How to turn with a Roto tiller?

[GEPM64]

Just picked up my tiller last week and spent the day on it today. One thing I'm unsure of is when tilling a large area is it ok to turn with the tiller in the ground or should I stop, raise the tiller then turn the corner before tilling again? Don't want to beak anything.

Thanks,

Glenn

 

[bxray]

You would have to lift it and then turn.
Unlike a rear wheel with a differential that give when you turn.
All the tines rotate at the same rate.

Ray

 

[DocGP]

The tiller is chewing up the dirt. It doesnt care if one side is moving a bit faster than the other. Doesn't hurt anything to turn while you till but my OCD side really likes nice straight rows !!

Doc

 

[bxray]

Turning with the tiller would be slow!
Unless it was the second or third pass.

Ray

 

[mickeyd]

Here is what my Tiller Manual states: "15. Do not make turns or attempt to back up while tiller is in the ground. See important note below."

"IMPORTANT: Turning or backing up with rotary
tines in the ground will damage the tiller."

So I ALWAYS pick up the tiller before turning.

 

[D2Cat]

If you have pick up a tiller to turn, how do you till an area that is not a rectangle?

 

[Tooljunkie]

Small turns or corrections are fine. A slow turn will be fine, buried deep as it will go and a hard turn may cause premature failure of something.

 

[bxray]

When turning lets say left.
Your left rear tire becomes the turning axis.
So when your front end is going left any thing behind the rear tire is pushed right.
So there are multiple forced on the tiller as you turn.

Ray

 

[skeets]

If I may as one that has broken more than one tiller,, small little bites until is all chewed up then like stated SLOW EASY turn are possible. Like I said SLOW AND EASY.. on fresh stuff always go in a straight line and if you need to make say a wide sweeping turn do it slowly and just a little bit of depth at a time until is all the way down. Don't back it up trying to cut into hard pan, it might never break anything then again,,,, it has ,,, Just follow the manufacture's recommendations and you will be ok,,, Just MHO
your mileage may vary

 

[ShaunRH]

You can always use a different ground engagement tool first on virgin ground as well, like a plow or a buster/ripper. Once the ground is a little loose, what Skeets said is pretty much on the mark.

If you've ever run a hand (push/pull) tiller, you get the idea of the limitations very quickly.