Reverse or forward rotation tiller?

[Mercmaniac]

Looking to get a tiller for 2520. Hope to get some pros/cons for the 2. Thanks, Eric

 

[beenthere]

One will push you along, the other will pull you back.

What models of each are you considering for the 2520?

 

[Bird]

I used to have a 17" Craftsman rear tine walk behind but self propelled tiller with the reverse rotation. It worked well. Then I had a Bush Hog brand tiller for the tractor with forward rotation. As has already been said, one will push you forward while the other will hold you back. Either one does a good job. My preference is the forward rotation because I figure if I hit a big root, or bricks (which I did once), the forward rotating tines will hit it on the downstroke, causing the tiller to jump up in the air and go on over. But with the reverse rotation, I'm afraid if it hits an immovable object on the upstroke, it just might break some tines, or hopefully just a shear pin. Of course some have a slip clutch that I never had or wanted so that night prevent damage.

So I reckon it boils down to personal preference. Either one is good.

 

[Wooddust]

I have reverse direction Land Pride. It is in a word, fantastic. I would highly recommend this to anyone with no reservations.

 

[MoKelly]

I have heard that reverse is best when you are breaking new ground and forward is best once the ground has already been broke.

Don't know if its true but I have heard that theory.

MoKelly

 

[rabidracin]

I just bought a landpride rta1566 forward rotation tiller. It works great and everything I have tilled is new ground. My troy-bilt walk behind is reverse rotation and it works fine too. I think a bigger concern should be weight and quality of tiller than tine rotation. JMO

 

[scottrh]

I have a JD 2520 and and a County Line from TSC (which is a KKII) 5ft reverse tiller. No problem on any dirt clay in North Carolina. Outstanding for the money, built like a tank, and the JD 2520 runs it it well.
S.

 

[kuboman]

I use the LP reverse rotation. It digs better and does a finer job of pulverizing the soil. My only dislike is it pushes a ridge of dirt out each front corners so it does not leave a flat finished job. Also if you have a lot of rocks it tends to beat itself up more because the rocks get thrown around inside before they are ejected. But as I said for the job itself, they are superior.:thumbsup:

 

[WM75Guy]

I just bought a landpride rta1566 forward rotation tiller. It works great and everything I have tilled is new ground. My troy-bilt walk behind is reverse rotation and it works fine too. I think a bigger concern should be weight and quality of tiller than tine rotation. JMO

I have the LP RTA2072 forward rotation 6' tiller, which works great in my sandy loam soil. I agree the weight and quality should be of more concern than the rotation. My dealer recommended the forward rotation as there is less chance of something coming at the operator and less chance of damage if you hit something.

 

[Mercmaniac]

Thanks for all of your replies. I am leaning towards the JD 655.

 

[charleyfarmall]

I have heard that reverse is best when you are breaking new ground and forward is best once the ground has already been broke.

Don't know if its true but I have heard that theory.

MoKelly

True.

 

[charleyfarmall]

I have a JD 2520 and and a County Line from TSC (which is a KKII) 5ft reverse tiller. No problem on any dirt clay in North Carolina. Outstanding for the money, built like a tank, and the JD 2520 runs it it well.
S.

KKII is an excellent tiller and can take quite a bit of abuse. I like the gear drive and the price is right. I have a 6' and a 4' set down to 36" more or less.

 

[Artesia Aggie]

I have a JD 647 tiller on my 2520. Works greats. I have broken out some really hard ground without any problems

 

[bigtiller]

I have heard that reverse is best when you are breaking new ground and forward is best once the ground has already been broke.

Don't know if its true but I have heard that theory.

MoKelly

Mo is right, as long as their isn't many rocks or stumps. I have had both forward and reverse tillers and found the forward models till in mulch much better. The reverse is best at one pass tilling even in the hardest ground.

 

[D33r3 6r33N]

I use the LP reverse rotation. It digs better and does a finer job of pulverizing the soil. My only dislike is it pushes a ridge of dirt out each front corners so it does not leave a flat finished job. Also if you have a lot of rocks it tends to beat itself up more because the rocks get thrown around inside before they are ejected. But as I said for the job itself, they are superior.:thumbsup:

LP 50" Reverse here. Glad to know I wasn't the only one with the "unfinished" look. Thing works SO WELL though that I almost hate to use it. The soil is so fluffy it is like walking on a mattress. As far as rocks, I found out last year that a rock 2-3 times as big as a football was enough to kill the tractor! Stopped everything, nothing was broken though. Great tiller.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

If I woulda bought a new one, I was seriously looking at a Reverse Rotation unit for all the pro's listed here...but then factoring in the excellent reputation and price of the "Normal Rotation" KKII tiller, I found myself asking myself if it was worth 1k plus bucks for a different rotation...If KK offered a Reverse rotation machine at the same price as their normal one, I woulda gotten one in a heartbeat.
The decision was made for me when I found a "Mechanically like new" Sovema 72" tiller at a price I couldnt pass up.
All in all, It is what it is, cant say I'm looking to trade up to a Reverse rotation unit...but when I was doing some "virgin ground" tilling, you could certianly see the difference between reverse rotation and normal rotation operation (tilling in reverse) but in the garden I cant say I notice a drastic difference.

I guess I'd reccomend if your planning on busting alot of virgin ground, go with the reverse rotation. If yearly garden maintenance is your intended use, I'd probably save yourself a few bucks and go with a normal tiller so to speak.