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When you’re in the field with your haymaking equipment, those subtle components often make the difference between a smooth, efficient harvest and a frustrating mess. Among these, tedder rake teeth play an outsized role in the performance of your implement — and at HaoLi Custom Spring, we understand how the correct design, manufacture and installation of these small parts can dramatically improve your harvest outcome.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into what “tedder rake teeth” are, why they matter, how they work, how to select and maintain them, and why partnering with HaoLi Custom Spring for custom solutions can give you a competitive edge.
What Are Tedder Rake Teeth?
If you’re working around hay tedders or rakes, you’ve likely encountered the term tedder rake teeth. But what exactly are they?
In simple terms, “teeth” or “tines” on a hay tedder or rake refer to the small spring-metal or coil components which attach to the rotating rotor arms (in a tedder) or rake bars (in a windrow rake) and engage the cut crop — whether to scatter, turn, fluff or windrow it. For a tedder, the main aim is to lift and spread the crop to accelerate drying. As an agricultural machine, the tedder uses moving forks, tines or wires to aerate hay or forage and thus speed drying.
Because they experience high mechanical stress—impacting crop, ground, weather, and rotation forces—these tedder rake teeth are a critical wear item. Replacement parts such as “hay tedder tines / teeth” are commonly listed for agricultural equipment, indicating their importance.
So, when we speak of “tedder rake teeth,” we are referring to the spring-metal tines mounted on the arms of tedders (and in some cases on rake heads) whose role is to engage and move the hay or forage. In a more general sense, the term can also cover replacement teeth in windrow rakes. The term “rake teeth” here thus spans both the device (rake) and attachments (teeth) on hay-forage equipment.
Why Are Tedder Rake Teeth Important?
Now that we have clarity on what they are, let’s explore why tedder rake teeth matter—especially to operations aiming for quality, efficiency and longevity of equipment.
Speeding Dry-Down and Quality of Hay
One of the core uses of a tedder (often equipped with tedder rake teeth) is to accelerate drying of the cut crop. After mowing, hay needs to cure and lose moisture to prevent spoilage, mould, or quality degradation. A proper tedder helps turn and spread the hay so that air and sunlight can reach more of the crop.
The effectiveness of that spreading action depends in part on the condition, design and alignment of the tedder rake teeth. Worn, bent or missing teeth will reduce the implement’s ability to pick up and turn the crop effectively. The result? Longer drying time, increased risk of weather damage, and more labour or fuel cost.
Minimising Crop Damage & Maximising Yield
High-quality tedder rake teeth must handle the crop gently yet effectively. If the tines or teeth are too rigid, excessively worn or improperly shaped, they can cause leaf shatter (especially in legumes) or break stalks, which leads to losses in nutritional value and bale quality.
Replacement catalogues highlight that teeth/tines are available in curved and elastic designs that “minimize damage to leaves and stems.”This underscores that the design of the tedder rake teeth matters not just for mechanical function but for crop quality.
Extending Equipment Life & Reducing Maintenance
From a mechanical maintenance standpoint, the tedder rake teeth are wear items. They interface with the crop and the ground, so they endure bending, vibration, impact and fatigue. Properly designed, manufactured, installed and maintained teeth reduce the likelihood of arm damage, rotor imbalance or failure of adjacent components.
When a manufacturer like HaoLi Custom Spring supplies precision-spring teeth or tines, you reduce downtime, reduce costly repairs, and ensure the implement stays in optimal working condition.
Flexibility & Customisation for Different Conditions
Different crops, harvest conditions, moisture levels and terrains demand different tedder behaviour. The design of the tedder rake teeth (length, coil size, spring constant, gap, hook, curvature, wire diameter) influences performance. For example, heavier crop loads or tough terrain may require heavier-duty teeth; delicate crops may need softer spring-tines to avoid damage.
A custom-spring manufacturer like HaoLi Custom Spring specialises in tailoring those dimensions and materials to meet the unique demands of your operation — ensuring the tedder rake teeth are optimised rather than simply off-the-shelf generic.
Key Features of Quality Tedder Rake Teeth
If you’re purchasing or specifying tedder rake teeth for your tedder or rake implement, here are the critical features you should assess—areas where HaoLi Custom Spring brings value.
Material & Spring Structure
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Wire diameter & type: Strong enough to resist bending or breakage but with enough resilience to flex and return to shape.
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Coil/hook interface: The mount point where the tine attaches must withstand fatigue, twisting and repeated loading. For example, replacement tedder teeth may specify “12.5″ tine × 2.75″ coil × 3.625″ hook” for certain models.
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Spring gap / flexibility: The gap and spring design affects how the tine behaves when contacting the crop and ground. Too stiff = damage; too loose = poor pickup.
Length, Shape & Hook Design
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Tine length (from coil mount to tip) affects reach and engagement.
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Hook/curve at the tip allows efficient lifting/turning of cut material.
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Orientation (left-hand vs right-hand, CW vs CCW): Matches the direction of rotation and forces on the implement. Some replacement teeth distinguish these.
Mounting & Replacement Fitment
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The teeth must fit the rotor arm, bar or hub properly: correct bolt pattern, swivel or clamp, correct orientation. As replacement listings show, many specify “fits Sitrex, Tonutti, Zweeger tedders — item number 0109040” etc.
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Easy replacement is a plus – less downtime. For instance, some aftermarket sets show “Set of 10 Tedder Teeth/Tines … fits Model RT5200.”
Wear Resistance & Durability
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The tip of the tooth must resist abrasion if nearing or touching the soil.
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The spring mount must resist fatigue over repeated use.
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A well-manufactured tooth will maintain consistent performance over time rather than quickly bending or losing shape.
Specific Adaptation to Crop & Field Conditions
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In wetter climates, tedders may have to lift heavier moisture loads, so teeth may need stronger springs but still gentle on crop.
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In dry, light crop conditions, you might prioritise minimal damage to leaves and maximum fluffing — the design of the tine influences that.
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Custom spring providers like HaoLi Custom Spring can tailor such parameters (spring constant, hook angle, wire type) to match your machine model, crop type, terrain and usage frequency.
Installation & Maintenance of Tedder Rake Teeth
Even with high-quality tedder rake teeth, correct installation and maintenance are what ensure they deliver. Here are some guidelines and tips—also areas where HaoLi Custom Spring can provide advice or tailored servicing.
Pre-season Check & Replacement
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Prior to the hay season, inspect all the tines/teeth on your tedder: look for bent, broken, missing or severely worn ones.
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Replace any compromised teeth — using aftermarket or custom replacements to restore full pickup and spreading capability. Browse replacement listings: “Tedder Tine Fits … hay tedders … length 16.50″ … coil O.D. 1.65″ …” etc.
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Ensure mounting bolts/clamps are at correct torque and orientation. A loose tooth can cause serious damage.
Alignment & Balance
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After installation, check that the rotor arms rotate freely and evenly with no unusual vibration. Imbalanced arms (due to missing or mismatched teeth) reduce effectiveness and increase wear.
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Match left-hand and right-hand tines appropriately, or uneven forces may occur. Some tines are specified “Left-Hand” vs “Right-Hand.”
Usage Considerations
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Adjust the working height of the tedder so that the tedder rake teeth engage the crop effectively without digging into soil (which causes abrasion/accelerated wear).
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Use appropriate ground speed and PTO rpm per manufacturer recommendation. The action of the teeth—fluffing and spreading—works best under correct conditions rather than forcing speed and causing undue stress.
Post-usage Care
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after finishing, clean any residual material from the tines/teeth to avoid corrosion or buildup.
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Periodically inspect for tip wear or deformation; replace before performance drops significantly. Many operations say that worn teeth degrade drying speed or crop quality. For example, in a forum one operator said:
“The cams on the bars that hold the teeth wear out frequently … the rake teeth are few and they would leave hay all over your fields…”
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Maintain spare teeth/tines on site. When conditions change (e.g., heavier crop, wetter ground), you may consider switching to a heavier-duty tooth design—custom springs from HaoLi Custom Spring can help here.
Choosing the Right Tedder Rake Teeth — What to Ask & Why HaoLi Custom Spring Helps
Selecting the right teeth is not just “buy the cheapest set that fits.” Your implement, crop, conditions, and maintenance budget all play a role. Here are some decision points:
Questions to Ask
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What machine model is the tedder or rake? Rotor size, arm count, mounting design, direction of rotation—these affect which teeth fit.
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What crop type will you harvest? Leafy alfalfa, heavy grass crop, mixed forage? Leaf loss vs durability trade-offs matter.
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What field/terrain conditions? Wet soil, stubble, slope, rock content—all influence service life of teeth.
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What working schedule and intensity? Large commercial operation vs small hobby farm will have different priorities (downtime cost vs budget).
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Do you want custom specification? For example, certain length, spring stiffness, hook shape, and mounting configuration might give better performance for your unique application.
Why HaoLi Custom Spring Is a Smart Partner
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Expertise in custom spring components: As the name suggests, HaoLi Custom Spring specialises in spring-metal products – precisely what tedder rake teeth require (wire, coil, hook, spring constant).
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Tailored to your spec: Instead of one-size-fits-all, we can manufacture teeth/tines that match your machine, crop, and conditions — for example stronger springs for denser crop or a more flexible tooth for delicate alfalfa.
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Quality materials and manufacturing: High-grade spring steel, correct wire diameters, correct heat-treatment and finishing ensure performance, durability and resistance to fatigue.
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Inventory & replacement support: Having a trusted supplier means less downtime when you need replacements mid-season.
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Cost-effectiveness: Though custom, the right specification can reduce crop damage, reduce operation time (faster drying → earlier baling), and reduce risk of machine damage — lowering total cost of ownership.
Application Scenario: Field Example
Let’s put it all together with a scenario that illustrates how choosing the right tedder rake teeth matters in practice.
Situation: A medium-sized hay farm is in a humid region where cut grass dries slowly. They use a 4-rotor tedder at 10 ft width behind a tractor. Their crop is a mixed grass/legume hay (some alfalfa, some clover) which is prone to leaf loss if abused. The field terrain includes some uneven ground and occasional stones.
Challenges: The farm has been noticing that after cutting, the hay is still taking too long to cure. Dew is re-wetting the lower layers overnight, and on windy evenings they are losing leaves from the legumes. Their tedder is fitted with generic tines that are showing wear—some missing, some bent—and performance is degraded. They worry that they’re losing hay value and risking mould.
Solution: They consult HaoLi Custom Spring for a custom set of tedder rake teeth. Here’s what they specify and do:
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Specify spring-steel wire with slightly softer constant (to reduce leaf damage) but still durable for heavy grass.
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Length and hook design optimised for their rotor diameter and hung height to maximise lift of crop.
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Replacement tines provided in a matched set (left-hand and right-hand) so rotor balance restored.
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Pre-season installation ensures all teeth are matching, correctly mounted and balanced.
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Post-installation, they adjust working height so that the tines pick up the crop without hitting ground, and operate at correct PTO rpm and speed.
Result: With the new custom tedder rake teeth installed, the hay is spread more evenly, lifted more effectively, and dries faster. The farm notices less leaf shatter, fewer rotten bales, and more consistent drying time. Because the teeth were manufactured for their specific conditions, downtime for replacement is reduced, maintenance is easier, and the machine’s performance is restored.
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