Tiller Does this tractor have enough horsepower for this tiller?

   / Does this tractor have enough horsepower for this tiller? #1  

fightingeagle

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Tractor = Ford Model 860 has 172 ci gas engine, 5-speed transmission w/ 3 pt. lift and live PTO, serial # says it was built in 1956

Tiller = Long Model 1537 - is 7 feet wide - hooks up to 3 pt. hitch / pto drive

How many horsepower does the tractor have and how many should i need to run this tiller?

In order to get the tiller going i had to spring for new bearings/seals/o-rings/hardware/welding/etc. My guess is that each of the tine assemblies had shear pins on them (just a guess). But it looks like some previous owner welded them all solid. This is a problem as i had to have some welding done due to the the straight keys busting out on the ring gear shaft. In order to protect the tiller from another overhaul (or the tractor for that matter) do i need a slip clutch? does it go on the tiller shaft or the tractor shaft (both 1 3/8 inch 6 spline). If so, how big? I think they are rated by series numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6, etc. Maybe the round shaft 'shear pin' style pto is the way to go?? Best place to get a hold of slip clutch? How long is a stand alone slip clutch so i know how much to cut out of the pto shaft?
 
   / Does this tractor have enough horsepower for this tiller? #2  
What is your ground speed in 1st gear with the engine running at 540 PTO rpms?

-Jim
 
   / Does this tractor have enough horsepower for this tiller? #3  
Somewhere there was a "HP per foot" rule of thumb for tillers, I think it might have been 5, in which case 35 HP for a 7ft tiller.
DO CHECK this, I have little/no confidence in my memory about this, other than it puts my own tiller well within the capacity of my tractor.

The other factors are probably soil type, soil condition, depth and direction of rotation.
My guess is that "forward rotating" tillers require less HP as they tend to "climb" when the going gets too tough and their action on the ground tends to push the tractor forwards.
OTOH "reverse rotation" tends to pull the tiller down and hold the tractor back, arguably more thorough and finer tilling, but I think it takes more HP.
 
   / Does this tractor have enough horsepower for this tiller? #4  
I just looked at tractordata.com and your tractor is rated at 39.97hp @ pto and is rated to pull a 3-bottom plow.

My kubota has a 29 HP @pto and will pull a 5 foot tiller so I think you will be fine as long as you have a low enough gear as mentioned above
 
 
 
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