Tiller Tiller advice needed

[2nstonge]

I wondered what a big rock or two would do to the pto/powertrain, and what might happen if the tractor got launched into a wall by a big rock in the tiller.

Mine has a slip clutch on the PTO shaft. Rock gets into the tiller and one of two things happens; slip clutch gives way until I've gone by the rock so there's no damage to driveline or, if the rock is big enough, the tiller bounces over it. Both scenarios are very noisy.

When tilling virgin ground I'll make one pass at 3-4 inches, this willl pull out the smaller potato-sized rocks and identify - by some gawd-awful racket - the big ones. I make a quick drive around after the first pass and fill the FEL with rocks and then do a 2nd deeper pass down to 5-6 inches. I needed I'll do another quick rock-pluck drive thru and then a finish pass with tiller to smooth it out.

-Norm

 

[jbrumberg]

Arcane via 2nstonge:

There are alot of rocks in NE! I agree with Norm. I live south of Norm in MA. I follow Norm's method of tilling. I used to run a Woods T-42 (42") tiller off my old Ford 1100 (13/11 HP). The setup was a little unbalanced (rear heavy). The old tractor would seriously hop around when I ran into large rocks, ledge, boulders, etc.; as the tiller bounced over the obstruction. I ultimately killed the tiller after 20+ years of use/abuse. I have not had a problem with tiller bounce or tractor hop since I upgraded tractors and tillers. Jay

 

[CFHartman]

My garden is the same size as yours. I have been working it for 37 years. I got a real good buy on a 50" Land Pride two years old like new. for $800. I only had to buy a PTO shaft. It takes longer to hook it up than it takes me to till the garden. 5 min. I love it.