wing encounters an obstacle, both wings will

experience movement as the unit swings around to avoid the obstacle.

- Krone front mowers offer no side shifting capabilities, the operator must use

the rear mowers to eliminate skipping when operating in turns or on

hillsides. Using the rear mowers to minimize skipping reduces the total

working width of the unit.

- Some models of Krone rear mowers require the operator to get out and

make the overlap adjustment on the rear mower rather than hydraulically

from the cab, this reduces the comfort and ease of use for the mowers.

- Not all models of krone rear mowers are equipped with hydro-pneumatic

floatation, instead they use springs. Springs can wear over time, causing

inconsistent performance.


59




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview- Claas

Competitive


Disco


systems

- SafetyLink protection provides a designed failure groove in the stub shaft that powers each cutting disc. In order to replace the failed stub shaft the

whole gear and bearing assembly must be removed from the cutter bar

which opens the cutter bar exposing internal components to debris,

additionally a replacement stub shaft will be costly. - The driveGUARD mechanism provides superior protection in a simpler

and cheaper to replace package

- Disco mowers utilize smaller cutting discs meaning more discs are required to cut the same width. More discs means more down time and


to occur. - For instance, the 29’’10” cut Disco 9200 uses 32 blades while the 30’6”

cut MFDM9314 TL only uses 28

- Disco front mowers offer no side shifting capabilities, the operator must

use the rear mowers to eliminate any skipping when operating in turns or on hillsides. Using the rear mowers to minimize skipping reduces the total

working width of the unit

- Some models of Disco front mounted mowers utilize a complex drive system with gearboxes and shafts on each side of the unit. This means

additional service points for the operator which increases down time and

increases maintenance expense, additional gearboxes also rob power. - Disco mowers use a 2 piece cutter bar design, the bottom is pressed from

a single piece of steel while the top is bolted on. Holes in the top part of

the bar are only large enough to remove the stub shaft under each

module, if additional work is required the cutter bar must be split. The modular, shaft driven design of the professional cutter bar provides

producers with multiple options to service the bar in the event of a failure.

- Disco rear mowers fold up into a wider package to transport on the road than the MFDM9314 TL.

- The Disco 9200 has a 9’8” transport width which is 7” wider than the 9’1”

width on the MFDM9314 TL. This makes the Massey Ferguson package more comfortable to move from field to field on the roads


60




DM306 FZ & DM9314 TL- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview- Pottinger

Competitive


Novacat

- Pottinger offers multiple different front and rear mower combinations

which makes it difficult for a customer to understand which mower

would be the best solution to their needs

- In the event an obstacle is contacted the stub shaft below the disc

“MAY” shear. Pottinger does not promote this as a dedicated shear hub,

but the manual says to inspect this shaft if an obstacle is encountered,

and they suggest the mower be checked by a “specialist workshop”. In

the event damage does occur to the stub shaft, the shaft must be

swapped requiring the operator to open the cutter bar exposing internal

components to debris. Compared to the driveGUARD mechanism this is

an unreliable shear mechanism and costly to repair in the event of

failure


systems

- Novadisc mowers utilize smaller cutting discs meaning more discs are



to occur.

- For instance, the 31’ 3” cut Novacat S10 uses 32 blades while the 30’6”

cut MFDM9314 TL uses only 28. Looking at front mowers, the Novacat

301 uses 14 blades while the MFDM306 FZ uses only 12.


61



TD Series Tedders- Overview


• TD Series tedders offer a proven solution designed to deliver producers a heavy duty, long

lasting tedder capable of providing improved crop dry down times with minimal service and

maintenance expense.

Customer focus

• Tedders are typically sold into areas that need assistance drying crop so that quality may be

retained or to reduce the harvest window minimizing environmental influences.

• Those looking to utilize a tedder are likely facing challenges such as: frequent rain, damp

ground, high humidity, short days, short harvest seasons, cool temperatures or inherently wet

crops.

• Tedders can be a benefit when running disc mowers equipped with and without a conditioner,

but care should be taken when entertaining tedding of delicate crops such as alfalfa.

• Due to the wide range of haying operations, the TD Series offers 10 models of tedders from 2

to 10 rotors, with different hitch and frame configurations. It is vital to understand the

customers operation so the most appropriate TD Series tedder can be offered to the customer.


62



TD Series Tedders- Overview


63

Model Tedding

Width

Transport Width

Rotors Minimum

HP Hitch Transport

Hydraulic Requirement

TD252 8' 2"

(2.5m) 9' 10" (3.0m)

2 20 Drawbar None None

TD524 DN

17' 1" (5.2m)

9' 10" (3.0m)

4 30 3pt-

Cat I & II Vertical Fold-

Hydraulic

1 Single Acting

TD524 TR- Hydro

17' 1" (5.2m)

9' 10" (3.0m)

4 30 Drawbar Vertical Fold-

Hydraulic

1 Single Acting

TD676 DN

21' 8" (6.6m)

9' 6" (2.9m)

6 41 3pt-


Hydraulic

1 Single Acting

TD776 TRC

25' 3" (7.7m)

9' 10" (3.0m)

6 41 Drawbar Transport Chassis

1 Single Acting

TD776 DN

25' 3" (7.7m)

9' 10" (3.0m)

6 82 3pt-


Hydraulic

1 Single Acting

TD1008 TR-Hydro

33' 6" (10.2m)

9' 2" (2.78m)

8 48 Drawbar Horizontal Fold-

Hydraulic

1 Single Acting

TD1008 TRC

33' 6" (10.2m)

9' 8" (2.94m)


1 Single and 1 Double Acting

TD1310 TR- Hydro

41' 8“ (12.7m)

9' 2" (2.78m)

10 61 Drawbar Horizontal Fold-

Hydraulic

1 Single Acting

TD1310 TRC

41' 8“ (12.7m)

9' 8" (2.94m)


1 Single and 1 Double Acting




64



TD Series Tedders- Key Features

Hitch Options

TD Series tedders are offered with 2 hitch

configurations: drawbar pulled or 3 point hitch

mounted

Drawbar hitch

• available on 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10 rotor tedders

• Retains characteristics of traditional

trailed implements

• Simple hooking and unhooking process

• Hydraulic headland position for avoiding

field obstacles and previously tedded

crop during operation

• Compatible with lighter weight tractors

• Multiple frame configurations available

with the drawbar hitch

3 point hitch

• available on 4 or 6 rotor models

• Compatible with category 1 or 2 hitches.

• 3 point headstock can pivot so that field

damage is minimal when turning

• Pivot point includes a swing break so

that unexpected swinging is eliminated

in the field and on the road


field obstacles and previously tedded


• Reduced storage dimensions with the 3

point hitch

• Comfortable road and field travel as the

tedder is mounted close behind the

tractor and hitch height is minimal to

keep center of gravity low

• 3 point hitch only available with

hydraulic vertical fold frame

configurations


65



TD Series Tedders- Key Features Frame Configuration

In order to offer wide working widths with acceptable

transport widths, 4, 6, 8 & 10 rotor tedders must fold.

TD Series tedders be equipped with 1 of the

following frame configurations:

• Hydraulic vertical fold- Tedder wings

are folded vertically by a single acting

hydraulic valve. Tedder weight is carried on 2 16/6.5-8 tires during road

transport. Typically vertical fold tedders

are used on smaller operations with

minimal transport needs.

• Transport chassis- Tedder wings are

folded vertically and then tip forward to

be carried on a heavy duty transport

chassis. Due to the wings resting on rubber dampers, frame joints are not

subject to high stress or jarring impacts

while moving at road speed. Weight is

carried on 2 18/8.50-8 tires during transport for improved comfort and

stability. When operating in the field,

transport wheels run in front of tines to

keep them out of the ground. These units are typically found on larger

operations with a significant amount of

road transport time or in operations with

transport height restrictions.

• Hydraulic horizontal fold- Tedder wings are folded horizontally so tedder

weight is carried on 8 or 10 16/6.5-8

wheels during transport. This allows

large tedders to be transported long distances comfortably or in operations

with transport height restrictions.


66




Super C Tines

• Sturdy, heavy duty tines are crucial in effectively

spreading, mixing and fluffing wet crops for reduced

dry down times.

• TD Series tedders are equipped with 9.6mm

diameter steel Super C tines.

• Large tine diameter and steel construction minimizes

tine failure to reduce down time and repair expense.

• TD series tedders have a short distance between

the tines and the wheels allowing the wheels to

more easily keep tines from digging in the ground.

This provides further protection and reduces ash in

the forage.

• Super C tines are tested and must survive a

200,000 impact test cycle.

• Tine savers are standard so that in the event a tine

does break, it does not fall off and become a field

hazard.

• Tines are the same length, however In working

position the rear tine extends down further than the

front tine so crop load is shared equally and crop

mat is mixed.

• Competitors handle more crop load with the front

tine than the rear leading to premature failure.

• Tine design eliminates the need for separate left and

right hand tines, single part number required for

stocking.


67




Galvanized Tine Arms

• Each rotor is equipped with 6 tine arms and tines

to effectively manage large crop loads with high

ground speeds.

• Tine arms utilize a galvanized flat spring steel

design

• Spring steel design allows tine arms to flex which

provides additional protection to tines and rotor

head

• Tine arms are easily replaced in the event a tine

arm gets damaged

• Smooth tine arm construction ensure crop cannot

snag on the tine arms

• Tine arms have significant overlap between rotors

reducing un tedded crop and improving mixing

Edge Spreading Capability

• Certain models in the TD Series line are equipped

with edge spreading capabilities .

• Edge spreading forces the tedder to operate at an

angle against the direction of travel to keep forage

from being thrown outside the field minimizing

loss.

• The edge spreading device includes a linkage

across the front of the tedder that forces the

wheels to pivot which creates the angled

configuration

• Edge spreading is not present on the following:

TD252 TR, TD524 TR-Hydro, TD1008 TRC &

TD1310 TRC


68




Drive Mechanism

• Enclosed rotor design protects all internal

components from dirt and dust

• Power is transferred through the tedder via

hexagonal shaft with universal joints at each

frame fold joint.

• Hexagonal drive shaft ensures powers is

consistently transferred through each rotor head.

• Universal joints resist wear at each frame fold

joint so that rotor head synchronization remain

consistent over time and down time related to

drive component wear is minimized.

• Ring and pinion system transfers powers to each

rotor head with a ratio of 1:2. Power is

transferred from the drives to the rotor head

quietly and efficiently.

• Rotor head is lubricated with grease rather than

oil allowing the operator to simply add grease as

needed with no risk of oil seals going bad

causing failure.

• Each tedder is equipped with an overload clutch

in the drive system to protect the tedder in the

event an obstacle is encountered.


69




Center Gearbox & Driveline Auto Safety System

• Center gearbox transfers power from the tractor PTO to

the tedder hex shaft. This is a sealed oil lubricated

gearbox with a ratio of 1:1.87.

• TD Series tedders are equipped with a driveline auto

safety system designed to protect drive components in

the event tedder wings are lifted beyond the headland

position while the PTO is engaged or when PTO speed is

abruptly reduced.

• Dog clutch interrupts power flow through the frame to

each rotor head so that damage to drive components due

to incorrect operation is eliminated.

• Additionally, the system allows the universal joints to

freely rotate to the proper position for folding.

• When the system is disconnected and free wheeling,

clicking noise is normal.

• Mechanical linkages or hydraulics attached to the clutch

lever on the main gearbox that activate the mechanism.

Adjustable Spread Angle

• The tire mount under each rotor head is equipped with 3

different holes that allow the operator to adjust the forage spread pattern.

• A 15o, 18o, and 21o hole let the operator adjust how high

the rear of the tedder sits, and the angle of the rotors so

that different crop conditions and tractor drawbar heights can be accounted for.

• The middle 18o hole is suggested for most conditions, the

15o setting is for short light crop while the 21o hole is for

long heavy crops.

• Rotor height to ground distance is minimal so that the

rotors run flatter in relation to the ground. This flat

orientation simplifies the settings process, reduces

missed crop, and allows more consistent working height.

Disengaged

Engaged


70




Frame Construction

• Modular design allows quick and easy replacement

of specific individual components in the event of a

failure.

• Frame component joints include locating pins to

reduce vibration and minimize stress on attachment

bolts.

• Frame fold joints use special flange sleeves with

hardened bolts for extended service life.

Working, Headland and Transport Position

• Tedder wings securely lock into either transport or

field working position. The latch mechanism is

equipped with a pull rope the operator places within

reach so that field to transport conversion is quick,

positive and reliable.

• While in the field working position, tedder wings

may be hydraulically lifted to a headland position to

gain additional clearance for obstacles and

headland turns.

• Left and right tedder wings are designed to lift

simultaneously. This provides stable folding and

unfolding of the tedder in uneven terrain.

• Wide track width provides stable platform during

road transportation.

• Inner rotor wheels are equipped with protective

covers to eliminate crop build up and wrapping to

extend the life of wheel mounting and bearing

components.


71



TD Series Tedders- Optional Equipment


72

Optional Equipment

• Spare Wheel 16/6.5-8- 700960862- The spare wheel

kit provides the operator with a replacement tire for

the tedder to replace a failed tire if needed in the

field. This ensures downtime is minimal in the event a

failure occurs.

• When not being utilized to replace a failed tire, the

spare wheel kit includes the components necessary

to mount the tire out of the way on the tedder frame.

The tire can be used to replace any of the tires under

the rotor heads.

• Compatible with: TD524 DN, TD676 DN, TD776 DN,

TD1008 TR- Hydro, TD1310 TR- Hydro



TD Series Tedders- Key Adjustments

TD Series tedders include a number of adjustments to allow producers to optimize performance

for their specific application. In general, tedders are simple tools to set properly and operate.

• Ground Speed- (A)- Tedders are forgiving on ground speed. In normal conditions, the

operator should be able to set ground speed based on the ability to comfortably navigate the

field. It is possible ground speed will need to be reduced in heavy conditions to create even

spread. For best performance, the operator should drive so swaths of hay are centered up

between each rotor pair.

• Spreading Angle- (B)- Type of forage and drawbar height will dictate the spread angle

setting, this is not something altered frequently. Set the spread angle in 1 of the 3 positions so

that the crop mat coming out of the rotors is even across the full width. A starting point would

be the center hole. A lumpy, un even crop mat will lead to inconsistent dry down time so for

optimal performance the crop mat must be even.

• Edge Spread-(C)- Models equipped with edge spreading capabilities have a linkage on the

front of the machine with 3 adjustment holes. Moving the linkage to 1 of the 3 holes will force

the tedder to angle left or right or run center with no angle.

A

C

B


73



TD Series Tedders- Key Adjustments Continued

• Tine Working Height- (D)- In order to gather all crop, tedder tines should be placed as low to

the ground as possible without the tines contacting the ground. 0.5” clearance is an

acceptable rule of thumb. Working height is adjusted by a hand crank located at the front

portion of the tedder.

• PTO speed- (E)- speed of the rotors is directly tied to PTO speed. In most situations,

operating with a PTO rpm speed in the 450 rpm range will be adequate. It is possible speed

will need to be increased in heavy crop to minimize the “windrowing effect” so that spread

forage is placed even and consistent.

• Hydraulic Flow- (F)- each cylinder on the machine is equipped with an adjustment valve that

allows the operator to adjust flow rates to match the tractor. Hydraulic functions should be

smooth and consistent so when hooked to high flow tractors flow should be reduced.

D

E

F


74



TD Series Tedders- Competitive Model Overview



TD Series Advantage

John Deere X - John Deere does not offer tedders, they rely on a

limited, lightweight lineup from Frontier to fill the

needs of these producers

New Holland ProTed

- Extremely limited model lineup available. Tedders

are only available in a 4, 6 or 8 rotor configuration

in 17’1” to 36’1” working width. This means New

Holland cannot provide a solution for a large

portion of the tedder industry

- The larger 6 and 8 rotor tedders utilizes oil

lubricated rotor heads. TD Series tedders utilize

grease lubrication on all models eliminating the

possibility of leakage and reducing the need to

check oil levels periodically.

- The larger 2 models utilize 7 tine arms per rotor vs

6 tine arms per rotor head on all TD Series

tedders. Fewer tine arms means fewer chances for

failure to occur, but it also indicates that the rotors

are small on the TD Series tedders allowing them

to run more parallel to the ground for better crop

gathering performance.

- The 6 and 8 rotor ProTed tedders require 1 single

acting hydraulic remote and 1 double acting. All

models in the TD Series line except the 8 and 10

rotor transport cart tedders require 1 single acting

valve. This means the TD Series line of tedders

can be easily matched to a wide range of size and

aged tractors

- Drivelines utilize a double universal joint

connection which increases the expense of the

tedder as well as creating more service points. TD

Series tedders utilize normal universal joints to

efficiently transfer power without added service

points


75



TD Series Tedders- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview

Competitor Competitive

Series TD Series Advantage

Kubota TE Series

- Kubota offers a limited product line which misses

the needs of a portion of the tedder industry. Their

tedders are only available with a 17’1” -36’1”

working width in 4, 6, 8 rotor configurations.

- Kubota TE tedders utilize oil lubricated rotor heads

rather than gear lubed. This presents the

opportunity for leakage to occur which ultimately

requires costly replacement.

- All models except the TE4052T in the Kubota

lineup utilize 7 tine arms per rotor head while the

TD Series only requires 6. Fewer tine arms means

fewer parts to fail as well as indicates the working

diameter of the rotor is smaller which allows a

more parallel orientation for a reduction in missed

crop.

- Only the 2 ProLine model tedders, the TE6576CD

& TE8511C are equipped with a spread angle

adjustment. This is a feature that is standard on all

TD Series tedders to allow the operator to match

the performance of the machine to crops and

tractors .

- Drivelines utilize a double universal joint

connection which increases the expense of the

tedder as well as creating more service points. TD

Series tedders utilize normal universal joints to

efficiently transfer power without added service

points

- While the TE6576CD & TE8511C fold onto a

transport cart for road transportation, their

transport height is much taller than the comparable

TD Series tedder. This makes them top heavy and

less stable while roading and transporting across

uneven terrain.

- For instance, the 6 basket TE6576CD has a

transport height of 13’2” compared to the

MFTD776T with a transport height of only 9’6”.


76






TD Series Advantage

Kuhn GF Series

- Drivelines utilize a finger “digidrive” coupling that will

wear over time allowing slop to effect rotor timing

and positioning. The universal joint system on TD

Series tedders is a more robust, longer lasting

solution that efficiently transfers power without slop.

- Kuhn utilizes a tine design with a longer outer tine

than the inner tine. This means as the rotor comes around to contact the crop, the outer tine is

receiving more load than the inner tine. Tines that

are the same length such as on the TD Series share

the crop load making for a longer lasting tine design.

- Tine savers are not standard on all models. Models

without tine savers will cause broken tines to fall off

in the field to potentially be picked up by a follow up implement. All TD Series tedders are equipped with

tine savers to keep broken tines out of the field

Pottinger HIT Series

- Pottinger does not offer a 2 rotor tedder to meet the

needs of small scale producers running smaller

sized equipment

- Driveline joints utilize finger couplers or

single/double constant velocity mechanisms. While

constant velocity joints are effective in smooth

power transfer, they introduce additional service requirements for the tedder and increased expense.

- Models utilizing finger couplers will suffer from slop

in the driveline over time as the fingers will wear.

- These couplers provide no means of lubrication and

will be costly to replace when the wear becomes so

great it’s difficult to keep rotors in time with the

swept tine arm design - Pottinger tedders utilize a swept back tine arm

design. This swept design is less forgiving leading

to a higher chance of failure in the event an obstacle

or uneven terrain is encountered.


77



TD Series Tedders- Competitive Model Overview Competitive Model Overview


Series TD Series Advantage

Krone

KW, KWT

& KW-T

Series

- Krone does not offer a 2 rotor tedder to meet the

needs of small scale producers running smaller sized

equipment

- Krone tedders utilize a round tine arm rather than flat

spring steel. Round tubes provide no give and will

bend in the event an obstacle or tough terrain is

encountered. Once a tube bends, the operator must

pay to replace it

- Krone tedders utilize an oil lubricated rotor head. Oil

lubrication provides the opportunity for leakage to

occur leading to eventual failure.

- Krone does not provide a means for the operator to

easily check the oil level in the rotor heads meaning

it will be difficult to judge maintenance schedules as

the unit ages.

- Krone utilizes finger couplers for driveline

connections. Finger couplers will suffer from slop in

the driveline over time as the fingers will wear

increasing tolerances. These couplers provide no

means of lubrication and will be costly to replace

when the wear becomes too great it’s difficult to keep

rotors in time

- Tines install over the tine arm creating an area for

crop to build up. As crop builds up, the operator will

have to get off to remove build up.

- Krone uses tines with a longer outer tine than inner

tine. This means the outer tine is doing more work

than the inner tine leading to premature failure when

compared to equal length tines sharing the load.

- Krone uses a mixture of rotor heads, they offer a 5, 6

and 7 tine arm rotor heads. Multiple different sized

rotor heads means different sized rotors. As rotor

size increases, the rotors have to run at a steeper

angle to do the work. Running at a steeper angle,

creates more opportunity for missed crop between

rotors and at the edges. Additionally, when talking

about the 7 tine arm rotor head, this means more

parts on the tedder that could fail


78






TD Series Advantage

Claas Volto

- Claas does not offer a 2 rotor tedder to meet the

needs of small scale producers running smaller

sized equipment

- Volto tedders utilize a round tine arm rather than

flat spring steel. Round tubes provide no give and

will bend in the event an obstacle or tough terrain

is encountered. Once a tube bends, the operator

must pay to replace it

- The swept/ upward bent design tine arm provides

the opportunity for crop to be lifted from the field

and build up on the tine arms and rotor heads.

Eventually the operator will have down time to

remove this build up.

- In order to keep material from being lost at field

edges, Volto tedders must be equipped with an

additional curtain the operator must purchase

through parts. This added expense is not present

on TD Series tedders as most models have edge

spreading capabilities built in

- Claas utilizes finger couplers for driveline

connections. Finger couplers will suffer from slop

in the driveline over time as the fingers will wear

increasing tolerances. These couplers provide no

means of lubrication and will be costly to replace

when the wear becomes so great it’s difficult to

keep rotors in time with the swept tine arm design

- Claas promotes that it’s rotor head is lubricated by

“low viscosity” grease, this is another term for a

type of oil. Oil lubricated gearboxes are prone to

leakage and eventual failure.


79






TD Series Advantage

Vermeer TR, TE or

TD Models

- Vermeer utilizes a unique hook tine. The design of

this tine has a substantially longer bottom tine than

the top. This means the bottom tine is doing more

work and receiving more stress than the top tine

that is barely doing anything. Uneven loading of

the tines leads to premature failure requiring

replacement.

- Depending on conditions, the tine and tine arm

design has a tendency to windrow the crop rather

than spreading it across the working width evenly.

A windrowing effect creates uneven dry down

minimizing the effectiveness of running a tedder

- This tine design also forces the crop to be thrown

far above and behind the tedder increases the

chance of leaf loss when working in delicate crops

- Edge spreading capabilities require the operator to

get off and change the position of the tine on the

actual tine arm, they must do this for each tine on

the edge rotor. This takes substantially more time

and effort than the edge spreading designs on the

Massey Ferguson TD Series units.

- Vermeer does not include any kind of tine saver

device on their tedders. When a tine breaks it falls

off as field debris to be found later with a baler or

mower.


80



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Overview


• RK Series rotary rakes provide producers a high quality, commercial grade rake designed to

enhance the quality hay making process over a long service life. RK Series rakes differentiate

themselves from competitors through their heavy duty construction and multiple industry

exclusive features.

Customer focus

• Rotary rakes in general are a more expensive option than similar sized wheel rakes making

them a less attractive option for smaller scale or price sensitive customers.

• Rotary rakes are targeted to larger scale operations or operations where hay quality is a main

production focus as these factors allow them to more easily justify the increased expense.

• The RK Series lineup includes multiple different sized rakes, different frame configurations and

different hitch options. Once a customer decides a rotary rake will benefit them, it is crucial to

understand which model in the line will be the best fit.


81



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Overview


82

Model Working

Width Rotors

Tine

Arms

PTO HP

Min. Hitch

Rotor

Delivery**

Hydraulic

Requirements

Transport

Width

RK361

DN 11’ 10” 1 10 27

3pt-

Cat I & II RS None 5’1”

RK451

DN 14’ 9” 1 12 41

3pt-

Cat I & II RS None 6’6”

RK451

TR 14’ 9” 1 12 41 Drawbar RS 1 Single Acting 6’11”

RK662

SD-TRC

18’10” single

21’10” double 2

10 &

12 26

3pt-

Cat I & II

RS/

C & RS 1 Single Acting 8’10”

RK702

TR-SDX

20’ 8” single

23’ double 2 12 45 Drawbar

RS/

C & RS

1 Single Acting &

1 Double Acting

7’7”/

9’10”

RK772

SD-TRC

21’ 8” single

25’3” double 2 12 41

3pt- Cat

I & II

RS/

C & RS 1 Single Acting 9’10”

RK802

TRC-PRO

23’7” to

26’3” 2 12 48

3pt-

Cat I & II C 1 Single Acting 9’10”

RK1254

TRC-PRO 41’ 4 12 80

3pt-

Cat II C 2 Double Acting 9’10”

** Rotor Delivery Abbreviations - RS: Right Side

- RS/ C & RS: Right side or center and right side

- C: Center

Rotary Rake Selection

Mower Working Width: 16’ Swath Width: 8’



Which Models are Best?

Using the image above we will determine the correct rake that would best suit the customer’s needs.

An 8’ swath will leave 4’ of space on each side of the swath for a 16’ mower, leaving 8’ of space

between each swath.

Merging 2 swaths

• The math to cover 2 swaths would be 8’ +4’ +4’ +8’ =24’. The rake that this customer needs must

cover at least 24’ to merge 2 swaths.

• Looking at the working width information provided in the price pages, the only option for this

customer would be the MFRK802TRC- PRO. This rake has a working width from 23’ 7” to 26’ 3”.

Merging 3 swaths

• The math to cover 3 swaths would be 8’ + 4’ + 4’ + 8’ + 4’ + 4’ + 8’= 40’

• Looking at the working width information provided in the price pages, the only option to cover 40’ in

a single pass is the MFRK1254TRC-PRO 4 basket rake with 41’ working width.

• Another option would be to utilize a MFRK772SD-TRC with 21’8” single windrow working width.

This requires a pass down merging swath 1 & 2 and then a second pass back merging swath 3 into

the windrow from swath 1 & 2 that was formed on the first pass.

• It is vital to preform the above exercise to determine the correct model for each customer as needs

can vary greatly from customer to customer.

4’ 8’ 4’ 8’ 4’ 4’ 8’ 4’ 4’ 8’ 4’ 4’

16’ 16’ 16’ 16’

Swath 1 Swath 2 Swath 3 Swath 4 Merge 2 swaths

Merge 3 swaths


83



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Key Features

Quality Hay Production

The design of a rotary rake makes it the industry

leading choice for those looking to produce top

quality hay and forage.

• Rake operation is powered by the tractor PTO,

not from ground engaging action. This allows

the rake to run without ever contacting the

ground so foreign material such as mud, dirt,

and rocks are not pulled into the windrow.

• Reducing organic foreign material in the

windrow minimizes ash content in the bale

increasing the value of the forage, in a silage

operation it will reduce spoilage within the bale

around a mud spot, and it will reduce the likely

hood of baler damage from rock ingestion.

• The cam action of each tine arm allows the

rake to gently capture, carry and release crop

from the field to the windrow.

• This gentle process minimizes crop loss

allowing producers to capture more of their crop

from the field. In alfalfa, more leaves means a

higher relative feed value which equates to

higher sale price.

• The capture, carry and release action of the

tine arm means windrows are built with a light,

fluffy square shouldered consistency which

offers multiple benefits.

• Light, fluffy windrow construction promotes air

flow to allow additional dry down once crop is in

a windrow getting the baler in the field earlier.

• A uniform, non ropey windrow will feed more

easily into the baler creating increased baling

productivity to get more done in less time.


84



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Key Features Hitch Options

RK Series rakes are offered with 2 hitch

configurations: drawbar pulled or 3 point hitch

mounted

Drawbar hitch

• Available on single or double rotor rakes

• Retains characteristics of traditional

trailed implements

• Simple hooking and unhooking process


field obstacles and previously raked


• Compatible with lighter weight tractors

• Multiple frame configurations available

with the drawbar hitch

3 point hitch

• Available on single, dual and quad rotor

rakes

• Compatible with category 1 or 2 hitches,

the quad rotor rake is only category 2.

• Single rotor rakes utilize the top link and

2 lower links, dual and quad rotor rakes

only utilize the 2 lower links

• 3 point headstock pivots so that field

damage is minimal while turning

• Dual and quad rotor 3 point mounted

rakes are equipped with SteerGUARD

mechanism for improved turning and

rake tracking

• Hydraulic headland position on dual and

quad rotor rakes for avoiding field

obstacles and previously raked crop

during operation

• Comfortable road and field travel as the

rake is mounted close behind the tractor

and hitch height is minimal to keep

center of gravity low


85




Chassis/ Rotor Configuration

RK Series rakes are offered with numerous frame and rotor

configurations. The rake’s full model number will provide

information on configuration, the information below will guide

you through how to interpret the information provided:

“DN” Designation

• Single rotor machines only

• 3 point mounted rake

• Utilizes the top link and lower link arms

• Rake may only deposit a single windrow to the

right side

• Rake is not equipped with SteerGUARD

• Headland lifting is done with the 3 point

• Roading should be done with rake lifted by tractor

3 point

• Frame leveling accomplished with top link length

and lower link height

• Pivoting headstock

• Example rake: RK451 DN

“TR” Designation

• Single or dual rotor machines

• Drawbar mounted rake

• Rakes deposit windrow to the right side of the

rotor

• Rakes are not equipped with SteerGUARD

• Headland lifting is done with a single acting

hydraulic valve

• Rotor positioning adjusted independently from

frame

• Roading should be done with rake lifted to

maximum height via hydraulic valve, weight is

carried on rotor frame tires

• Increased transport and storage length

• Integrated mounting point for tongue jack while

rake is coupled to tractor

• Example rake: RK451 TR


86



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Key Features Chassis/ Rotor Configuration- Continued

“SD” Designation

• Designation refers to rotor configuration rather

than frame configuration

• RK662 and RK772 rakes only

• Rotors deliver crop to the right side only

• Rakes are equipped with 2 rotor positions that

deliver either a large single windrow, or 2

smaller windrows.

• Configuration is adjusted with link arms

moved to 1 of 2 positions while rake is raised

to transport position

• Working width is greater when dropping 2

windrows than when dropping a single.

• In order to deposit 2 windrows, the rake must

be equipped with the front swath former kit#

71437768

• These rakes are displayed in the price pages

as “right side delivery or center and right side

delivery”

“SDX” Designation

• Designation refers to rotor configuration rather

than frame configuration

• RK702 TR-SDX rake only

• Rotors deliver crop to the right side only

• Rake is capable of delivering either a single

large windrows or 2 smaller windrows

• Rear rake position is hydraulically adjustable

to the right of center, or left of center

• Working width is greater when dropping 2

windrows than when dropping a single.

• In order to deposit 2 windrows, the rake must

be equipped with the front swath former kit#

700963256

• During roading, weight is carried on the rake

frame tires

• This rake is displayed in the price pages as

“right side delivery or center and right side

delivery”

Single Large

Windrow

2 Smaller Windrows


87




Chassis/ Rotor Configuration- Continued

RK802P/ RK1254P Configuration

• Rotors configured so that windrows are

delivered down the center of the rake

• Working width is adjustable. RK802 adjusts

via mechanical linkage, RK1254 adjusts via

hydraulic mechanism.

• Swath width is adjusted in relation to working

width

• Rakes are equipped with the low maintenance

rotor head, details in a later section

“TRC” Designation

• This designation indicates rotors are mounted

on a transport cart chassis

• Dual or quad rotor rakes will be configured on

a transport cart

• Frame attaches to tractor via 2 lower link

arms on the 3pt hitch

• In transport mode, rotors are lifted and weight

is carried on 2 large tires mounted to the rear

of the frame

• Wide track width of frame ensures rake is

stable is even in uneven terrain, even when

lifted to transport position

• Frame is leveled using 3pt lift height. Rotors

can be individually leveled side to side and

front to back for optimal contouring

• Rakes utilizing a transport cart can be

transported on the road up to 31 mph (50 kph)

• Rotor lift geometry is designed to pull rotors

down into lowest position so transport height

is kept minimal

• The pivoting headstock is attached to the rear

chassis wheels with the SteerGUARD system

for optimal tracking and turning


88




Rotor Head Overview Chart

Standard Rotor Head Pro Rotor Head

Rake Models

RK361DN RK451DN & TR RK662SD-TRC RK702TR-SDX RK772SD-TRC

RK802TRC-PRO RK1254TRC-PRO

Ring Gear Position

Above Input Shaft

Above Input Shaft

Rotor Head Lubrication

Grease Grease

Support Arm Maintenance

Greasable Plastic Bushing 50h service interval

Maintenance Free Sealed Bearings

Support Arm Design

Straight Shaft Tapered Shaft

RotorFlex Mechanism

Slider or Roller Ball Bearing

Roller


89




The rotor head is the heart of the machine. RK Series rakes

maybe equipped with 1 of 2 main types of rotor heads:

Standard Rotor Head

• The standard rotor head is found no the

following models: RK361 DN, RK451 DN/T,

RK662 SD-TRC, RK702 TR-SDX & RK772 SD-

TRC

• Closed cam track design to keep the rotor head

protected from dust and debris

• Grease lubrication eliminates possibility of

leakages and allows individual component

replacement as needed

• Ring gear runs above the input shaft. This

position means debris falls away from the ring

gear if it penetrates the rotor head

• PTO profile input shaft provides smooth power

flow to the rotor head and simplifies service of

the rotor head

• Support arms that the tine arms mount too

utilize plastic bushings and require grease on 50

hour intervals.

• Support arm that the tine arm mounts too

utilizes a straight design

• Support arms may be replaced individually in

the event damage occurs. No need to

completely disassemble rotor head

• Support arms include a steel roller with sealed

ball bearing that runs on the cam. This is a low

wear, maintenance free, reliable design.

• Cam mechanism is cast iron construction and

grease lubricated. This design makes the rotor

head a long lasting low cost of ownership item


90



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Key Features Pro Rotor Head

• The pro rotor head is functionally the same as the

standard rotor head. However it is designed to be

slightly easier to maintain for the operator.

• The pro rotor head is found on the following

models: RK802 TRC-PRO & RK1254 TRC PRO

• Closed cam track design to keep the rotor head

protected from dust and debris

• Grease lubrication eliminates possibility of

leakages and allows individual component

replacement as needed

• Ring gear runs above the input shaft. This

position means debris falls away from the ring

gear if it penetrates the rotor head

• PTO profile input shaft provides smooth power

flow to the rotor head and simplifies service of the

rotor head

• Support arms that the tine arms mount too

include sealed ball bearings on both sides

meaning no service input from the operator

needed.

• Tapered support arm ensure easy tine arm install

and removal and resist the build up of debris.

• Support arms may be replaced individually in the

event damage occurs. No need to completely

disassemble rotor head

• Support arms include a steel roller with sealed

ball bearing that runs on the cam. This is a low

wear, maintenance free, reliable design.

• Cam mechanism is cast iron construction and

grease lubricated. This design makes the rotor

head a long lasting low cost of ownership item


91




Tines and Tine Arms

• Tine tubes are manufactured as one piece,

designed to be heavy duty and long lasting

reducing down time and service expense.

• When comparing RK Series tines to competitors,

challenge the customer to feel the weight and build

of our tines compared to the others.

• The tube is expanded to fit over the rotor support

arm so material is not weakened. This also

provides a precise fit so wear does not create slop

in the joint.

• Tine arms can only fit on the rotor head support

arm one way so it is impossible to install incorrectly

• In the event an obstacle is struck, the tube is

designed to bend where the tube steps up to fit

over the support arm. This provides protection to

main components.

• If a tine arm gets bent, they are designed to be

straightened by the operator without heat to get the

rake back running

• Tine arms and tine mounting is a sleek smooth

design to eliminate area for crop to build

• Tines mount directly to the tine arm with a screw,

rather than sliding over the tube. This makes

replacement of inner tines easier in the event

damage occurs. Competitive rakes would require

removal of all tines to change an inner tine.

• Threads for tine installation are formed when the

tine arm is formed, not drilled in later. This

increases the thread strength to create a long

lasting attachment method.

• Depending on the size of rake, tine arms may be

equipped with 3, 4 or 5 sets of double tines, more

tines means more positive handling of large, heavy

crop loads.


92




Right Side Rotor Delivery

• Due to the ergonomics of modern tractors, the

natural tendency for the operator is to check on

their implement over their right shoulder

• In order to reduce operator fatigue and increase

operator comfort, RK series rakes are designed

to deposit the windrow to the right side of the

rotor. Center delivery rakes would be the

exception to this rule

• This puts the rotor easily in the field of view for

the operator

• Most competitive rakes deposit the windrow to

the left side which goes against the natural

tendencies of the operator

Field to Transport Conversion

• While RK Series rakes are capable of working

widths of up to 41’, each model is capable of

condensing down to a comfortable package for

road transport

• In order to reduce transport width, or transport

height, tine arms are designed to be removed

and reinstalled quickly from the rotor head

• Rakes are equipped with an on board storage

area for tine arms when removed for transport

• Tine arms can only be installed 1 way so it is

impossible to put a tine arm on the rotor

incorrectly

• Multi rotor rakes hydraulically raise from the

operator seat

• Rotors lock into a transport position. In order to

lower, the operator must release the transport

lock with a rope from the operator seat


93




Rotor Chassis

• When operating in the field, the weight of each

rotor is carried by a wide track frame which

provides a stable platform in uneven terrain

• The multi wheel frame keeps ground pressure

minimal so compaction is reduced and crop

damage is minimized

• This wide track width frame allows the rotors to

accurately follow ground contours keeping rake

tines out of the ground while gathering all crop

• Wheels are oriented in a walking tandem

configuration so the impact of field bumps is

minimized when transferred to the rotor head

• Rotor frame includes adjustments that allow the

operator to level the rotor for optimal

performance

• Depending on configuration, the frame will be

equipped with 16/6.5-8 tires or 18/8.5-8 tires

• The RK802TRC- PRO, RK772SD-TRC &

RK662SD-TRC rotor chassis includes a tandem

lead wheel designed to handle heavier loads from

the rotors on the larger rakes

• The tandem lead wheels are a swiveling design

which minimizes field damage while making

sharp turns, the center rings of a pivot irrigated

field for example

• Prior model RK3879 Pro rakes came standard

with fixed lead wheels. Operators can convert

those prior model rakes over to swiveling lead

wheels with kit# 700963705


94




Drives and Protection

• 540 PTO requirement for proper operation

• Power is designed to be transferred in straight

lines to reduce complexity in drive systems

• RK Series rakes are equipped with a freewheel

system and over running clutches to ensure the

rake driveline is a long lasting, durable system that

requires minimal service.

• The freewheel system allows the rotor to smoothly

stop rotating once PTO power is shut off.

• Over running clutches protect the driveline and

rake components in the event an obstacle is

encountered.

• Multi-rotor rakes have dedicated over running

clutches for each rotor.

• Gearboxes are designed to rotate with the rake

wings when changing from transport to field

positions. This ensures drivelines are protected

and extra stress is not placed on the system.


95




SteerGUARD

• Multi rotor rakes that utilize a 3 point hitch

mounted chassis are equipped with the industry

exclusive SteerGUARD system.

• SteerGUARD ties the rear chassis tires to the

travel direction of the tractor based on the position

of the pivoting headstock.

• The chassis tires swivel to help the rake steer

forcing it to track in the same path as the tractor

through turns

• Utilizing the chassis wheels for steering increases

the maneuverability and ease of operation of the

rake making it possible to run larger rakes in

smaller, tighter fields

• The linkage shaft that ties the pivoting headstock

to the rear axle is housed in the frame for

protection from field hazards.

• Linkage shaft is designed with only 2 linkage joints

so service input is minimal

• SteerGUARD is not present on the RK1254P


96




Hydraulics & Headland Position

• RK Series rotary rakes are equipped with a

hydraulic headland position that lets the operator

raise the rake to clear obstacles or previously

raked crop

• A mechanical lock limits upward travel so that no

drive components are damaged when lifting to

headland position with PTO engaged

• Lift function is controlled by a single acting

hydraulic cylinder. Pressuring the system raises

the baskets, de pressuring lowers the baskets

• In operation the single acting valve should be

placed in float

• The speed that the baskets lower can be

adjusted via a valve on the lift cylinder. This lets

the operator match the rakes movement to

ground speed for most efficient rake operation

• Rakes such as the RK662SD-TRC, RK772SD-

TRC & RK1254TRC-PRO raise the front baskets

prior to lifting the rear. This makes headland turns

more efficient as the operator can start raising

baskets while still traveling forward and not miss

any crop

• Timing of the lifting of the rear baskets in relation

to the front baskets can be adjusted to match the

operators desired ground speed using a

mechanism in the hydraulic circuit

• The baskets on the RK802TRC-PRO raise

simultaneously. If a producer requires the ability

to only raise a single side at a time, kit#

700960866 should be utilized

• Single rotor 3 point mounted rakes do not have

the hydraulic capability as headland function is

accomplished with the 3 point lift system

RK802P Single Side Lifting

Lift Timing Adjustment


97




Jet Effect

• In order to protect rake tines, minimize field

damage and reduce ash in the windrow, RK Series rakes are designed with Jet Effect rotor

lifting.

• The individual rotor head suspension system

combined with a rearward center of gravity on the rotor head means when a rotor is lifted, the front

lifts prior to the rear.

• Then when the rotor drops down, the rear wheels touch first and then the front drops down

• At no point are tines forced into the ground

RotorFlex Suspension

• Rake tines that accurately follow the ground are

vital in cleanly raking crop to reduce loss

• RK Series rakes are equipped with the RotorFlex

suspension system that allows rotors to individually move freely laterally and fore/ aft

• This suspension system takes the ground

contours discovered by the rotor chassis and translates that into the proper movement to keep

rake tines out of the ground

• Keeping rake tines out of the ground improves the service life of the tines, and minimizes ash

content in the forage

• Depending on the rake model and the rotor head

it is equipped with, the rotor head will be equipped with a slider mechanism or ball bearing roller that

runs in a slot on the rotor head.

• This design is low maintenance and extremely durable

• RotorFlex suspension is only present on 2 & 4

rotor rakes


98



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Optional Equipment


99

Optional Equipment



the rake to replace a failed tire if needed in the field.

This ensures downtime is minimal in the event a

failure occurs.

• When not installed on the machine, the spare wheel

kit includes the components necessary to mount the

tire out of the way on the rake frame. The tire can be

used to replace any of the tires on the rotor dolly.

• Compatible with: RK361 DN, RK451 DN, RK451 TR,

RK662 SD-TRC, RK772 SD-TRC & RK1254 TRC-

PRO



the rake to replace a failed tire if needed in the field.

This ensures downtime is minimal in the event a

failure occurs.

• When not installed on the machine, the spare wheel

kit includes the components necessary to mount the

tire out of the way on the rake frame. The tire can be

used to replace any of the tires on the rotor dolly.

• Compatible with: RK702 TR-SDX & RK802 TRC-PRO

• Front Wheel Kit 2x16/6.5-8-700963705- For

customers currently running a RK3879 PRO, we offer

a kit to convert the fixed front tandem wheels under

the rotor head to a swivel design.

• Converting to a swivel design reduces field damage

and improves the durability of the tire and wheel

assembly. This kit would be suggested for those who

are making sharp turns regularly while raking, the

center of a pivot for example.

• Compatible with: RK3879 PRO- not needed on

RK802 TRC-PRO as it is standard



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Optional Equipment Continued


100

• Hydraulic Rear Swath Former Operation-

700963257- Installation of the hydraulic rear swath

former operation kit allows the operator to

hydraulically raise and lower the rear swath former

from the tractor seat.

• This allows the operator to quickly and easily

convert the rake from transport to working position

and vice versa. Installation of this kit will increase

the comfort and ease of use of the rake.

• Compatible with: RK702 TR-SDX

• Front Rotor Swath Former-700963256- On rakes

capable of depositing either single or double

swaths, the installation of an additional swath

former is necessary. For the RK702 TR-SDX a

swath former must be added to the front rotor.

• When the swath former is down and the rear

basket moved to the left, the rake drops 2 separate

windrows. When the swath former is up and the

rear basket is moved to the right, the rake drops a

single large windrow.

• Compatible with: RK702 TR-SDX



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Optional Equipment Continued


101

• Front Rotor Swath Former-71437768- On rakes

capable of depositing either single or double

swaths, the installation of an additional swath

former is necessary. For the RK662 SD-TRC &

RK772 SD-TRC a swath former must be added to

the front rotor.

• When the swath former is down and the baskets

are moved apart the rake drops 2 separate

windrows. When the swath former is up and the

baskets are moved together, the rake drops a

single large windrow.

• Compatible with: RK662 SD-TRC & RK772 SD-

TRC

• Individual Lifting Device-700960866- Operators

that require the ability to rake with only 1 side of

the twin basket RK802 TRC-PRO should install the

individual lifting device. This kit allows the operator

to rake with only one basket on the ground to clean

up field edges or rake around obstacles without

impacting windrows already created.

• Once installed, the operator can individually control

the position of the left and right basket versus

controlling them both through a single hydraulic

valve. This kit will require 2 single acting hydraulic

valves rather than 1 single acting valve as required

in standard configuration.

• Compatible with: RK802 TRC- PRO



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Key Adjustments

Ground Speed & PTO Speed

• Rotary rakes are capable of performing well at a

wide range of ground speeds

• Ground speed should be set based on the

operators ability to comfortably navigate the field

• Even though RK Series rakes are 540 PTO rpm

implements, they do not need to be operated at

that speed at all times

• A rule of thumb for operation is roughly 450 PTO

rpm. This lower operating rpm reduces tractor fuel consumption and minimizes crop damage

• PTO speed and ground speed can be altered

based on how the rake is cleaning the ground, windrow formation and crop volume

Swath Formation Adjustments

• All RK Series rakes are equipped with a vinyl forming shield to help create consistent windrows

• Windrow width is adjusted by moving the forming shield into or away from the rotor tines

• Additionally, the forming shield can be adjusted

fore/ aft on the mount, and up and down on the mount utilizing spacers

• These additional adjustments are to optimize performance in different crop conditions

• For example, long dry crop the forming shield should be in the highest setting, short wet crop

the shield may need

• Center delivery rakes utilize a fixed swath former in the center of the rake so that the merging

swaths are accurately placed beside each other


102




Rotor Leveling Adjustments

• In order to perform optimally in the field, it is vital

that the rotor operate level to the ground

• The rake chassis is equipped with adjustments

that allow the operator to level the rake fore/aft

and laterally prior to going to the field

• After initial leveling, this is not an adjustment that

needs to be continuously altered

• Adjustment method will alter slightly, but the

lateral adjustment is typically a bolt located on

the walking tandem wheels of the rotor chassis.

• The fore/aft tilt could be adjusted by spacers on

the tandem lead wheels or the tractor 3 point

linkage

• Additional details can be found in the operator’s

manual

Working Height

• The actual working height of the rotor is adjusted

separately from the leveling mechanisms.

• Working height simply raises or lowers the entire

rotor head and retains it’s orientation to the

ground

• This adjustment is made by a hand crank located

on each rotor head

• A rule of thumb would be to set the tines roughly

0.5” off the ground in their lowest position and

adjust as needed based on in field performance

• Working height provides a fixed set point for the

rotor to return to when lowering down from

headland position.


103




Working Width Adjustment

• The RK802TRC-PRO, RK772SD-TRC and

RK662SD-TRC utilized a mechanical working width

adjustment

• The rotor wings are equipped with a linkage that

will fit into different slots on the rake frame. These

different slots represent different working widths

• Making the adjustment is simple. Move the baskets

to the transport position and move the linkage.

Then when rotors are lowered the baskets will

move to the desired position

• The RK1254P utilizes hydraulic adjustable working

with activated with a double acting tractor valve.

This provides a quick and easy means of adjusting

all 4 rotors to match field conditions

• Working width adjustments have a direct impact on

swath width

Swath Delivery Adjustment Cam

• Different crops, different moisture levels and

different operating speeds will cause variations in

windrow formations

• In order to consistently build a quality windrow

regardless of conditions, RK Series rakes are

equipped with a tine lift adjustment

• This adjustment controls the point in the rotation

the rotor tines begin lifting to release crop. This

controls how the edges of the windrow are formed

• Adjustments made be made with a slider or linkage

mechanism located under each rotor head

• For a rule of thumb, a central position will work in

most crops. However, if adjustment is needed

remember the following:

• Long heavy forage- early lifting desired

• Short light forage- late lifting desired


104



RK Series Rotary Rakes- Competitive Model Overview



Series RK Series Advantage

John Deere X - John Deere does not offer a rotary rake solution, they

rely on Frontier to provide a solution to customers

New Holland PROROTOR Rotary Rakes

- Rake options- New Holland only offers 3 rotary rakes,

with a max working width of 25’7”. They miss the

needs of many producers

- Swath Delivery- New Holland delivers swath to left

hand side, against ergonomics of modern tractors

(excluding center delivery rakes)

- Tine mounting- tines slides over tine tube increasing

difficulty for replacement of inner tine in the event of

failure

- Curved, lightweight design of the tine tubes means

they are prone to failure requiring replacement in the

event an obstacle is encountered

- Steerable frame- New Holland uses an exposed

linkage on the twin rotor center delivery rake. Linkage

runs on top of frame with multiple service joints

- Gearbox lubrication- rotor heads are oil bath lubricated

which is prone to leakage and creates complexity when

replacing components.

- Rotor heads do not provide a simple way to replace

support arms

- Tine tube mounting- tine tubes mount to the support

arms with linch pin, no indicator tab is used. This

means tine tubes can be installed incorrectly

- Ring gear runs below the input shaft meaning debris

that enters the rotor head will naturally settle on the

ring gear. This increases wear on the drive

components leading to eventual failure and

replacement


105







Kubota RA Series

Rotary Rakes

- Rake options- Kubota’s largest rakes are 2 rotors.

No 4 rotor rakes to meet needs of large scale

producers

- Swath Delivery- Kubota delivers swath to left hand

side, against ergonomics of modern tractors


- Tine mounting- Kubota slides tines over tine tube

increasing difficulty for replacement of inner tine in

the event of failure

- Steerable frame- Kubota uses an exposed linkage

on multi rotor rakes. Linkage runs on top of frame

with multiple service joints

- Gearbox Lubrication- Kubota utilizes 1 of 2 oil

lubricated rotor heads. Oil is prone to leakage and

requires full replacement in the event component

replacement is necessary

- All but 2 rakes in the Kubota line utilize their

economy compact or FarmLine rotor heads which

do not provide a simple means of pulling support

arms for repair. Only their ProLine rotor head allows

simple removal of support arms

- Tine tube mounting- tine tube mounts to support

arm with linch pin on FarmLine rotor head, no

indicator tab so tine tubes can be installed

incorrectly

- Curved, lightweight design of the tine tubes means

they are prone to failure requiring replacement in

the event an obstacle is encountered

- Ring gear runs below the input shaft meaning

debris that enters the rotor head will naturally settle

on the ring gear. This increases wear on the drive


replacement

- Kubota is new in the hay tools market segment, hay

production knowledge is still being learned


106







Kuhn GA Series

Rotary Rakes

- Tine tubes- complex shape and light weight design

requires replacement in the event an obstacle is

struck

- Complex method of attaching tine arm, requires a

screw, threaded insert and counter nut. Complexity

add difficulty in transitioning from transport to

working positions

- Steerable frame- multi rotor Kuhn rakes utilize an

external linkage steering system with multiple service

joints. Depending on model, linkage may run under

frame or over

- Complex rotor head drives utilizes spur gears instead

of ring and pinion system. This system is complex to

service and costly to replace if needed

- Single rotor rakes may be equipped with a grease

lubricated ring and pinion driven rotor head. The ring

runs under the drive pinion meaning if debris enters

the rotor head, it will settle on the ring gear leading to

increased wear.

Krone Swadro

Rotary Rakes

- Tine mounting- Krone slides tines over tine tube



- Steerable frame- multi rotor Krone rakes utilize an


joints. Linkage runs under frame exposing it to field

hazards

- Tine arms- complex tine arms with foldable joint.

Expensive to replace in the event of damage, no

chance of bending back to operational position. Tine

arms not equipped with fold mechanism are a light

weight round tube prone to bending

- Swath delivery- some models of swadro rotary rakes

deposit the swath to the left hand side, against

ergonomics of modern tractors

- Non lubricated cam track is prone to wear over time

eventually causing failure and requiring replacement


107







Claas Liner

Rotary Rakes

- Swath Delivery- Claas delivers swath to left hand



- Tine mounting- Claas slides tines over tine tube



- Steerable frame- dual rotor Claas rakes utilize an


joints. Linkage runs under frame exposing it to field

hazards

- Splined PROFIX tine arm attachment method can

wear over time eventually requiring replacement.

More difficult tine arm attachment method

- Oil bath rotor head lubrication is prone to leakage

- Rotor head is not equipped with a simple method of

replacing support arms in the event of failure

Pottinger TOP Series

Rotary Rakes

- Swath Delivery- Pottinger delivers swath to left hand



- Tine mounting- Pottinger slides over tine tube



- Steerable frame- Pottinger uses exposed linkage on

multi-rotor rakes. Linkage runs on top of frame with

multiple service joints

- Tine tube mounting- tine tube mounts to support arm

with linch pin, no indicator tab so tine tubes can be

installed incorrectly

- Support arm- welded, square design of support arms

provides no flexibility making support arms prone to

failure

- Ring gear runs below the input shaft meaning debris

that enters the rotor head will naturally settle on the

ring gear. This increases wear on the drive


replacement


108

Product Marketing Bulletin - Nc Tractor & Farm Supply · 2021. 3. 5. · Massey Ferguson Feucht Hay...

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