Using a rototiller.

[Jy durocher]

I bought an old kubota rototiller fl1000 48 in h. It is in mint condition but i just realize there is no slip clutch on it. I have lots of rocks (grape fruit size) where i am doing my garden.
How risky is it considering damaging my pto could cost thousands of $. Tractor is a l3901.

 

[Bmyers]

Does it have shear bolt? My guess if it is older, then it used a shear bolt.

 

[Grandad4]

You definitely want some type of protection for the tractor PTO. Slip clutch is more convenient than shear pins for sure but you do have to adjust it periodically, not a big deal.

If your ground is full of rocks, you may want to back off the RPM's so there's not quite so much noise and chaos with that tiller.

 

[Tzerne5]

Does it have shear bolt? My guess if it is older, then it used a shear bolt.

My thoughts exactly, I bet if you look closely this will be the case

 

[jaxs]

Congratulations you present a problem which in house experts don't have a link to post. Take it easy and watch what you are doing,rocks are simply part of the expense for doing business.

 

[Motion]

I'd confirm that it does have a shear pin, disassemble, clean thoroughly and anti-seize the mating surfaces and install a correct shear pin. Check the gear box for contaminates and refill with clean oil.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Depending on how close tiller will be from garage, grab a bag of shearbolt and nuts and 3 wrenches, carry with you, just to save time making 2-3-4 or more trips to replace busted shear bolts. For me, Mr. Murphy, was right 4x...... jamming rocks were at the diagonal end of the field..farthest point from garage....sigh.

 

[jaxs]

Depending on how close tiller will be from garage, grab a bag of shearbolt and nuts and 3 wrenches, carry with you, just to save time making 2-3-4 or more trips to replace busted shear bolts. For me, Mr. Murphy, was right 4x...... jamming rocks were at the diagonal end of the field..farthest point from garage....sigh.

And after shearing a couple don't huff up and put a grade 12.9 in it.

 

[Russell King]

There are some tillers that use a yoke at the tiller gear box like shown in post #9 of this thread

Trouble finding pto shaft with shearbolt for B6000

I'm not finding small enough PTO shaft for rotary tiller and flail mowerfor my kubota. I live in Finland so it's a challenge for finding small accessories. The smallest shafts with shearbolt start from 25kW. Usually that's not a problem, but would the shear bolt be too strong to shear before the...

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[Tzerne5]

And after shearing a couple don't huff up and put a grade 12.9 in it.

I can neither confirm nor deny that I may have done that on my Ariens snowblower. I was breaking bolts anytime the snow was wet

 

[fried1765]

I can neither confirm nor deny that I may have done that on my Ariens snowblower. I was breaking bolts anytime the snow was wet

Grade 5 max,,.......no matter how many replacements needed.

 

[skeets]

If you are in new ground and rocks and roots,, just make your first passes light, like just below the grass. you will find rocks which most likely will kick out,, or make the tiller jump,, make note of those spots. After you get it all scuffed up the go down about an inch and the same thing, go slow and watch where you hit something hard last time,, and maybe take a shovel with you and dig it out, roots are something else having an ax near by helps. just remember slow and shallow cuts until you find all the junk,,, and yes look for your shear pin or bolt, and have a few more on hand. Now once you think you have all the junk out till across what you tilled up and you are going to find more junk.. And the main thing is to just enjoy your time on your little beasty

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: And after shearing a couple don't huff up and put a grade 12.9 in it.

Is that AKA Grade 8 bolt ? The ones with 6 stripes on them ??

I've used them on my tiller, 1/4-20 by 1 1/4 long,fit a bits sloppy in the 8mm(?) hole. One day I'll look for some 5/16 bolts but no longer till the 2 acres from Hell plot.... this year garden is 20 x 24,so 4 passes and it's done. two feet of 'Holland Marsh' soil ,ZERO rocks....