Tiller Tiller Shopping

Anonymous Poster · Jan 29, 2003

I do not see why it would not be ethical.....I am a rookie with a tractor and tiller wanting to make a little xtra money...Thanks for the reply....

timb · Jan 29, 2003

Around what ground speed are you using while tilling? 1st pass, 2nd pass different?

Tim

rationalizer · Jan 29, 2003

Rat,

I was speaking with my "other" Landpride Dealer today (we have a few around here) and he told me to be very careful about ordering a reverse rotation tiller if it will be used in rocky soil. He said he sold one a few years ago to a man who had a lot of rocks (in his fields.../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif) and he practically destroyed his tiller in a very short period of time. Landpride replaced it for him - so the company stood behind its dealer.

I'm certain I'll be getting a forward rotation tiller, slip clutch, six tine, not sure if chain or gear....

Sounds like some of our friends above have figured out how to make some money at this....

Bill

Anonymous Poster · Jan 29, 2003

I take it slow both passes...I like to give it plenty of time to loosen the soil up.I tilled 4 gardens last year for my neighbors and never charged them anything.....If I was further away from home I would have to charge something.

timb · Jan 30, 2003

Looks like most gear tractors low range, 1st gear run around 1.5 mph (typical 8-9 speed collar shift) and 0.9 - 1.0 mph (12 speed shuttles). Of course hydro should be able to do anything you want.

I've never used a tiller behind a decent-sized tractor, just my old walk-behind Troybuilt. I have no idea how the tine shaft speeds compare, so I'm wondering whether the above speeds are slow enough or would a gear tractor need (or at least benefit from) a "creeper" range to till well?

Tim

Hoeman00 · Jan 30, 2003

I had a L2900 GST Kubota w/ 74" Bush hog tiller
and used 1st gear for first 2 passes ( in sod w/ clay
and rock below) then if wanted to level and mix
dirt used 3rd. gear.
I haven't used it on the 35D yet.

Bird · Jan 30, 2003

Tim, naturally I think the hydro is best for using a tiller, but if I remember right, the manual for my Bush Hog tiller mentioned depths you could expect on 1st and 2nd passes at 1 mph. My tiller was a chain drive, 4 tines per row, and was used hard and even abused for over 7 years and never had a problem with it. The chain ran in wheel bearing grease instead of oil. After a couple of years, I cleaned it all out, replaced the grease, etc. (manual said every 100 hours), but it really didn't look like it needed anything. Then just before I sold it, I pulled the cover to service it again, but it looked so good I didn't even do it; just put the cover back on. I experimented with different speeds, but think the 1 mph is about right (estimated speed of course since the tractors had no speedometers). I can't imagine a tiller doing a much better job, but do think, without knowing for sure, that a 6 tine tiller should do as good a job at a little faster speed.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 30, 2003

I forgot to say, my tractor is hydro...

MChalkley · Jan 30, 2003

Agric (the brand of tiller I've got) makes a gear drive model that has a gearbox that can be switched to either forward or reverse rotation and even lets you pick one of two speeds. I don't remember the price, but I'll bet she ain't cheap.

Buck · Jan 30, 2003

Bird,

My 54" wide Howse tiller allows the tine motion to reverse. I can turn the tines in the direction of the tractor wheels or in the opposite direction by reversing certain components on the drive transmission.

The Howse appears to me to be very well made when compared to the other "value tillers" wieghing in at 700+ pounds.

Buck