Tiller info on tillers needed

[SmokyMtnMan]

Well I guess i'm going to have to go for KK tiller at Tractor Supply. Not many dealers around here within reasonable driving distance but them. Just had concerns about whether i needed 60" or 72". Seems odd that there's $300 difference between the two.
What's the worse that would be wrong with having to drive over your tilled soil with 60" or does that tiller offset?

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

Thanks, I looked at those Italian made tillers called "rotary hoes". They looked good but my wife wouldn't let me get an Italian 'rotary hoe"....said the neighbors might talk about us.

 

[Dozernut]

SmokeyMtnMn, Almost all of these tillers have a side shift function. Look in the owners manual and it will tell you how to do it. It is not difficult, you just loosen some bolts and slide the unit over. I have an old Befco 50 that I use on a 4610. I just slid it over so it covers the right tire track. This works fine, I could'nt justify the cost of a bigger tiller no more than I use it every year. If you need to till a lot of ground I would suggest a 3pt. disk. You can do it faster and rocks and roots won't hurt the disk like they would a tiller. It is cheaper to buy disk blades than gear parts for a tiller. Thats my 2cents. DN

 

[Dozernut]

One thing I probably should explain. Yes the units have slip clutches or shear pins but the tillers have to load up to activate these safeties. These do a good job of protecting mainly the tractor. They will protect the tiller but just like a runner who developes shin splints or knee injuries, repetitive strain on components will eventually cause failure. You should not have a problem with home use but for commercial use you might want to look at a commercial rated unit.

 

[tonyw]

SmokyMtnMan,
I didn't mention to my wife that I was getting an Italian "hoe" /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif, I just said I was buying a tiller. She just wouldn't understand! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

my kubota 4610 has 46 HP and 39 pto HP.
KK 60" tiller says .....'horsepower required' : 25-40
KK 72" tiller says......'horsepower requred': 35-50
both have slip clutch and gear drive
60" is 690 lbs, 72" is 780 lbs.
neither has offset, only the 4 ft model has offset

so, with my 4610 having more horses that what is says 'requred' for 60", is that any problem?
such as.....voiding a warranty or being hard on the tiller?

how hard would it be to 'offset' a tiller not made for 'offsetting'?

 

[n6ckv]

You need to insure that the gear box and chain drive are rated for your HP. I think most are 50HP or higher

carl

 

[SmokyMtnMan]

doesnt' have chain drive....it has gear drive
60" says Required HP 25-40....tractor is 46 net, 39 pto

 

[Dozernut]

Go with the model that will be covered by a warranty. Manufacturers seem to be going away from sliding tillers. My point was, that a smaller tiller can be used on a larger tractor. I already had an old Befco that would do everything I wanted it to do. It will eventually fail, but it has payed for its self many times over. I do go through a lot of shear pins, that is the price of the higher hp. I do not know how to offset a non- sliding tiller. It will take somebody smarter than me to tell you how to do it. It would probably be cost prohibitive to modify a tiller. You should most likely purchase a tiller that matches your tractor. Good luck on your purchase! Them L4610s are a piece of work, aren't they!

 

[n6ckv]

On most tillers there is a gear drive on the top that is driven by the PTO and drives a half shaft that goes to one side of the tiller. Then there is a chain drive from the end of the half shaft to the axle that has the tines. The chain drive is in an oil bath.

carl