Grillo G107d for 7 acres (28.000M2) with olive trees

[Silent Arrow]

O.k. second Greek guy here, I didn't expect this!! When I saw the word taygetos (greek mountain) I got surprised!!!
taygetos thank you for your reply!!!

At earth tools they say 11hp is too much for g107 clutch, but I downloaded the drawings from Grillo website, and the active clutch on g107 is the same with the clutch on g110. I don't know maybe g110 clutch is different in USA. Anybody who knows more on this?

Yes I have read this too. However Grillo G107 is sold with a new active clutch system:
Grillo G85 -G17 setup video (Active clutch type) - YouTube

taygetos I have some questions:
1) Have you purchased the 107d without the tiler? Is this acceptable by the distributors?
2) Has your diesel engine electric start? If not, is it easy for you to start the diesel engine?
3) Can you give me any additional information for the antivibration system? How did you solve that problem?
4) Yes, Grillo all purpose flail costs ~ 2200 Euros. However there is no representative here in Greece for Berta. Have you ever needed spare parts? I assume you bought Berta before capital controls.
5) How many acres did you mow? Are you happy with the G107d?

taygetos thank you very much for your information!!!!!

 

[taygetos]

Yes they have the active clutch now in USA but Joel still offers lower HP engines for g107 in comparison to g110, so I was wondering if they actually share the same clutch. G110's pto is stronger of course, so maybe this is the reason for the engine differences.

To answer your questions :
1) I purchased it with the tiller, which I rarely use. If you don't need it you can save some money by ordering just the tractor, you'll have to ask the distributor if this is possible.
2) I have the manual start. I don't know if they offer the electric. Even if they did, I would still choose the manual start, I don't want to worry about batteries and electrical systems. Starting the engine requires some strength, but once you get the technique down it's easier. Not something you want to do every 10 minutes though.
3) Vibration is something I want to avoid, but maybe it will not be an issue for you. In USA they have the anti-vibe system installed at the expense of the auto-reverse system which we have here. The auto-reverse system automatically adjusts the location of forward and reverse, so either way you turn the handlebars, as soon as you squeeze the reverser handle the tractor moves towards you. When the anti-vibe system is installed, you have a 3d lever which controls forward-reverse. You can buy the parts needed for the modification from the distributor (I can give you the parts list if you are interested) and install them yourself. But ask the distributor if you could order the tractor this way, in order to avoid the extra expense.
4) Yes I bought before capital controls. I've forgotten about that. I don't know if it's possible now. If you don't damage the mower, the only parts you'll need (and not soon) are new flails and belts. The belts are common and easy to find. If you order the Berta from Italy you could purchase an extra set of flails. If you don't hit rocks or roots flails do not wear out fast.
5) I mow about 3,5 acres once or twice a year. Overall I am very happy with the machine. I also have a car's trailer which I attach to the g107. This is how I harvest, with the air compressor always on the trailer. When I get out of the field I disconnect the trailer from the tractor, I connect it to the car and I am ready for the oil press. No need for a pickup truck!
One more thing regarding the mower : make sure to buy the debris screen for the engine. There's a reason earth tools recommends it. Last time I went to the Lombardini service to buy filters, there was an engine over there (from a g107) damaged within 10 hours of use.Without the debris screen grass finds its way to the cylinder cooling fins and the engine overheats.

 

[Silent Arrow]

taygetos thank you for all this information!!!
Ειλικρινα σε ευχαριστω πολυ! (Honestly, I thank you so much)

I will read again all the information given here and in the site of Earthtools.
I was afraid that I would be the first to take the risk of buying a walk behind tractor, especially in Southern Greece, because I have never seen anyone using a walk behind tractor before. It is an expensive investment with the flail mower attached to the tractor too.

The last four years I planted 160 little olive trees and my main job as α farmer was to water them in week basis from April to October. I bought a trailer (with brakes) with a tank of capacity of 1000kg and I was watering them with 4000kg of water every week with the help of a pump and irrigation networks I made myself. This year I decided to take care of the rest 510 large trees and the biggest problem I met was mowing the weeds. That's why I thought of buying a walk behind tractor with a flail mower.

Thank you again.

 

[leonz]

Yiasuu Taygetos,


Do you use the air compressor with a long wand to blast
the mature olives off the branches after you lay down a large
tarpaulin around the trees to collect them or do you use the traditional
method using the pole to knock them free of the branches?

 

[taygetos]

Hello leonz,

Farmers use harvesters like these : Harvesters | .:: Campagnola s.r.l. ::.

They can be either electric or pneumatic. The pneumatic work with compressed air. The air goes through the pole to the head which is a essentialy a pair of reciprocating rakes. There are several types of heads and most farmers use the electric ones. And yes under the tree we lay down nets in order to collect the fruit. Traditionally people used small handheld rakes and and in some places they beat the branches with sticks, but for the most part farmers use harvesters these days.

 

[Silent Arrow]

taygetos, before buying Grillo 107d, have you ever been in dilemma of buying a 4 wheeled tractor? You invested in Grillo and Berta about 5500 Euro. With more 5000 Euros you could have bought a used ~40HP tractor. Have you ever thought of it?
In my case (flat land parcels) what do you suggest? My opinion is that the walk behind tractor is an excellent solution. Do you agree from your experience? I have the time and disposal to work.

 

[taygetos]

@Silent Arrow
The lowest price for G107d is 3349€. So it's about 4900 for both the tractor and the mower. And you get a machine your children will be using (if used properly of course). When buying used there is always a risk.
For me a 4 wheeler was out of the question. Most of my property is in Lakonia, but I don't live there. So I needed something that could be trasported. I didn't want to buy a pick-up track, so I just got a trailer and the G107. I carry the tractor with the trailer and I also tie the trailer to the tractor and I have a poor man's pick up track, without tax and maintenance.
In your case : mowing 7 acres with a walk behind should take 4 days at least, more if you have old trees with wide trunks. I need 3 days for half the acreage, but I spend some time on the borderlines which are always a mess and I take some breaks too. Tilling is out of the question. Maybe only just around the trees as you wrote.
You could also spray if you buy a pump driven by the Grillo's PTO. Or buy a chipper for the branches you prune. You get the versatility of a 4 wheeled tractor but on a smaller scale. And you get minimum soil compaction, no taxes, less fuel consumption and less maintenance.