Reverse tiller question

[Rat Rod Mac]

Have been looking for a 6' tiller to use on the back of my Massey- Ferguson 135 diesel. Have noticed that some say "Reverse" does this mean that the tines turn towards the back of the tiller instead of turning towards the front? If so what's the advantage, maybe it would not have a tendency to "push" the tractor. Especially if it's a small tractor. That is the only thing I can think of for a reverse tiller. What's the deal? Does it till any differently by going in reverse? And while I'm at it, any suggestions on make or models? Have been looking at the King Kutter brand and I guess Rural King handles a brand called Tarter. Ever hear of them? Any good? Any and all suggestions are welcomed. I do think I would prefer one with gear drive though. Thanks again. RRM

 

[LD1]

If you are using a MF135, I doubt you have to worry about pushing the tractor.

You are correct, the reverse tillers run the opposite direction. The advantage is it does a better job, especially if you dont have a slow enough gear to run the tiller with. With a forward tiller, the tines are running the same direction as the wheels of the tractor. The faster the tractor moves, the less the tiller breaks up the soil, cause its moving the same direction. And there comes a point in which it just isnt effective. Especially on older tractors that dont have a slow first gear.

Reverse tine tillers also take more HP to run, and naturally given the direction they run, it is harder on things.

Unless you have oversized tires, tractordata lists your ground speed @ 1.4MPH in first gear. That sould probably be fine with a KK or any forward rotation tiller. The problem comes with tractors like the 8n that have ~3mph first gear.

 

[Rat Rod Mac]

Thank you LD1. Yeah, my tractor has a two speed transmission. Three speed in low range and three gears in high range. Was just wondering if a 6' tiller that weighs around 650 to 750 pounds would be too much. Thought I would go with the 6' to cover the tire tracks. You have any preference towards make or models. Thanks again. RRM

 

[LD1]

I only have experience with two tillers. A KKII 72" tiller and my current yanmar tiller that I converted to reverse tine cause dad has an 8n that it just would work with it forward rotation.

The KK tillers seem to be pretty good. Landpride, woods, and others all make good stuff too. But tillers arent cheap. Given you dont have a super low ground speed (1.4mph), I would only go wide enough to cover the tracks. Tilling a garden, you arent going to save much if any time going bigger. But you will spend more $$$. Now if you are tilling a huge area, like several acres, that may be a different story.

But with 38HP and not a super low ground gear, go just big enough to cover the tracks IMO

 

[oosik]

I have experience with Troy Built. It was their HORSE model and was reverse rotation. Literature I've read says forward rotation does best at tilling ground that is already broken and reverse rotation does best at breaking new ground. I used it to open a garden spot (80 x 150) when we first moved down here. Breaking our heavy sod here would give me quite a ride if I wasn't mindful. Many times I chased the tiller out across the unbroken pasture when it decided to be a "bronco" rather than a horse. Mine was a stand alone tiller and not PTO.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I recently bought the KK 6 foot forward rotation tiller (no one stocked the reverse tiller in my area). I find it does a good job on virgin soil if you go slowly. I found that if does much better at mixing in organic matter (leaves) if I go a bit faster as in 3-4 MPH and do multiple passes rather than creep along at 1.5 MPH with one pass. I haven't used it much but I like the results and couldn't imagine anything being better with reverse tines especially since they do cost a lot more. For my small area of use, I can go over the area a lot of times before I would use up the fuel cost to compensate the difference in cost. I tilled in an 8-12" thick layer of leaves for my sister in law's garden in 3 passes, but two would have been sufficient. They were well chopped and mixed in. Our poor soil has hardly any organic matter and we have been using lots of leaves every year to help build it up a bit. Her garden is about 4 years old now and has went from yellow dirt to rich black loamy silt. I hope to have mine in that shape in a few years. Our soil is also very acidic and requires lots of lime to neutralize it so I have also tilled that in along with some 13-13-13 fertilizer. I will see how it grows this year. Last year the squash and zucchini did really good, but tomatoes and peppers didn't do so well.

Another thing that is better for me with forward rotation is the ROCKS. I have a bunch and they keep growing even though I harvest everyone I find. The forward rotation tines will just hop over them and so far no damage. I think if the tines went backward, they would jam the tines when picking up a big rock and trying to throw it over the top.

 

[7879fordman]

My mf135 is way to fast for a tiller even in the lowest gear . I did do it but I would have to go over it 3-4 times to get it like I wanted . Plus I burnt the clutch up trying to make it creep .

A m135 and tiller not a good mix in my eyes .

I bought a new L3800hst kubota now its a tiller tractor because it can really creep . I will never put the till back behind the m135 . There just not tiller tractors .

Just my advice .

Sent from my iPhone 5 using TractorByNet

 

[DeereMann]

now you guys have me wondering if a forward rotation tiller would push a HST transmission? my last 3 pt tiller was the little Deere 42" hydraulic one for the L&G Tractors - it was reverse rotation. It pulverized my gardens soil in a single pass, and the speed was easy to control because it resisted moving forward.

Thoughts?

 

[7879fordman]

now you guys have me wondering if a forward rotation tiller would push a HST transmission? my last 3 pt tiller was the little Deere 42" hydraulic one for the L&G Tractors - it was reverse rotation. It pulverized my gardens soil in a single pass, and the speed was easy to control because it resisted moving forward.

Thoughts?

No it will not push a HST tractor or mine doesn't

Sent from my iPhone 5 using TractorByNet

 

[LD1]

Unless you use a very oversized tiller on an undersized tractor, I dont think you will have issues with pushing with a forward rotation. The tractor just has too much mass.