Tiller Found a Tiller!!!!

Alan L. · Mar 20, 2001

I called a used tractor dealer in the Dallas area and he says he has a John Deere 54" tiller for $1000. He says the owner didn't use it much and it appears to be in very good condition.
At this point I don't know how old it is, but he claims the guy paid $2800 for it.

Does this sound like a good deal? Will my B2710 (27 gross, 20 net HP) handle this tiller?

Alan L., TX

jimmoore · Mar 20, 2001

Alen I have no experiance using a pto tiller, but it sounds like a good deal. When BIRD see your post, he will give you some good advice. I think he has tiller about the same size. Also I think his tractor is of a compable size & hp.

jim

DDT · Mar 20, 2001

I had a JD 755, 20hp gross 15 pto hp. it pulled a 50" tiller just fine. you should have no trouble with your combo.

PaulInMi · Mar 20, 2001

Alan-

I don't know if they have TSC in your area or not, but you can get a 60" tiller for around $1000. I'm not sure that it would be the same quality though.

Good luck/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

Paul

Bird · Mar 20, 2001

Alan, sure sounds like a very good deal. And you bet your 2710 will handle it. The only reason I haven't traded my 40" tiller for a 54 to 62" one is money. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about the John Deere tillers, except that they're very expensive and presumably good quality. Get the dealer to include the manual.

Bird

Alan L. · Mar 20, 2001

We do have TSC in our area & I have to admit that I haven't looked at the King Kutter tiller I've heard they carry even though I saw several posts on another board from owners that are happy with the tiller. However perception is that JD makes a premium tiller, whether its true or not. I will have to consider whether it is worth as much as a new one like they sell at TSC. I wonder what a green tiller would look like behind my orange tractor.

Alan L., TX

TraderMark · Mar 20, 2001

AlanL
I have a 1720 Ford (24 PTO HP) and a 60" KMC tiller and pull it with no problems. I think you'll do fine.

jyoutz · Mar 21, 2001

Alan, I have a JD4100 (20 HP gross, 17 HP PTO). It handles my Woods 52" tiller very well. You will have no problem at all with your larger tractor. The King Kutter tiller sure looks like a bruiser, plenty tough with that gear drive. The JD line is good quality, of course. If we were talking full retail price ($1000 for KK, $2000+ for JD), I would go the KK route. But if the used JD is in very good condition, and the price were equal, then I'd probably go JD, due to a recognized high resale value and good parts availability. Tillers are tough implements, the only replacement parts, I've ever heard of people buying are drive chains and tines.

roysallis · Mar 21, 2001

Soomeone told me that Kuhn made the JD tillers. Kuhn makes a real good tiller , so if the one you are looking at was mde by Kuhn it sounds like it is a good deal. Especially if the gear box and chain and tines are in good shape.

Mikemas · Mar 21, 2001

That sounds like a great deal if it hasn't been abused. I looked at a JD550 50" tiller last year for my B2100, but moved up to a B2710 and put the tiller on the back burner. I am actively looking for a tiller match the B2710 and the 54" is about perfect. Kubota recommends 50", but you can cover your tracks with 54" without offset. I think the B2710 will handle the extra width without any problems. I have heard of guys running 60" without any problems, although soil conditions and aggressive operation could probably create problems. Also, the JD550 was alleged to be made by Howard, but the only thing I knew for sure was the tines were stamped "Made In France". I think the JD would make a nice unit for $1000 used, but I would give a long, hard look at KingKutter if I were buying new.
Good luck,

Mike

Alan L. · Mar 21, 2001

Well I called the used equipment dealer again and he says the tiller is a JD 550 (for $1000), which I understand is only a 50" tiller. He says it might be several years old but the owner bought it new with the tractor and says it might have 200 hours on it. The thing is about 25 miles away across the Dallas metroplex from my office, but I think I'll go look at it.

Alan L., TX

Roy · Mar 21, 2001

My local NH dealer carries Kuhn tillers. I mentioned to him that the tillers (with the Kuhn markings) matched Kubota Orange rather nicely /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. They looked like real nice units, only cost more than I wished to spend. If I could grab one up for $1k, I would (regardless of color or markings, they all turn dirt-brown after some use /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif)

Roy

Alan L. · Mar 22, 2001

Well I drove across town to see the John Deere tiller at a "used only" equipment yard. It had John Deere 550 across the back, was sure enough green. However the guy on the phone had built it up so much I was disappointed. Come to find out its probably an 87 or 88 model and looks it. No dents are obvious mechanical problems, pretty sharp tines, etc. but the paint was peeling pretty bad and it was that kind of dirt that sticks to grease. Quite a bit on the thing. Could have gotten on there in the process of putting oil in the gearbox or something. The guy said that they hadn't run it and wasn't interested in volunteering to run it for me (it was laying on the ground not mounted on a tractor). It just looked OLD. He says he can get $1000 because its a JD.

He says it was bought new with a JD 650 that had only 200 hours on it. It looked like it had been in the weather also.

It could have been the deal of the century but I just didn't feel good about it. The search continues.......

Alan L., TX

MReeter · Mar 22, 2001

Alan,If you find anything else,I can tell you that a B2710 will handle a 60" tiller with no problems,thats what I have.I bought a used Agri-Tech,made in Italy,for an even grand.

Bird · Mar 22, 2001

Alan, I think I'd have passed, too, for what you've said. Sometimes they are awfully proud of that green paint./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif I'm rather fond of Bush Hog products; however, for the price difference and from the ones I've looked at, I believe if I were in your position, I'd sure think seriously about that 60" KingKutter.

Bird

TWINKLE_TOES · Mar 22, 2001

Alan,

You might take a look at "Howard Rotovatator", They been around a long time and build the tillers for Deere. I looked at the Howard right next to the Deere and the only significant difference I saw was green paint and $600 more dollars for the Deere.

I settled on the Land Pride. Parts department steered me away form the AGRIC and said LandPride parts were easy and cheap. (as if anything was cheap). Good Luck, let us know what catches your fancy./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

gmason · Mar 23, 2001

There's a guy/store over on Ebay selling new Coroni tillers at 899 for the 48" and 999 for the 57"
Anyone know of these tillers?
gary

Alan L. · Mar 24, 2001

I went to their website and its amazing how that red tiller looked just like the JD 550 I've been looking at. Right down to bolt locations, chain tension adjuster, skids, etc. I guess they are all similar.

Alan L., TX

Anonymous Poster · Mar 24, 2001

On Sale:

KingKutter 5’ Gear Driven Tiller Sale Price $999. {reg.$1299.}

Tractor Supply Store Locator

chuckp · Mar 25, 2001

Just bought one of the King Kutter 60" Tillers two weeks ago on sale from the Tractor Supply Store in Greenville Texas for $979.00. It is gear drive and seems to be pretty hefty. It digs in just great in this Texas blackland. I am pulling it with a NH TC 35D. Bird, you were having so much fun with your tiller, I just had to have one too./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Chuck