Tiller HP Rating - Tiller vs Tractor

[Michigan_Mike]

I'm looking at a used tiller, but it has a hp rating of 30 to 35, and my JD790 is rated at 27, (24 at the PTO)
Is that too much of a difference?

 

[darkviper]

the important thing is how wide does it till?

 

[jinman]

I'm looking at a used tiller, but it has a hp rating of 30 to 35, and my JD790 is rated at 27, (24 at the PTO)
Is that too much of a difference?

Mike, if it's a good deal, then you should consider that you can remove sets of tines (they just bolt on) if the tiller is too large. If you buy a tiller that's too small, you can't do that.

 

[Bird]

Mike, I think most tillers have two horsepower ratings; a minimum and a maximum. The minimum is what the manufacturer thinks you need to till normal or average soil to its maximum depth at optimum speeds. If your soil is very sandy, already pretty soft, etc. you can certainly use less horsepower, you can go slower, or as jinman said, remove some tines. The maximum rating is for the amount of torque the gearbox can stand without being damaged. You can use a bigger tractor with more horsepower, but if it tears up the gearbox, and the manufacturer knows what did it, they wouldn't honor the warranty. But you can still safely use it if it has a slip clutch properly adjusted, or a soft enough shear bolt, without hurting it.

My inclination is to tell you to go for it.

 

[Michigan_Mike]

60", which is about the width of the 790's back tires

 

[Michigan_Mike]

Thanks. I hadn't thought of removing tines. That makes sense.

Now, when I inspect it, is there anything I should be looking for?
Bent or broken tines is one obvious thing, but what else?

 

[Bird]

Thanks. I hadn't thought of removing tines. That makes sense.

Now, when I inspect it, is there anything I should be looking for?
Bent or broken tines is one obvious thing, but what else?

Is there oil in the gearbox? Can you turn the PTO driveshaft by hand? If so, how much "slack" is there; i.e., how much can you turn it without turning the tine? Any missing nuts or bolts?

 

[sandman2234]

I would hope you have already bought it, if the price is right, and you need one (and it passed your inspection).
Rusted sheet metal, obviously bad bearings, etc
Just how picky you get, depends a lot on you, and the price.
David from jax

 

[bontai_Joe]

Things to check for:
1.Oil leaks around ALL the shafts and the gear box
2.Chewed up or worn splines on the main drive shaft
3.Severe rust on the housing (severe meaning holes rusted through)
4.Severe "play" in the drive shaft where rotating the shaft in either direction does not move the tines at first.
5.Where can you get replacement tines at? And what do they cost?
6.Mounting points severely worn.
7.Housing badly bent or cracked requiring welding to fix.
8.Tine wear, missing tines, bent tines, damage to the shaft the tines mount on.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

One thing yo forgot slip clutch. If it doesn't have one make shure you get one