Tiller Another Tiller Post

Alan L. · Mar 26, 2005

The biggest problem I having in tiller selection is size. Based on what I have been reading there is no better bargain than the KK at Tractor Supply. My Kubota 2710 has 27 gross HP, but only 20 PTO HP. The KK 60" calls for 25 HP and up and its about $1150 at TSC right now. There is one store (McKinney) that is carrying 48" tillers that are $1098.

The problem is, the 60" would seem to be a might big, but the 48" seems to be giving up a little size that my tractor is able to handle.

Of course these KK tillers are gear. The CCM gear tillers seem like a fair deal, although they were a lot cheaper a year ago. The 56" seems more like the right size and its $1250 plus shipping I think, total probalby $1400 or more.

The First Choice 56" chain tiller is slightly less at Sweet Tractor.

My first project is pretty big. I am putting in common bermuda for hay on about 4 acres, so its a lot of tilling. I own a disk, but it takes multiple passes to break it up, and you have to be moving to accomplish anthing. Our soil, especially this soil, is very heavy clay. There are no big rocks, but an occasional 3 or 4 inch flat rock in this clay that came of of the digging of my pond.

So this is not really a whose tiller is best post, but rather, what size is the best fit for my tractor, and should chain vs gear be a non-issue? I haven't heard much complaining about chains breaking on this forum, so that would seem to not be a big problem unless chain tillers are just too light and like to hop around instead of dig.

The KK 48" is substantial, although the paint job is not great. I think it has an non-adjustable offset so it would cover the tires of the tractor. But I just wonder if I would be unhappy with the size in terms of how much tilling can be done in a certain period of time.

texastomtom · Mar 26, 2005

I am not educated enough on the subject to comment, but that has never stopped me !

If you like the 60" and the price is right - I am wondering if just slowing down a bit would get you by. Assuming your tractor can lift it and operate it at a slightly reduced speed.

If it takes the 60" to cover your tracks that might be worth something to you. Not that the tracks are a big deal in all cases - but they may be to you.

If you think a 56" would work - it doesn't seem like just a few more inches would make more difference that you could make up for by slowing down a bit.

If you are really concerned about HP I would personally spend the money to get the 1400 dollar one that you want/like.

I subscribe to the theory " get what you want/like and you will likely be satisifed with it for a long time, if you skimp and try to get by with less - you almost always wind up regretting it over the long haul and perhaps even having to reinvest later to upgrade to the place you should have been to begin with."

Another good thing about it - it will give you an excuse to get a bigger tractor later /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

tom

If a couple hundreds bucks is going to break you - should you be looking to spend any money at all on a tiller ?

texastomtom · Mar 26, 2005

You might even do well to just rent a tiller/tractor for a day for this job. If most of your jobs are not this large ???

I'm in texas, not sure where you are, I could come till it for ya /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Killer_B · Mar 26, 2005

Alan,

I have a B7610 with a Woods 52". I also have clay soil that is the consistency of concrete in mid summer. My tractor runs that tiller just fine. Your 2710 will run the 60" without breaking a sweat. Go for it.

KB

Alan L. · Mar 26, 2005

texastom, yea come on down! I'm north of Dallas.

I have considered the rental issue. I rented a 50" Befco and used it on this tractor to till about 3500 square feet for sod, about 3 years ago.

The tiller worked fine and it was only about $60 for the day. However, It was a royal pain going the 27 miles to the rental place (a Kubota dealer) and having to take it back after I was finished. I also had a bad experience.

When I picked up the tiller I noticed the back swing-gate or whatever you call it was flaired out (back) on both sides. I didn't say anything because I thought it was supposed to be that way. When I took it back he accused me of doing the "damage". I refused to take responsiblity for it because I knew I was not the one that cause it, if it was even damage at all. Anyway, he's the only one around here that you can rent a tiller from, and I really don't want to go there. The other outfits want to rent you the whole tractor and tiller for about $200 a day.

The $1100 or the $1400 really does not make that much difference I guess in the long run. I just sort of have an amount in mind, and it was more like the $1100. Much more and I will find it harder to justify.

Alan L. · Mar 26, 2005

I guess I should put an addendum in this tiller tread. It seems strange to me that manufacturers have different HP recommendations for the same size tillers. Seems like the only resistance should be the dirt, and 60" of dirt is 60" of dirt, given the same number of tines and the same depth. So why the difference? Could it be that some tillers are just harder to turn than others, even without dirt?

texastomtom · Mar 26, 2005

400 miles !!!!!

ouch...

Sorry you got into that deal with the rental place.

Last time I rented something I spent 1/2 the day just getting it in operating order....

This was a gasoline phd.... I will never do that again... I have one for the tractor now /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif wooo hoooo

If you have several jobs to do and continuing jobs around I woud sure get my own. I do not like having to go pickup stuff and take it back.. I want the equipment here and handy when I want it... For seasonal things the equipment is likely already rented on the days you want it anyhow...

Tom

texastomtom · Mar 26, 2005

The mechanical inefficiencies would come into play - but you would not think it would be over 5% variation between designs.

Your right though - the number of tines - weight, length and width of tines -bearings - gears or chains - design operating depths - would all come into play.

Perhaps they are all tested in 'local conditions' which could create a considerable difference in hp requirments.

Tom

Bird · Mar 27, 2005

Alan, my tiller was just a 40" Bush Hog brand, chain drive, perfect size for my B7100 and I kept it and used it, offset to the right, on my B2710. It saw a lot more use and heavier use than most tillers for 7 years without a single problem. The manual said to remove the chain cover, clean and grease it every 100 hours. I usually maintain things pretty much according to the manual, but I only did that once, after a couple of years. Then after another 3 years, I pulled the cover, looked at it, and put the cover back on without doing anything to it. I checked the oil in the gear box maybe once a year, but never changed it or added any. So after 7 years, the tines were definitely showing a lot of wear, but it was even wear, none broken, and none ever changed. My point being that, for me, the chain vs. gear question would not be very important.

As for size, I'd have bought a 60" tiller in a heartbeat for my B2710 if I hadn't already had that 40" one before I bought the B2710. Just never could bring myself to spend that much money when I had something that worked, although I came close a couple of times; sure did want a 60" tiller. My cousin uses a 62" tiller on his TC29D New Holland.

ronjhall · Mar 27, 2005

Alan
I have a 50" tiller for my B2910. It has offset. I don't think you will be happy with a 48" on your tractor without offset. Get the 60". If you need to cut back on load you can take tines off one side of tiller. The only time I have stalled my tractor with the tiller is when a rock got caught in it.

BrettW · Mar 27, 2005

I tilled 2 acres last summer, in SC (hard clay) with a Yanmar 20 HP PTO 5' tiller, no problems at all, just go slow and be ready when it starts bouncing. Of couse the Yanmar is a BETTER MACHINE!
just kidding, good luck, bw

KiotiJohn · Mar 27, 2005

Your tractor should power that tiller just fine. KK also makes a gear drive, the KKII. Another member posted that it cost him about $100 more for the II.
According to CCI, the gear tillers require a little less HP in the same size tiller. I don't know. I'm getting a special deal on a Woods chain drive, so I'm finally going with that. 52" for my CK20HST. John

milkman · Mar 27, 2005

The 60" KK will work just fine on the 7610, I have used my BIL 60" KK on my BX2200 and I can't tell any difference in the way it pulled and the Heavy duty 48" Agrator that I have.

Alan L. · Mar 27, 2005

I'm pretty sure the only KK tillers Tractor Supply carries are gear tillers. Seems like they are "KK II", but I don't think I have ever seen a KK chain tiller. I just hope if I get one it will be the one that so many on this board are happy with. I'm leaning toward the 60" since it seems that others with my same tractor class are not having trouble using them.

I guess one consideration would be, do I have to go slow enough with a 60" versus something smaller, that the smaller one would end up being faster?

By the way the KK 48" does have offset, but it is a fixed 6 inches - that is, not adjustable. But I think I am close to ruling out the 48", in favor of one of the 56" tillers (CCM or First Choice (Corona?)), or the 60" KK tiller.

jwnge · Mar 27, 2005

Yesterday, I went to my local Fleet Farm store and picked up a 60 inch KKII. They were on sale and if you signed up for their credit card you got an additional 10 percent off. I looked at the 48 inch and was very impressed, but they wanted $300. more than for the 60 inch, not much of a decision for me. Now my problem is, will my 2015 Mahindra handle it ok if I use it slow.. I guess I will find out, If it doesn't, I will put an add in the paper and chances I will get my money out of it. I also was lucky enough to pick up a speedko phd on sale for $300, plus auger for $104, minus 10 percent, all in all a pretty good day shopping... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifJohnJ

drpepper · Mar 27, 2005

Alan L, Don't think for a moment you are alone in your decision process. I struggled too. Wanted a tiller for three years. Then when the time was right, which one? For this kind of money, I wanted one to last a long time. I decided on CCM. I really wanted a 72" tiller, but like you did not want one that would really not work well. I settled on the 66" one. I think it is a matter of following the advice on this board, then go with your heart as long as you stay in the HP recommendations of the tiller manufacturer. P.S. Got a call from the freight hauler Friday, my tiller will be in tomorrow! I've waited a while for this.

thegreatrandini · Mar 28, 2005

KK has 2 different 4' tillers, the kkII and the kkxb. I have not seen the chain driven type that looks just like the kkII for some time. I run a 72" kkII on a 26hp yanmar. If tilling new ground I go 2" to 3" deep first pass then can max out on second pass. I would trade it for a 4ft cuz for me it would be more managable. I don't do alot of tilling. If I ever have to till up the whole pasture I may be glad I have the 6 footer. I could remove some rows of tines but I have not needed to yet...I can just rip the 6 footer through the previously tilled garden. Takes 5 minutes to till the thing. The neihbor bought a new walk behind but I go over and till his up any way...

dcamp · Mar 28, 2005

Alan,
Just a note to let you know I have the KKII 60", and I run it on a B 2910. Mainly, the type of soil is rocky and loam. The only time I had any issues was a rock binding up the tiller and stalling the tractor. After an adjustment on the slip clutch, that problem hasn't came back. I don't have a lot of hours on the tiller yet, about 10 to 15ish, but my tractor's 22 PTO HP has handled the 60" just fine.
I just tilled app. 3000 ft on Saturday, and the tiller was so deep in the soil, it looked like the top plate area was skimming the ground!!!
I did have to cut the PTO shaft a bit to prevent binding. Hope this helps.

Alan L. · Mar 28, 2005

Thanks, this is all good information. Right now I am leaning heavily to the 60" KKII for $1150. If they have a 10% promotion I will do that too, but I haven't seen it when I have been in the store.

The only problem is, I need to pick it up on my trailer. My trailer's boards still need replacing. Gotto go to Oklahoma and get some boards - need the trailer for that. Also, there is short in the lights and it needs rewiring.....

And, just noticed tonight that the registration sticker I have not put on the tags yet expired in October. Boy, am I prepared.......