Hefty Wheel Rake

Hefty Wheel Rake HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Rakes (44) 30-5-20 About a year ago Bridgeview Mfg. in Gerald, Sask., started building and promoting a new high-capacity wheel rake to distributors. Early this year the company struck a deal with Degelman Industries to take over marketing and service of the high-end rakes. "Degelman VR Series Wheel Rakes," as they are now called, are turning heads because of their oversized wheels with individually-bolted teeth for fast replacement. Farmers also like the overall beefier frame construction designed to stand up to rough conditions, says Jack Degelman. There are currently three models in production: the VR 810 (8 wheel); the VR 1214 (12 wheel); and the VR 1618 (16 wheel). All can be upsized with an optional two-wheel extension. A 20-wheel model may soon go into production. "All of these rakes are designed and built to handle large volumes of hay at fast speeds, shorten drying time and increase productivity," Degelman says. "They're built to last. The frame is made from heavy duty 5 by 5-in. structural tubing, compared to others' standard 4 by 4-in. tubing." While most other hay rakes have 55-in. wheels, the Degelman VR Series boasts 62-in. wheels, which mean it can cover more ground in less time. Other payoffs include easier rolling and better material flow in heavy or wet conditions. Each wheel has standard "Wind Guard" solid centers, a feature that provides more strength and durability, while increasing material flow during use. Another standard feature is heavy-duty, wrap around castor wheels, which provide the unit with added stability to its wings and better maneuverability on tight turns. A special, patented, low-maintenance tension spring design gives the rake wheels longer service and provides easy tension adjustment. The VR 1618 series has hydraulically adjustable windrow adjustment. The VR 810 and VR 1214 have turnbuckle adjusters. Teeth can be easily replaced because they bolt on individually. Independently mounted transport wheels with tension springs are easily raised up with a double-acting hydraulic wheel height adjustment feature. The company incorporated heavy-duty tapered bearings into these rakes to handle both radial and thrust loads, and they're sealed within a dust cap to prevent any foreign material from entering. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Degelman Industries Ltd., Box 830, Regina, Sask., Canada S4P 3B1 (ph 800 667-3545 or 306 543-4447; fax 306 543-2140; sales@degelman.com; www.degelman.ca).

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