Got my tractor

[Bird]

Wen, I guess we shouldn't keep trading up on tractor sizes. I've got my 40" Bush Hog tiller offset about as far as it'll go the right; wish I had a 54" tiller. Of course, a tiller is great for the garden, but gets used for other things, too. This morning, I've been moving a little dirt from the back of the pasture to the yard to fill in some low spots, so I run the tiller over it to loosen it up, then scoop up a bucketful and that way when I dump it, it spreads so much easier than it would if it hadn't been tilled first.

 

[Bird]

Wen, I guess we shouldn't keep trading up on tractor sizes. I've got my 40" Bush Hog tiller offset about as far as it'll go the right; wish I had a 54" tiller. Of course, a tiller is great for the garden, but gets used for other things, too. This morning, I've been moving a little dirt from the back of the pasture to the yard to fill in some low spots, so I run the tiller over it to loosen it up, then scoop up a bucketful and that way when I dump it, it spreads so much easier than it would if it hadn't been tilled first.

Bird

 

[W5FL]

bird,

I was leveling and sloping the area away from the barn to the ditch I dug. I was using the box blade with rippers just to break up the soil before the rear blade smoothed it out. Really worked well. From a big mudhole before, I now have about 1/2 inch/foot slope for about 30 feet. Starting with the wheel in the ditch, each successive pass just carried the slope over another 3 feet at a time. Did run out of traction several times since the last part was uphill. With both front and rear differential locks and 8000# of tractor, it would keep moving. The draft control works fine. A draft control seems to be the way to go with a box blade as it adjusts the depth to maintain constant pulling pressure. Job looks nice. By hand, that kind of work would take forever. Guess those without tractors just learn to like the way things are, because they sure can't change them with a pick and shovel very quickly. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Wen, I guess you're right about learning to like things the way they are if you don't have a tractor. When I bought my place there was a little drainage ditch from the barn to the borrow ditch, but it was poorly designed so that water stood in it. I spent several hours over a period of about 3 days with a pick and shovel just fixing it barely enough that I didn't have standing water. When I got a tractor and box blade, I fixed it right in about 20 minutes.

And how'd I wind up with a double post; one without my "signature"?

Bird

 

[MChalkley]

Wen - If you ever see a 6' tiller (working width) that has a maximum depth of 10-12", I'd like to know about it. My old Agric is getting a little long in the tooth and I'd like to replace it with one that goes deeper, if possible, when it croaks.

Mark

 

[W5FL]

See if I can get my facts straight. The 6 ft and 7 ft Woods in the Heavy Duty Versions have the largest tines that I have seen. They are made by the same Italian company that also makes the same tiller for Bush Hog. They use a heavy duty gear drive rather than a chain in the higher HP units and the local dealer here says they hold up well. It has adjustable skids that set the depth. It would sure be nice to have some nice comparative data concerning tillers, but it seems kinda hard to come by.

 

[MChalkley]

Wen - Do they advertise a maximum tilling depth for those tillers?

Mark

 

[DaleW]

Cathy,
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! ! ! !
Hope you have years of fun on the new tractor. Just remember SAFETY FIRST.
You may want to try Tel-Trax (800-720-4775) for a canopy.
I bought my 2710 with it and what a burn saver it is in the noon day sun. They sell what they call seconds to the general public for $160 for a fiberglass unit. These units have what they call a small visual blemish that doesn't affect the structural integrity of the unit. They mount very easy and look good also (Orange).
If you give them a try let us all know how you make out.
Again Best of luck with the new toy (Tool...sorry)
Dale

 

[Alan L.]

Hey, where do you get that $160 canopy? At least it might help between 11:00 and 1:00.

 

[Bird]

Alan, with a level canopy of the right size, your head is close enough to the bottom of it, you might be surprised at how much of the day it protects you from the sun. I love mine, but of course it cost me $295 instead of $160.

Bird