Tiller Tiller Size and Trackor Size

[SOS]

I'm looking to buy a tiller for my TC 45. I plan on using it twice a year for a garden and some yard work. I found a one I like:
King Kutter Rotary Tiller; Gear Driven Type; 5 ft Size; 25 to 40 HP; Category 1, 3-point Hitch Hitch Type; cost $1,400

Questions:

What problems could I run into if a use a tiller rated for a 40 hp on 45 hp tractor?

Where is a good place to buy used tillers on VA?

 

[wushaw]

None if your running a slip clutch. The clutch wil slip before it breaks anything on tiller or tractor.

 

[ed fewlass]

None if your running a slip clutch. The clutch wil slip before it breaks anything on tiller or tractor.

should slip clutch be on the tractor side or the tiller side of the shaft and how mutch protection does this give

 

[SOS]

I've seen tillers with a slip cluch on them. Thanks.

 

[JDeerekid]

You should not have any problem at all running the 5ft tiller on your tractor. If I were you I would go for the 6ft as it will be as wide as your rear tires. The 5ft does not come in an offset model so you will leave tire tracks. Also the KKII tillers also come with a slip clutch. I would never run one with out a slip clutch and if you do you are just asking for damageto your tractors pto and internal parts. I have a 43hp tractor and have the 6ft model tiller and it works great.

 

[Glowplug]

What's a Trackor?? (jab, jab)



Get one with a tilling width at least as wide as your rear tires (outer edge to outer edge). Make sure you measure the width. That is, unless you want to get an offset one which I feel would be more restricting in the method it's used. Look at CC Machinery. They are reasonably priced, have high-quality stuff, and have an excellent rep here on TBN. You could probably get what you're looking for for less than the King Kutter. It would be better quality too. You could get their MR-175 which is 5 1/2 feet wide, is considered "commercial duty", has a 60hp gearbox, and a slip clutch. It would cost ya $1700 though. But I bet it would be much, much better than the King Kutter. I want to get their SR-210 sometime. I just don't have the $2,700 saved up right now!! Serves me right for getting a big tractor! A lot of people do like the King Kutter tillers. But I've also heard they can be either hit or miss.

 

[jbrumberg]

SOS:

Regardless of what brand tiller you eventually get you really want a tiller wider than your tire width. Your TC 45 can handle a 6' tiller IMHO. Jay

 

[Farmwithjunk]

The KK II tillers are tougher'n a $2 steak. I've used mine for more than 7 years, most of the time it's hooked to a 60 HP tractor. Never an issue.

I'm NOT a huge fan of King Kutter products in general, but their KK II line of tillers take a back seat to no one. VERY rugged piece at a nice price. Parts (if you ever need them) are a phone call away. (direct from KK) Probably the easiest, most commonly available tiller on the market with outlets such as TSC handling them.

 

[Dargo]

Well, you'll be happy to see that the tiller that many companies use as their own, including Ford, is the largest manufacturer of rotary tillers in the world. Rather than buy the tiller with the factory name on it, I just bought the tiller painted to match my tractor but not branded as a tiller from my tractor manufacturer. I bought mine from a friend who has a small implement dealership. The world's largest manufacturer of rotary tillers is Maschio. Here is a link to Ford's site that tells you as much as well as info about the tillers Welcome Ford Distributing

I have been using a U205 for about 8 years now and have put about 500 hours on the tiller with no failures except when I found a buried bolder and broke some blades. There again, at the time I was using a tractor with about 85 PTO hp and was blasting away tilling a 10 acre field as part of putting in some soccer fields. Parts are readily available and you can find many independent sellers across the country who sell Maschio tillers. I bought a extremely durable tiller from the world's largest rotary tiller manufacturer for about the same money as I would have spent for a far lighter built tiller. That link will also give you a general idea of what size tiller you can use with your tractor based on your PTO hp (not engine hp). The type of soil will make that vary a bit, but at least you have a chart to use in making your decision. Good luck!

 

[Window Geek]

My King Kutter 4 footer works great. RTFM and run it at the rated speed. I just planted a 1/4 acre of wildflowers on our lower lawn (lower weeds) and it chopped everything to seedbed in one pass. I like the offset feature and my tractor still fits in smaller spaces than the big boys.
I don't miss the 5' at all, but if your tractor is bigger, by all means give it a try. The gear drive is quiet enough unless you move some big rocks with it!