New Woods tiller problem.....

[Sawyer Rob]

I've never heard of a tiller using one bolt, either they are installed wrong or something else just isn't right.

I can't imagine it holding up with one bolt per tine, I'd be talking to my dealer...

SR

 

[1734e]

I've never heard of a tiller using one bolt, either they are installed wrong or something else just isn't right.

I can't imagine it holding up with one bolt per tine, I'd be talking to my dealer...

SR

I have no experience with a pto tiller so I never thought about that until you mention it ....that doesn't make sense to only rely on one bolt to withstand continuous impact with the soil. But if you see there in the picture the tine is out of position. If I swing it to the right ...back into place in between the plates ...that empty hole in tine goes up into area of plates where there is no bolt holes, and I'm pretty sure I am seeing only one bolt per tine on all the other tines. Surely a well known tiller like woods wouldn't create a design flaw such as that on their tiller.....so im pretty confused about this....I feel like im missing something when i look at it but clearly there is only one bolt per tine.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've seen Woods tillers before, all had two bolts per tine. Unless this is some new design, something is not right.

SR

 

[1734e]

Thanks for the replies...yup something don't seem right...thats my luck i guess. I think im going to place it back into position and try tightening the bolts, there are two of them loose like that on same plate... and will probably contact my dealer.

 

[jyoutz]

I’m wondering if there are parts missing. Such as the tine attaches to a plate with two bolts; then the plate attaches to the shaft? In the 20 years I owned my Woods tiller I never had a tine come loose so I never paid much attention to how they were assembled.

 

[irvingj]

My camera's broken so I can't post a picture... but my Woods tiller (RB40, IIRC) definitely has two large bolts (the same ones on the shaft) holding each tine. Almost looks like the wrong tines were installed!

 

[Dmacleo]

my woods 48.30 has only one bolt. manual shows how to align flange and tighten,
second hole on tine...never really knew why there. possibly the fwd and rev drives use same tine?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Am I seeing that right, only four blades per flange? AND only one bolt holding each blade? What a terd, I wouldn't walk away from that one, I'd run!

I remember a few years ago, when an engineer from Woods told me, "The bean counters are really getting involved", there's more proof of what he meant...

Why step away from the tried and true two bolts per blade?? And five blades per flange just does a much better job on new ground, and it does it faster...

SR

 

[Dmacleo]

yeah the 48.30 has 4 per flange with 6 flanges over the 48" run.
the single bolt does allow a time movement that will not hurt flange/gearbox. I deal with rocky soil here, had to tighten one flange bolt once last year.
and I still got (due to warranty repair) 5 years of drivetrain warranty left.
so...who knows.
I've broken rocks and stumps with it. seems to work ok.

 

[1734e]

yeah the 48.30 has 4 per flange with 6 flanges over the 48" run.
the single bolt does allow a time movement that will not hurt flange/gearbox. I deal with rocky soil here, had to tighten one flange bolt once last year.
and I still got (due to warranty repair) 5 years of drivetrain warranty left.
so...who knows.
I've broken rocks and stumps with it. seems to work ok.

Thanks for commenting. I'll tighten those up today.....but I'm with sawyer rob ...I feel like running away from this one. I'm going to feel uneasy every time i use the unit. If they loosened that soon after use being brand new seems like it will happen all the time. Not sure if I want to keep it or not.

 

[JWR]

Being NEW this is crazy stuff. I would take it back to the dealer and tell them to assemble the thing correctly or hand you a new unit properly assembled OR the money back. "Noise" is no longer the issue but rather a side effect of a far more basic problem.

 

[1734e]

Being NEW this is crazy stuff. I would take it back to the dealer and tell them to assemble the thing correctly or hand you a new unit properly assembled OR the money back. "Noise" is no longer the issue but rather a side effect of a far more basic problem.

Yup.....I'll certainly be contacting the dealer Monday.

 

[Dmacleo]

the single bolt holding a tine can look worrisome.
but when you git a 30lb rock and the tine slips off flange clamp and nothing breaks....maybe its not as worrisome as it looks.
I'm in Maine, I have very rocky soil. my own property has pre-ledge at 12-18 inches. next door, who I also till, is at 6 inches or, in many spots, above ground.
just keep that in mind.
I had warranty repair due to a change in the noise proving there was an initial assembly issue in gearbox from factory, not from the dealer.
had nothing to do with single bolt holding tines on.

 

[LD1]

Several tillers only use one bolt.

Yes they can allow the tines to swing at times but it doesn't hinder the operation at all.

I think some people are making way to big of a deal about one bolt or jumping to conclusions that it's assembled wrong

Identify the noise first....it's under warranty. Simply take it back and have them identify it if it is that concerning

 

[irvingj]

Well I'll be... Guess they DO make a tiller with only one bolt per tine. (Thanks for that drawing, Dave!)

Also, I checked mine again, which is probably at least 20 years old (bought it used) -- It's a GTC40-2, not an RB40 (which is a Rear Blade, duh....)

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Several tillers only use one bolt.

Yes they can allow the tines to swing at times but it doesn't hinder the operation at all.

I think some people are making way to big of a deal about one bolt or jumping to conclusions that it's assembled wrong

Identify the noise first....it's under warranty. Simply take it back and have them identify it if it is that concerning

What are the brands of tractor powered tillers, that only use one bolt to hold the tines???

I've never seen a tractor powered tiller that only has one bolt per tine, they must be very light duty garden tillers!

I wouldn't want a tiller that's rated that light duty!

SR

 

[Dmacleo]

What are the brands of tractor powered tillers, that only use one bolt to hold the tines???

I've never seen a tractor powered tiller that only has one bolt per tine, they must be very light duty garden tillers!

I wouldn't want a tiller that's rated that light duty!

SR

the woods tillers being discussed in this topic...

 

[Sawyer Rob]

the woods tillers being discussed in this topic...

Post #34 (LD1) claims that "several" tillers only use one bolt, I'm wondering what those other brands are??

SR

 

[LD1]

Yanmar makes a fine tiller with 1-bolt tines

 

[LD1]

Ford, massy, Mitsubishi, bobcat and even Howard have all made tillers with one bolt tines.

2-bolt doesn't automatically make it better or "heavy duty".

Those two bolt tine tillers rely on bolts and nothing more. The bolts are in shear.

There are some different ways that 1-bolt times attach. But like on yanmar...the time fits in a pocket and the welded pocket takes the load....the bolt simply keeps the tine in the pocket.