Tiller Roto Tiller Features

[bx23barry]

The next implement purchase is a rototiller. My dealer sells Land Pride, Maschio and Sitrex. My questions are about forward rotation vs. counter rotation and shear pin vs. slip clutch models. My dealer favours forward rotation because of cost and less soil compaction and says they outsell counter rotation models by 20:1. He also favours shear pin models and says the slip clutch types require much more maintenance i.e. slip mechanism must be re-torqued every time you hit something that causes slippage and if left outside in the rain for an extended period of time while shear pins can be replaced quickly in the field. He sells all types so it is not a matter of trying to get rid of in-stock inventory. What do you guys think? TIA. Wally Stein

I have a standard rotation Maschio with shear pin on its second set of tines. I have broke two shear pins one on a T post and the other on a 2 x 6, both buried. The shear pins are under a shield so aren't that easy to get too on mine but better than my old craftsman tiller with a slip clutch that did alot of smoking in my hard pan, I hated it. I'm sure a reverse rotation would do a better job but I got more time for that second pass than I got dollars for the reverse rotation. Really now that I have most everything tilled pretty good one pass does ok.

 

[Skerby]

after thinking all of two seconds, there isnt a difference between forward and reverse tillers. they both do the same thing in opposite directions. however you move the tractor one way or the other. if the tractor is standing still is there a difference if there is NO DIRECTION? if you are flying at 20mph isn't the traversion negligable since the blades approach not moving along the ground?
so what are the implications in between the two extremes of 1.) not moving and 2.) moving too fast? what difference that is to say, does forward or reverse rotation make? any engineers with degrees in philosophy?

 

[sunspot]

I'm not an engineer but this Woods page explains the reverse rotation very well.

Woods Equipment Company - Reverse Rotation Tillers

 

[ronjhall]

I'm not an engineer but this Woods page explains the reverse rotation very well. Woods Equipment Company - Reverse Rotation Tillers

To go with the woods info here is a scan from a Kubota brochure that shows how a reverse tine tiller works. My tiller requires 4WD in order to pull tiller forward.

 

[AndyMA]

. If you have rock and root free soil, a slip clutch is not needed.

jb

I have Volkswagon size rocks just at the surface of my fields. In addition to that I have millions of small to 36" inch rocks. That's why I till with a 44,000 lb excavator first.

Andy

 

[Skerby]

thanks, but i'm sure it's a half-full, half-empty situation. there's no revolutional advantage here (pun intended!) go with the cheaper of the two designs... you STILL have to work the soil for planting... i use my cultimulcher (just packers)... cheers

 

[Egon]

Talking about rocks: I find the very large ones are not a problem after you find them. It's the small ones that get thrown up and jamb between the teeth and the frame that really cause trouble.

 

[SPYDERLK]

after thinking all of two seconds, there isnt a difference between forward and reverse tillers. they both do the same thing in opposite directions. however you move the tractor one way or the other. if the tractor is standing still is there a difference if there is NO DIRECTION? if you are flying at 20mph isn't the traversion negligable since the blades approach not moving along the ground?
so what are the implications in between the two extremes of 1.) not moving and 2.) moving too fast? what difference that is to say, does forward or reverse rotation make? any engineers with degrees in philosophy?

CR goes deeper easier than FR. That is the only real advantage and its fairly easily negated by adding weight to the FR tiller. Also important for the FR is good tine speed. I use full 540 input on my KK FR [sometimes more when not going deep] and my 1st pass tills look just like the ones pictured in the Woods link for the CR. IMO they did some contrived non optimum things to get such a bad job as shown out of a FR tiller.
larry

 

[john_bud]

Follow the link.

Get the one called STCH

Fae Usa - PTO/Tractor Rock Crushers


That's my dream rototiller for use in rocky soil! Too bad it weighs more than my tractor....

jb

 

[bjcsc]

Another idea is to look at a Howse tiller. My 6' has served me well. It's gear driven, has a slip clutch and it can be setup to run forward or reverse. It takes about 10 minutes to switch it from one to the other...