GC 17XX Tillers - what are you using?

[rossn]

Have a GC1705 and am curious what tillers people are using on their GC 17xx's, and how they are working out for you? Do you have a sub-compact version or run a standard compact version of a tiller?

I am seeing a variety of various tillers with different tilling depths. For instance, the KK XB has a advertised tilling depth of 6.5", whereas the non-XB version has a tilling depth of 8". I know ground clearance and weight can be a difference, but curious if some standards (non-sub-compact) versions work OK behind the GC17XX.

Thanks!
Ross

 

[jlgurr]

I have a Taylor way 48" behind my GC1705. Works great and no problems in three years. Probably tilled a total area of 4 acres so far, not all at one time.

 

[rider7767]

I have a Taylor-Pittsburgh 48 inch and it does great. I bought it new with the tractor from the dealer. I used it to till a new garden this year in an area which has been in grass for years. Tore through it without any problems. I am getting ready to video tilling with it. Maybe tomorrow? We have had some rain every day for 3 weeks!

 

[cglaser104]

I have a standard cat 1 48" king kutter gear drive tiller. Works like a charm. I've used it in gardens and in clay soil alike with no problems at all. I have a gc1710.

 

[JFoy]

I have a BX25 and am planning to buy a tiller this week. Take a look at the videos of the everythingattachment tillers on youtube - especially the ones about the construction. I say that as it will educate you on what to look for in a tiller. In this case, Everything Attachments Chain Drive Rotary Tiller 48" - YouTube . The only thing he doesn't mention in that video is there are two shapes of tines - L and C shaped. In other vids, he mentions that the C shaped is his preferred as it cuts better than the L shaped. Guess it depends on your soil type whether it makes a difference or not.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Just moved but had a Gc2400 and ran a 5ft KK. Worked just fine and often ran it at about 1700 rpm. 540 pto is at 2500 so it pulled it easy. If I was to do it over I would get another 5 ft KK. Ed

 

[blackd]

I too have a GC2400. I've had 2 tillers. 1st was a 7 foot Yanmar. It tilled great and the tractor was capable of running it, but it was too big to transport on the tractor as the tines hit high spots in the road. I go ~1 mile on the road to till a friends garden. I now have a Caroni 48 inch tiller. Tills as good as the Yanmar, but transports better.

BTW, for me the tiller is the most difficult to attach. I now take it into the workshop concrete floor and adjust the arms to the height of the tiller and connect to the PTO as they match up better. When younger I would just man handle the thing, but those days are now gone. We old guys learn, sometimes the hard way. ;-)

 

[rider7767]

I too have a GC2400. I've had 2 tillers. 1st was a 7 foot Yanmar. It tilled great and the tractor was capable of running it, but it was too big to transport on the tractor as the tines hit high spots in the road. I go ~1 mile on the road to till a friends garden. I now have a Caroni 48 inch tiller. Tills as good as the Yanmar, but transports better.

BTW, for me the tiller is the most difficult to attach. I now take it into the workshop concrete floor and adjust the arms to the height of the tiller and connect to the PTO as they match up better. When younger I would just man handle the thing, but those days are now gone. We old guys learn, sometimes the hard way. ;-)

I have really thought about the quick connect ends for my tractor. I leave my tiller inside the shop on concrete, but it is still one of the toughest pieces of equipment to hook up.

 

[rossn]

All, thanks for the great feedback. Besides generally educational, it was good to learn that a few of you are running the regular KK 4' and 5' tillers fine with the 18.7HP PTO.

I had another thread about tilling depth, where the poster mentioned that due to weight and size, I wouldn't be able to run the 4' regular KK. He also advised against the land pride RTR0550 because he said RTR requires more HP than I have.

I actually may be able to pick up the a land pride in like new condition for about $1000. Thoughts on 1) if the GC1705 tractor will drive it OK in soil with high clay content and b) the fact it only has a 5" tilling depth? Should I pursue this or pass for a deeper tiller that is not RTR?

Thanks!!

 

[Scut 4 Big Bucks]

I bought my Land Pride tiller with the tractor new. I tilled over 3 acres with it last Spring, and it did fine. Getting it adjusted correctly on the 3 pnt will come with experience. IMO, tilling deep isn't good for your soil. 5" of tilling depth is plenty.

 

[rossn]

View attachment 476776

I bought my Land Pride tiller with the tractor new. I tilled over 3 acres with it last Spring, and it did fine. Getting it adjusted correctly on the 3 pnt will come with experience. IMO, tilling deep isn't good for your soil. 5" of tilling depth is plenty.

Thanks - that is useful info. And, that one seems to be a heavier duty one, as well. My thoughts on tilling deeper initially are for creating some drainage, though my tractor also came with a plow.

 

[rossn]

View attachment 476776

I bought my Land Pride tiller with the tractor new. I tilled over 3 acres with it last Spring, and it did fine. Getting it adjusted correctly on the 3 pnt will come with experience. IMO, tilling deep isn't good for your soil. 5" of tilling depth is plenty.

By the way, what type of soil were you tilling, and had it ever been worked before?

 

[cglaser104]

My soil is red clay... I can drop the KK into it without issue. The biggest thing is that to really break it up, I have to make multiple passes on clay. Regular soil/Dirt just turns to powder in a pass

 

[Scut 4 Big Bucks]

By the way, what type of soil were you tilling, and had it ever been worked before?

One field was worked forever, the other was an 8 year old clover, alfalfa field that I killed with round up. That field was much tougher to break up, but you just have to slow way down and take your time. I have clay soils also. Moisture content will be a big factor, don't even try to till if it's too wet.

 

[porky69]

If you can pick a "like new" reverse rotation Land Pride for a grand I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up and try it. If it doesn't work you could always use it either as a trade or sell it privately.

I run a 5ft Farm King forward rotation chain drive on my GC2400 at full depth(as deep as it is willing to go, usually 2 or 3 inches above the rotor shaft) in high clay sand (with lots of fist size rocks) with little issue, you just have to go slow at times...which also helps achieve finer finish.

 

[irvingj]

I have a Woods GTC40-2. Don't use it a lot, but it works very well and at 40" is just wide enough to cover wheel tracks on my GC.

 

[rider7767]

I put together a little video of my tiller tilling in grass and a run away garden area. Massey Ferguson GC1705 tilling with a 4ft Taylor Way - YouTube

 

[Ed of all trades]

I chose a forward rotation tiller because I was told that a reverse works better the first time and the forward works better after that. I wanted to till in huge amounts of organic matter and I think a forward rotation does better for that. I have tilled in leaves that were knee deep all over my garden. took two passes to find dirt but after about 5 passes the dirt was mixed in and even my red clay garden looked nice, not like clay. My 5ft KK was to big for me to manhandle so I used an old crow bar, simular to a digging iron but does not bend as easy. I would pass on the reverse rotation, but that is me. As I said before I would go 5ft KK. Ed