Who makes a good rototiller ?

BJN644 · Jul 21, 2008

I'm looking to buy a rototiller for my new Kioti CK35. Is there any benefit to a chain drive over a gear drive? You would think the gear would be a stronger unit.
Any makes stand out over the others?
Any to avoid ?

bill177 · Jul 21, 2008

A little over priced, but I use the Massey 4' tiller on my GC2300. I have two seasons on it and it is great.

I can cut a 30 x 50 garden into a lawn in an hour - inluding working it about 10 inches deep and turning in any mulch products you happen to have.

Rocks have been no problem - spits them right out with no damage. The tiller is built for a more powerful tractor than mine - so you are not going to hurt the tiller. It does have a clutch for safety.

If you are only doing light duty tilling, check out Tractor Supply - they have one that is 1n the $900 bracket. I paid about $1500 for mine. But, like I said - it won't break.

Rara Avis · Jul 22, 2008

BJN644 said:
I'm looking to buy a rototiller for my new Kioti CK35. Is there any benefit to a chain drive over a gear drive? You would think the gear would be a stronger unit.
Any makes stand out over the others?
Any to avoid ?

Tractor Supply Company - 5 ft Gear Driven Rotary Tiller

Fairly indestructible...

Farmwithjunk · Jul 22, 2008

There's quite a few good ones on the market. Some have specific features that make them stand out in certain situations. Some are "prettier" than others. Some are more affordable than others.

I personally prefer gear drive, although there are a few decent chain driven models.

I've owned a King Kutter II 6' tiller for 7+ years. It's been used HARD. Lot's of acreage. I've been most impressed with it. Very durable. Probably the most locally "available" tiller on the market. (Freight can be a deal buster on many "mail order" purchases these days) Gear drive, in a cast iron gearbox. I broke a couple tines a few years ago. (BIG rocks) KK shipped me replacements in short order. (Had 'em in hand in less than 2 days) The KK II line is among the least expensive tillers out there. About the only complaint you'll hear regarding KK II tillers is the paint and finish isn't show car quality. (It's a TILLER for cryin' out loud!) All in all, a tough act to beat.

jbrumberg · Jul 22, 2008

In my mind the King Kutter II and CCM tillers stand out as two of the better gear driven tillers. CCM tillers are a little more expensive, but the dealer responsiveness and support is exceptional. Jay

LBrown59 · Jul 22, 2008

Much pleased with my kk 48''

OUR FIRST CAR http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/storycty/chev6001.JPG Convertible front http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/storycty/chev6001a.JPG rear view MY TRACTOR http://www.jenningsequipment.com/storepics/ksBX22.jpg

artp · Jul 22, 2008

I just bought a Kioti KT03-59 from my local dealer for my CK30HST and used it to till up an area of rough pasture after running it thru it with my box blade to "open up" the sod. It did a good job. It is chain driven (#80) and is very rugged with standard slip clutch and can be adjusted for off-set tilling. Since you have at CK35 you should easily be able to move up the KT09-65 model. I thought about getting a KK or CCM but would have to have it shipped as there was no local dealer to deliver. Cost would have been more & would rather give the business to my local dealer who is there to support me down the road.

Nissan197 · Jul 22, 2008

I am also looking at the KK. The local Orscheln store is a little cheaper than TSC.

rdbrumfield · Jul 22, 2008

get a KUHN gear drive, smoothest tiller I have ever used

jas67 · Jul 22, 2008

artp said:
I just bought a Kioti KT03-59 from my local dealerd.

How much for the Kioti tiller? I'd like to get a 42" or 48" for behind my Kubota B7100 (16 HP/12 HP at the PTO).

Dargo · Jul 22, 2008

Maschio is the world's largest manufacturer of rototillers. They make them not only under their own name, but also under the name of many other manufacturers. It would certainly be worth your time to look them up in your area. They are made in Italy and are second in quality to none yet are NOT the most expensive.

BJN644 · Jul 22, 2008

Dargo said:
Maschio is the world's largest manufacturer of rototillers. They make them not only under their own name, but also under the name of many other manufacturers. It would certainly be worth your time to look them up in your area. They are made in Italy and are second in quality to none yet are NOT the most expensive.

Do you know some of the other names they are made under ?

Dargo · Jul 22, 2008

BJN644 said:
Do you know some of the other names they are made under ?

I think they make it difficult to discern all of them, but I've personally seen "Maschio" on John Deer tillers, CNH tillers, Ford tillers and Kubota tillers. I'm sure there are dozens more who use Maschio tillers as their brand but I don't know who all do. Maschio makes several different sizes and grades of tillers but I don't think they make any bad tillers. When I spent way too much time looking into the way rototillers were made, I discovered that some are made pretty bad. I was actually at one of the above name brand dealers and they admitted that all of their "high end" tillers are made by Maschio. I wrote down the model number from that brand name tiller and easily had a small implement dealer I know (who sells Maschio) cross reference that tiller for me and sell me one for about 35% less than the one with the brand name on it. Funny, it even came that exact same color directly from Maschio.

Here is a link to an implement dealer that sells Maschio maschio Guess which name brand normally goes on this color tiller.

Although this link is to another picture the same color, I saw the GG800 model in a pretty green color. Iowa Farm Equipment -- Maschio Model GG Rotary Tillers Need one that size? Heck, how do you even pick up a tiller that weighs over 10,000 pounds?! Personally, I'm a bit short on HP to turn it anyway...

Another good thing about buying from Maschio is that you can find parts from so many places since it they cross reference to so many brands. Happy hunting!

Glowplug · Jul 22, 2008

Dargo said:
Maschio is the world's largest manufacturer of rototillers. They make them not only under their own name, but also under the name of many other manufacturers. It would certainly be worth your time to look them up in your area. They are made in Italy and are second in quality to none yet are NOT the most expensive.

All completely true from what I've read and heard in my research. I would LOVE to have a Maschio, particularly the U205. But even though they may not be the MOST expensive they ARE pretty expensive. You will pay more for a Maschio than you would for King Kutter or CCM but they are near the best. One of the more expensive makers is probably Howard. Now those are some nice tillers.

Farmwithjunk · Jul 23, 2008

Glowplug said:
All completely true from what I've read and heard in my research. I would LOVE to have a Maschio, particularly the U205. But even though they may not be the MOST expensive they ARE pretty expensive. You will pay more for a Maschio than you would for King Kutter or CCM but they are near the best. One of the more expensive makers is probably Howard. Now those are some nice tillers.

Howard "ROTOVATORS" are the best. At least their upper end models. Like EVERYONE these days, they offer watered down, lower priced units at various price points. But their premium models have ALL the bells and whistles. Buy one and use it for a lifetime. Howard builds "tillers" (They don't like to call theirs "tillers") in sizes that dwarf most common brands. I've seen one 15'er in action behind a 175hp tractor at the Farm Progress Show several years back.

Dargo · Jul 23, 2008

Farmwithjunk said:
Howard "ROTOVATORS" are the best.

No doubt with me. I just don't till enough to justify buying one myself.

Farmwithjunk · Jul 23, 2008

Dargo said:
No doubt with me. I just don't till enough to justify buying one myself.

I don't know what sort of market share they have, but I'd bet it's less than 5%. Most of the Howard customers are specialty farmers or contractors who use 'em hundreds of hours per season. Or the occasional "average Joe with EXTREMELY deep pockets.

With any of this stuff, there's a reasonable limit to just "how good" something needs to be for the task at hand.

Charlesaf3 · Jul 23, 2008

I have a Woods tiller. Its not made by woods - I think its Caroni, per the tech I talked to. Fine tiller, some things I don't love about it, certainly not worth paying woods markup for it.

Glowplug · Jul 23, 2008

Farmwithjunk said:
I don't know what sort of market share they have, but I'd bet it's less than 5%. Most of the Howard customers are specialty farmers or contractors who use 'em hundreds of hours per season. Or the occasional "average Joe with EXTREMELY deep pockets.

With any of this stuff, there's a reasonable limit to just "how good" something needs to be for the task at hand.

Yeah, I've looked at some of the more reasonable sized models and they were WAAYYYY out of my price range at $9000 or so!