1401 Tiller question

Ym1401King · Nov 12, 2002

Hello. I have both a statement and a question to make. First of all the question. On my 1401's dash there is the rpm guage. On the said guage there is a red line about 2100 or so, and then the lines keep on going on from there. Is that little line indicative of where one should keep the rpms while tilling? I tilled with this tractor the other day for the first time. But I made a mistake. I put my leaves on the garden and was going to burn them. So, I soaked some of them with diesel and gas and lit them on fire. Nothing much happened. The gas burned off, and then was left with the diesel. I tilled them under anyway. Probably just screwed up my garden. This tractor is a TILLING MACHINE!!!! My garden has never been tilled in 20 years. I am sure of that. It is sod and weed infested. I burried that tiller, as deep as I could get it to go, after going over it a few times varying the depth and the tractor wouldn't stop. I just want to make sure that I ran the tractor at the right rpms without hurting it. It never even got hot. I let it cool before shutting it off though. Any suggestions on fixing my burried "dieseled" leaves though? Besides digging them all out.

Aric

Anonymous Poster · Nov 12, 2002

I wouldn't burn stuff with diesel or another hydrocarbon and then mix it into yur garden. Even if it does burn, who knows how thoroughly and what end-products will live on in the soil. Gas and diesel have been implicated as carcinogens. Who knows if they will get into the plants.

In any event, its all water under the bridge because you have tilled them in. I would try to rake them out and separate them. I suppose the diesel will eventually evaporate, however slowly.

Does the garden smell like diesel now?

rccoyote · Nov 12, 2002

1401king, I don't know if this will help but i have a post in rural living asking about pig poop as a fertilizer. It seems according to franz that it works as an oil absorbent also. He states that mixed in with wood chips it seems to remove oil spills in 3 to six months. I have never tried it, but if the need arose.... Dunno how big your garden is but you might give it a try and work it in all winter. It could not hurt at all and might get your garden into growin shape by this spring. The post is in Rural Living. It's titled Poop?? good luck rccoyote

jimstractors · Nov 12, 2002

According to the manual, tiller should be run at 540 rpm. This is at 2400rpm (the red line on your tach) and 1st on the PTO speed selector on a 1401d.
Jim

DavesTractor · Nov 12, 2002

If the weather allows, turn up the garden occasionally this winter to bring fresh dirt (diesel) to the surface for evaporative purposes. I suspect by spring everything will be just fine.

Ym1401King · Nov 12, 2002

Why then does the PTO have 3 speeds? I was using the 3rd speed on the PTO after tilling the garden in a few times, and 2000 rpm. Hope its okay.

Aric

jimstractors · Nov 12, 2002

The other speeds are for high rpm pto driven hydraulic pumps, generators, etc. Your tiller, and most impliments (post hole diggers, bush hogs, etc.) are not designed to run that fast.