Tiller offset tiller
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Bird
Rest in Peace
Until I moved back to town, I was using an offset tiller to cover the tractor tracks on the right side. Then I used a 6 sweep cultivator plow to straddle the rows until the plants got too big to do that. I also used a middle buster (some call a potato plow) to dig my potatoes.
neilly2
Silver Member
I borrow a friends 4' Befco with offset for tilling. My 30hp tractor could handle a bigger tiller, but:
1. The tractor drives the tiller, the tiller isn't driving the tractor.
2. The width doesn't matter because of the offset which covers one of tires.
3. Tillers are heavy as hell to handle so the smaller the better.
4. A good tiller is expensive so smaller is better.
One point: the Befco is a great tiller, I run it full depth through rock mine fields without a problem, but the darn kickstand is useless. Anyone else notice this?
Just my thoughts.
1. The tractor drives the tiller, the tiller isn't driving the tractor.
2. The width doesn't matter because of the offset which covers one of tires.
3. Tillers are heavy as hell to handle so the smaller the better.
4. A good tiller is expensive so smaller is better.
One point: the Befco is a great tiller, I run it full depth through rock mine fields without a problem, but the darn kickstand is useless. Anyone else notice this?
Just my thoughts.
OkieG
Veteran Member
The 48" KK tiller is off-set, but cost the same as their 60" model, which is not off-set. My tractor (19hp at the PTO) seems to handle the 60" just fine.
The middlebuster is used for digging potatos, but I use it in the Spring to break up our sometimes hard clay garden soil before running the tiller through. The tiller doesn't work as hard that way.
Although not specifically designed for garden use, a front end loader or boxblade is useful for moving dirt. Every Fall I use the backhoe to dig a trench or two in the garden and fill with leaves, then bury them.
OkieG
The middlebuster is used for digging potatos, but I use it in the Spring to break up our sometimes hard clay garden soil before running the tiller through. The tiller doesn't work as hard that way.
Although not specifically designed for garden use, a front end loader or boxblade is useful for moving dirt. Every Fall I use the backhoe to dig a trench or two in the garden and fill with leaves, then bury them.
OkieG
So, an offset tiller is the way to go then. Then just make up some cultivators on a toolbar? I'll probably go with a 48" tiller. Now, what are the pros and cons of the gear versus chain drives?
There is also something called sideshift? Is this another term for offset?
David
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There is also something called sideshift? Is this another term for offset?
David
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Bird
Rest in Peace
David, I don't know what kind and size of tractor you have or what size offset tiller you're talking about.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So, an offset tiller is the way to go then )</font>
Not necessarily so, in my opinion. The only reason I used an offset tiller was money. I had a 40" tiller that was centered and covered my tracks on both sides when I had a B7100 tractor. When I traded up to a B2710, I offset the tiller to cover the right tracks because the tractor was wider than the tiller and I didn't want to spend the money to buy a new tiller. But if you don't yet have a tiller, then I'd look for one just wide enough to completely cover both tracks with it centered.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( what are the pros and cons of the gear versus chain drives )</font>
I think the concensus of opinion is that the gear drive is stronger and will last longer. Chains can stretch or break, so I wouldn't argue the point, but I've also heard that the tensioner on the chain provides some shock cushion. Now I don't want to get into any arguments about which is better, but personally, that would not be a deciding factor for me in buying a tiller. The one I had was a chain drive Bush Hog brand that saw about 7 trouble free years of very severe service.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( something called sideshift? Is this another term for offset? )</font>
Yes.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So, an offset tiller is the way to go then )</font>
Not necessarily so, in my opinion. The only reason I used an offset tiller was money. I had a 40" tiller that was centered and covered my tracks on both sides when I had a B7100 tractor. When I traded up to a B2710, I offset the tiller to cover the right tracks because the tractor was wider than the tiller and I didn't want to spend the money to buy a new tiller. But if you don't yet have a tiller, then I'd look for one just wide enough to completely cover both tracks with it centered.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( what are the pros and cons of the gear versus chain drives )</font>
I think the concensus of opinion is that the gear drive is stronger and will last longer. Chains can stretch or break, so I wouldn't argue the point, but I've also heard that the tensioner on the chain provides some shock cushion. Now I don't want to get into any arguments about which is better, but personally, that would not be a deciding factor for me in buying a tiller. The one I had was a chain drive Bush Hog brand that saw about 7 trouble free years of very severe service.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( something called sideshift? Is this another term for offset? )</font>
Yes.
theboman
Veteran Member
Many of the tillers folks here have can be setup as off set tillers, the 3pt hitch will slide left/right on the tiller. At least that's how the First Choice Tillers are set up.