Tiller Tiller vs Disc...Need Help to decide

[JDeerekid]

I am in the process of plowing alot of ground for some crops for my neighbor and myself. The problem is I don't have a disc anymore. The one I used was my grandfathers and he got rid of it before I could get my hand on it. Anyway I am either going to buy a new 7 foot kk box frame disc or a 6ft kk tiller. I difference in money is about $300. Whats the pros and cons of this.
Pro Disc:
Easier on tractor
wider so cover more ground
cost less

Pro tiller:
get into smaller area for food plots
till gardens and food plots for neighbors $$
make one slow pass and be done

Con Disc:
Larger in small areas
most likely have to cover ground more than once

Con Tiller:
Cost more
more strain on tractor

So what do people think. Have to do this soon as almost everything is plowed and got to start planting in a couple weeks.

Thanks

 

[bjcsc]

What is your slowest ground speed in mph? (at PTO speed)

 

[wolc123]

I would go with the disk. It is more efficient for plots 1 acre or larger. Also easier and cheaper to maintain, costs less and better with rocks. Can usaully be quickly repaired with a welder if necessary vs running around for parts.

 

[art]

I consider the tiller to be the best option unless tilled area might be exceeding 5 acres or more. Tilling is good for the engine, to allow it to run under a good constant load for extended periods. This will help to keep the engine seated.

The tiller will work in all types of soil and with a hydro you can match the ground speed to the job you want.

To light of a disc in heavy soils and you might not win with a disc!

 

[JDeerekid]

What is your slowest ground speed in mph? (at PTO speed)

I have a creaper gears so it is really slow if I need to go that slow. According to the the manual it goes .12 MPH.

 

[Barneyhunts]

I have a Woods GT40 tiller which I use on my BX2200(22 Hp SCUT) to till our garden. I've been picking stone out of this spot for 3 years and I pick it after every pass B4 I increase the depth of the tiller. If the ground is rocky this tiller will vibrate and jump around so much that it will "rattle your teeth" and it's just plain scary. It can't be good for any machine to treat it like that! If the stones are gone the tiller does a great job of preparing for seeding.
I have a 5 1/2' King Kutter box frame disc that I use behind my B7800 (30 Hp CUT) for working food plots, and I can't imagine using the tiller in these areas because of the rocks.
Having said this, I once watched a video of an 85 Hp tractor with a machine which looked like a tiller on the back and which was working up a food plot in my area. When I asked about stones the owner /operator told me that the machine either busted them up or buried them and deposited screened dirt on the surface. He owned a landscaping business and was branching out into food plots. I've never actually seen this machine in operation.

If I have to work an area with stones I use the disc.

 

[Alan L.]

I have a 60" KK tiller and a 5.5' tandem disc. The tiller is of course very slow, but the disc require 2 or more passes. I think the disc is still much faster if you can get enough purchase.

I have a plot about 5 acres and I am debating whether to till or disc. Probably will disc it as I have before.

The disc is pretty hard on the tractor too. My tractor whines pretty good pulling the disc and does not while running the tiller, but the tiller can really be rough if the ground is hard.

I had the disc first and have not used since I bought the tiller a couple of years ago, but then I have not need to break the ground on 5 acres lately.

 

[john_bud]

If you don't have rocks, the tiller is very nice.

Neither is a one pass and done solution! I will go 3-5 passes on virgin sod with the KK tiller. Typically, it's till the plot, turn 90 degrees and till again. Wait a week or two for the grass to compost and for the weed seeds to sprout, then till again. Produces a very nice seed bed!

Maintenance costs are pretty close to equal. After 7 seasons my tiller has only cost me a gasket on the gear cover and 3 bolts to replace ones that rattled out. Oh, and I broke one lower 3pt pin. Yes, it tills in rock!! I do need to replace 4-5 tines and do some weld repair so that will go up. But I have seen the repair bill on bearings for a disc too so ....

jb

 

[EastTexFrank]

To me, the question is one of penetration (please no dirty jokes). I use a disc at the farm to smoothe out ground that the wild hogs have rutted up and have to go over it 2 or 3 times. For my vegetable garden at the house I use the tiller. Sure it was slow the first time I did it and it took 2 passes but subsequently, it is one pass, 6" deep, and it goes pretty fast.

So, for me, if I was preparing ground for crops I would use the tiller, if I was preparing ground for food plots etc, I would use the disc.

I should say that I use the disc on a 75 or 57 hp tractor and I use the tiller behind a 24 hp tractor. Sure the tiller can bounce and bang a bit on tree roots and rocks but if you're going slow it can chew them up and spit them out without a problem.

 

[Rara Avis]

Just how big are the discs are you talking about??
For Example...
MF/Sunflower 1211 Disc Harrow has a 22 inch diameter disc
CUTTING
WIDTH
11'-10"

MODEL
NUMBER
1211-12

TRANSPORT
WIDTH
12'-8"

*EST.
WT.
4,199 lbs.

Seeding & Tillage; MF Disc Harrows