Tillage with an 850

Coles · Jul 26, 2006

A couple of years ago I bought an 850 from the original owner's widow. It had less than 200 hrs. on it. It has a front end loader and turf tires front and back. It has worked fine for mowing. Now I am wanting to plow and disk garden space. I'm considering buying new ag tires for the rear (and mounting them on their own rims) and adding rear weights. I would be pulling a small moldboard plow in fairly heavy clay. Has anyone had any luck using an 850 for tillage like this? Or should I start looking for a bigger tractor?

DK35vince · Jul 26, 2006

A rototiller works fine with turf tires.
Putting a 5' tiller on your 850 may be an option..

Toolguy · Jul 26, 2006

Turf tires will work fine for the limited use it sounds like you need them for. Ag tires are better if the ground if wet and muddy. On dry ground, the kind you want to work anyway, the turfs will surprise you. I would at least try the turfs first and see how they work before spending any money on ag tires that will not get used much. I'll bet you will be satisfied with the turfs. Good luck.

JerryG · Jul 26, 2006

If your tractor is two wheel drive it will be alright to swap to R1s on the rear. If you have 4wd, it wouldn't be a good idea. The front and rear tires are chosen as a set so that they provide a specific ratio. If it is off very much it will put to much stress on your front end.

rockyridgefarm · Jul 27, 2006

Tire chains might be an option. But if a tiler give the desired results, it is really nice and would work nicely on that machine.

aplantnut · Jul 27, 2006

I have a two-wheel drive 950 with turf tires that does a good job of pulling a 6 foot disk. I have been pleased at how well it works in dry "workable" ground. Of course they stink if in mud, but then I don't work the ground when it is wet.

22261 · Jul 28, 2006

My 750 does just fine with ag tires pulling a singlebottom plow 12'' for a compact tractor. rear tires loaded with 25gals of water and noburst no-toxic antifreeze