Video - Starting up the 155D

[graysonh]

I have done this, it works, also if you have a field cultivator or spring tooth harrow you can rip it.

I tried the spring tooth harrow last night, it just kind of ran over the top, couldn't get it to bite. It's heavy clay. This was after spading (with a shovel) a small plot to get the rototiller to dig in better, which worked a little but you can tell the tractor really hates it so I stopped. Also felt like the 3 point hitch was going to fall off!

I've been reading old threads here on TBN about rototilling and basically the verdict is "the only soil that tilling really works on is soil that doesn't need tilling".

I am going to try to drive the big Landini over from work and run our disc harrow on my garden plot at home a few times, then try again with the tiller just to smooth it out and work the compost in. Just have to get permission / burn a favor with the boss....

 

[winston1]

Maybe find a used one of these. CountyLine 1 Bottom Plow - For Life Out Here

 

[clemsonfor]

You must really have some hard clay!! We have red clay around here and I have seen tillers break it up in multiple passes. Your not in like a high gear are you? Put that bad boy in L1 and let it eat! You might have to watch a stationary object off to your side to convince yourself that your actually moving forward though! ha

 

[shovelrider]

Sounded good to me. A buddy of mine took 4' x 5" sq. tubing i think 5/16" thick, added 3pt. hook-up tabs, then cut out for rip teeth. Like a box blade w/o the box or blade. Works great, he got the tubing at the scrape yard and the teeth he cut out of misc. 3/8"plt. from same yard. Used this at deer camp for food plots and then went over that w/disk a few times. I think the cost was around $85 total. Just sayin

 

[smokinmad]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback. Especially to hear it's normal, which helps the operator to relax. I guess rice paddies are pretty flat after all....

Not trying to be a worrywart about the tractor, just trying to get to know its character and idiosyncrasies. This site has been incredibly helpful!

I took the mower off last night for the first time and swapped out for the Howard rotavator to prep the new garden bed. I have never used a tractor tiller before, whole new learning curve! In the vineyard we use discs, plows, and cultivators but no tillers. The soil is rock hard clay. I am going to "spade" it by hand with a shovel first, I think. Otherwise it'll be 15 passes and the top layer will be shot.

Thanks again

WHAT.......Then why did you buy a tiller for????????? Put that tiller on....mark your garden out, then start at one end and start tilling....if it's rock hard, then till 1 to 2", then go back and till it again. now you might get down to 3 to 4"...keep tilling till you get a nice planting bed.....till in the SLOWEST gear you got....my 276D has a creeper gear. It allows me to till deeper the 1st time, because the tines are moving so slow that they can pulverize everything in the garden......If your tiller is Bouncing all over the place...Add weight to the top somehow, to hold it down and till in granny gear. Till in a slow speed and you don't have to till at a high RPM.....Heck, I till in creeper gear at 1200 rpm's, I get off and pick rocks out of garden while tilling it. It's going so slow just eating away and I turn the wheel from the ground to keep it straight....Don't do this...it's unsafe.....but then I've been gardening for 40 yrs now.

Also....this fall when you rake your leaves, put them on your garden and TILL them into your soil.....put a add in Craigslist and take Several loads of Wood Chips from a Chipper Truck and leave them in a pile till they Decay into "dirt", now add that to your garden and till it in. It's called adding Organic Matter, your plants will love you for it..

NOW, as for your hill speed....Ever follow a BIG TRUCK up a hill???? huh? What does that big truck do??? That's right...it slows down....Like they told you .....Change your Motor Oil, Filters, even your hydraulic oil and put NEW antifreeze in your radiator. Antifreeze will breakdown over time JUST like motor oil will. Oh and get your grease gun out and USE it...Change your motor Every Spring and you will get good use out of your tractor...

Don't forget to start Improving your garden soil.....the Produce Isle at the Grocery Store is why you don't have any money....besides.....when you put those fresh canned GreenBeans in that cook pot with some bacon and garlic......Oh Man.....You can Thank Me Later for being so hard on ya, Son....

Oh Yea.....HAVE FUN....BE SAFE.....ENJOY

Smokin"

 

[WYdirt]

Sounds good & healthy to me!