Tiller Durability? Roots?

[TractorGuy]

I am thinking of buying or renting a tiller someday but I am concerned about durability. My land was a timber stand that was cut a few years back. I have been digging the stumps and clearing for a while. I have run my disk harrow over it a few times but it's still a bit rutty and I think a tiller might tame it some. Every so often I kick up a piece of buried wood or some roots.

Will a tiller withstand the occasional chunk of wood or will it bend the tines or worse? If I found one to rent do rental companies offer insurance against damage or would I be liable for any bent tines, broken gearbox, etc?

 

[Ford850]

A tiller will normally hop up out of the ground when it hits a larger root or rock. If it gets hung up on one the slip clutch will stall the rotation and prevent most damage. If it were me, I'd rent one to see how it handles the ground. I think the more likely damage to a tiller will be longer term with bearings and seal failures if it is bounced around a lot with roots.

 

[Rmart30]

What kind of timber? pine or oak? How much land redoing? Especially if it was a large area with oak stumps id price someone with a subsoiler to come in and work over it.

 

[powerscol]

I agree run through it with a subsoiler, or gang plow. As for durability my Ansung listed in my signature would work find and stand up to what you have.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Depends on the tiller!

The "good" ones cost money, but you won't break them on roots or stones either... A cheapo tiller won't take heavy abuse...

I'm coming up on 2000 acres on one of my Howards and I've not broke or had to replace even one bearing/chain or anything else inside of it...

SR

 

[TractorGuy]

Thanks for all the input. I was mostly concerned about renting one and having it tear up. I haven't even checked to see if they are available to rent in my area but if I was going to be liable for damage I would just buy one and be done with it. I don't need one bad enough or often enough to own it if I don't have to.

 

[Oldoak]

Most rental companies offer optional insurance coverage at a reasonable extra charge to cover potential damage .

Any quality tiller will have a slip clutch and if set up and maintained properly will prevent tiller damage.

 

[Diggin It]

I've hit a few things with both the Troy-Bilt walk behind and the 4' Taylor Pittsburgh. Usually rips through whatever. A few times I've been stopped in my tracks (with both). Haven't broken a tine or gear yet (knock on wood). Sometimes roots will wind around the tines and shaft, then bind. Takes some time with pruners and other types of cutters to get them cleared.

 

[DK35vince]

Any quality tiller will have a slip clutch and if set up and maintained properly will prevent tiller damage.

Yes, set and maintain the slip clutch properly and the tiller will be fine.

 

[RickB]

A

Depends on the tiller!

The "good" ones cost money, but you won't break them on roots or stones either... A cheapo tiller won't take heavy abuse...

I'm coming up on 2000 acres on one of my Howards and I've not broke or had to replace even one bearing/chain or anything else inside of it...

SR

King Kutter is one of the least expensive tillers out there and is well built. The Landpride 12 series on the other hand is the low end of an expensive name brand line with known unresolved manufacturing issues the company refuses to correct.