Tiller New King Kutter 6' Tiller

[Dougster]

We need a TSC in Central MA. I priced a 6' KK tiller at a local tractor dealer a couple weeks ago: $1999 plus 5% sales tax. You guys near a TSC are fortunate.
Bob

Hi Bob - I know exactly who you are talking about... and they are older and rusting worse there than the ones at TSC. Gee, I wonder why?

Keep in mind that TSC for you central MA guys is right down Route 395 in Griswold, CT... a nice, smooth, straight shot! And they are coming to Worcester, MA and the sales tax-free land of "Live Free or Die" later this summer... or so I'm told.

Also... Milton CAT right off Route 495 in Milford, MA has some KK-made Challenger-branded ones on 30% off sale... same color, different name & model numbers... but still a little pricey (if I remember correctly) compared to TSC. However, I'm told they are "ready to bargain" even more to clear them out.

Dougster

 

[john_bud]

We need a TSC in Central MA. I priced a 6' KK tiller at a local tractor dealer a couple weeks ago: $1999 plus 5% sales tax. You guys near a TSC are fortunate.

Bob

I don't know about that. The local farm store here has sales on the 5' KK for $1199 and the 6' for $1499. Plus 5.5% tax. Seems both of you guys have it rough.

Dougster. Don't feel too bad about backing out. The KK tiller is a good unit, but it is not commercial use quality. I wouldn't hesitate to use one daily for a full season, but wouldn't be surprised if it was in need of repair or replacement after 500- 1000 hours of use.


jb

 

[Farmwithjunk]

And when I asked on the phone, why couldn't they have been honest and told me that the gosh-darned crates were falling apart so bring down the equipment trailer rather than the easier, more convenient dump. And why KK can't spend 1% more to fully crate them like the big boys and Italian machines is beyond me. It's like they are purposely trying to maintain this image of the super-economy brand and this is a vital part of their "shtick"... crappy crating!

But maybe I am not getting across my point very well... and it is this: I don't have a lot of money left. I am not rich or even "comfortable" like many of you folks. I worked long and hard for the little money I've got left ......

Dougster

Well, let me try to address your concerns one last time. The majority of tillers on the market are foriegn made. I'm trying to recall, but I THINK King Kutter tillers are made in Alabama or Georgia. Overseas shipping (probably in ocean-going containers) would demand a well built crate, regardless of price range. Tossing an economy brand tiller in a truck and hauling it up from Alabama is a little less of a trek. Maybe they should be a little more secured to the pallet, but this is the very first case I know of where KK's crates have been brought out as an issue.

I'm not exactly a Fortune 500 business myself. On top of that, I'm good ol' fashioned CHEAP. (I see it as frugal. My wife and kids call me CHEAP) That's why I was so willing to overlook a few runs in the paint, a couple minor scratches, and the "stigma" associated with owning an "economy brand tiller".

I might suggest that you contact either SWEET FARM EQUIPMENT or CCM, both members here at TBN. They sell brands that are reasonably popular, and relatively cheap, and they ship to your door.

 

[Dougster]

Don't feel too bad about backing out. The KK tiller is a good unit, but it is not commercial use quality. I wouldn't hesitate to use one daily for a full season, but wouldn't be surprised if it was in need of repair or replacement after 500- 1000 hours of use.
jb

I understand JB... but so-called "commercial grade" tillers cost more than my house. I view my struggling little business effort here as being a "jack of all trades, master of none"... sort of a "Swiss Army Knife" (as one client called it) of miscellaneous land and property-related services mainly aimed at homeowners. No way that I would ever get enough tilling work before I die to ever justify a commercial unit. It's crystal clear that this particular service has got to be in the mix... but will always be a very small part of my business overall.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Maybe they should be a little more secured to the pallet, but this is the very first case I know of where KK's crates have been brought out as an issue.

The main problem is that there is no pallet at all. They are basically shipped like this tiller (also made by KK):

The difference, of course, is that this "crate" is still intact and the ones at TSC were trashed and leaning over far worse than a certain tower in Pisa, Italy!

If it had been shipped on a normal pallet, I would probably own one today... for better or worse... because at least it would have arrived at TSC reasonably intact and I could have gotten it into the dump trailer and home without further destroying it or the dump trailer.

Dougster

 

[JimR]

We need a TSC in Central MA. I priced a 6' KK tiller at a local tractor dealer a couple weeks ago: $1999 plus 5% sales tax. You guys near a TSC are fortunate.

Bob

There's a TSC in Enfield, CT that I visit once in awhile. They would do well in the Spencer/Brookfield area. I have a four foot JD tiller that I picked up recently for $100.00. I then sunk another $90.00 into it to replace the bearings. It doesn't cover my five foot path. But it does work great and till the land.

 

[Dougster]

There's a TSC in Enfield, CT that I visit once in awhile. They would do well in the Spencer/Brookfield area.

Enfield (CT) is a pretty good store. They carry some stuff that Griswold doesn't. Only problem there is that insane amounts of road salt placed on the major road right adjacent to their yard migrates in constantly as salt dust, settles everywhere... and makes for some VERY nasty corrosion of everything stored outside. And I do mean everything! Makes the stuff stored outdoors at Griswold look "factory fresh" by comparison!

I'll bet that new "Worcester" store is going to be somewhere out on the west side... probably out in Spencer where the competition is based. Haven't heard an exact location yet, but that's my best guess!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

By the way, the first TSC in the great sales tax-free state of "Live Free or Die" will be in Merrimack Commons, 515 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack, NH 03054

They are saying two more months, but I think it will be open long before that.

Dougster

 

[Bob_Young]

Doug, ya' got me chucklin' with your crate critique. There's probably nothing else on the truck that's anywhere near as tough as those tillers. Only reason I can see for the crate is to protect the truck and everything else from the tiller....and I gotta admit it's a mite skimpy to accomplish even that much.

Anyhow, I love my 6' KK tiller. It sat under the snow at TSC all winter long...collecting character (you'd probably call it rust). Came spring (or almost), the expected TSC 10% off coupon appeared in the mailbox and I hightailed it in there to glom onto that tiller before anyone else did. It had a yellow PTO shaft that I'm now glad that I didn't tinker with.

Put it to work at the neighbor's place tilling some food plots. Not many rocks but lots of roots. You could smell the clutch when it grabbed a root. Thought it'd take 2 or 3 passes to get the plots ready...the ground hadn't been turned up in decades. It took only one and did an excellent job. I was amazed.

It did seem give my 45HP L4300 a workout. A 5 footer might've been a better match; but I reasoned that I could always take off a set of tines or two in really hard going. Besides, the 6 footer covers my tracks.

FWJ's glowing reports are what tipped the scales in its favor. I held my nose, closed my eyes and wrote the check. I don't like rust that much either.
Bob

 

[john_bud]

I held my nose, closed my eyes and wrote the check. I don't like rust that much either.
Bob

Good write up Bob!

I gotta ask, how much rust was left on it after the first couple food plots? I'd bet not much! My 5' KK get's pretty shiny and strangly stays that way until spring in a dirt floor pole building.
jb