Tiller Tillers................

kdouthit · Feb 14, 2005

I will be buying a tiller to go behind my JD4310 in late March. Riding the TroyBuilt Horse has just gottten to be too much of a burden the last few years.

I know very little about PTO tillers, as I am just starting my research, but would like feed back on different manuafacturers and styles.

My main garden is about 100'X150' (and growing), but I'm sure I'll end up out at my Dad's and my brother's place. I'll probably end up hauling it to GA for food plot work at deer camp as well. The soil is primarily clay with small rocks trown in for good measure.

I don't have a brand preference in mind. I am generally brand\dealer loyal (if earned), but not blind.

Thanks in advance for your specific recommendation and input of who and what to look into.

BubbaJr · Feb 14, 2005

I bought a 60" King Kutter II from TSC that has done everything I asked of it. I have hard clay soil with a few rocks and I tilled over 6 acres to put in a lawn. Now I use it for the garden. One thing to keep in mind is soil moisture when you till. If it has a little moisture it will till a lot easier, but too much and you have mud, which really makes a mess. Too little moisture and the tiller will bounce on the ground, not dig very deep, and you will be covered with dust which will upset the wife when you come walking into the house (trust me on this one). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

So far I have not had any problems with this tiller and I have really given it a thorough test.

getut · Feb 14, 2005

You guys have clay in Candler? I though it was all sand. hehehe /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

boustany · Feb 14, 2005

Most of the time people give advice with respect to the size of your tractor, (PTO HP) and tiller width (so many HP/ft).

I have a side shift 48" Sovema. It is well made, and although the 48" width may seem small for my 30 HP tractor with a 5' stance, I find it works great. I side shift it to cover the right wheel and thats all I need. I can do my wife's garden which is similar in size to yours in about 30 minutes.

Well made tiller are seriously heavy. I keep mine on a dolly and I feel ok about having the size I have. Basically I do our garden and all the neighbours' gardens in an afternoon then put the tiller back on its dolly for another year.

Bob_Skurka · Feb 14, 2005

I have a 50" side shift tiller and use it with both a 24hp N.H. TC24D (48" wide) and a 30hp Kubota B2910 (54" wide). I agree with what "boustany" said about the size and the side-shift feature. Personally I like a tiller that will go down to full depth on the first pass. I also like that I can use the tiller in smaller areas such as around trees and along walls (by using the side shift feature). Even in dry hard clay mine will dig down to full depth and turn the ground into a fine powder, without bouncing or dragging down the engine. I find that if I want to incorporate organic material then I make 2 passes. The first pass turns up the soil and makes it nice and soft. I then spread compost, moss, etc and make a second pass to incorporate the materials into soil and fully mix them.

Cactus · Feb 16, 2005

Get a John Deere tiller.

DK35vince · Feb 16, 2005

I've had my 60" King Kutter II tiller for 5 years now.
Gets used a lot, tills great, no problems. I like it..

kdouthit · Feb 16, 2005

Appreciate the input.

Guess I need to get out and start kicking the "tines", so to speak.

Really hate the idea of spending that much money on a tiller, the Tryobuilt cost as much if not more than some of the pto tillers I've checked out.

But, I hate the idea of walking around in circle tilling, then tilling in compost, manue etc...............

You guys get the idea.

Thanks again

Jim_Fisher · Feb 16, 2005

Keith,

( I know very little about PTO tillers, as I am just starting my research, but would like feed back on different manuafacturers and styles. )

You've certainly gotten a lot of good information. Let me just add a couple of things.

There are two types of tines. The kind that I have seen most often is the angle type, often called "L" tines. There is also a curved tine (I've seen them refered to a "C" tines) which is purported by some of the manufacturers/marketers to be better for heavy wet soils.

There are also to common types of tine configurations, usually designated four tine or six tine. When I was shopping for a tiller, I learned that the six tine configuration is generally considered smoother, meaning that it has less of a propensity to bounce in hard ground.

Enough width to cover both tracks is a nice feature but it is not a requirement as long as the tiller can be offset to cover at least one wheel track.

( My main garden is about 100'X150' (and growing), but I'm sure I'll end up out at my Dad's and my brother's place. I'll probably end up hauling it to GA for food plot work at deer camp as well. The soil is primarily clay with small rocks trown in for good measure. )

Sounds like you should consider a tiller with a slip clutch to protect the drive line as opposed to one with a shear pin.

sweettractors · Feb 16, 2005

We have a lot of satisfied TBN customers that use our "First Choice" brand roto tiller. Features include: 6 C tines per rotor mounted on scroll pattern, jackstand, slipclutch, offset capable, Automatic chain tensioner. 36 inch $995-48 inch $1095-56 inch $1195-60 inch $1295-74 inch $1599-80 inch and 92 inch gear driven, priced on request--Email sweet@scrtc.com or Call 270-528-3323--Ken Sweet

Sweet Farm Equipment LLC *Over 40 sets of refurbished 1-2-3 bottom turning plows*

Michigan_Mike · Feb 16, 2005

Do you think a 60 inch tiller would be too much for a JD 790 to handle?

sweettractors · Feb 16, 2005

Mike, I suppose it would depend on your soil type. It may be marginal in tight clay base soil--Ken Sweet

flatheadlake · Feb 16, 2005

what kind of delivery charges are there on something of this size? To Montana? I like the looks of that tiller... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

sweettractors · Feb 16, 2005

What width and what Zip code would we be shipping to?--Ken Sweet

flatheadlake · Feb 16, 2005

Ken, zip code is 59860. As far as size goes, what would you recommend for a JD 4310?

sweettractors · Feb 17, 2005

For a 60 inch First Choice with slip clutch in Orange color, $1585 Including Basic shipping to a 18 wheeler accessable business/commercial address at that zip.--Ken Sweet

HayDR · Feb 18, 2005

A JD 790 will handle a CCM 66" tiller. We have sold many 58" & 66" tillers for these tractors.

HayDR · Feb 18, 2005

A JD 4310 will handle a MR-190 72" tiller. The CCM Gear Drive gives you greater power transfer efficiency so you can till deeper with a larger tiller. You need to measure your tracks to help you decide what minimum size tiller you will need.

Michigan_Mike · Feb 18, 2005

Ken,
Thanks for the response.
I'm pretty lucky, my property is mostly loam.
The reason I ask about 60" is that's the width of my back wheels, and it looks like it will work. Now all I need to do is convince the banker. (wife /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif).