gray market tillers- cheap; should I consider buy?

[Pablo]

I've been reading the threads on tillers here... seems the decent brands for a 60" model run at least a grand and more for the better brands-- that's for new models.
So, I'm looking at the KK "yellow" at TSC- about $1,000.

Meanwhile, there is a guy within 50 miles that imports gray market tractors and parts... has many tillers- "sell 'em for $100/per foot..." (60" tiller =5ft=$500 -- 1/2 to 1/3 what I would have to pay... buing a new one).

What do you think? worth going to look at them...
Iseike, Shibaura, Kubota, others...
ANY SUGGESTIONS? Any of these brands "better" than others? (are parts available?)...

Thanks, will let you know what I find out.
Paul

 

[SteveM]

I have looked at these myself, and will probably buy one in the next 12 months. The big thing to look for is availability of parts- esp. tines. Other than that, a tiller is pretty simple.

 

[gws]

The yanmar tillers are very strong. Just make sure you the 3pt version. They also come in a 2pt version.

 

[shady1701]

i have an iseki and i can find all the parts i've gotten bearings and tines also most tillers are imported to us anyway alot of oem's i'd stick with iseki or if you can find it yanmar if you stray from those it may get difficult finding parts.

ie i've seen a bunch of tillers from italy. also ccm makes a better tiller the the KK for about $200 less i think. shipped to your door.

 

[stnickstoys]

Pablo,
The price you mentioned is pretty accurate. I am selling a Yanmar tiller today that is a really heavy well built machine. 56 inches wide. I get metric bearings/seals from bearing houses on the web. No problem getting parts. Tiller tines are often on Ebay sold as sets. Just need to make sure they are the size you need. I've bought several sets for considerably less than they cost from tiller tine companies.
Nick

 

[cedarranch]

I paid $350 for my Yanmar tiller about three years ago. Love it. I use it behind my 40hp ford 3600 and my 25hp Zetor. I like using it on my Zetor better because it has a lower gear range so I can go really slow and get a nice soft deep till in one pass. I have to make 2 or 3 passes using my ford because the lowest gear is too fast for seed bed quality.

My Yanmar Tiller