rotary tiller depth & weight

[Baby Grand]

Gary, Spindifferent -

Thanks for all the useful info on spaders. From what I have read, they appear to be excellent if you're doing intensively organic or low/no till agriculture on a fairly large scale. If my wife and I ever get our ag act together I will seriously consider one. I bet it would rock for carrots.

Downsides are cost, flexibility and operability. I could buy 3 new KKII tillers for the cost of a similar sized Celli spader. Not mentioned much is flexibility of use. The spader is a one trick pony. In terms of flexibility, I use my tiller for more than simple tillage - I bust up sod, mix materials, loosen soil for FEL digging and generally scare the cats (Spike puffs up real big when it starts spinning). On the operability side, I don't really need a creeper gear, even with a gear drive tractor. If the soil is willing, I can till in 2nd gear.

Andy-

I have to take issue with your local guy's opinion. Weight carries .. well, weight ... for me with ground engaging equipment. Firstly, it supplies the downforce that my 3PH cannot. This is more important with a forward rotating tiller as it wants to climb up and over anything it can't bite right into. Weight keeps it's nose to the ground; doing what it's supposed to be doing. Weight also implies more steel & by inference, more rigidity. Rigidity is important when you consider the forces acting on the drum and frame of the tiller when you are working it hard. More rigid = less deflection = happier gears, chains, seals and bearings. So more weight, if it's wisely applied, should give longer life.

-Jim

 

[clemsonfor]

Gary, Spindifferent -

Thanks for all the useful info on spaders. From what I have read, they appear to be excellent if you're doing intensively organic or low/no till agriculture on a fairly large scale. If my wife and I ever get our ag act together I will seriously consider one. I bet it would rock for carrots.

Downsides are cost, flexibility and operability. I could buy 3 new KKII tillers for the cost of a similar sized Celli spader. Not mentioned much is flexibility of use. The spader is a one trick pony. In terms of flexibility, I use my tiller for more than simple tillage - I bust up sod, mix materials, loosen soil for FEL digging and generally scare the cats (Spike puffs up real big when it starts spinning). On the operability side, I don't really need a creeper gear, even with a gear drive tractor. If the soil is willing, I can till in 2nd gear.

Andy-

I have to take issue with your local guy's opinion. Weight carries .. well, weight ... for me with ground engaging equipment. Firstly, it supplies the downforce that my 3PH cannot. This is more important with a forward rotating tiller as it wants to climb up and over anything it can't bite right into. Weight keeps it's nose to the ground; doing what it's supposed to be doing. Weight also implies more steel & by inference, more rigidity. Rigidity is important when you consider the forces acting on the drum and frame of the tiller when you are working it hard. More rigid = less deflection = happier gears, chains, seals and bearings. So more weight, if it's wisely applied, should give longer life.

-Jim

My thoughts exactly. A light tiller will posibly not till deep as it will float on the dirt it just tilled and not fall through it and iff you hit a big root or rock a light weight tiller may bust gears or bend all up. They all have a shear pin or slip clutch so this is not a good thing. Your tractor will not break if you have a heavy weight tiller if it hits a big object. The shear pin will break before damage should occur to your tractors driveline.

 

[Agrantina]

BabyG,Clem
Now that makes a lot more sense to me. Heavier tiller so it will not jump up and damage anything on the tractor. I have had that happen when final grading in high gear with a box blade at hit something and the box blade jump up in the seat with me. :confused2: Well not really but scared my to death!!! Those phoenix tillers are 200lbs less than the KK, Tarter and other USA made ones..

AndyG

 

[sweettractors]

BabyG,Clem
Now that makes a lot more sense to me. Heavier tiller so it will not jump up and damage anything on the tractor. I have had that happen when final grading in high gear with a box blade at hit something and the box blade jump up in the seat with me. :confused2: Well not really but scared my to death!!! Those phoenix tillers are 200lbs less than the KK, Tarter and other USA made ones..

AndyG

The 6 ft Phoenix T-8-72 inch weighs 679 and the Tarter 6 ft weighs 700 and the Hawkline 6 ft weighs 800. Ken Sweet

 

[sweettractors]

I just got a message from TBN that states someone has complained about my last post:

Quote: A while back you asked the people here if you posted too much as a dealer.. On the "Tiller" weight question you never answered the OP all you did is try to sell,,, hmmmm..Quote:


I really don't know the issue this user has, If you guys want me to not post the weights of the products I sell, just let me know? Ken Sweet

 

[Agrantina]

Thanks Ken-- NOT I how dislikes the info... What is the bar across the top of the hawline tiller for? A extra brace?

AndyG

 

[sweettractors]

Thanks Ken-- NOT I how dislikes the info... What is the bar across the top of the hawline tiller for? A extra brace?

AndyG

Yes, extra weight and bracing. Ken Sweet

 

[clemsonfor]

Yes, extra weight and bracing. Ken Sweet

Ken you better watch out that type comment may get you banned!! :laughing:

Now i will wait for my PM from TBN that my post has been removed as it badmouths ..... blah blah

 

[Baby Grand]

I just got a message from TBN that states someone has complained about my last post:

Quote: A while back you asked the people here if you posted too much as a dealer.. On the "Tiller" weight question you never answered the OP all you did is try to sell,,, hmmmm..Quote:


I really don't know the issue this user has, If you guys want me to not post the weights of the products I sell, just let me know? Ken Sweet

Hey, Ken -
Speaking for myself, I welcome your input. While you may be representing your products, I have never gotten the impression that you misrepresent them. In doing that, you are adding to the tribal knowledge, which is why I keep coming back to TBN in the first place. Knowledge is power - power to make an educated decision.
-Jim

 

[Haywire]

Hey, Ken -
Speaking for myself, I welcome your input. While you may be representing your products, I have never gotten the impression that you misrepresent them. In doing that, you are adding to the tribal knowledge, which is why I keep coming back to TBN in the first place. Knowledge is power - power to make an educated decision.
-Jim

+1 :thumbsup: I'm new here, and on other forums I have complained about advertisers that just hawk their wares without adding to the conversation or 'tribal knowledge'. From what I have seen, you don't fall into that category. Watch yourself though, I've got my eyeball on you and have my finger on the button... LOL

Ian