Tiller Do you have a TILLER from CORRIHER or CCM?

Bob_Skurka · Mar 26, 2004

Hey guys I'm looking for some first hand knowledge here. Has anyone bought a tiller from Corriher's? Has anyone bought a tiller from CCM?

Both are sponsors of TBN and I am in a buying mood, but I'd like to know what you think of the equipment based on actual use.

I'm looking to buy something about 56"/58" wide.

I figure I should support the people who support this site so I have narrowed my choices down to those two companies. I feel comfortable with both companies. I will not consider any other brands or suppliers at this point, so now I simply need help deciding between those two companies.

Both have a tiller that suits my needs. Both have similar prices. CCM is gear drive. Corriher is chain drive. I am using this for a garden not to crop commercially so from what I can tell there is no real advantage of gear over chain or visa versa despite the fact that one might be theoretically better/more efficient than the other.

If you have purchased a tiller from either company, I'd like to hear the goods and the bads about your tiller.

Buster57 · Mar 26, 2004

I had several discussions with CCM before I purchased my rototiller. I have 24.5 HP at the PTO so I was on the low edge of the requirement for power. I would have purchased the CCM if I had a little more umph. I always buy medium or heavy duty everything, so for my specific situation CCM recommend I go with the other brand I was reviewing.
Terrific responsiveness, excellent technical advice, great price-and this is for the company that did not get my business!
That is the mark of a true professional.
If you have a fit with your tractor, I would not hesitate to purchase a product from CCM!

shvl73 · Mar 26, 2004

I have the 60" unit from Corrihers. I bought it late last fall & have only used it once to till the small (20x40) garden under. This year we hope to put in a much larger garden but until then, I can't offer much experience with it. The little that I used it seemed to work just fine. Initially I rented a large walk behind & swore I wouldn't do it again (I swore at it as well). Thats one of the main reasons we bought a tractor in the first place. I also plan on shallow tilling the field next to the house to take the lumps out. I will say that Corrihers was good to deal with. Readily answering questions on the phone as well as e-mail. They also e-mailed confirmation of shipment, tracking info, & follow up after the sale. I was pleased & told them so. I wish I could be of more help, I just haven't had it long enough.

rugs · Mar 26, 2004

Bob--

I bought a tiller from CCM last year for my BX-22. I had looked at a number of brands at farm equip shows last spring & summer. I bought Mark's MR120: 42" wide w/ slip clutch. Principal use is repairing/rebuilding the crappy 2+ acre lawn that came with the house I bought 2 yrs ago. I did about .75 acres last fall... tilled it 5-6" deep, dragged off some high spots to fill in some low spots, raked it off and reseeded. We'll see how it looks this spring!

This is the only 3 pt tiller I've ever owned/used, and I like it. This tiller was, I believe, made in Turkey. Turks have a good reputation for making basic, utilitarian tools, and that's what this tiller is. CCM calls it a "medium duty" unit, but it's gutsy and well constructed. My soils are heavy clay with lots of rocks. Rocks aren't a problem til they get toward melon size (honeydew, not watermelon!), when I need to dig them out first. The tiller came with a slip clutch. I've read that these are difficult to adjust (particularly with low hp tractors like mine) and unreliable. Mine is easy to work with. I adjust it so that it just starts to slip if I till medium-fast & at full depth. This tiller is gear drive. I have no idea if this is better or worse than chain drive, but this tiller works great.

I would buy this same tiller again. At the price, I think it was an excellent value. Carter & Carter were very easy & straightforward to deal with. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Bob_Skurka · Mar 27, 2004

I had narrowed down my tiller choices to the model sold by Corriher and the CCM unit, but what I really wanted was a Land Pride or a Befco with a side shift/offset feature. I just didn't want to spend $1700+ on a tiller that will be very lightly used. So I had 2 choices and both were about $1100 to $1200 delivered. Both the CCM and Corriher tillers are foreign made, I favored the Land Pride because it is American made, I also like Befco because their stuff is built like a tank and very high quality.

Mark at CCM was very informative he provided me with quick answers to what I asked and seemed very honest.

Corriher has a new person in charge of the internet ordering, she does not seem overly knowlegable but she did find out the answers for me and got back to me after a bit of a delay.

I ended up buying from Corriher, but I did NOT buy the Corriher unit. Corriher had a couple of Land Pride RTA1550 units with side shift, and they were being sold below dealer cost! So I bought a Land Pride tiller that I have seen other places priced at over $1700 for $1050 + $118 shipping. I am not sure, but they may have another one left that they are selling.

If anyone is interested, Corriher is also selling out their Land Pride rear finish mower decks at great pricing. They have 3 or 4 of those decks left.

Bob_Skurka · Mar 27, 2004

By the way, I am now a little ticked off! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

It has been brought to my attention that the Land Pride tiller is foreign made, and assembled here. Their information is somewhat misleading, with a claim of American Made. I still like the features of the tiller, and it and Befco are still the tillers I would buy if money is no object, but I try to buy American made when I can. I thought I did. I simply got another mutt that is assembled here from foreign parts.

Buster57 · Mar 27, 2004

For what it's worth, my Land Pride rotary mower is tough as nails. I am sure your 'tiller will be just fine!

AndyM · Mar 27, 2004

It has been brought to my attention that the Land Pride tiller is foreign made, and assembled here. Their information is somewhat misleading, with a claim of American Made. 

Bob, at least it's assembled in the United States...
I doubt you would find anything that's totally American made, most have foreign made parts and are assembled here. Just like our tractors! Just take confort in knowing you got a good deal, and to the fact that at least some jobs were created by assembling it in the United States. Nowdays, that pretty much the best you can do!

For what it's worth, I just saw an advertisement for Homier Farm Pro tractors (Jinmas). They advertised "assembled in the U.S.A. I guess making a tractor in China, but attaching the wheels and the wiring after it arrives over here is classified as "American assembled"?

DavidB · Apr 4, 2004

( I bought a MR-120 tiller from CCM last year for my BX-22. )

Can you shift it far enough to one side of your BX22 to till over one tire track?

rugs · Apr 5, 2004

DavidB--

Good question! I've used this tiller to run over humps and rises in my so-called "lawn," then dragged off the high spots into the lower areas. I've always set the tiller straight up behind the BX-22. With this arrangement there are ~5" of tire tracks on both sides uncovered by the tiller. I *think* I could shift the tiller far enough to one side to fully cover one tire, but have not done this.

3" of fresh snow today, so it'll be a while yet before I get back to mounting the tiller & working on the lawn.... Sorry not to have been of real help.