Rototiller Tractors?

[Bob_Skurka]

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Is there a reason why the larger tractors do not seem to have Hydrostatic drive? </font>

It depends on the brand. You can get HST on some pretty large tractors from the more established brands, but many of the other brands probably don't sell enough tractors in the US (or the world?) to justify the development, marketing, parts and inventory costs. The big 3 brands (John Deere, New Holland, Kubota) all have HST up into the 50+ hp range. Most of the other brands seem to top out at 30 to 35hp with their HST offerings (Long/Farmtrac has one that is 39hp).

The #4 brand in the US is apparently Mahindra & Mahindra, from a thread about a week ago it was stated that they only sell roughly 8000 tractors a year in the US and there is apparently something like 100,000+ tractors under 40hp sold here each hear.

So if you sell only a few thousand units a year across your entire product line, you simply may not be able to afford a wide selection of HST and Gear tractors based on the economies of scale of production in addition to the other factors listed above.

 

[elemint]

Do you know what kind of low gearing numbers i should look for when having rototilling in mind? (For the non hydro trans of course) I see that the kioti DK's have Optional: 16F/16R gearing. Anyone have that option? Do you know how much that option sells for?

Thanks

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Do you know what kind of low gearing numbers i should look for when having rototilling in mind? (For the non hydro trans of course) I see that the kioti DK's have Optional: 16F/16R gearing. Anyone have that option? Do you know how much that option sells for? )</font>
Some of the Kioti models have a creeper gear option as well that can be installed. I'm not sure about the cost, but it's not a lot as I remember. Look for gear speeds of 1 mph or less. Some posters say they till just fine at 1 mph. Also, if you buy a tractor with a dual clutch, you don't stop the PTO by clutching half way down for shifting or coasting a bit in case you need to slow some for tilling virgin territory.
John

 

[elemint]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Look for gear speeds of 1 mph or less. Some posters say they till just fine at 1 mph.
John )</font>

The Kioti site says the DK35 has: Min. Travel Speed of Forward w/ Ag1 @ Engine rated speed 0.55 mph Dont know what a Ag1 is but .55 mph sounds good.

 

[Donnyj]

I believe the Ag1 stands for the Ag type tires. The Kioti dealer I have been dealing with stocks all his DK series with creeper gear option. He tells me the option is only $200.00.

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Kioti site says the DK35 has: Min. Travel Speed of Forward w/ Ag1 @ Engine rated speed 0.55 mph Dont know what a Ag1 is but .55 mph sounds good. )</font>

Thats with the 8f/8r transmission.
The optional creeper gear (16f/16r) would be slower yet.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Kioti site says the DK35 has: Min. Travel Speed of Forward w/ Ag1 @ Engine rated speed 0.55 mph Dont know what a Ag1 is but .55 mph sounds good. )</font>
Donny's right, the AG1 is R1 agricultural tires. R3s are turf, and R4s are industrial tires. The 0.55mph is without a creeper gear on the 8/8 transmission. With the 16/16 it will barely move in the lowest range/gear. Can be handy, but not totally needed. I think most posters would agree they can till pretty well with about 1/2 mph.
John

 

[DUMBDOG]

I hate to disagree with the consensus, but when rototilling for the first time of the year, deep tillage is done at 2MPH. This will of course depend upon if the land has been previously worked or not. Right now I am tilling my 40 acre garden at a speed of 2.5MPH and the soil is a little dry and it is doing a great job and may have to pick up the speed a little bit as the soil is getting a little to powdery. After letting the land sit for a couple of weeks the final tilling is done only a couple of inches deep and at a speed of 4MPH.

 

[elemint]

You are correct about tilling 'worked' good soil but wrong about one thing. 40 Acres is NOT a garden! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[shoppintractors]

40 acre garden.....<font color="blue"> the final tilling is done only a couple of inches deep and at a speed of 4MPH. </font>

Going 4MPH.....I would need to put in a de-acceleration lane /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif to compensate for the small size (first number would be a decimal point) of my garden.

Don /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif