Tiller question

[Odonnks]

If enough passes are made with a forward tine PTO driven tiller will it eventually make the soil as fine as a reverse tine tiller?

I've seen them in action but never paid much attention.

Thanks !

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

The more times you go over it the finer it gets

 

[Bird]

If enough passes are made with a forward tine PTO driven tiller will it eventually make the soil as fine as a reverse tine tiller?

I've seen them in action but never paid much attention.

Thanks !

The simple answer is yes. In fact, the forward turning tiller will make the soil just as fine as a reverse turning one in the same number of passes if you go slow enough. I had the top of the line reverse tine Craftsman, walk behind, tiller before I bought a Bush Hog tiller for my Kubota. I used both of them a great deal and liked both. Of course I sold the Craftsman after I bought the Bush Hog; much easier tilling sitting on a tractor.:laughing:

 

[ruffdog]

I use my tiller once a year or 2 years to till in compost and it turns it to powder if I want. The soil people are now saying that over tilling is not good for the soil. It breaks up the soil too much and goofs up the microbes etc.

 

[Odonnks]

Thanks for the responses.
For PTO tillers, is there a preference between gear or chain drive ?

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

Thanks for the responses.
For PTO tillers, is there a preference between gear or chain drive ?

I use gear drive mine is a sicma 6 cutting tined instead of 4

 

[Bird]

Thanks for the responses.
For PTO tillers, is there a preference between gear or chain drive ?

Naturally, the manufacturers of the gear drive tillers claim that's best. What would you expect?:laughing: The Bush Hog tiller I had was chain drive and I had no complaints with that. So personally, gear vs. chain would not be a big factor for me.

 

[Odonnks]

The plus I see with chain drive is a broken chain is relatively easy to repair.

Looking at the Woods TC (chain drive) model and the heavier Wood GH (gear drive) models the GH is a good bit more for the same size.

 

[Blade Breaker]

I have a 7' king kutter makes powder at .9 mph from bare dirt. Going through long grass 2 passes and it's ready to seed. It's a forward turning tiller and I can say it takes the rocks well. I would imagine a rear turning tiller would not do as well with rocks.

 

[ruffdog]

I would have to think that weight would help keep the tiller from bouncing around too.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I too have a lot of rocks, so I got the forward turning tiller. It rides up and over rocks without breaking any tines. I don't think a reverse tine would do that. At the minimum it would lock up the tines and engage the slip clutch while stalling the tractor if it hit a big under ground rock whereas the forward tines just ride up and over with just a little banging noise to let you know there is a rock there that needs to be dug up.
I also bought the gear drive model as I think them to be longer lasting and you don't have to worry with a chain tensioner that if left too loose might break the chain. Some companies make both so I don't know that one could claim one is better than the other, just different.

Look for one with more than 4 tines per set, the more tines the better it is going to till and the smoother it will work in hard ground.

 

[Blade Breaker]

I did notice that it bounced less after I modified it to use the quick hitch instead of without.

 

[sweettractors]

When not sure about forward or reverse tine rotation, you may want to consider a
"Tarter" brand roto tiller that can be used forward or reverse. They are gear drive and 6 tines per rotor. Ken Sweet

 

[nybirdman]

Nobody has more rocks than I do!I have a reverse rotation Bush Hog branded tiller that I purchased new.It works fine as long as you leave the discharge flap wide open;it just spits the rocks out the back.
I broke one tine when new before I realized the discharge flap had to be left open.I must make sure the slip clutch is working also.I have done up to ten acres for garden and food plots.

 

[Odonnks]

I did see that my local Tractor Supply has the 6 ft Tarter gear driven tillers in stock. I don't know that brand but it looks like it's well built.
It sells for $2,000 while the dealer where I got my tractor sells the same size Woods chain drive tiller for $3,000.

Is there that big of a quality difference between the Tarter and Wood to justify a 50% increase in cost?

Another woods dealer has a used Woods 6 ft for $2,200.

I'm a little hesitant to buy something like this used. A tiller seems like something that could be heavily or misused and become a maintenance head ache.

What are you thoughts?

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

At least when new you get some warranty and everything is new tines, pto shaft etc if you go used make sure cutting tines are not worn out these usually run about 8 to 12 dollars a piece not counting fastners do the math it adds up quickly. And you are right these are high manitenance

 

[sweettractors]

I did see that my local Tractor Supply has the 6 ft Tarter gear driven tillers in stock. I don't know that brand but it looks like it's well built.
It sells for $2,000 while the dealer where I got my tractor sells the same size Woods chain drive tiller for $3,000.

Is there that big of a quality difference between the Tarter and Wood to justify a 50% increase in cost?

Another woods dealer has a used Woods 6 ft for $2,200.

I'm a little hesitant to buy something like this used. A tiller seems like something that could be heavily or misused and become a maintenance head ache.

What are you thoughts?

Tarter has been in business since 1946 and to read up on them go to http://www.tartermfg.com . We can deliver a Tarter 6 ft gear drive tiller to PA for under $2,000, including shipping and there will be no sales tax. Ken Sweet

 

[PRF]

That Tarter looks like a pretty tough machine !!

 

[870wing]

The Tater is a cat. 1 three point hitch and tills the soil to a depth of 4''. The other tillers being mentionned can till up to 7'' and some can be used with cat 1 & 2 three point hitches. Depends on how deep you need to till and what size three point hitch your tractor has. Good luck with your shopping.

 

[Blade Breaker]

The Tarter does not look like it has as heavy duty of a structure as the King Kutter I have. I am sure it is a great tiller.