310 



Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



The teeth of the rake are made of spring steel, and generally have one 

 or two small coils near the upper end of the teeth to give more flexibility. 

 They may have either pencil or chisel points. The chisel points generally 

 enter the hay a little more readily. Cleaning teeth are essential to good 

 raking. 



Some rakes are provided with a short tooth at either side to keep the 

 hay from working out at the side. These are especially valuable where 

 the hay is short and dry. (See "Rake," in index.) 



Side-delivery Rakes. 



The side delivery rake has two wheels in front and one or two castor 

 wheels in the rear. On the reel type the reel is set diagonally with the 

 swath and revolves backward, rolling the hay to the front and side and 

 delivering it at the side in a loose windrow. The reels are made with 

 two or three bars and on some machines are made reversible for tedding. 



FIG. 247. The iron cap for protecting sweep rake teeth. 

 [Courtesy Stowe Supply Company.] 



The fork type of side-delivery rake has arms with forks at the lower 

 end, which are worked by the wheels through a suitable mechanism, and 

 throw the hay to front and side of the machine. Some makes of these 

 machines are also reversible for tedding. 



The main advantages of the side-delivery rake are that it leaves the 

 windrow suitable for satisfactory operation of the self loader and that the 

 hay will cure better. (See "Side-delivery Rake," in index.) 



FIG. 248. The two-wheeled sweep rake. 

 [Courtesy John Deere & Company.] 



Sweep Rakes. 



The sweep rake may be a simple affair, drawn over the stubble on 

 skids or runners, or it may be mounted on wheels with a mechanism for 

 raising the teeth. With some of the rakes the team is divided and one 

 horse placed at either side, while others have the team hitched to a tongue 

 in the rear. The latter type is the more expensive and the harder to 

 guide. Some of the rakes that have the team at the sides also have pro- 

 vision for raising the teeth. 



