BEST 72" TILLER,

[muscat]

BEST 72\" TILLER,

Looking for a tiller 72" to put behind a Kabota L4330 (~35 PTO HP) I need to till over 5 acreas a couple times a year (might increase to 10)

Lots of folks recommend CCM for Top and Tilt, I noticed they have tillers too A MR 190 72" 54 tines #800 for $1550 as well as a heavy duty unit SR 185 72" 42 tines #1042 for $1850.

Any one with CCM or other tiller experiance good or bad want to offer up an opinion?

Thanks

 

[LarryD]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

I've got the First Choice 60" tiller. I think it's an RT-04 60 and I've tilled up some pretty big rocks with it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. The only thing it has done is put a few dimples in the tailgate in the rear. After a couple of hits, I really expected to find a tine or two with some marks or damage but nothing. All the tines still have a good "edge" on them and none seem deformed. I've just got to learn to do a better job of ripping the area first with the box blade, that's hard to do when the teeth on the boxblade only scratch the surface and the tiller gets down 5' or 6". It is a pretty sturdy unit IMO.

 

[Dargo]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

Is your tractor HST or a gear tractor? With my soil, a 4330 wouldn't turn a 72" tiller in low gear. The same tractor in HST had no problem. I have a 72" Maschio that came with a slip clutch so I don't have to worry about shear bolts. I bought the Maschio after the JD guy told me that the particular model I was looking at was made in Italy by Maschio. I've been well pleased with it and it seems to be a beast. If your tractor is HST, you shouldn't have a problem. If it is a gear drive tractor, I'd recommend going to a 60" tiller. Otherwise, you will be making multiple passes to gain depth.

 

[_RaT_]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

Interesting comment Brent.

 

[kensfarm]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

I've got a NH 105A 72" tiller.. this is my 6th planting season using it. I know it's tuff.. wrapped a thumb sized solid steal bar like a pretzel once(I have a collection).. it shut the engine down on the tractor.

The tiller was my only ground implement for the first several years.. since then have gotten a plow & a disk.. def. makes the tilling go faster when prepping for a finished planting bed.

 

[Dargo]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

What? You think my technique was bad with the gear tractor causing me to make multiple passes to get depth?? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Or, did I spell "Maschio" (or however it is spelled) so bad you don't know what I'm talking about. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

If you are tilling that much property I'm guessing that you are doing it for a market garden or some other type of commercial enterprise. If that is the case, you might want to bypass all the consumer grade tillers and go up to the brands that are used by the professionals. I think a starting point would be Howard, but there are other brands out there that when they till they don't leave the same type of level hardpan layer 7" below the surface. They use chisel or shovel tips instead of simple bent tines like the regular tillers use.

The prices, last time I looked (the lovely Mrs_Bob changed careers 3 years ago and we almost purchased a garden center and she was looking to commercially market garden specialty veggies at the time) were about double what the better grade of consumer tillers were running. However, with that price came features unseen on many of the residential grade tillers, and from what I could see a level of durability that justified the price. I'm sorry I don't remember the names of some of the other brands, but they are simply made to a different standard. You might want to do a google search for market garden implements, or maybe truck garden implements.

 

[thcri]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

I just bought a two year old Buhler still in the crate. In fact it was even painted New Holland Blue to match my tractor. Based on some of the other tillers this unit looks like it is built pretty tough. The tines seem to be larger than most and it just looks heavy. So far I like it a lot.


murph

 

[_RaT_]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

Did I sound a little, how do you say, ahh, smarty pants like. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It was the comment about how you could get away with a 72" tiller on HST but not necessarily a gear tractor which will typically have more PTO HP but less ability to control the speed. As anyone who has tilled knows, the speed is important.

 

[muscat]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

Thanks for the response so far. I might try and find one of those real heavy duty ones at an auction.

Yes my L4330 is HST

The tilling I will be doing is in between grape vine rows that are ~9 feet on center.

Any comments on what is too heavy?

I know that lots of adds for varoius brands say 20-70 PTO HP (big range!!!), 100HP etc.. I am not convinced that a 35 PTO HP tractor could not get great use out of a "100HP" tiller as long as the tiller was not too long and you did not try and set the depth to deap. In general I would think the HP rating is what the unit can handle vs what it takes to run it.

 

[Glenn9643]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

Good luck on finding one at an auction...
My thoughts are that the heavier the better, if your tractor can handle the weight. As far as gear vs hydro, if gear you’ll need a creeper range and you’ll be OK. I bought a 6’ Howse and have been well satisfied, but I don’t know if some of the smaller cut’s would handle the weight. Seems that driving the tines doesn’t take that much HP for me, and we’ve got some heavy ground.
My dealer ordered mine for me, and my price was about $300 less than Howse’ website prices at the time, but I don’t remember exactly what that was right off.

 

[DUMBDOG]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

I have done over 90 acres with my 60 inch King Kutter tiller. Next year I will be stepping up to the 72 inch, not because this one is worn out, it will just be faster with a wider tiller. Will keep the old one to run on the smaller NH tractor.

 

[Bird]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

There are so many different brands of tillers, different prices, different weights, different number and size of tines, gear vs. chain drive, etc. And I'm just wondering whether I've missed something in the past, because it seems to me that everyone who has a tiller is happy with it, regardless of brand. I used a chain drive Bush Hog brand for several years with no problem at all, and I like Bush Hog products, but if I were going to buy a new tiller now, I'd probably have to try one of the cheaper ones.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( There are so many different brands of tillers, different prices, different weights, different number and size of tines, gear vs. chain drive, etc. And I'm just wondering whether I've missed something in the past, because it seems to me that everyone who has a tiller is happy with it, regardless of brand. I used a chain drive Bush Hog brand for several years with no problem at all, and I like Bush Hog products, but if I were going to buy a new tiller now, I'd probably have to try one of the cheaper ones. )</font>

Almost took the words straight outta my mouth...(or off my fingertips, as the case may be.....)

Several years back, I bought an expensive, but VERY high quality Howard Rotovator. (80") It;s without doubt, a very fine piece of equipment. It was around $4000 back then.

2-1/2 years ago, I bought a King Kutter 72" tiller at auction, with the sole intent of selling it for a profit. Then I used it.... I had a job that I thought would do damage to the Howard "tiller" (They don't consider it a common tiller) I was impressed to say the very least. It did a great job, and didn't flinch when it was asked to till hard clay, full of rocks and brick batts. (Put a few dents in it, and broke 2 tines, but no serious damage)

I ended up keeping the KK tiller. I still have the Howard unit also. (They both get used on a 60 HP 2440 Deere)

The Howard unit that replaced my older one sells for near $5000 (tax,shipping, set-up) (I priced one at the National Farm Machinery Show last Feb.

The King Kutter II sells at a local farm supply store for $1225

Do the math....FOUR King Kutter tillers vs. ONE Howard Rotovator for the same money.

The Howard unit will work soil a bit deeper (Maybe 2") It has a variable speed gearbox. (which is nice on certain occasions)

If the King Kutter (or any of the "cheaper" brands) will do the job, it would seem to me that they would be hard to top.... If they only last 4 or 5 years each, you still get to keep MOST of your money in the bank. (Or in a Mason jar, spent on wife and/or girlfriend, or even on another toy/tool)

Anyone that knows me will tell you I'm the type that has to buy the best of what there is to offer. I don't go for "cheap tools".... In the case of PTO tillers, some are just "less expensive" as opposed to cheap in my eyes....

 

[kensfarm]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

"The tilling I will be doing is in between grape vine rows that are ~9 feet on center."

Are you keeping it tilled for weeds.. or tilling to plant a cover crop like grass or clover? The cover crop would help keep your moisture level up in the ground.. plus keep errosion to a minimum.. clover or other legume would help w/ putting nitrogen into the soil. Then your maintenance would be just mowing between your grape vine rows.. and would be faster then tilling.

 

[GeneD14]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

I have a L4330 HSTC and a CCM tiller one size smaller (about 5' ) It has worked great in clay soil. It doesn't seem to load the engine at all. Tilling 5 acres is a snap with mine. It does create alot of dust when it is dry out, a cab really helps clean you clean though.
If I did custom tilling I might get a commercial grade tiller but for 5-10 acres the CCM is fine.

 

[muscat]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

Interesting comments regarding $$$$$$ vs $$

Kensfarm
yes I will eventually do a cover crop and mow it (which means at some point I will start a post regarding Flail Mowers but I know I cant afford one now) even with a cover crop still need to till it or disk it under at least once ayear.

GeneD14
How do you like your L4330 HST??? Did you get the 3rd function ie eHyd button on your joy stick to run a 4 in 1 or grapple on the loader? I can not wait to try that out ~2 more weeks, I will need to add rear remotes, dealer wanted too much. Why did you get a ~5' CCM vs a ~6' to cover the tires and which model did you get?

 

[GeneD14]

Re: BEST 72\" TILLER,

Muscat,
I love my L4330 HSTC! The climate controlled cab is heaven! The hydro is also a blessing. I have owned 17 gear drive tractors, and 2 shuttle shift. I would not trade the hydro for any of them. I do alot of loader work so the LA853 loader comes in handy. The only thing that I would do different is get the 5030 for more HP. I don't have the extra button on the joystick, I currently do not need a grapple. I bought the 5' foot CCM a few years ago when I had a narrower tractor. While this tiller is a few inches narrower than my tread it chews up the dirt a little wider and covers my tracks barely. I can also offset a few inches if I really need too.