ride-on powered tiller?

[Restoregrets]

Hi all, so after spending countless hours restoring a 35 i didnt really account for the high speed transmission. For the last few weeks ive been heavily considering a small vegetable garden, around 100sq ft, mainly as a passion project. With the massey being way too fast (and large) to consider much plowing/tilling, im really only left with the idea to get a smaller tiller.

after our old cub cadet decided to die, we just got a new one, however the old one is still usable (minus the engine, but the poor thing was 20 years old anyway) so the new idea was to buy a cheap chinese tiller (around 120-150usd) then just use it until it either breaks (of which then engines on those are known for) or just dissasemble the engine.
now comes the part that may be somewhat controversial, if in the event the tiller breaks before (or even after) im finished, the idea was to mount a pulley where the engine would go, then proceed to use the ride-ons pto to act as a power unit for the tiller. obviously there would be risks such as the gearbox on the tiller being overstressed ect, but with it being more of a curiousity project, its less of a concern. so is it actually possible to replace the engine with a pulley? and if so even feasible to run ?

 

[Rustyiron]

100 s/f is just 10' square or 4'x25' Was this a typo?
That's shovel and hoe size and a tiller is more trouble than its worth for a couple of plants and a few short rows of something.
Have you considered building some planters for raised beds?
Sorry if this was a "typo" or there's person physical abilities involved, but that would lend itself perfectly for raised beds or container gardening.

 

[Torvy]

Another option would be a small hand operated tiller/cultivator. Those run maybe $200-$500.

Going the other direction, sell or trade the Massey for a SCUT. I know, heresy, especially since you did the restoration. Rather depends on your current priorities.

 

[Restoregrets]

100 s/f is just 10' square or 4'x25' Was this a typo?
That's shovel and hoe size and a tiller is more trouble than its worth for a couple of plants and a few short rows of something.
Have you considered building some planters for raised beds?
Sorry if this was a "typo" or there's person physical abilities involved, but that would lend itself perfectly for raised beds or container gardening.

A few years back we did try raised beds, but due to the movement of the ground, aswell as the sheer cost of materials here is just ridiculous

Turns out I did make a typo, the areas around 80sq meters, forgot to do the math for the ft conversion.

Aswell as with the soil being clay, it's borderline impossible to do by hand (in the dry season, it's genuinely impossible to dig by hand), and even the little tiller I doubt will handle it well.

There is a plan for the adjacent area where a large fence is, that's all going to be a small hydroponics setup however

 

[Restoregrets]

Another option would be a small hand operated tiller/cultivator. Those run maybe $200-$500.

Going the other direction, sell or trade the Massey for a SCUT. I know, heresy, especially since you did the restoration. Rather depends on your current priorities.

Ideally I would trade the Massey in, however over here even the rusted out b7100/6000/whatever 1970s underpowered Kubota sell upwards of 5K aud , and with the massey bearly selling for around 4-6K if I get lucky, it just doesn't work out haha.

Believe me though, I'd sell ye little old deathtrap if the price went up Abit.

I have definitely went down the SCUT route, but with the Aussie sun, sheer cost (aswell as need for minimum 4wd) you end up paying half as much as a new one lol

 

[Renze]

Chinese tillers, mowers, anything, is suitable for little Kubotas. My neighbour bought a finish mower which he uses for pasture topping behind a Deutz D25 two pot. He burns a belt every season....