Tiller King Kutter 6' tiller

[ChuckinVA]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

Thanks Russ.

 

[JimMc]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

OK, at the risk of being premature, I can list the TEMPORARY address and format of the First Choice web site. Please keep in mind we were just trying to give folks a little glimpse of some products we offer. The site is in no way complete, I will add a few products every few days as time permits, and the format will totally change by the end of July. With all the disclaimers said I would appreciate feedback on both product line and things you TBN'ers would like in an equipment web site. Also, please note the link to Tractor By Net. OK, here it is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://home.midwest.net/~jimmc/index.html>http://home.midwest.net/~jimmc/index.html</A>

We will be moving to a dedicated server soon and the address will change, but we will provide a link at this address when that happens.

Thanks again for all your kind patience and input.
Jim McCuan

 

[machinedoc]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

I have found a New 74 inch First Choice with clutch on sweettractors website in Ky for $1599----Hope this helps

 

[mark99]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

As a final post, I purchased the KK 72" Tiller. Used it for 5 hours and it is AWESOME! Defines "heavy duty"

Mark in VA

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

I've seen at least a couple times on other forums guys needing gears for the KK tiller. If you think the gear drive system is superior to a chain drive, you are way off base!!

I've done custom tilling for over 15 years now, and all with chain drive Howards. I've NEVER replaced a chain to this day, and i still have the over 15 year old Howard i started with, along with two newer models!!

I've used, and looked at many tillers over the years, and if you want a tiller that will take abuse, Howards the brand to choose. Just don't buy a model too light duty for your tractor!!

What kills a tiller is hitting rocks and junk that's in a field, and if you till enough you "WILL" hit plenty of trash!! I've hit motor blocks, starters, pipe, lumber, chains, windows, foundations, fence, and about every thing else you can think of all out in fields!!

I buy Howards because they can take the abuse of hitting trash, and keep on going. The guys looking for gears had hit large rocks and that's really hard on a tiller.

My brother bought a Bush Hog brand tiller because Howards were too expensive. He has no rocks at his small place. The first time he did a job for a neighbor and hit a big rock, he bent his tiller and locked it up. He learned the hard way that cheaper isn't always better.

There are many more advantages to a Howard rotavator too, but i won't get into them here. After what i have seen and expierenced, i won't buy any thing but a Howard rotavator!!

Get one with a slip clutch, and ajust it for your tractors HP.. If you want the toughest tiller, buy a Howard up front. In the long run, it will cost you less to own!

BTW, "green Howards" are called John Deere tillers when JD sells them!
Robert

http://www.fototime.com/{1E5498E8-8489-4895-A48A-D3CC6E12473D}/picture.JPG

 

[Bird]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

<font color=blue>My brother bought a Bush Hog brand tiller . . . hit a big rock, he bent his tiller and locked it up</font color=blue>

Robert, you make me curious as to what model he had and exactly what damage was done to that Bush Hog. Now I've heard nothing but good things about the Howard, so I'm not disputing anything you say, but have you noticed that Bush Hog's light duty and medium duty tillers are chain drive while their heavy duty models are gear drive?

I used a light duty Bush Hog (RTS40) for over 6 years and it was used, abused, etc. tilling gardens, tilling up roots where trees had been removed by a dozer, accidentally tilled up a brick sidewalk that was covered by about an inch of dirt, hit steel stakes that were left in the garden by mistake, and was used to break up hardpan clay so it could be moved with the front end loader (that would really make it bounce up and down and sound terrible), and when I sold it, it still had never had any kind of repairs, breakdowns, or parts replaced (except for the chain cover gasket that I replaced one time as routine service when I cleaned and re-lubricated the chain drive).

I have a cousin who currently uses an RTS62 working in an area that was solid woods, and tilling up lots of roots from trees removed by a dozer. He's jammed one big root in it and bent the swinging door on the back once, but no other damage and nothing broke.

So . . ., the fact is that I don't know whether a gear drive or chain drive is best; I've certainly wondered about that, but either one seems to be very good.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

I don't know the model of Bush Hog tiller my brother has, but i do know it's 5' wide, and he has a 30 HP tractor. He no longer lives close to me, so i don't see it very often.

I know that the rock bent several tines and a "tine flange." He used a torch and hammer to get it back into action.

I'll bet you i've hit "thousands" of big rocks over the years, and i've yet to bend up my Howards! (not even my small one) They are well worth the extra they cost.

I've bought the Howard in this picture in 1986, and i haven't put one dime into it in repairs to this date. I can't even guess how many gardens and small fields i've rotavated with this tiller!!

http://www.fototime.com/{6EB5A7B4-EB91-4869-8F28-A86FCE895ADE}/picture.JPG

I'm not going to get into what's BEST, "gears or chain drive" but i am going to tell you that a Howard rotavator with chain drive and some maintance doesn't take a back seat to any tiller, and easily out lives the cheapo brands!!

You don't have to do many gardens for your neighbors, to make up the difference a Howard will cost you over the lesser brands! You can pay a little more now, or pay a lot later. I made my choise from personal expierence, now it's your turn to decide.
Happy tilling,
Robert

 

[JohnMiller3]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

<font color=blue>...i've yet to bend up my Howards! (not even my small one) They are well worth the extra they cost....</font color=blue>

I think those Howards are built like tanks... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

But, I didn't realize they were chain driven... I thought they were gear... extremely hefty units...

I don't know what is best either... but I think Howard makes the best tiller... from all reports... I've never ever heard anything negative about Howard...

 

[Bird]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

Like I said, I've heard nothing but good things about the Howard. Maybe it's the best; I don't know. In fact, I don't think I've ever even seen one. I know that I couldn't have asked for anything better than the Bush Hog I had. But then I don't recall (doesn't mean they aren't here) any messages on the forum from anyone who was unhappy with any of the brands of tillers they have.

 

[CVHoss]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

John,
I think you're both right about the chain/gear question. According to <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.howardrotavator.com/>Howard's web site</A>, they make both. Their models HR12,16,18,35,41,43,50,& 60 are gear drive and their models HR7,7HD,20,&30 are gear drive. I do take note that the really HD stuff, including the HR60 monster rated for tractors from 150hp to 250hp, are all gear drives.

Hoss

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

All i can add here is,
Last year when i was ready to buy a new Howard that could handle at least 100 hp, my dealer said "don't buy a gear drive". The Howard factory rep. at the Louisville farm and machinery show said the same thing. Both said "the chain drive is a proven design and is problem free". "The gear drive models are a newer design, and are only offered to satisfy those that think it's better". (i'm not refering to the biggest models wich all so have oil pumps to move the fluid through the frame)

My dealer all so told me this, "some old Howards had gear drives, and the gear sets are spl. to each model tiller". The old chain drive models had the same sizes of chains made today, so guess what one is easier to get parts for today"???????

I am sure about one thing, a chain drive will take the abuse of shock loads in the drive line better than a gear drive, and the factory rep i talked to agreed.

Remember, there's a reason those cheapo tillers are cheaper!!
Robert

http://www.fototime.com/{5ED64481-7523-44E7-B264-B9A204D6937E}/picture.JPG

 

[DK35vince]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

Buy and say what you want.
My king kutter works great and did not break the bank!!

 

[Hillbilly]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

Robert,
You say the JD tillers are made by Howard....and you have yet to bend a tine yet....well let me tell you,it can be done....

 

[SteveBenson]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

JJT,

I have a TC40D (hydro, 33 PTO HP) tractor and have been thinking of getting a 6' KK tiller. Sounds like you've done what I'm thinking about. I'd like to get the 6' model to cover my tracks but was concerned about lack of HP with the suggested range being 35-50 HP. I have very heavy compacted soil w/ field stone that gets very hard as it dries out in the summer. Most of the stone is 12-16" flat field stone, but there definately a few big ones too. I've never used a 3ph tiller before and have the following questions (for you or anyone else).

1) Will my tractor (TC40D) handle the 6' KK tiller well?
2) What size rocks cause what size problems when tilling?
3) I working on cleaning up an old 6 acre cornfield before seeding for hay. Is this way too big a job for a 6' tiller on my tractor?
4) What would be a ballpark estimate for tilling 6 acres with the proposed setup? I'm not in a hurry or anything, just want to know what I'm getting into.

I'm using a harley rake to remove the rocks but it works much better is the soil is well broken.

Currently I'm using a 8' disc harrow that is working less effectively as the summer goes on. The harrow is medium duty and not that heavy. I could still try adding some weight but I'm not sure how much that will help.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

 

[JJT]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

1) Will my tractor (TC40D) handle the 6' KK tiller well?

Your TC40 is a little bigger than my L3710, you will do fine with the 6' KK tiller. I also have heavy clay with a fair number of stones. I've tilled this ground when it's bone dry and feels like concrete when you try to dig a hole with a shovel.

2) What size rocks cause what size problems when tilling?

On occassion I've hit soccer ball sized stones that have jammed the tiller and the slip clutch did what it's supposed to do. Usually the anything bigger than a softball simply gets kicked out the back or the tiller hops over them. I've also hit large flat stones where the tiller simply broke them into pieces before the clutch slipped. A friend and I did a cemetary rehab a few months ago, we missed a buried stone that the tiller found, that headstone is now in 2 pieces....

3) I working on cleaning up an old 6 acre cornfield before seeding for hay. Is this way too big a job for a 6' tiller on my tractor?

6 acres is no big deal for your tractor and a 6' KK.

4) What would be a ballpark estimate for tilling 6 acres with the proposed setup? I'm not in a hurry or anything, just want to know what I'm getting into.

Breaking sod will take 2 passes, 1 fairly slow, then pick rocks and make another pass. You should be able to do this easily in a weekend. 3 - 5 hours for the initial pass, 2 - 4 hours of rock picking and then another 2 - 4 hours for the final pass, followed by another round of rock picking.

 

[SteveBenson]

Re: King Kutter 6\' tiller

Thanks for the great info JJT,
Steve