Tiller Looking for a REASONABLE Tiller

[robertm]

I am looking to purchase a 3pt tiller for my Kubota B7500 and am lost. I live in Northern Illinois, and so far, all the dealers around only carry the major brands - Land Pride, Bush Hog, Kubota, Howard, etc... I was hoping to find one around $1000 or less, and they are all pushing $2000 for a 50" tiller.

First, I only intend to use it for a garden (about 600 s.f.) every year, to till up a bit of yard to reseed, and a few "weekend warrior" projects that present themselves over the years. Therefore, I can't justify $2000 for an implement that will take up barn floor space most of the time. Used are hard to come by, and if they do, they are beat.

What brands of tillers are you all using that are not from the Big Manufactures, but are well constructed, reliable, moderately priced, and have good availability for parts in the event of a breakdown?

Also, any dealers in my general area (N. Illinois) you can recommend that sell them? Or, dealers that will ship, reasonably?

Lastly, is the slip-clutch the way to go, or is the shear pin? Is the chain-driven type going to be a headache over gear? And finally, is the reversible option something I am going to wish I had spent the extra money on after I've bought a tiller without it?

Thanks for your input.

 

[jrlichina]

Go to a TSC store and you should be able to get a King Kutter 50" for $999.99, I live in SE WI and that's the price around here. It's a big heavy duty gear drive unit and come with a slip clutch which is what you want. I would have gotten it but it was a bit heavy for my BX. I ended up getting a First Choice 48" from Sweet Equipment and had it shipped to my door for about the same price with a slip clutch. The Frist Choice is a really nice chain drive unit, it works great.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I just bought a 60" King Kutter II. They sell for $999.99 new. It's a gear drive and a really nice unit. It's especially nice for a grand. If you really want a slip clutch I think you can add one for about $85.

I don't know if a 60" is the right size for your machine, but if it is and you aren't in a huge hurry, you might be able to buy mine for a couple hundred or so less than new when I'm done with what I need to do. It'll probably only have a few hours on it as I'm not doing too much. I just needed one to till up some sod so I could contour the ground with my blade to solve some drainage problems I have.

To give you an idea of the anticipated wear, it's probably about half an acre I need to work and I'll till over it three or four times. Let me know if you think you'd be interested.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Occasionally i stumble acros a few 50 inch yanmar tillers for 200 to 400 dollars with a three point hitch. We have one we till about 20 acres with and its been a good one. If youd like ill find one for you. Take care Taylor Lambert

 

[HayDR]

CCM Gear Drive Tiller MR-145 49" with clutch $965 Delivered to any business address in 60152 zip code.

 

[dpm]

Check out SweetFarms. I bought a 48" First Choice tiller for my B7500 and their pricing is right in your ballpark. And it is an assume tiller. Very happy with tiller and SweetFarms.

DPM

 

[gws]

I second the yanmar tiller. NIce tillers and can be found under $500 for a 4-5ft unit. MIght drop by the yanmar fourm and ask for a local dealer in your area.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never used a tiller, but found a small disc harrow to work pretty good. I just kept going over it. After a bit and enough passes over the same ground it breaks down real nice.

You can find new for around $500 and used are in the $100 to $300 range in my area.

If you're only doing a small garden once a year, why spend so much on such a fancy piecs of equipment?

 

[Alan L.]

I have a disk and it does an OK job with multiple passes, but its not a tiller. And it requires some room to operate, as it doesn't accomplish anything unless its moving. For large areas, the disk is faster, even with multiple passes, but again it probably doesn't tear up the soil quite to the extent the tiller does, nor as deep.

 

[Alan L.]

I'm still interested in that CCM tiller myself, but I'm waiting for someone on here to buy one and report on it. The First Choice pricing I have gotten is $1150 and up.