Tiller Caroni Tillers/ Others

_RaT_ · Apr 29, 2004

I researched this a few years back, did not get a tiller but am back in the tiller mode. I looked at Howard and Kuhn, they seem to be some of the best built and the price indicates it. Perhaps my needs are not that extensive. Did a search here in attachments on tillers for the last year and Caroni came up frequently. Any comments from tiller users, Caroni or otherwise? Looking at about 60" for my L3830. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Rat...

MadDog · Apr 30, 2004

I recently bought a CMM 58" gear-drive after considerable research including the Caroni. It looked pretty good, and I have no doubt that it is a quality tiller that will perform well, but I concluded that gear drive was probably better.

When you look at the lines offered by most manufacturers, you see that for those manufacturers that offer both gear and chain drives (Woods, Bush Hog), it is when you move up to their top of the line commercial and heavy duty models that they switch from chain to gear drive. That suggests pretty strongly what the better system is.

I have not used mine yet, because the ground is still too soggy here in Massachusetts, but I hope to w/in the next couple of weeks and will post further on it then. I am impressed, though with the weight, fit and finish and apparrent quality of construction of the CMM. The photos on CMM's website just don't do it justice in this respect, it is one SOLID attachment and looks like it is built to perform and to last. At a price that equals or betters the "bargain" class of chain-drive tillers I couldn't find a better buy and Mark at CMM was a pleasure to deal with from start to finish.

Bob_Skurka · Apr 30, 2004

I don't know much about Caroni, but I do know that I liked the tillers that CCM has. Dealing with Mark was a pleasure, and he is very informative, and I ended up NOT buying his tiller, but that was ONLY because I got a heck of a deal on an offset LandPride tiller that was being closed out by someone else below wholesale. Had I not stumbled upon the deal, I would have definitely purchased from CCM, in fact, I think his tiller is better made than the LandPride that I ended up buying, but the deal I got was too good to pass up.

sweettractors · Apr 30, 2004

BTW, Where is the CCM tiller manufactured?--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *New Hay Tedders, Disc Mowers,Sickle Mowers in Stock*

Bob_Skurka · Apr 30, 2004

Ken,

I don't remember, possibly Italy or Turkey? From what I can tell most of the tillers are foreign made, just like most of the tractors.

Does it make a real difference?

My LandPride says it is American made, but I found out it is actually an import product that has some minor assembly here in the USA.

jimg · Apr 30, 2004

I own a Caroni 56" and wrote about it recently in this forum. Its under the title 'Review of a Caroni FL1400'. I wont repeat what was written there but will say that 90+% of all tillers in whole or part are Italian. Im sure you can buy a substandard tiller but the majority of those on the market are very good and will stand up to whatever you throw at them barring outright abuse. The except to this, I think, would be Asian machines. The big questions are width, drive type (gear or chain) and price. After you determine the first two then look for the lowest price and parts availability.

_RaT_ · Apr 30, 2004

Thanks Jim I read your review. It was one that came up in the search I did.

_RaT_ · Apr 30, 2004

Ken, I received a quote from you guys but am not sure what model it was. The price was pretty low, a 58" model as I recall. It was a First Choice. Where are those made? I am trying to stay away from Chinese as my experience with valves and such has been less then stellar. Thanks, Mark

sweettractors · Apr 30, 2004

Italian Made and RTO4-56 was probably the machine quoted (working from memory)--I have had personal experience with Turkish made machines and have had no luck in parts support on 6 sickle mowers that I purchased /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *Over 1000 New and Used Implements In Stock Today*

MadDog · Apr 30, 2004

Well.....here we go again. Even the blind can see it coming; ...thanks to a gratuitous grenade lobbed by Ken, the "Tiller Wars" are about to start again. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Can't you guys just compete with each other, hopefully without sniping at each others' products and instead emphasizing the positives of your products? We customers can be counted on to complain if we think that there is something to complain about. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

"Parts availability from Turkey vs. Italy" ???

"Paint and rust pictures of you know who's tiller" ???

Can't all you dealers realize that one "slam" just provokes another and that it's gettin' a little old? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Come on. It's spring....the sun is shining (sometimes). Play nicely, children...... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just my $.02