Tiller Manual says PTO at 540 only for KK tiller

[TractorDale]

The tiller is still in the crate and am planning on using tomorrow for the first time. Job is to redo an area of lawn that went to weed years ago. I came across a bit of advice on this forum about engaging the ground and even completing a first pass at 1/4-1/2 of the 540 PTO speed. The manual says must use 540.

Any thoughts on this or other advice for first-time tiller.


Thanks for any help.

Dale

 

[greg_g]

Follow the instructions in the manual, vary your ground speed by selecting the range and gear that will move the tractor at the other guy's recommended 1/4 to 1/2 speed.

//greg//

 

[jbrumberg]

I would stay at recommended 540 PTO speed, but till shallow on your pass(es). Grass does not need deep tilling. I would till at a slow ground speed. I would then rake in the grass seed, keep it shallow, and cover with straw. Be prepared for all your dormant weed seeds to come to life after tilling . Jay

 

[DK35vince]

I came across a bit of advice on this forum about engaging the ground and even completing a first pass at 1/4-1/2 of the 540 PTO speed. The manual says must use 540.

My opinion, its just a warning to use the tiller on a 540 PTO speed tractor and not one that runs 1000 PTO speed.
I've run my King Kutter tiller anywhere from lower RPM's through full throttle.
Never paid much attention to the PTO speed. Been doing it for years and its not hurting the tiller a bit.

 

[silverking]

Any pto driven device will have a sweet spot where all is balanced just right and there will be no vibration. Like others have said you will have to play around with those numbers a bit to find what works for you the best. As far as ground speed goes, if you went way too fast you would not get the consistency you want out of the medium, you will find the speed that gives you the desired effect without going so slow that you are just wasting time. As far as depth goes I would get all you can get.

Good luck

 

[dixie306]

Any pto driven device will have a sweet spot where all is balanced just right and there will be no vibration. Like others have said you will have to play around with those numbers a bit to find what works for you the best. As far as ground speed goes, if you went way too fast you would not get the consistency you want out of the medium, you will find the speed that gives you the desired effect without going so slow that you are just wasting time. As far as depth goes I would get all you can get.

Good luck

Yep, my tach's marked 540 pto at 2400 RPM but the tiller and brush hog both works best just under that, appox 21-2200 RPM's,running in low axle second gear for the tiller, but this is gonna vary from tractor to tractor

 

[MarkV]

The tiller is still in the crate and am planning on using tomorrow for the first time.

Check the gear boxes for oil. Some dealers prep them but KK does not ship them with oil.

MarkV

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I've used my KK6' tiller enough to wear out one complete set of tines and well into the second set. Fair to say I've put FAR more hours on mine that "average". I vary engine RPM's quite a bit when needed. It's never harmed the tiller OR the tractor. I wouldn't recommend EXCEEDING 540 rpm's, OR lowering engine speeds to a point where the tractor labors, but there is absolutly no harm in varying rpms when conditions allow.

 

[pitt_md]

Just curious, what protection do you run with your tillers? Shear bolt or slip clutch?

 

[Rara Avis]

Slip Clutch...