Rotary Tiller Min/Max HP vs our Kubota L3130 and M7040

SanDucerro · Mar 8, 2014

Looking at the purchase of a Muratori MZ6 185 Rotary Tiller. It's listed as "medium duty" and at 74" wide it will cover the tracks of both our L3130 and M7040. The literature on this model rotary tiller says it's rated at 45-50HP with a MAX of 55HP. Well, my tractor choices fall between with the Kubota L3130 HST below (31HP Engine and 24HP PTO) and the Kubota M7040 Hyd Shuttle above (71HP Engine and 64HP PTO). Using a strict interpretation of the numbers it would seem I need to go down to a lighter duty tiller if I want to use the L3130 or a heavier duty model if I want to use the M7040. But, as with most things in life, my "price OUCH point" fits the MZ6 185 pretty well. The next step up is a couple of grand more and I just don't think I need a commercial model tiller.

So, how do these ratings work in the "real world"? What can I expect using the tiller on the M7040? What does the "left over" horsepower do to the tiller?

The soil I'll be tilling has generally already been disc harrowed and is mostly sandy loam with zero rocks - just south central Texas pasture. As such it shouldn't be a tough roe to hoe in any case...

Thanks!

oosik · Mar 9, 2014

Keith,
I think I saw this on another thread also. So your M7040 is going to be what?? - 9pto hp over the tiller max. That is no problem - just adjust its slip clutch properly and go. Forget about the problems with the old & not adjusted slip clutch on the cutter. I used my M6040 with 56pto hp on a snow blower with max rating of 40pto hp for years with no problems.

You indicate the 74" tiller will cover the tracks on your M7040. You must have those rear tires set as narrow as possible. My rears on my M6040 are 80" outside to outside. I have my tires set to almost max for stability.

Anyhow, the extra 9pto hp will not be a problem and you will have max tilling ability with that unit. Sure wish I had sandy loam with zero rocks. I have about 80% exposed basaltic lava and the remaining 20% is glacial till and volcanic ash about 1.5 feet deep average.

Gary Fowler · Mar 9, 2014

I use my KK tiller on my LS P7010. I don't give it a thought as to the max HP listed. I did have to change the pins from Cat 1 to Cat 2 and ream out the top link hole so my 1" pin would go thru it. The slip clutch is limiting your torque input so don't worry about how much your tractor HP has. I bought a 72" and it wont cover my tire width, but by swinging it to one side and locking in the stabilizers, I can just cover the right side tire, so I till from right to left (setting in the seat directions) and it works just right. I can put my tires right up close to my garden edger timbers and it tills within inches of them. Like you, I didn't want to spend double the amount to get a larger tiller that I use for 10 minutes a year to till the garden. It did come in handy to put out a grass fire in the pastures a few days ago. I was running it about 7 MPH (very fast for tilling) and it did a nice job of covering the grass so it was used as a fire break and it was chewing up small 2" diameter pine trees without difficulty also.

SanDucerro · Mar 9, 2014

Thanks. This was the original thread I started last night, but after over 100 views and no comments I decided to post in the Kubota forum this morning as well. I tried to delete this thread, but couldn't see where that was an option. Didn't really want two threads, but did need some opinions.

Like Gary, I really don't need the larger tiller for my intended purpose.

As for the width on the M7040 - I suppose they are set narrow, but they are also on Ag tires - so that makes it a bit more narrow. Last time I measured the width was just a hair over 72". Which just so happens to match the L3130 with the wider R4's.

The tiller I'm looking at is actually 79" wide - but the cut width is 74" - so it should just cover the tracks...