Tiller Rotary Tillers - Sicma Phoenix vs Ansung Terra Force

MOTrussell · Jan 14, 2015

Newbie here. I would like to get some opinions on rotary tillers. I have narrowed my search down to two brands, Ansung Terra Force and Sicma Phoenix. I am specifically looking at the YJR series in the 74 or 80 inch widths or the T15 or T20 series in the 72 or 80 inch widths. I would like to stay under $4K delivered, so I might be stretching it with the T20 series. I have measured my tractor (Kubota M7040) tread width and it is 70.5 inches outer lug to outer lug (R1) and 73.5 inches overall width including the bulge of the sidewall.

First would you recommend going with the 80 inch to be sure to cover my tracks or would the 72/74 inch be ok to save a few extra dollars?

Second, It appears that the Terra Force 3rd point attachment connects to the top of the gear box vs the Sicma has a box frame. Is there a risk of the tab on the Terra Force gear box breaking?

Third, Is the Sicma T15 a closer apples to apples to the Terra Force YJR or is the Sicma T20?

Also, any experience with parts availability between the two manufacturers?

I am a firm believer in buying it right the first time, even if you have to wait and save. So, I please welcome any opinions or personal experience between the two brands.

Thanks in advance. -Mike

mddorange · Jan 14, 2015

:welcome:
To the forum from Northwest Alabama.

forestcreature1 · Jan 14, 2015

If you can offset the tiller, full width isn't much of an issue (in case you hadn't thought of that already).

MOTrussell · Jan 14, 2015

Thanks! It is one of those things that I knew they were capable of offset, but I guess I mentally blocked that option. After digging into the pricing between the 72/74 and the 80 inch widths, it appears to be roughly $100 more for both models to step up to the 80 inch. So, I guess I'm sort of seeing it as a moot point from a dollars perspective. The only other thing I can think about would be if I had to trailer it or travel through the woods to food plots running the risk of hanging the wider tiller up on something.

Complete Turf Care · Jan 14, 2015

I have the Ansung YJR 74 that I use on behind my Kubota L5740. I really like it. My cost was $2500 picked up at my local dealer. He also gave me $1000 for a Bush Hog 74" that I had bought from him years ago.

The Ansung is a much much heavier machine than the Bush Hog was, and I paid about the same amount for the Bush Hog about 8 years ago.

If you have the horsepower and the trailer width to handle the 80", I would suggest going with that. My tractor is right at 70" wide, and the 74" tiller is wide enough to cover the tire width, but I don't think I have the horsepower for the 80"

Overall I am a lot happier with the Ansung. I have no experience or knowledge of the other brand you mentioned.

Here is a link to a thread I started about mine. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/304593-my-new-ansung-yjr74-tiller.html

MOTrussell · Jan 14, 2015

Good thoughts! Thanks!

powerscol · Jan 19, 2015

I also have the YJR 74 and love it. Weight is you friend on these units and the Ansung is built like a Tank. I rented several brands that were lighter and the bounced all over the place, the Ansung did not. I actually run my YJR 074 with 26.5 HP, so they are power efficient. You cant go wrong with the Ansung. If you can handle the weight of the 80, and have the HP, go for it, but consider where you will use it and space needed to store. Hope this helps.

MOTrussell · Jan 19, 2015

You have definitely sold me on the Ansung. I have a Kubota M7040SUHD and I think the last I checked was that it was rated at 64 PTO HP. This should handle the YJR 80 inch version, right? Storage will be under a shed, and I have enough room.

powerscol · Jan 21, 2015

That will be one sweet set up. Once you get going you will learn where to set your top link to get the proper tilling angle - there is a trick to it not explained in the manual. For me it is a slight forward tilt wind fully in the ground. Also I set my back door tension to actually compact and level the tilled soil. It can be set to numerous configurations with their set up, including partially open if you want to throw stones out the back and on top of tilled ground