Which implement is best?

[redalrt]

I have a Mitsubishi S-373 Beaver III. I want to cultivate an area in my front yard about 100' x 100' to grow some grass. I've taken a soil sample and am waiting for the results. The ground is compacted clay and has more than a few rocks in it, mainly near the surface from what I can see.

Is the best tool to prep the ground a 4 - 5' box blade? The Beaver has front weights and can pull my 4' Land Pride finishing mower and a 4' Howse rotary cutter with the front wheels solidly on the ground.

Or is the best tool a 3 pt tiller? I'd have to rent it and I'm not so sure my tractor has the HP to tackle the job?

Not sure about this, and I'm looking for thoughts from the experts.

Thanks

 

[flusher]

I have a Mitsubishi S-373 Beaver III. I want to cultivate an area in my front yard about 100' x 100' to grow some grass. I've taken a soil sample and am waiting for the results. The ground is compacted clay and has more than a few rocks in it, mainly near the surface from what I can see.

Is the best tool to prep the ground a 4 - 5' box blade? The Beaver has front weights and can pull my 4' Land Pride finishing mower and a 4' Howse rotary cutter with the front wheels solidly on the ground.

Or is the best tool a 3 pt tiller? I'd have to rent it and I'm not so sure my tractor has the HP to tackle the job?

Not sure about this, and I'm looking for thoughts from the experts.

Thanks

I used my Kubota B7510HST (21 hp engine, 17 hp pto), a middle buster plow ($140 new) and a 4-ft rototiller ($300 used) to put in my lawn.

It's easier to rototill plowed ground.

 

[Soundguy]

If you have slow low range speed.. a tiller should be ok. a box blade with rippers could probably make due in such a small area like 100x100

if I owned a box I'd make it work vs renting a tiller..

soundguy

 

[jbrumberg]

redalrt:

I am not familiar with the Mitsubishi S-373. Could you provide some information as to this tractor and fill out your profile? Jay

 

[EddieWalker]

Thought I'm not a big fan of the box blade, it is a versatile tool that has the ability to do multiple tasks. For the money, it's going to do what you need to do without forcing you to buy a tool that you can only use for one specific purpose. There are better tools for turning the soil, ther are better tools for grading it out, but none that do it all quite like the box blade.

It's also something that you can find for sale used fairly often and if you find that you no longer need it, you can sell it for what you paid for it. Of course, this is true with most impliments that have been taken care of.

Rob (3RRL) had a thread on a food plot that he did with his box blade. Do a search on threads that he's started and look for the on on food plots. He posted allot of pics that show what he did, and that will show what you can do with one too.

Have fun,
Eddie

 

[Barneyhunts]

If there are a lot of rocks, tilling is tough. In my area the rental places don't rent 3 Pt. tillers because they get abused. I have a tiller on my 22Hp. Kubota which I use in my garden after I have picked the rocks ( and every year I have rocks to pick)

 

[CDsdad]

You could disc it up and then hit it with the tiller to bust it up finer and help smooth it out. It'd probably till easier if it were disced first. Or disc it up good and level it with a drag or section harrow or a box blade.

 

[Egon]

Stats. for the tractor:

TractorData.com - Satoh Beaver III S373 tractor data

Those stats match my Little Kubota B7100. Go for the rotatiller. Overlap the rows by as much as Half and spend time picking rocks. It will take more than one pass. After tilling use a drag for levelling and then till again.

 

[Soundguy]

If there are a lot of rocks, tilling is tough. In my area the rental places don't rent 3 Pt. tillers because they get abused. I have a tiller on my 22Hp. Kubota which I use in my garden after I have picked the rocks ( and every year I have rocks to pick)

I agree there... depending on rock size.. they can absolutely eat a tiller... especially if they can get caught between a paddle and the external metal shield.

soundguy

 

[Rich P]

See if you can rent a Harley rake.

 

[crbr]

See if you can rent a Harley rake.

Good luck. No one within 150 miles of my area has a tractor rake for rent. All Skid Steer (attached) rakes, but not one tractor rake.

 

[AchingBack]

Rototilling alone will not produce a good lawn. Clay will soon re-compact. In southern Oregon, we have some very heavy, sticky when wet, clay. When I was installing lawns for a living, I always incorporated 1 yard of granite, and 1 yard or more of mulch, per 100 s. f..

The sharp granite helps to penetrate, and break up the clay. The mulch puts organic matter into the soil. This makes for a good root zone. You need to till at least 6 - 8 inches. Don't worry about removing any rocks smaller than softball size. Rocks help drainage, and one the lawn in established, you will have forgotten they were ever there.

As you may know, clay can only be worked when the moisture content is PERFECT. To damp, and you will have balls of clay coated with granite, and mulch. To dry, and you will beat yourself, your tiller, and your tractor.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I have a boxblade and it is excelent for cultivating hard ground. I use my grandpa's tiller on soft soils while the boxblade can tackle almost every condition. To help the boxblade dig deeper, add some suitcase weights on the sides of the boxblade (if your tractor can lift it) and you will have good results. I have used my boxblade in the arena that feels as hard as concreat after horses pack it down over time.

 

[pitt_md]

I agree there... depending on rock size.. they can absolutely eat a tiller... especially if they can get caught between a paddle and the external metal shield.

soundguy

A well adjusted slipclutch works wonders.

 

[Altex]

I have a Mitsubishi S-373 Beaver III... Or is the best tool a 3 pt tiller? I'd have to rent it and I'm not so sure my tractor has the HP to tackle the job?
Thanks

From Egon's link, I see that the S-373 Beaver III's PTO has 13.6 HP.

Do they make alot of Tillers that can run on this HP? Or should I say, do Rental Companies, rent 3PH Tillers for this HP rating? Just haven't noticed many out there.

 

[Soundguy]

A well adjusted slipclutch works wonders.

IMHO.. a slip clutch don't do nuttin' for a rock that is wedged between 2 paddles that still lets them rotate and eat the housing up.. if your clutch is set light enough that it won't rotate like that.. I doubt you can do much tilling except in sugar sand.

soundguy

 

[Altex]

Soundguy and pit md,
I can understand both your views. But, what do you think about redalrt's situation?

I have a Mitsubishi S-373 Beaver III... ... is the best tool a 3 pt tiller? I'd have to rent it and I'm not so sure my tractor has the HP to tackle the job?...

From Egon's link, I see that the S-373 Beaver III's PTO has 13.6 HP.

Do they make alot of Tillers that can run on this HP? Or should I say, do Rental Companies, rent 3PH Tillers for this HP rating? Just haven't noticed many out there.

 

[Soundguy]

King kutter makes an 'XB' line of implements for SCUT's.. it has a tiller that is only rated UP to 25 hp.. I'd guess he'd have to use something like that.. plus suitable low gear / slow ground speed.

Yanmar tractors in that size range ( 1100 - 1300 ) have tiller.. etc..

soundguy

 

[careyo63]

Try your local grey market dealer.People wth Yanmars use the RS1200 tiller for the size and HP. tractor you have.

 

[Soundguy]

Keep in mind that ynamar tillers mount a lil differently than standard 3pt tillers..

soundguy