What have I done???

Cdash · May 21, 2002

Have you ever bought an attachment, brought it home, used it, then ask yourself what you have just done??

I went to TSC last night and picked up a 60" King Kutter II, tiller to strap to my little JD 4100. (My CFO even gave me permission to get it!!) I unpacked it, filled the 2 boxes with oil (BTW: about 1qt for the pto gearbox and 2 qts for the side gearbox), greesed the heck out it, attached the pto shaft and hooked it up. First impression was not too bad. Didn't overload the tractor (weight wise) much at all. A tad light in the front, but that's overcomeable. I start the beast up, and head for the garden that has only seen walk behind tillers in it's life. I pop the PTO into gear, put the tranny into 1 low, and crank up the throttle to the PTO range. I take a deep breath, let out the clutch and drop the tiller into the ground.

Results? Amazing!! My hard clay bogged the tractor down, so I had to use multiple passes. By the third pass, I was deeper than the garden had ever been tilled before. I had to drive around in circles for a half hour just so the wife didn't think I bought more than I need!!

The bed was left in pretty good shape. The ground was a bit wet, so the bed is slightly clumpy, but a couple days and another trip through it will fix it right up.

I told my wife that I just may till up the entire yard and replant it this year. She asked me "Why?", response: "Because I can!!!!" Now I am probably going to have to double (maybe quadruple) the size of my garden, just so I feel like I am actually using this beast, hence the "what have I done" question. Anyone that is thinking about getting one, don't wait another year!!!!

Anonymous Poster · May 21, 2002

<font color=blue>...She asked me "Why?", response: "Because I can!!!!"...</font color=blue>

Amazing... what these mechanical devices can achieve... isn't it...? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Hey... to get more enjoyable tractor time and meet your friendly neighbors... offer to start their gardens for a tank of fuel, a $100. bill (to help maintain the implement/tractor cash kitty) or something... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Cdash · May 21, 2002

I already hit my neighbors drive way occasionly, and shortly after a bright shiny bottle of liquor appears on my doorstep (for consumption after seat time).

lblair · May 21, 2002

I did the same thing with my 48" tiller. (first choice brand) only on a never tilled area i plan for my garden. I was shocked by its job! Sad thing is its still to cold to plant here and my garden is real wet. Standing water wet that is. I will be moving loads of dirt and mulch into it this summer to bring the low spots up. It will take a year or two to get my garden the way i want it. Its the same thing with all my attachments. They all work great. All different brands to. New Holland 60" MMM, 48" KK brush cutter, Green Line 48" deep 9" auger Post Hole digger, 48" First Choice rotto tiller and the 52" New Holland Loader...Luv them all /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Larry

Ozarker · May 21, 2002

I didn't get a tiller when I bought my tractor because my CFO said my old rear tine walk behind was good enough.

Then.....a neighbor bought a shiny new JD with a shiny new tiller. Last weekend he was trying it all out and wandered over here to "help" her get the garden done. He did more in 15 minutes than I could have done all day with mine. I think he wanted to do my entire yard he was having so much fun.

CFO has now given me permission to buy a tiller. She liked that.

Buck · May 21, 2002

Cdash,

I am still asking "What have I done?". I bought a 54" Howse tiller and haven't been able to use it yet because of moisture.

I hope I have the same experience as you, because I do need some good rationalization to keep my spirits. I can't wait to try that $10/ear corn I am going to grow! Seriously, I do plan on using the tiller for other things like ground smoothing, etc.

Now, unlike you and Ozarker, I didn't ask my CFO to sign off at purchase.

What you might find interesting is that one day I came home and in the driveway was a 726 lb. shiny red tiller sitting on a skid wrapped in plastic. I realized I put off telling my wife that I bought the thing and her car was in the garage.

I quickly went in the house and took the temperature. Everything was normal. Got my greasy jeans and sweatshirt, fired up the tractor and brought the thing down to my barn.

She has never asked me anything about it even though she signed off on the delivery receipt! Moreover, ever since I've been moving dirt into her garden areas, moving stalled SUV's, etc., all she has said to me is:

"That tractor can really do a lot of things, can't it?"

Congratulations on the tiller, the King Kutter appears to be an excellent choice!

Buck

Ozarker · May 21, 2002

<font color=blue>"What you might find interesting is that one day I came home and in the driveway was a 726 lb. shiny red tiller sitting on a skid wrapped in plastic. I realized I put off telling my wife that I bought the thing and her car was in the garage."</font color=blue>

I did that with a motorcycle once. That was a very cold and lonely summer. I learn from my mistakes.

Gary_in_Indiana · May 22, 2002

I was very fortunate in that regard. Never once was I chastised for any wheeled item I bought. I have, however, seen eye rolls, head shakes, grins and even endured outright laughter in response to some.

Lest you think mine was a life of ruling the roost, I'll tell the rest of the story. I actually had to rent a garage for my Goldwing when our children were growing up because their dear mother didn't want them to even see me on a motorcycle. Somehow she was (grudgingly) alright that I had and rode one, but not alright with the children to seeing that. She didn't like motorcycles and that was going to be the 'company line' to them. Whatever logic that was, it worked. They're both out of college and neither will even get on a motorcycle. I, on the other hand, still ride, /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif and now get eye rolls from another generation. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

Buck · May 22, 2002

Gary_in_Indiana,

Have you ever thought they might be rolling thier eyes because of your Goldwing?

They might be stowing away Sportsters.

IndianaPaul · May 23, 2002

Found out this past weekend how popular a guy with a tiller can be ( I run a BH 74")! As wet as it has been around here past 2 months everyone's gardens are late being put out. Went down to till a good friend's small garden....only 1.75 miles away (ok, will admit to just wanting to take it out on the road too). By time I had finished his, also had 4 other homes along the way hire me to do theirs as well. And all because of a 'sunday drive'.

IndianaPaul