Tiller tiller size

[tommyc]

Have JD 28 hp 4210 E-hydro (pto 22hp)--I have been trying to decide between First Choice RTO4 60 inch and RTO4 48 inch (Gear box is permanently offset). The 60 inch would cover my tracks but I am concerned that the 22hp is not enough. The 60 inch is $100 more than the 48 inch. I can live with the 48" since the offset will cover one wheel track but I would prefer the 60" for $100 more. Has anyone tried removing one set of tines to compensate for low power and tough soil? I noticed Frontier tillers sold by JD have only 4 tines per plate compared to 6 on First Choice. For a 60 inch tiller would the 4 tine be less of a load on the pto than a 6 tine? Would it require less horsepower? The Frontier is about $600 more. Thanks in advance for any information!!!!!

 

[DUMBDOG]

I have a NH1630 which has a engine hp of 27.3, pto hp of 24?

Handles a 58 inch King Kutter tiller with no problem. When the soil is quite wet, I just slow down to range 1 and go.

 

[PineRidge]

My last rig was also about 23HP at the PTO and I used a 60" tiller. The only time I had to slow down was with real wet soil conditions or if I tried to go too deep on the first pass. If you use your head you should be OK on the larger tiller.

 

[Egon]

I've removed half the tines from my rotatiller. Works well but may take more passes. One can also overlap passes which may or may not help.

The type and condition of soil has a lot to do with the required PTO HP.

What works in nice loam may not in some good old clay. Breaking sod will also be more difficult.

The slower you travell the deeper you'll dig also requireing more power.

Egon

 

[DK35vince]

My JD 850 (26 HP, 22 PTO HP) runs a 60" King Kutter 6 tine tiller OK.

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Tommy, I run a B7500 (16 pto hp) with a Landpride RTA 1550 tiller (48") just fine in Northwest Clay. The tiller has six sets of tines. On a horse power/tine basis you should be able to support a tiller with 8 sets of similar tines. The individual tines are 4" horizontal and 3" wide, with a 1" lift, on both left and right of a set.

 

[sweettractors]

<font color="blue"> I noticed Frontier tillers sold by JD have only 4 tines per plate compared to 6 on First Choice. For a 60 inch tiller would the 4 tine be less of a load on the pto than a 6 tine? </font>

Just the opposite is true--6 tines will pull easier than 4 per rotor and will not transfer as much vibration to the tiller, tractor and its operator--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *Over 1000 pieces of new and refurbished Equipment*

 

[Egon]

[ -6 tines will pull easier than 4 per rotor ]

I've found just the opposite appears for my situation.

Egon

 

[HayDR]

Sweet is correct on this. A 6 tine per flange actually takes less HP than the 4 tine per flange. The 6 TPF tillers take smaller bites of soil and have less vibration because the scroll of the 6 TPF eats away at the soil where the 4 TPF chops away at the soil.

 

[sl3uth]

I'd say the "easier" / "harder" question can only be answered in light of the type of soil you're dealing with. In my clay, the 6 tines get gummed up a whole lot quicker...and definately puts more strain on my tractor than when I remove tines.

That said, I have been relatively pleased running my 60" tiller with about 17 PTO HP. Since you have a hydro, I would think you could handle just about anything with the super speed control...my slowest is 1st gear. Sometimes that's not slow enough, so I end up having to take shallow cuts and run over it more times.

There are times I do wish I had gone with the 48" tiller: when I'm too impatient to wait for the clay to dry out enough (probably every Spring /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

Sam