heavy tiller for a bx?

[rifflerunner]

What is the heaviest tiller weight you have "gotten away with" on a bx series tractor? I have a BX23 and would like to purchase a tiller for it but am also splitting the cost with my father who will be using it on a larger tractor(45-60 hp). Most of the light weight tillers that fit the specs for the bx are not rated for use on the larger tractor. I am looking at both the CCM MR-130(49") which is 575 lbs. but rated up to 60 hp. and also the King Kutter II (48") which is 600 lbs. Both of these tillers would work great on my fathers tractor but may be too large for mine. Anyone using such a heavy tiller on the BX and how does it handle?

 

[KennyV]

It is not only the weight, but also the width, for a 45-60 HP tractor You want to cover the foot print of the tractor with a tiller I am guessing 60 to 66 inch wide, for the larger tractor. KennyV.

 

[rifflerunner]

I understand your point about covering the tracks of the larger tractor, but he thought he would be ok with one about 50 inches especially if it offsets. Of course he hasnt measured it yet. My major concern is with the BX and if these heavier tillers will be compatible.

 

[nh DRAGON]

I also wanted to use my fathers older tiller on my BX but the tph would not even go wide enough to hook it up! I like the way your thinking, buying one for both of you to use. Have you thought about a smaller one that is adjustable? It would cover the foot print of the BX and you could slide it to one side to use it on a bigger tractor and till half the footprint at a time. I could not see spending a grand or two for something I am going to use twice a year and most used ones are junk. So a friend got a hold of a small sleeve hitch type and, After some slight modifications, It works great. The only problem is a leak in the seal and I don't know where to get a new seal. Has any one herd of Gilson Brothers CO.?

 

[jcpwrsprt]

I run a KKII 48" on my 2350 with no problems. You will need front ballast -- either a loader or suitcase weights. I know there are a number of other TBN'ers using the same setup. There are some pics of it in the picture section "Kubota"

Good luck

 

[Tom_H]

DRAGON, if you put Pat's Easy Change extenders on your lift arms, you might be able to get that wide tiller on, possibly.

rifflerunner, part of this will depend on your soil conditions. If you want to 'till hardpan or dry clay, my 37" Muratori is appropriate. If you have an existing vegetable garden that is sandy loam, you could probably use the biggest thing the 3ph is strong enough to lift. What are your soil conditions?

 

[rifflerunner]

My soil is basically rock with a lot of clay. Which do you think is the biggest determining factor in matching up a tiller for a bx.....length or width? Or put another way which factor will put more strain on the bx if I go over the specs?

 

[Jimmyp5]

I also wanted to use my fathers older tiller on my BX but the tph would not even go wide enough to hook it up! I like the way your thinking, buying one for both of you to use. Have you thought about a smaller one that is adjustable? It would cover the foot print of the BX and you could slide it to one side to use it on a bigger tractor and till half the footprint at a time. I could not see spending a grand or two for something I am going to use twice a year and most used ones are junk. So a friend got a hold of a small sleeve hitch type and, After some slight modifications, It works great. The only problem is a leak in the seal and I don't know where to get a new seal. Has any one herd of Gilson Brothers CO.?

Measure the seal, and then go on line and do a search... I found a adapter to go from 21 spline to 6 in the land downunder....made hooking up my FL 850 tiller a snap...

 

[RonR]

The other thing to consider is the PTO shaft lengths. If you cut it to fit properly on the smaller tractor, it might be to short to operate on the larger.

Similarly, if it's cut to fit the larger, it might bottom out on the smaller.

I'm not really sure how you can measure before purchasing, but I suppose it's possible.

Oh, I run a 52" Bush hog tiller with my BX2200 in heavy clay. No problems; usually running at half throttle.

Hope this helps.
ron

 

[California]

The other thing to consider is the PTO shaft lengths. If you cut it to fit properly on the smaller tractor, it might be to short to operate on the larger.

I would start by assuming you will need one of those $20 pto extenders, 4 inch or 6 inch, on the larger tractor's pto. Then design interchangeability around that.

 

[nh DRAGON]

Thanks Jimmy, I will try to search it. For now it works good, just a little slow. But it doesn't kill itself on rocks either but instead just rides over them.

 

[porky69]

If your father is willing to share a tiller would he be willing to share tractors? Make a deal to get a tiller to fit either your tractor or his (which ever one would work best for both your needs) and let each other use the others tractor, instead of both of you comprimising and neither one being overly happy with the results.

Just for reference my father in alw and I run a Farm King 60inch tiller behind the B2400 that he bought (and lets me use in exchange for maintenance of his equipment) in fairly heavy clay with a fair number of softball sized rocks, and at times either you cannot go slow enough or there is not enough HP available.
Not that the tiller does not work well, but the chain drive system is a little light for heavy soils/rocks and quite often break the half link when you get into a rocky area.