Bale King VR683

Large rakes usually mean a wide turning radius—but not with the VR683. In Field position, the rake pivots around the center casters, cutting the wheelbase in half. Rear casters pivot freely while the center locks forward, making headland turns effortless.

The short wheelbase follows the tractor path closely for better performance in curves and corners. On the road, rear casters lock while the center pivots for stability.

Full coverage matters for even drying. The VR683 accommodates three full-size 62-inch kicker wheels with full suspension travel for complete coverage in mowed hay and the ability to turn a center windrow. Kicker wheels fold automatically for transport.

The 62-inch-diameter spring-tine wheels are 15% larger than the industry standard, roll more easily, and are gentler on crops. With 48 tines per wheel, you get – 20% more than standard. This closer spacing improves flotation and coverage.

The patented suspension system delivers smooth, consistent flotation and eliminates weak spring eye loops, while the individually replaceable tines save time and effort—one bolt replacement takes about a minute. Wind guards come standard.

Adjust windrow width on the go without tools. Hinged pivots maintain frame rigidity, unlike telescoping designs. Windrow gauge ensures accurate width, and nearly 4 feet of clearance handles heavy crops without plugging.

Bale King offers a twist on a common rake design. The VR683 uses a fixed rear frame to tie the rake booms together with a scissor-style linkage to open and close. This offers substantially more frame rigidity than floating-boom-style machines, but there may be a trade-off. As the windrow width is adjusted outward, the rake booms pivot around the scissor mechanism, which pushes the front of the booms inward. The net effect is that your maximum raking width can be significantly reduced at wide window settings.

Bale King solves this problem with our standard compensation system. The compensation cylinder automatically repositions the scissor linkage to maintain full raking width at all times, regardless of windrow width setting.

These large 11Lx15 tires distribute the weight to protect soft or sandy hay meadows. 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-inch hardened shaft kingpin. 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 spring-loaded caster locks automatically when lined up. Safety chains and road lights are standard, and 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.

• Cast hitch with optional clevis insert
• Triple-trussed center pole for excellent bounce and side-pull resistance
• Mechanisms protected by UHMW wear pads, poly bushings, or grease
• Powder-coated, galvanized, or plated for a durable finish

The base VR683 has 18 raking wheels, with kits available to extend it to 20 or 22 wheels. Each kit includes all parts necessary, including boom extensions, hitch extensions, raking wheels, hoses, and hardware.

Opt for the Kicker Wheel Kit for three full-sized 62-inch kicker wheels for complete raking coverage. This provides raking coverage directly behind the tractor. It’s suitable for both mowed and windrowed hay. The kicker wheels auto-fold for transport, and they lift/lower with the main raking wheels. The system can be disabled via a toggle switch.

The kit includes the kicker wheel frame, wheel lift, suspension system, and the raking wheels. The kit may also include a hitch extension if necessary.

An alternative to the standard spring tines, the 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.

Wind guards are standard on all models. Please note that the rubber-mounted tines require a different rake wheel assembly.