Tiller on a 950

BB_TX · Mar 19, 2002

Anyone here using a tiller on a JD 950? I am considering buying one. My tire width is about 66" so I would need a 6' tiller to cover my tire tracks. I could get a smaller offset, but then I would have to go the same direction every pass. Not all that bad, but a nuisance. The 950 has 27 PTO hp and I am a little unsure if that is enough to run a 6' well. I do run a 6' rotary cutter with no problem. I have an FEL so weight should not be a problem. Soil is clean (i.e. no rocks) blackland.

Mark_in_NH · Mar 19, 2002

BB TX,
I have a 1988 950 MFWD. I just bought a 6' landscape rake for it. My width of rear wheels at there outer most position is approx. 73". It seems to handle the rake just fine with turf tires. I know a tiller will be heavier, but considering the power I feel the 950 has, I wouldn't expect a problem.
I am sure there are others here who have run tillers, that can provide more insight. Good luck.

pennwalk · Mar 19, 2002

Is it a lot of trouble to move the wheels in on a 950? I think it is the 5' king kutter tiller that TCS sells for a very reasonable price.

Chris

Mark_in_NH · Mar 19, 2002

Chris,
I have never adjusted the wheels on my tractor, they were in this position when I bought the it. Other than getting the rear of the tractor off the ground (easier if you happen to be fortunate enough to have a backhoe) and man handling the weight of the tire and wheel. It appears that all you need to do is unbolt them, and relocate them to another series of bolt holes. According to my owners manual, the 950's rear tires can be installed in 8 positions, although 2 of them can't be used due to the tires hitting the fenders. This is for tires of 12.4-28 size. If they are 13.6-28 you can only use 5 of the 8 positions.
If you need, I can post there instructions per the manual with the recomended torque specs.
The one thing I would make sure of, is weather or not your tires are filled, if they are, the weight may be more than one man would want to attempt to man handling safely.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

pfoxy · Mar 20, 2002

I run a 50" Howard with an 18 Horse 750, no problems. Doing the math, the ratio of 50" to 72" is 1.44, and the ratio of 18 HP to 27 HP is 1.5, so based on that, I'd think you would be fine.

The only time I load the 750 down much with the tiller is in old sod, and I just make several lighter passes over it.

BB_TX · Mar 20, 2002

I was considering moving my tires out to the next setting for the extra stability. Mine are R1s and I mow some slopes that push my pucker factor. Is yours set to the next to widest setting? I think I can simply remove the bolts, "walk" the tire out a couple inches, rotate the inner wheel disc to align the lugs, and replace the bolts.

Mark_in_NH · Mar 20, 2002

Chris,
I am running R3 galaxy's (on it when I bought it) they are a fairly narrow turf tire. I believe mine are in the outer most bolt pattern. Depending on how far out you want to move them, you may have to actually spin the tire and wheel around to get to some of the other bolt holes.
I think I would take a magic marker and mark the presently used bolt holes and then you would have those black marks as referance for choosing the new pattern and for matching sides.