larso1
Gold Member
On the 3-pt tiller gear vs hydro vs gear w/creeper, I think there are other variables that may make a particular gear tranny tractor work whereas another may not. Not all gear drive tractors travel at the same ground speed in 1st gear. A Ford 8n is just too fast, but I have read that other vintage utility tractors have a much slower ground speed and can just make a tiller work in most cases. A person just needs to look at the specs of their tractor (slowest ground speed) relative to others to determine if it will work. My 19-HP Japanese Iseki has a creeper range but it's just way too slow. I'd be out there all day at that speed. I till in low range, first or second gear depending on the soil. Here in the video I think I was in second gear low range (no creeper) but had a faster PTO speed (speed 2 out of 4), with the tiller at a depth of about 3-in. I think. With multiple PTO speeds from 540 to 1000 RPM you have a lot of additional flexibility in ground speed too. Granted the comparatively light weight 48-in. Yanmar tiller on my tractor is bouncing around some on the hard dry ground next to our dirt road, and you can hear the rocks in there too. But no broken tines yet, knock on wood. 
YouTube - Yanmar 48-in. 2-pt. tiller in action
YouTube - Yanmar 48-in. 2-pt. tiller in action