Use of a Grimm Tedder

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  • May 22, 2009 at 8:47 pm #40580
    Does’ Leap
    Participant

    Anyone out there using a Grimm tedder? I plan on using one to make hay this summer and would appreciate any advice/insights regarding its use. I have heard mixed reviews on their effectiveness.

    Thanks.

    George

    May 23, 2009 at 2:34 am #52545
    Joshua Kingsley
    Participant

    I have used this style of tedder with horses and behind tractors for the last 13 years. I have found that the barrel style tedder is easier on the hay, shattering less leaves than the alternitive pto gyro tedders. They tend to do a nice job of fluffing up the hay. If I can be of any more help let me know.

    May 23, 2009 at 9:56 am #52544
    Donn Hewes
    Keymaster

    Hi George, I have used one for two or three years and I like it a lot. Easy to use and easy to maintain. Wish I had another. Having said that I also use one of the old horse drawn “new idea” rakes that both teds and rakes. While riding on that rake is a lot less fun there are a few circumstances were I think the more aggressive tedder works better. One is rained on hay, and the other is a rained on windrow. I tend to mow in the afternoon and ted the next morning, and that tedder works great for that. Won’t be long now. Donn

    May 23, 2009 at 9:33 pm #52543
    Does’ Leap
    Participant

    That’s good news. A respected horse mentor of mine, who used a Grimm for a couple of years, told me to get rid of it due to its ineffectiveness and get a PTO tedder. One of the things he suggested, however, was to tedd perpendicular (or was it opposite?) to the direction I mowed. Any opinions there?

    George

    May 23, 2009 at 11:12 pm #52542
    Carl Russell
    Moderator

    I didn’t use a Grimm, but I have two Nicholson’s. I think the main difference is three versus four bars.

    I found them to be really good on level even ground, but humps and hollows will reek havoc. Also I had problems in heavy first cut, they just don’t tear apart the clumps, especially if you have bedstraw. I always carried a pitch fork anyway, and would stop every so often, let the horses stand and toss out the clumps by hand.

    Tedding across your swaths works well, as does an “X” pattern which gives double coverage and works against the lay from the first pass.

    Also used an old New Idea to ted, and I liked it too. It was/is my side delivery rake anyway, so it was no hardship, but as Donn says both tools have their distinct benefits.

    I also used to use the side delivery for the final drying, as raking up the windrows really fluffs up the hay and gets the air to it.

    Carl

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