Tiller Howard tillers question

Anonymous Poster · Mar 27, 2003

The boss asked me yesterday when I was going to get a tiller for the back of our bx2200. Is that great or what, anyway one of the local dealers really suggests a 50" howard tiller that has a slip clutch, no sheer pin, any of you guys ever use one of these? opinions please

Thanks
Tony

tc35dforme · Mar 27, 2003

I borrow and older 5-6 year old Howard...built like a tank. Very good product. Don't know much about the new ones, but if their older ones are any example.....

ScottAR · Mar 27, 2003

I have a green Howard (JD) since about '91-92. I've had no problems at all except for a leaky gasket and that was an easy fix. Good machine, nice and heavy. Slip clutch is great, no pins to change. Adjusting the clutch is very simple and only has to be done once a season or so.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 27, 2003

I have no actual experience, but I did buy a Howard rotovator (HR3-50) yesterday- as it turned out, it was neither the most or least expensive. The only possible downside I can see is it isn't the same <font color="orange">color</font> as the tractor.

Besides looking the brands over, I really went on; 1) every description I read of them used terms like bulletproof and rock solid and 2) the advice of my salesman. In my case he is the owner of the dealership and has been selling tractors for over 50 years.

A newbie like me has to depend on others for advice, and trust in one's sources is the key. Good Luck!

HayDR · Mar 27, 2003

Howard dominates the West coast markets but are not sold as much in the Eastern USA. Howard does make the 550 JD. Its unlikely that a 50" tiller on this small a HP tractor needs a PTO clutch. The tractor will not have enough torque to slip the clutch at operating speeds. If a two plate clutch is engineered at 900 NM reducing the spring tension will only cause it to slip and not have the proper starting torque. You will need to change the springs to reduce the setting. Most owners do not slip their clutches so the affective torque setting has increased. Remember the tractor will have a safety device built into its PTO drive.