Tiller Need Help w/New Caroni Tiller

[NCDaveD]

Last weekend I made the 2 1/2 hour drive to the Greenville AgriSupply and picked up a new Caroni 48" FL1200 tiller. I saw the baggie on the PTO and figured that was the manual. Much to my surprise after getting home, I find that it is indeed the instructions....for the PTO only. I contacted AgriSupply and they sent out the "manual", which I recieved yesterday. It was an exploded diagram, with absolutely no instructions on how to service, maintaiin or setup the tiller. I contacted AgriSupply and they said "This is all we have". Several emails to Caroni have been unanswered.

I scoured the internet and came up with very little info on this unit, so my thought is to just bring it back and look at spending another $200 to get a different tiller with a decent manual. I can't even get the PTO shaft off the tiller to cut it to the correct length.

Before I give up on this unit, does anyone have any info they could share with me on this little tiller (in particular, how to get the PTO shaft off and how to check and get the correct chain tension)?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

NCDaveD

 

[GreenWannabe]

I looked at Caroni's website, and found there were no manuals there either. Even their technical information request is to get catalog information. And Agri Supply is listed as their only dealer/distributor in the US, under the name Direct Distributors. Their website goes to the home page for Agri Supply. If they can't help you, then help is just probably going to be difficult to come by.

Since many tillers sold in this country are actually sourced from Italy, I would download manuals on similar models from companies like Woods, Bush Hog, Land Pride, Rhino, etc., and try to get a consensus from their manuals to go by. Chain tension should be pretty generic, and PTO removal should be covered in their PTO instructions.

Good luck.

 

[Spindifferent]

Since many tillers sold in this country are actually sourced from Italy, I would download manuals on similar models from companies like Woods, Bush Hog, Land Pride, Rhino, etc., and try to get a consensus from their manuals to go by. Chain tension should be pretty generic, and PTO removal should be covered in their PTO instructions.

Good advice. Woods and Land Pride are made here in the US, but the basic operation and maintenance of any PTO tiller would be very similar from brand to brand.

- Spindifferent

 

[NCDaveD]

Thanks for the advice. After yet another email to Caroni, they finally responded with their manual for this unit. Interestingly enough, they have ONE manual for blade mowers, flail mowers and rotary cultivators. VERY rudimenatary instructions, but at least they describe how to do the chain adjustment. I'll search around for the other info I need such as fluid types and application recomendations.

NCDaveD

 

[leonz]

Thanks for the advice. After yet another email to Caroni, they finally responded with their manual for this unit. Interestingly enough, they have ONE manual for blade mowers, flail mowers and rotary cultivators. VERY rudimenatary instructions, but at least they describe how to do the chain adjustment. I'll search around for the other info I need such as fluid types and application recomendations.

NCDaveD

The gear oil used is the same as is used in the flailmowers etc. which is a 90 weight gear oil.

The reason the parts manuals and operator manuals are the same is because the units are simular in design
with the flailmowers using a one to one right angle gear box and a different final drive method using roller chain for the tillers and V belts for the flail mowers.

Pleas be carefull and do not overtighten the roller chain as it will stretch slightly when it is hot and shrink when it cools after use.

If you are breaking old ground or sod you need to be mindfull of your forward speed and tilling depth where you could stall it and break the drive chain. Did you purchase a slip clutch PTO shaft with this tiller?


I have the four page flyer for the Caroni tototillers, please send me youre-mail as it is to large to upload here.

 

[Botabill]

I have a caroni tiller and the shaft just pulls apart. Then you cut as much off both shafts as you want to shorten it. On mine it was an easy fix.

 

[NCDaveD]

Thanks Botabill! I was hoping to actually remove the PTO shaft before cutting it, but I haven't had any luck getting to the circlip that holds the retaining pin in the PTO shaft. My springclip pliers aren't stout enough to spread the clip, and I can't figure out how to spread that ends of the clip to get it to release from the pin shaft. It doesn't help I have a 1 1/2" wide by 3" long window in the PTO guard to work through.

 

[BukitCase]

My Caroni flail came with a pto shaft that has spring-loaded pins both ends, not circlips - the mower end had this big "collar of shame" in addition to the guard on the shaft itself - took it off in frustration.

Can you snap a pic of yours showing what you're talking about? Steve

 

[NCDaveD]

Can you snap a pic of yours showing what you're talking about? Steve

Here ya go. My first go at picture posting, so bear with me. Once I figure out how to get that shield off, I don't believe I'll be replacing it. Yeh, I know it's there for safety, but frankly, no one is going to be near it when it's turning.

NCDaveD

 

[BukitCase]

The pic on the right looks exactly like my Caroni flail - I would get REAL familiar with the tractor end of your pto shaft - it should have a spring-loaded "button" that you push, this releases the inner pin that locks into the groove that is partway along the splines of the pto stub on EITHER end - once you're used to doing the tractor end (with your eyes closed, by braille) then you can deflect both the smaller, shaft-mounted plastic guard AND the larger, gear-box mounted plastic guard, enough (hopefully) to get your hand in and release the (I hope) spring-loaded button on the implement end.

Check the yellow tubing guarding the shaft itself - it should say "AMA (stuff) CARDAN, followed by some groups of numbers. If so, and you're lucky, this means your shaft is the same make as mine.

If all the above works out, you will then need (IIRC) a 10mm socket and maybe a 6 or 10 inch extension to remove 4 bolts holding the large "salad bowl" and a metal stiffener ring. I just set the "salad bowl" aside and replaced the bolts and ring.

Now the shaft is MUCH easier to R&R, the air doesn't get so "blue" anymore, and IMO if I have a freaky enough accident that the toplink tower doesn't keep me from getting any body parts mangled, then it's probably time to croak anyway. Besides, it's not like I'm gonna let the grandkids ride on the flail - I kinda LIKE the little buggers... Steve