Tiller Tiller pricing/sizing and alternatives

[kyoders]

I am about to take delivery of my BX2200 in the next week or so. I would like to get a tiller for it, but haven't been satisfied with what I've found. I followed the recent thread on tiller sizing, and since my tractor is definitely on the small side, I have been particularly worried about sizing. So far, I've found the following:

Kubota 37" ~ 1700
LandPride 48" ~ 1600
KingKutter 60" ~ 1000

Presumably the difference in prices reflects quality and to some extent, name-brand recognition. Price-wise, the KingKutter is the most attractive, but I'm afraid it's going to be "too big." I don't think it is too heavy, but might require more horsepower than I can provide. Is there any reason I couldn't just remove outer sets of tines to make effective tilling width narrower? Would I be stupid to assume that this could make it "not too big"? The only tillers I've ever used have been walk-behind (or drag-behind, depending on how you look at it), so I'm not sure which direction to go.

Kevin

 

[Bird]

Kyoders, I probably can't be much help, but I'll give you my opinion anyway, and keep in mind this is only my opinion and not based on personal experience.

Yes, you can remove an equal number of tines from each end of the tiller until you reduce the tilling width to one that you have enough power to keep turning. However, when you talk about the 60" KingKutter and say, "I don't think it is too heavy", I have some real doubts. That's a pretty heavy unit for a BX. At the very least, I think you'd need a FEL with some load in it, or some front end weights. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. And of course, you also would not be tilling close to anything if you remove the outer tines. I don't know what they sell for now, but I paid $1,300 for a 40" Bush Hog nearly 7 years ago. It was the right size for my B7100 and I think it would be pretty good for your BX also. I really don't think you want to go over 48". Good luck with your shopping.

 

[DDT]

I would recemend tha landpride 1050. this is the lightest tiller they make but I feel your BX will handle it just fine. I'm sure it would even handle the 1550 as well but it might getting alittle too heavy for the BX.
http://www.landpride.com/lp/products/rta10_specs.html

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I bought a 40" sovema over the net for $1400 for my BX, it works well in my heavy clay soil

 

[chrisjbell]

I have a B7300, which is a bit bigger than the BX. I've rented tillers a couple of times (boy would I like to own one), and will advise that you do *not* get the larger tiller.

My neighbor needed some work done and I offered to run my tractor for him if he rented a tiller. He came back with a 60" (I think it was a Land's Pride, but am not 100% sure) tiller. It looked too big for my tractor - and it was.

I started to hook it up to the 3pt (figuring I didn't have anything to lose), but when I started raising the hitch I could tell it was *way* too heavy for my tractor. Removing tines wouldn't have helped - this thing was simply too heavy.

We wound up having to return it and get a smaller size. 48" works fine on my tractor, but is still heavier than my brush hog (for example). I wouldn't try any bigger on mine. But 48" works pretty good. If anyone wants to sell one <grin>....

 

[Titanic]

Kyoders, I'm also looking at tillers . Here's some information i recieved from king Kutter this week.
They have 3 tiller sizes Availible through tractor supply stores (TSC)
I haven't seen any of their tillers yet but the weight of these tillers leads me to believe they are built of heavy gauge steel. Hope this helps in your search.
TG-48" TG-60"-Y TG72"-Y
Number of Flanges 6 7 7
Blades per Flange 6 6 6
PTO 540rpm 540rpm 540rpm
Horsepower req. 20-35 25-40 35-50
Driveline protection slip clutch slip clutch slip clutch
rotor drive gear drive gear drive gear drive
Depth of cut 8" Max 8" Max 8" Max
Depth of adjustment Adj. skids Adj. skids Adj. skids
gearbox Heavy duty Heavy duty Heavy duty
cast iron cast iron cast iron
Approx.weight 600lbs 690lbs 780lbs

 

[kyoders]

Thanks for all the feedback. I was making an assumption based on some specs that were second had about the weight. It appeared that the KK 5' wasn't significantly heavier than some of the other, smaller ones (< 100lbs.). I will definitely check exact weights before I make any decision.

The guy I talked to at Tractor Supply said 'we have a 60" and 72", no 48".' I guess I need to make another trip up and talk to somebody else there.

Thanks again

Kevin

 

[kyoders]

Timbo2,

I had not run across this name before. Could you tell me where you found a dealer to buy from? The only thing I've found is a place in Canada.

Kevin

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Try Agri-Supply.com...They sell the Caroni brand tiller. The weight of these units may be more favorable for the BX. I have also done a little looking on these units and have had favorable replies.

 

[Bird]

Kevin, he may have just meant that they didn't have a 48" in stock, but I saw all 3 sizes at a TSC store week before last. I didn't ask anyone, but they had price tags attached, and the 48" was considerably higher priced than the bigger ones, which makes no sense at all to me. I don't remember the exact prices now, but it was about $1,000 for the 60", $1,100 for the 72", and $1,400 for the 48".