Home-Built 3pt Roto-Tiller

[Newhollandharley]

OK I'm back for more punishment. Last time out you gents helped me break a
TC35D in half to repair a severely rusted clutch. It went really well and has worked beautifully ever since. Now I've got a wild hair thinking I'm going to
fabricate a home-built rototiller for this little 35 HP boomer. After I looked at the cost of buying one factory built I'm dead set on building one. I have a lot more time than money. I've got all the tools a man could use, it's a matter of steel for the most part and I can handle all that. Questions I have are like: Whats the ratio of the gear box on most rototillers? Could using a truck rear end come close? If not couldn't I fine tune the RPM's with the ratio created between the output shafts at each end of the truck rear end (where the wheels would go normally) and the gear on the tine bar that does the digging? I think a heavy duty chain drive would be strong enough. I have forgotten, what's the output speed (RPM) of the PTO shaft on a TC35D New Holland ? Then I'll have to look up the ratio of some commonly available junk yard rear ends then finally find out what is the average speed (RPM) of the tine bars of most rototillers ? Were talking six foot wide variety. Anybody out there wise to this stuff, any body tried this at all. When I look at the tillers on the market today they look just like a truck rear end, where the tires would go they have chains or gears that run a tine bar slung below the rear end .... that's it. I know that the RPM of the engine is important to the HP output and the RPM of the tine bar is important too. So I'm just looking for some tips. Lemeknow

 

[kebo]

I'm sure if the ratios were right a truck rear end could be made to work but seems to be that would be a little overkill! Maybe a rear end out of a cub cadet or other small garden tractor with ring & pinion type rear end might work? Or, you could consider buying the gearbox and fabbing the rest of it. When you start, be sure and take lots of pics!

The PTO output on the TC35 is probably the standard 540 rpm's.

 

[Baby Grand]

Reverse or fwd rotation? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[JCB]

I'd guess my 4' tiller runs at about a 200 rpm wide open throttle. Often times I'm throttled down to about 100 rpm.

Joe

 

[joes_427_vette]

Incorporate a Harley transmission in the works. That way you can have your choice of speeds and with all the noise going on you won't hear the close tollerence Harley builds into their works of art ( the loud clunk between gear shifts ) It still impresses me that people pay 25 grand for this engineering. I'm sure they build this in house because if someone else did .... it would be rejected immediately.

There isn't alot of technology in a rototiller. Some gears, shafts, bearings, offset gear box, pto shaft, hardened tines, and some flat metal to support it. I bought a new KK2 tiller, 6' gear drive complete on a pallet for $1200. from my local fleet farm store. I personally don't think its worth the time and effort to replicate at this price. Warranty and available parts ... how can one go wrong.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Incorporate a Harley transmission in the works. That way you can have your choice of speeds and with all the noise going on you won't hear the close tollerence Harley builds into their works of art ( the loud clunk between gear shifts ) It still impresses me that people pay 25 grand for this engineering. I'm sure they build this in house because if someone else did .... it would be rejected immediately.

Hey, dont worry, I bet the build quality will go right thru the roof after they're done opening the new plant in Mexico:
After 107 years in Milwaukee, Harley could leave - Yahoo! News

There isn't alot of technology in a rototiller. Some gears, shafts, bearings, offset gear box, pto shaft, hardened tines, and some flat metal to support it. I bought a new KK2 tiller, 6' gear drive complete on a pallet for $1200. from my local fleet farm store. I personally don't think its worth the time and effort to replicate at this price. Warranty and available parts ... how can one go wrong.

I agree with Joe....with the availability of good tillers at great prices, I dont see how you can build one cheaper. If every penny counts, shop used! I bought a mechanically A+, cosmetically D- Sovema 72" for 800 bucks....Had I not found that Sovema unit when I did, I was a few days away from buying a KKII.

 

[NewportNic]

I thought he was taking about a Harley Rakes transmission. This is a great tool, just don't use one enough to justify buying one.

Klaus

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I thought he was taking about a Harley Rakes transmission. This is a great tool, just don't use one enough to justify buying one.

Klaus

LOL, Nah, a Harley rake doesnt have a transmission...just a 2:1 gearbox.

Harley rake is a GREAT Tool, never thought I'd love it this much..like you, I couldnt justify BUYING one, so I built one :thumbsup:
Now after just a few months of use, if it was stolen, even SWMBO would want me to buy one to replace it.

 

[Baby Grand]

Dave,

if it was stolen, even SWMBO would want me to buy one to replace it.

Where, exactly, in Maine?
We'll be up to Unity in late Sept ... if I hitched up the trailer ...

 

[bjr]

Find a Grey Market Tractor Dealer, they sometimes take back those grey market tillers when customers run'em in the rocks and wipe out the tines. They just scrape'em out then as the tines are to costly. But you can take and strip them down and get the shaft clean up and mount flanges on it and put KK tines on it and then make some good heavy duty draft lugs. They're pretty good tillers after that and maybe a little easier to do then starting from scratch. I've done two of them now, that ways. bjr

 

[Kernopelli]

Find a Grey Market Tractor Dealer, they sometimes take back those grey market tillers when customers run'em in the rocks and wipe out the tines. They just scrape'em out then as the tines are to costly. But you can take and strip them down and get the shaft clean up and mount flanges on it and put KK tines on it and then make some good heavy duty draft lugs. They're pretty good tillers after that and maybe a little easier to do then starting from scratch. I've done two of them now, that ways. bjr

I think this is a great idea. First, the grey market tillers are great bargains and work fine as-is, as long as proper care is taken when using them. Converting them to a two bolt tine is an excellent idea as well. These tillers can be bought for $200 w/o tines and $3-400 with.

 

[Newhollandharley]

I'm sure if the ratios were right a truck rear end could be made to work but seems to be that would be a little overkill! Maybe a rear end out of a cub cadet or other small garden tractor with ring & pinion type rear end might work? Or, you could consider buying the gearbox and fabbing the rest of it. When you start, be sure and take lots of pics!

The PTO output on the TC35 is probably the standard 540 rpm's.

That gives me an idea, I have a golf cart that I bought at a garage sale years ago that's still in the yard. I bought it for the batteries, it's got a rear end gearbox that might work. If not the truck rear end is my choice. Thanx

 

[Newhollandharley]

It's been so long since I was up on this site I made an entry and I don't know where it went. What I said was, I have and old golf cart that I might use the rear end on it but the truck idea I think is the answer and I have a junker in the yard I can use. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, I got swamped.

 

[Newhollandharley]

About forward and reverse, seems like I have seen tillers that work one way or the other. Heres me being stupid, whats the difference ? It seems as long as the platform that supports the device is rigid the same thing is going to happen. No?

 

[Newhollandharley]

Your all right. It's crazy of me to try and build one when so many options are out there. I am just a nut about doing things my self and that includes re-inventing the wheel when possible. I just keep looking at pictures and thinking to my self, there are some unknowns in taking on this project but nothing I can't handle and I can ask all about the things I don't know ... as I have in the first post. I work metal well and love the challenge. That and the fact I don't have a thousand plus to spend on something I won't use that often. I'll buy the hardened steel tines and fabricate the rest. It's a good project for me. No rush, I like it, and I will take plenty of picts for you guys too.

 

[Baby Grand]

Your all right. It's crazy of me to try and build one when so many options are out there. I am just a nut about doing things my self and that includes re-inventing the wheel when possible. I just keep looking at pictures and thinking to my self, there are some unknowns in taking on this project but nothing I can't handle and I can ask all about the things I don't know ... as I have in the first post. I work metal well and love the challenge. That and the fact I don't have a thousand plus to spend on something I won't use that often. I'll buy the hardened steel tines and fabricate the rest. It's a good project for me. No rush, I like it, and I will take plenty of picts for you guys too.

Not crazy - just ambitious. Folks on this forum appreciate that you're doing it yourself and will support your efforts. Once you make it clear to everyone, as you just did, that you have unhitched your project from the "should I buy or make" wagon, then it's all about getting the materials, putting it together and making it work.

About reinventing the wheel: as a designer, I hear this a lot from the bean counter types and it really dives me nuts. Thanks to some losers (in the eyes of the business community) a few enterprising individuals reinvented the wheel and got the cam, the sprocket, the gear, disk and drum brakes, the clutch, the disc plow, the pneumatic tire in all its many forms, the bogey, the harmonic balancer, the list is as long as your immagination. So, no more appologies for reinventing the wheel, but just remember to post pictures when you do.

Good luck with your project,

-Jim

 

[Newhollandharley]

Thank you Jim, I appreciate the vote of confidence and I will photo document the whole operation. I'm figuring I can put about 10 hours a week but I can't begin for at least week.

 

[Newhollandharley]

Fellas, with respect, I read the request made to me by TractorByNet to fill out a survey and go so pissed off that this will be my last entry. I cut and will paste my reply to them ... I will miss your excellent advice and great stories ... With great respects to all ................ Newhollandharley ...

I started to take your survey, thinking to my self, this is a cool blog and I'll help if I can. Are you kidding me, REQUIRING that I list what I paid for my place, that's ludicrous. Who do you think you are, my book keeper or accountant ? Nine out of ten of those questions have nothing to do with tractors. If that's not pulled or modified I'll go on every blog site I can find and encourage every one that will listen to me not to bother with "TractorByNet" nonsense. You want to see VIRIL ? How rude of you to think you deserve the answers to well over half what you asked. I don't know who is personally responsible for that crap but you better rethink your business plan, it has to be a liberal pro government *** trying to collect data for a federal subsidy. I can't tell you how disappointed I am.

 

[towmotor]

Why get PO'd and leave?

I read the same survey, saw that it asked for information I give to no one (if you don't give it out, it can't fall into the wrong hands), and hit the "back" button.

It's just marketing, and I'll do as I see fit without getting angry.

You don't sound like a guy that takes well to being told what to do NHH, so let me suggest that you reply to the PM with your objections.
I did.

 

[Newhollandharley]

You have a point Towmotor, I just thought I'd be as helpful as I could because the info I have received on this site has been really good and helped me allot. Then the further into the survey I got the more angry I got. Who the **** asks questions like that ? My bookkeeper is the only person on earth I would tell things like that. Do these people think were stupid ? My thought is, how would they use that information to better this site ? Answer is they wouldn't, they couldn't, the only use they would have for that kind of info is to sell it to someone else. There's enormous money in demographics and the more you put down about your self the more value your information becomes. I just think it sux. Show a little respect **** it. I canceled the whole survey, I'm not giving them anything, ... but your right, why let that spoil how much fun I have on this site. After all I get to talk with a bunch of good men like your self about something I like to talk about, making stuff.
I'm in the process of rebuilding one of the hydraulic cylinders on my Rhino front end loader and the cylinder has a spring pin that holds the cap on the end of the cylinder that is so rusted I can get it out. I have PB'ed it to death with penetrating oil, I have gotten the cap to turn in the cylinder but I still can't get the pin to budge. Any suggestions ? is there a way to post pictures with these verbal entries ? I can talk much better with photo's.
Thanks for the pep talks fella's ... I'm just going to ignore the *** hole who wrote that survey and the *** hole who authorised it too.