Bale King VR581 wheel rakes are second to none in the haying business. Based on one of the strongest frames available, all Bale King rakes are loaded with premium features to get your crop up in the best condition. It offers:
Still not convinced? Ask a Bale King owner!
If you need to increase your haying productivity, don’t underestimate the value of a rake compared to an extra baler. Wheel rakes are half the cost of a new baler with much lower maintenance and repair expense. Rakes require less operator experience and their minimal tractor requirements let you gear up and idle down to save fuel. Critically, rakes give you options to deal with wet hay or wind blown swaths.
Bale King VR581 rakes take the idea to the next level. With over 15 years in the raking business, we’ve added key features and refined all aspects of our design to provide a machine that will deliver when you need it most. If you are looking for a rake that’s built to last in the rough ground, you need a Bale King VR581 from Bridgeview!
All Bale King VR-series rakes feature 62” diameter spring tine rake wheels: 15% larger than the industry standard of 55”. As a result, Bale King rake wheels roll easier and perform better in heavy crops. Because they turn slower, they’re also easier on fragile crops.
The large wheels also cover more ground. Many Bale King owners use 12 wheels rakes with their 18ft mower-conditioner.
Bale King rakes feature 48 tines per wheel: 20% more than the industry standard of 40. With closer spaced tines comes better flotation and better ground coverage in fine crops.
VR Series rakes feature Bale King’s patented rake wheel suspension system. The spring travels along a central slide rod on poly guides which provides exceptionally smooth and consistent rake wheel flotation. This suspension system also eliminates the spring eye loops common on entry level tension spring systems which are prone to failure.
Tines are individually replaceable with only one bolt, and a single tine can be replaced in about a minute. Wind guards are standard on all models
On a Bale King, each boom has ground pressure adjustment and each wheel on the boom and also be independently adjusted.
Hydraulic windrow width adjustment is standard. Set your windrow width as wide as your baler pickup to minimize weaving. Make consistent bales throughout the field even if your crop is not.
Other rakes use a telescoping rear frame design to adjust their windrow width. This design reduces rigidity and often requires tools, jacks, and forward motion to adjust. The VR581 addresses those issues with hinged pivots rather than rather than sliding frames. The main frame stays rigid while the pivot boxes swing in and out for simple adjustment on the go.
A windrow width gauge clearly shows your width position
With nearly 4ft of clearance, the VR581 will handle heavy crops without plugging
Bale King rakes employ a fixed rear frame to tie the rake booms together while a scissor style opening linkage connects the center of each boom to the hitch pole. This design offers much more frame rigidity than floating boom style machines, but there can be a tradeoff. While adjusting the windrow width outward, the rake booms pivot around the scissor mechanism which pushes the front of the booms inwards.
The net effect is that while your rake may cover 32ft at its narrowest windrow width setting, it might only reach 26 feet at its widest setting. This can be a big deal if you need all 32ft to reach. Bale King’s standard compensation cylinder solves this issue by automatically repositioning the scissor linkage to maintain full raking width at all times.
Additional features include:
Four 9.5Lx15 implement tires are standard on the VR581 12 wheel rake. 14 wheel models come standard with 6 tires.
An upgrade over common automotive tires, these implement tires are built to resist punctures and pinholes from short hay stubble.
The caster wheels pivot on a 2″ hardened shaft king pins shaft. In rough ground with pivot ruts or gopher holes, anything less will eventually bend.
Each caster is equipped with a spring loaded brake system to dampen the caster’s motion at transport speeds.
The wrap around front caster assemblies support the front side of the rake boom. This position offsets the weight and torque of the raking wheels which helps to keep a positive camber on the booms.
12 wheel models wings in to a narrow 10’6″ in transport mode.
Safety chains and road lights are standard
Telescoping transport links make hookup easy on uneven ground. Extend the links out to connect the booms to the hitch and when you drive away, the spring loaded locks will snap closed to secure the rake.
Base Machine (12 wheel)
2 Wheel Extension Kit – Adds 1 extra raking wheel per side
This kit includes 2 boom extensions, a hitch extension, 2 raking wheels, and 2 extra caster wheels to turn your 12 wheel rake into a 14 wheel rake. It extends the raking width from 28ft to roughly 32ft.
Note: The casters wheels can be purchased as a separate kit for installation on a 12 wheel rake
Tandem Walking Axles – Smooth out the bumps
Includes 2 extra rear tires on walking axles. Especially valuable in rough ground or when bridging pivot ruts
Rubber-Mounted Tine Wheels – An alternative to the standard spring tines.
Rubber mounted tines perform better under certain conditions including tough windrows mixed with regrowth. The stiff rubber mounted tines can get deeper under the crop for more complete pickup.
These tines are durable and low maintenance. When the time comes, they are individually replaceable with only one bolt, a single tine being replaceable in about a minute. Wind guards are standard on all models. Please note that the rubber-mounted tines require a different rake wheel assembly
For general inquiries, including parts, sales, and service – contact Bridgeview.