Ready to buy a tiller

[tbone]

I am researching tillers and hope to buy one this week. Wanted to bounce it off of you guys to see if you had any wisdom to share. My L3130 is 6ft wide but only has 25 PTO HP so I can't run a 6ft tiller. I want to get the largest one I can that offsets so I can clear one side of the tracks. Anyone have any suggestions on a good one that fits the bill?

 

[Kingcreek]

I haven't done it yet but I'm probably going to go with a 60" King Kutter gear drive tiller for my 3010. I'm currently borrowing/using some unknown beast of a 48" tiller that looks like some world war 2 mil surplus thing but it does the job OK.

 

[Jefferson]

I use a 42" Befco tiller behind my BX 1500 (15hp and 11pto hp) without any lack of power problems.I think your 25 pto hp tractor would easily handle a 5 or perhaps even a 6 ft tiller.

 

[hodge]

I use a 42" Befco tiller behind my BX 1500 (15hp and 11pto hp) without any lack of power problems.I think your 25 pto hp tractor would easily handle a 5 or perhaps even a 6 ft tiller.

The safe rule of thumb is 1 foot per 5 horsepower. I run a 4' KK behind my B7100- it runs it fine, but it definitely wouldn't take a bigger one. I would say go with a 5' and know that you will be able to handle it, instead of a 6' that will be marginal.
A lot also depends on the number of tines- the more tines, the more drag imposed. You might be able to go bigger if it doesn't have as many tines, or you might need to go smaller. I think that the 1 to 5 rule gives you a good rule of thumb.

 

[tbone]

Thanks. I agree that 5 foot is probably all I can power sufficiently. Now I just need to find one that will shift 6 inches to one side so I can remove one tire track.

 

[gpreuss]

I go along with Jefferson on this. I ran a 3-1/2 or 4' tiller behind my L185 for years without a problem. Being mostly dumb, I ran it in 2nd or high PTO speed after the 1st pass. Never had a problem. turned hillside into flour. Most of the neighbors had big FORD tractors with higher gearing, so they were always borrowing my little 185 for garden work.

 

[Hook]

I've had one of these for about 14 years. Never a problem.

http://iowafarmequipment.com/howard-tractor-pto-rotary-tillers.html

 

[meanjean]

-5 foot max.
-PTO shaft with slip clutch.
-Something with parts readily available.
-Regardless of brand if they offer a heavy duty model BUY IT.

Provided you are buying from a dealer you should buy a few shear pins while there. Its another $5 on a $1800 (roughly)

We've got a 4 foot King Kutter, the heavy duty of course!
40 hours of breaking hard ground and it didn't miss a beat.
http://www.equipmentbarn.net/images/D/kkrotterytiller.gif