Tillers? Forward or reverse rotation? Makers?

[hsvhobbit]

Just about to pull the trigger on a new Kubota 4630 and am starting to look at tillers. Kinda confused newbe here. The only tiller's I've used are the walk behind and on those, the reverse rotation makes a huge difference and is great to have.

Is the same true on a 3PH tiller? Is the reverse rotation as nice a feature as it is on the walk behind's? The reason I ask is that most of the manufacturers only have the forward rotation models. I've found a few that offer reverse as an option and one (Howse) that lets you change between the two modes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and really help out.

Also, I'm looking at the 72" model's, is this too large for the Kubota to handle well? These seem to weigh in the 7-800lb range and I've been told by the dealer that they really do 'work' the tractor pretty hard.

Does anyone have a preferred brand or are they pretty much the same under the paint?

 

[hsvhobbit]

Just about to pull the trigger on a new Kubota 4630 and am starting to look at tillers. Kinda confused newbe here. The only tiller's I've used are the walk behind and on those, the reverse rotation makes a huge difference and is great to have.

Is the same true on a 3PH tiller? Is the reverse rotation as nice a feature as it is on the walk behind's? The reason I ask is that most of the manufacturers only have the forward rotation models. I've found a few that offer reverse as an option and one (Howse) that lets you change between the two modes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and really help out.

Also, I'm looking at the 72" model's, is this too large for the Kubota to handle well? These seem to weigh in the 7-800lb range and I've been told by the dealer that they really do 'work' the tractor pretty hard.

Does anyone have a preferred brand or are they pretty much the same under the paint?

 

[bigtiller]

I ran a 50 inch forward tine tiller for 13 years behind JD garden tractors and thought it did an excellent job. but when it came to hard ground the 300 pound tiller would bounce up and down trying to get in the ground and when it finally got a good bite it would push the tractor forward until I hit the brakes. Now I have a JD 2305 with a 50 inch reverse tine tiller that weighs 400 pounds and all of the hard ground problems are over with. The differential box is rated for 18 - 25 PTO HP and I only have 19 so it is slow going but a lot safer around fences and buildings.

 

[bigtiller]

I ran a 50 inch forward tine tiller for 13 years behind JD garden tractors and thought it did an excellent job. but when it came to hard ground the 300 pound tiller would bounce up and down trying to get in the ground and when it finally got a good bite it would push the tractor forward until I hit the brakes. Now I have a JD 2305 with a 50 inch reverse tine tiller that weighs 400 pounds and all of the hard ground problems are over with. The differential box is rated for 18 - 25 PTO HP and I only have 19 so it is slow going but a lot safer around fences and buildings.

 

[hsvhobbit]

Ok, did some research and it looks like the Howse brand will let me switch between forward and reverse so I could (in theory) try out both modes. Hope it's a decent brand.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[hsvhobbit]

Ok, did some research and it looks like the Howse brand will let me switch between forward and reverse so I could (in theory) try out both modes. Hope it's a decent brand.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[KiotiJohn]

I have a Howse rotary cutter that has held up well to a lot of use. I think most of their stuff, while economy, is well built.

I've heard others say that the reverse tillers are preferable, but I don't know.
John

 

[KiotiJohn]

I have a Howse rotary cutter that has held up well to a lot of use. I think most of their stuff, while economy, is well built.

I've heard others say that the reverse tillers are preferable, but I don't know.
John

 

[jbrumberg]

hsvhobbit:
LandPride also makes both forward and reverse rotation tillers. I would suggest you look at LandPride's website www.landpride.com as it is quite informative. Having reviewed a great deal of tiller product information as well as havng reviewed many archival threads here on TBN. I am under the impression that reverse rotation tillers work extremely well in established prepared beds and will work as described by "bigtiller". My concern is that a reverse rotation tiller would probably have a greater tendency to jam on bigger rocks while a forward rotation tiller would tend to throw the rocks. Living in NE with a new rock crop each Spring paired with the fact that I have gotten lazy and do not use my single bottom plow to break up "virgin" sod (i.e. dig up rocks) and instead just till away has led me to the recent purchase of a CCM M-160 tiller (forward rotation) which really does the job as expected. I can not comment on your tractor's power or the power requirements of a 72" tiller. Good luck on your research! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Jay

 

[jbrumberg]

hsvhobbit:
LandPride also makes both forward and reverse rotation tillers. I would suggest you look at LandPride's website www.landpride.com as it is quite informative. Having reviewed a great deal of tiller product information as well as havng reviewed many archival threads here on TBN. I am under the impression that reverse rotation tillers work extremely well in established prepared beds and will work as described by "bigtiller". My concern is that a reverse rotation tiller would probably have a greater tendency to jam on bigger rocks while a forward rotation tiller would tend to throw the rocks. Living in NE with a new rock crop each Spring paired with the fact that I have gotten lazy and do not use my single bottom plow to break up "virgin" sod (i.e. dig up rocks) and instead just till away has led me to the recent purchase of a CCM M-160 tiller (forward rotation) which really does the job as expected. I can not comment on your tractor's power or the power requirements of a 72" tiller. Good luck on your research! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Jay