Tiller Which 3PT tiller do you prefer?

[OkieG]

This may be a topic for another thread, but thank goodness for conservative hp ratings on implements.

I wanted a tiller that would cover my tracks. 48" was too small. 60" was the right size, but rated for 25PTOhp minimum. My tractor has 19PTOhp. I was a little nervous, but got the 60" anyway. It churns my clay garden without the tractor even taking a long breath.

OkieG

 

[BeeFarmer]

Landpride! Built tough.. and expensive

 

[Zoomie]

I also have a King Kutter 60" (gear driven) tiller and it has been a solid performer behind my old Ford 1700.

 

[IRTEXN]

Dean,

I have a JD 647 tiller (4') and it works great. Have to admit though, the TSC tillers a less expensive.

Good luck /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[HayDR]

Archdean,
You might want to research the advantages of gear drive tillers over chain drive tillers. Chain breakage and chain adjuster problems make up 80% of all chain drive tiller problems. Most MFG's use chain drives in their commodity or lighter duty tillers. Gear drive tillers are 15% more efficient in the transfer of power to the tines. This means the gear drive tillers will operate with less HP that the same size chain drive unit. The chain drive tillers have more moving parts for the dealer to stock as well.

 

[Villengineer]

I have an used Yanmar 1303. About 54" wide. I have an old Satoh S-650G that by now I'm sure is down to 17 PTO hp. I can run the tiller with no problems. At about half the price of the new tillers, and the fact that at the current rate of doing people's gardens and yards it should pay for itself in about a year, I think it's been a tremendous bargain. There were some issues initially with connecting it to the tractor, so if you're not mechanically inclined it may not be your best choice. For me it was worth the $ I saved.

 

[milkman]

Gear drive tillers are 15% more efficient in the transfer of power to the tines.

That's interesting, I've seen similar figures before.
Back in the 70's when most motorcycles were chain driven, and shaft drive was just starting to catch on, the claim then was that the chain drive was more effecient than the shaft drive which is gear driven. Confusing isn't it? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif but I'm easily confused. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GeneD14]

I have a 5' CCM tiller. Delivered to my door about a year ago for about $1100. Just used it last night to help a friend till his 2 acre new yard. Hit hundreds of softball sized rocks and a few bigger ones and the tiller performed perfectly. We finished the whole job in under 2 hours. Other than some oil seepage no problems. It is also orange and matches my tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[texastomtom]

I have a jd 681 ( 81 inch )
58 hp 4720 with 50 hp at the pto
Can burry it to full depth and it has no problem with anything i've put it to.

Even hard packed dry areas... Hard packed driveway area...

 

[utahmule]

I've got a Howard and have used the snot out of it so far. The thing is unstoppable, I love it.