{"id":586,"date":"2026-05-08T03:18:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T03:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/?post_type=product&p=586"},"modified":"2026-05-08T03:23:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T03:23:01","slug":"9lz-6-0-finger-wheel-hay-rake-12-wheel","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/fr\/produit\/9lz-6-0-finger-wheel-hay-rake-12-wheel\/","title":{"rendered":"R\u00e2teau \u00e0 foin \u00e0 roues \u00e0 doigts 9LZ-6.0 | R\u00e2teau en V \u00e0 12 roues 6 m"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Why Operations Upgrade from Rotary Rakes to the 9LZ-6.0 Finger Wheel Design<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
6.0 m<\/div>\n
working width<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
12<\/div>\n
finger discs<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
720<\/div>\n
spring tines<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
35 HP<\/div>\n
min. tractor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
7.2 ha\/hr<\/div>\n
peak output<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
No PTO<\/div>\n
ground-driven<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The rotary rake is the most common entry-level hay rake sold in the U.S. compact tractor market, and it works adequately for operations under 50 hectares baling a single crop type at low annual volume. When annual hay acreage grows past 50 to 75 hectares, or when the primary crop shifts to alfalfa where leaf loss rates directly affect bale value, rotary rakes consistently produce two problems that accumulate season by season: poor windrow uniformity and above-acceptable leaf shatter.<\/p>\n

\"9LZ-6.0<\/p>\n

The 9LZ-6.0 addresses both problems through the finger wheel disc mechanism, which is mechanically superior to rotary drum designs in three measurable ways:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
Rotary Drum \/ Star Wheel Rake<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\u2717<\/span><\/p>\n

High leaf shatter on legumes.<\/strong> Rotating drum tines impact crop from above and drag it laterally. On alfalfa below 40% moisture, this dragging action fractures leaf petioles \u2014 the most protein-dense part of the plant \u2014 and deposits them on the field surface rather than in the windrow.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u2717<\/span><\/p>\n

Inconsistent windrow density.<\/strong> Rotary drums engage the entire swath width with each drum pass rather than lifting progressively. Surge-and-gap windrow density variation causes bale chamber fill inconsistency, which produces irregular bale shapes and lower average density per bale.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u2717<\/span><\/p>\n

Poor performance on rocky ground.<\/strong> Drum tines must contact the ground surface to rake effectively. On rocky or uneven stubble fields, drum tines catch and break on surface obstacles rather than deflecting around them.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u2713<\/span><\/p>\n

Lower initial cost.<\/strong> Rotary rakes remain the lowest-cost entry point in the rake market. For very low annual volume on a single grass crop, the cost difference may not be recovered in hay quality premiums.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
9LZ-6.0 Finger Wheel V-Rake<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\u2714<\/span><\/p>\n

\u22642% raking loss on alfalfa.<\/strong> Spring tines lift from beneath the crop mat at a shallow entry angle. The lifting motion \u2014 rather than dragging \u2014 detaches and elevates the forage without the impact force that fractures leaf tissue. Alfalfa leaf retention with finger wheel rakes is consistently 3 to 5 percentage points better than with rotary drum designs.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u2714<\/span><\/p>\n

Uniform windrow density, every pass.<\/strong> 12 independent discs each process a 500 mm column of crop progressively as the tractor moves forward. The continuous, even engagement creates a windrow of consistent density across its full length \u2014 no surge-and-gap variation.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u2714<\/span><\/p>\n

Spring-tine rock tolerance.<\/strong> Each of the 720 tines deflects elastically when it contacts a rock or hard obstacle, then returns to its working position without breaking. Ground-driven independent disc mounting allows each disc to ride over hard obstacles without rigid shock transmission to the frame or hub.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u2714<\/span><\/p>\n

Same 35 HP requirement<\/strong> as a comparably sized rotary rake \u2014 no additional tractor investment required to make the upgrade.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
For alfalfa operations specifically:<\/strong> A 3 to 5 percentage point improvement in leaf retention across 150 bales per year at $90\/bale equals $405 to $675 recovered annually from hay quality alone \u2014 typically more than enough to justify the price difference between a rotary rake and the 9LZ-6.0 in the first season.<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Sp\u00e9cifications techniques<\/h2>\n

All values are factory-rated. The 9LZ-6.0 requires only a standard drawbar hitch and one rear SCV hydraulic outlet for lift\/lower. No PTO shaft. No electrical harness beyond optional lighting. Any tractor from approximately 35 HP upward with hydraulic remotes can operate this machine.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Non.<\/th>\nParam\u00e8tre<\/th>\nUnit\u00e9<\/th>\nValeur<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1<\/td>\nMod\u00e8le<\/td>\n\/<\/td>\n9LZ-6.0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nType d'attelage<\/td>\n\/<\/td>\nDrawbar (towed)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nDrive Type<\/td>\n\/<\/td>\nGround-driven \u2014 no PTO required<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nLargeur de travail<\/td>\nm (pi)<\/td>\n6.0 (19.7 ft)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nDisc (Wheel) Quantity<\/td>\npi\u00e8ces<\/td>\n12<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nSpring Tines per Disc<\/td>\npi\u00e8ces<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nTotal Spring Tines<\/td>\npi\u00e8ces<\/td>\n720<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nWindrow Width<\/td>\nm (in)<\/td>\n0.8\u20131.4 (31.5\u201355.1 in)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nPuissance requise du tracteur<\/td>\nkW (HP)<\/td>\n\u2265 25 (\u2248 35 HP)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nVitesse de travail<\/td>\nkm\/h (mph)<\/td>\n7\u201312 (4.3\u20137.5 mph)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nProductivit\u00e9<\/td>\nha\/hr (ac\/hr)<\/td>\n4.2\u20137.2 (10.4\u201317.8 ac\/hr)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nRaking Loss Rate<\/td>\n%<\/td>\n\u2264 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nPoids de la machine<\/td>\nkg (lb)<\/td>\n~800 (1,764 lb)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

35 HP: The Most Accessible Commercial Hay Rake Tractor Requirement Available<\/h2>\n

Most commercial hay rakes in the 6-meter and larger width class specify tractor power requirements of 55 HP or above. The 9LZ-6.0’s 35 HP minimum is possible because the ground-driven disc mechanism draws zero power from the tractor beyond towing \u2014 all 720 tines spin from ground contact without any PTO, hydraulic motor, or belt drive extracting engine power. The tractor’s engine must provide only the drawbar pull to move approximately 800 kg of machine at 7 to 12 km\/h working speed.<\/p>\n

This 35 HP floor opens the 9LZ-6.0 to a tractor class that the majority of smaller U.S. farm operations already own. The following models are confirmed compatible:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
35\u201345 HP Compact<\/div>\n
\n
Kubota B3350 \/ B2650<\/div>\n
John Deere 3038E \/ 3046R<\/div>\n
Mahindra eMax 35<\/div>\n
LS Tractor MT342<\/div>\n
Kioti CK3510<\/div>\n
Yanmar SA424<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u2714 Functional on flat-moderate terrain<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
45\u201360 HP Utility<\/div>\n
\n
Kubota MX5400 \/ M5660<\/div>\n
John Deere 4052R \/ 5055E<\/div>\n
New Holland Workmaster 50<\/div>\n
Massey Ferguson 1754E<\/div>\n
Case IH Farmall 50A<\/div>\n
Kioti DK4510<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u2714 Comfortable on any terrain<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
60\u201375 HP Mid-Range<\/div>\n
\n
Kubota M7060<\/div>\n
John Deere 5065E \/ 5075E<\/div>\n
NH T4.75 \/ T5.90<\/div>\n
Massey MF 5711<\/div>\n
Case IH Farmall 65C<\/div>\n
Kioti DK5510<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u2714 Overspecified \u2014 fully functional<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

The single-tractor hay workflow<\/strong><\/p>\n

On a single-tractor operation, the 35 HP floor means the same 40 to 55 HP utility tractor handles every step in the hay program: connect the mower, cut; swap to the rake, windrow; swap to the forage baler, bale. The 9LZ-6.0 adds no tractor upgrade requirement to that workflow. Its ground-driven mechanism also leaves the rear PTO completely free \u2014 so if your workflow runs the baler and rake sequentially on the same machine, there is no PTO reconfiguration between implements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
1<\/div>\n
tractor needed
\nfor the whole system<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\"9LZ-6.0<\/p>\n

Why 6 Meters Is the Right Width for Most Mid-Size Operations \u2014 Not 9<\/h2>\n

One of the most common purchasing errors in the hay rake market is overspecifying width. The logic runs: “if I’m upgrading anyway, I may as well buy the largest machine so I don’t have to upgrade again.” That reasoning makes sense for implements that hold value through utilization \u2014 tractors, trucks, harvesting equipment. It does not apply to towed field implements that sit idle between cuttings.<\/p>\n

The practical problem with overspecifying rake width is that the time saved per pass by a wider machine is only recovered if the annual raking volume is high enough to produce a meaningful number of passes. At 100 hectares per year with three cuttings (300 ha total annual raking area), the difference between a 6-meter rake and a 9-meter rake is approximately 23 raking hours per year \u2014 less than three full working days. At the capital cost premium for a 9-meter commercial machine, those 23 hours do not pay back for years.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Annual Program<\/th>\n9LZ-6.0 hrs\/yr
\n(@ 5.5 ha\/hr)<\/span><\/th>\n		9LZY-9.0 hrs\/yr
\n(@ 7.5 ha\/hr)<\/span><\/th>\n		Annual Hours Saved<\/th>\nVerdict<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
50 ha, 3 cuts = 150 ha<\/td>\n27 hrs<\/td>\n20 hrs<\/td>\n7 hrs\/yr<\/td>\n\u2192 9LZ-6.0 optimal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
100 ha, 3 cuts = 300 ha<\/td>\n55 hrs<\/td>\n40 hrs<\/td>\n15 hrs\/yr<\/td>\n\u2192 9LZ-6.0 optimal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
150 ha, 3 cuts = 450 ha<\/td>\n82 hrs<\/td>\n60 hrs<\/td>\n22 hrs\/yr<\/td>\n\u2192 Borderline \u2014 evaluate weather window risk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
250 ha, 3 cuts = 750 ha<\/td>\n136 hrs<\/td>\n100 hrs<\/td>\n36 hrs\/yr<\/td>\n\u2192 Consider 9LZY-9.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
The weather-window caveat:<\/strong> The right-sizing table above is for operations where a single cutting can be raked across multiple days without quality risk. If your operation is in a high-rain-risk region (Great Lakes, Northeast, Pacific Northwest) where the window from dry windrow to rain event is commonly 36 to 48 hours, the additional raking speed of a wider machine reduces weather exposure risk \u2014 which may justify the upgrade regardless of annual hour savings. Discuss your regional weather profile with our U.S. team when selecting between 6-meter and 9-meter options.<\/div>\n

\"9LZ-6.0<\/p>\n

The 9LZ-6.0 in a Typical 100-Acre Small-Farm Hay Program<\/h2>\n

A 100-acre mixed alfalfa and grass farm in the Midwest running three cuttings per year produces approximately 350 to 450 bales annually. Here is what the 9LZ-6.0 hay rake’s role looks like on that operation across a full calendar year:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
First Cutting<\/div>\n
Late May \u2013 Early June<\/div>\n
\n
\u25b8<\/span> Mow 100 acres over 2\u20133 days with the mower<\/a><\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> 9LZ-6.0 rakes all 100 acres in approximately 18\u201320 hrs (2.5 working days at 7 hrs\/day)<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> Baler follows on raked windrows<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> ~150 bales from this cut at 1.25 bales\/acre<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Second Cutting<\/div>\n
Mid July \u2013 Late July<\/div>\n
\n
\u25b8<\/span> Summer heat increases drying speed \u2014 raking may follow mowing same day<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> 9LZ-6.0 rakes 100 acres in 18\u201320 hrs<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> Higher quality summer alfalfa \u2014 leaf-gentle raking matters most<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> ~150 bales from this cut<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Third Cutting<\/div>\n
Late August \u2013 September<\/div>\n
\n
\u25b8<\/span> Fall cut \u2014 weather risk returns with September rain probability<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> Raking speed matters here; 9LZ-6.0 at 10\u201312 km\/h on dry conditions to clear quickly<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> 18\u201320 hrs total raking time<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> ~100\u2013120 bales from lighter fall cut<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Off-Season<\/div>\n
October \u2013 April<\/div>\n
\n
\u25b8<\/span> Annual maintenance: pre-season bearing inspection and tine check (~2 hrs)<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> Stored folded \u2014 compact transport width fits in any implement shed<\/div>\n
\u25b8<\/span> Total active hours\/yr: ~55\u201360 hrs \u2014 well within bearing service life<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Full-year result:<\/strong> ~400\u2013420 bales raked across 3 cuttings using 55\u201360 machine hours per year. Total annual raking cost (tractor fuel + bearing grease + proportional tine replacement): typically $180 to $280 per year for this program \u2014 or approximately $0.45 to $0.70 per bale, well under a $3 to $5 custom raking rate.<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Compact Field Mobility: Where Smaller Width Becomes an Operational Advantage<\/h2>\n

On small-to-mid farm operations, field shape matters more than on large commercial farms with long, regular rectangular fields. Irregular field shapes, tree lines, ponds, drainage ditches, and narrow field access lanes all create situations where a compact-width implement completes the task more efficiently than a wide one. The 9LZ-6.0’s 6-meter working width and lower total machine mass produce specific field mobility advantages:<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\ud83d\udd04 Shorter Headland Turns<\/strong><\/p>\n

A 6-meter V-rake requires approximately 8 to 10 meters of headland turning radius at standard working speed \u2014 less than a 9-meter machine’s 12 to 14 meter requirement. On fields with 20 to 30 meter headland strips (common on small rectangular fields), the shorter turning radius produces more effective field time per pass and less crop material driven over by the tractor during headland turns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\ud83d\udeaa Field Gate Clearance<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 9LZ-6.0 folds to a compact transport width well within standard U.S. agricultural implement road limits. For operations with narrow field entry lanes or farm gates, the folded transport profile is easier to maneuver through restricted access points than wider 9-meter machines whose folded dimensions push the boundary of standard implement road limits in some states.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\ud83c\udfda Implement Shed Storage<\/strong><\/p>\n

At ~800 kg and 6-meter working width, the 9LZ-6.0 stores more conveniently in a standard farm implement shed bay than commercial 9-meter machines. The folded footprint fits a standard single-bay implement shed without requiring a dedicated wide implement building \u2014 relevant on operations where covered implement storage space is limited.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\ud83c\udf3f Irregular Field Shapes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fields with curved borders, diagonal corners, and irregular geometry are better served by a compact-width machine that can make shorter, tighter passes at the field boundary to minimize unraked strips. On a 20-acre irregular field, a 6-meter rake may require 3 to 4 fewer wide headland turns than a 9-meter machine, recovering material that would otherwise remain as headland windrow residue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

How the 9LZ-6.0 Finger Wheel System Works<\/h2>\n

The 9LZ-6.0 operates on the same ground-driven finger disc principle as the larger models in our hay rake range \u2014 understanding it takes two minutes and explains every aspect of the machine’s performance and maintenance profile.<\/p>\n

\"R\u00e2teau<\/p>\n

Ground contact \u2192 disc rotation:<\/strong> Each of the 12 discs is mounted on a free-spinning hub bearing. As the tractor moves forward, the curved spring tines contact the ground surface and cut crop simultaneously. Ground friction causes each disc to rotate \u2014 no external drive input required. Disc rotation speed scales directly with tractor ground speed: faster travel produces faster disc rotation and more tine contacts per square meter.<\/p>\n

Disc angle \u2192 lateral crop flow:<\/strong> Each disc is fixed at an inward-facing angle in the V-configuration. As tines rotate, they lift forage from beneath and impart a lateral velocity component toward the machine center. The two disc banks (left and right) each sweep their half of the 6-meter working width inward toward the centerline, depositing a single centered windrow at the machine’s track center.<\/p>\n

Spring tine deflection \u2192 obstacle tolerance:<\/strong> Every tine is spring-steel \u2014 it bends elastically when it contacts a rock, hard soil clump, or stubble base, then returns to its working position. This deflection-recovery cycle produces no damage to the tine or the disc hub bearing. The independent floating suspension on each disc allows each 60-tine disc assembly to follow field contour independently, maintaining tine-to-ground contact pressure across the full 6-meter width even on undulating terrain.<\/p>\n

The machine produces a centered 0.8 to 1.4 m windrow matching the pickup header width of the round baler lineup<\/a>. The compact forage baler models in the 9YG-1.0C and 9YG-1.25 class, which are designed for the same 35 to 65 HP tractor range as the 9LZ-6.0, operate directly on the windrow output of this rake with no additional width adjustment needed. This tractor-rake-baler system at the same HP class is the core of a single-tractor small-farm hay program that the 9LZ-6.0 is specifically sized to support. The round baler in that chain uses a 540 rpm PTO driveline with a transfer agricultural gearbox<\/a> \u2014 the one powered component in the otherwise entirely ground-driven and mechanically passive hay-making chain that the 9LZ-6.0 enables.<\/p>\n

\"agricultural<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Six Reasons Small-to-Mid Farm Hay Producers Choose the 9LZ-6.0<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\ud83c\udf3e<\/div>\n

The Alfalfa Leaf Retention Advantage<\/strong><\/p>\n

For operations where alfalfa quality grade directly affects sale price, the transition from a rotary rake to the 9LZ-6.0 finger wheel design is often the single highest-ROI equipment upgrade available. Three to five percent less leaf shatter per cutting, multiplied across 150 bales per year at $10 to $15 per bale quality premium, produces a first-season recovery of $450 to $1,125 \u2014 real numbers from operations that have made this switch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\u2699\ufe0f<\/div>\n

12 Bearings \u2014 Minimal Annual Upkeep<\/strong><\/p>\n

12 disc hub bearings are the machine’s only mechanical wear components beyond spring tines. At typical small-farm annual hours (50 to 60 operating hours per year), bearing replacement intervals run 4 to 7 years \u2014 a maintenance profile more similar to a fertilizer spreader than a complex mechanical implement. Total annual service cost on a well-maintained 9LZ-6.0 at this utilization level typically runs under $200 per year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\ud83d\ude9c<\/div>\n

Consistent Windrow \u2014 Better Bales<\/strong><\/p>\n

12 independently floating discs processing a continuous 6-meter mat produce a windrow of consistent density from the first meter to the last. Baler operators consistently report that bales from well-windrowed hay with a finger wheel V-rake are more uniformly round, denser, and easier to wrap consistently than bales produced from rotary-raked windrows where density peaks and troughs are common.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\ud83d\udcc9<\/div>\n

No PTO \u2014 Full Versatility<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ground-driven disc rotation means the 9LZ-6.0 can be towed by any tractor with a drawbar and one SCV hydraulic outlet \u2014 including tractors whose rear PTO is already occupied with another implement, or older tractors where PTO maintenance is a concern. The machine leaves the rear PTO completely free throughout operation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\ud83d\udcb0<\/div>\n

Right Capital Cost for the Operation Scale<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 9LZ-6.0 is priced at the level appropriate for operations producing 50 to 200 hectares annually \u2014 not at the commercial-fleet price of 9-meter machines that are amortized over 400+ hectares per year. Buying the correctly-sized machine at the correct price point recovers capital faster and leaves budget for other farm investments that produce returns at the same operating scale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\ud83c\udf31<\/div>\n

Scalable Upgrade Path<\/strong><\/p>\n

When annual hay acreage grows past 200 to 250 hectares, the 9LZ-6.0 has demonstrated its value and the operation has the cash flow data to justify the step up to a 9-meter model. Starting with the right-sized 6-meter machine builds institutional knowledge of the finger wheel V-rake system \u2014 operating procedure, tine management, windrow-width tuning \u2014 that transfers directly to the larger machine when the time comes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Why Small-Farm Hay Producers Choose foragebaler.com<\/h2>\n
\"usine<\/div>\n