Tiller rotary tiller annoyance

randy41 · Jun 1, 2008

this is about the skid depth adjustment. why isn't this built to be easily adjusted? i want to prepare a seed bed so i want it set to max depth. then 15 minutes later i want to cultivate and the min depth would work nicely. but then i have to go get some tools to adjust the skid. theres gotta be a better way.

mrutkaus · Jun 1, 2008

Yes it does look time consuming. Could you put some type of bolts on it that can be loosened by hand, ie some sort of bolt with a lever on it perhaps going to a welded on nut?

Mike

Mickey_Fx · Jun 1, 2008

Sure would help if you said what brand and model tiller you're talking about

Jim-Satoh · Jun 1, 2008

I have a Befco roto tiller. Mine has the skids on it, but you can place a push-pull pin in the holes. You know the ones with the ring on them or use a fast removing wing nut on a bolt.

jbrumberg · Jun 1, 2008

My first tiller did not even have skids so I got used to using the positon control on my 3 Point Hitch. With my new tiller I placed the skids at the highest position possible and just use the positon control for tiller use. I admit changing the skid adjustment is a royal pain so I keep it set at the highest point for the greatest depth for tilling. Jay

Jim-Satoh · Jun 2, 2008

jbrumberg said:
My first tiller did not even have skids so I got used to using the positon control on my 3 Point Hitch. With my new tiller I placed the skids at the highest position possible and just use the positon control for tiller use. I admit changing the skid adjustment is a royal pain so I keep it set at the highest point for the greatest depth for tilling. Jay

I do the same on the depth. Basically I use the same depth all of the time in my garden. Once planted, I switch to my 8.5hp rear tine tiller to get between the rows. The smaller manis type tillers are great for weeding and getting close to plants.

radman1 · Jun 2, 2008

To be honest, I have never adjusted mine. Mine is set near the mid depth position. If I do hard ground, it is all the tiller and tractor can do at that depth. If I want to go deeper, the ground is usually so soft that the skids just dig in deeper and I get deep tilling depth. If the ground is soft and I want to till shallow, I just set the position control on the 3 point. Also, if you have a hydraulic top link, just tipping the tiller forward and backwards will affect the depth.

pitt_md · Jun 2, 2008

Jim-Satoh said:
I have a Befco roto tiller. Mine has the skids on it, but you can place a push-pull pin in the holes. You know the ones with the ring on them or use a fast removing wing nut on a bolt.

I have a Befco tiller to but mine has the slots in the skid depth adjustment. Maybe mine are easy to get at but it only takes a couple of minutes with a socket and wrench and your done.

randy41 · Jun 2, 2008

i agree that theres not much to it but if you're out in the field somewhere and you don't have the tools with you then its more than a couple of minutes.

Glowplug · Jun 2, 2008

I guess you could set them for maximum depth to start with and then do what jbrumberg does for your cultivating; raise the tiller and control the depth with the position control instead of the skids.

But this conversation DOES give me an idea for a modification to make a hydraulically adjustable skid controlled by the rear remotes. Hmmm.