Rotary Tiller Advice

[JME81]

I have a Kubota LX 2610 tractor. Rear PTO is 20. My rear tire width is 54".

I want to get a tiller and there are two options locally that I've found:

• Iron Craft - 48", 20-25 PTO
  • *Gear driven: $2190
• Land Pride - 50", 15-25 PTO
  • *Gear driven: $2750

Iron Craft is $560 cheaper than the Land Pride. Both have a slip clutch and gear driven. Both also do have a chain version as well. 60" tillers are out of my price range.

I'm not sure if I should go with chain or gear drive?

Usage

• The ground is average, no clay that I have seen
• Making rows for corn, maybe 5 x 50' rows
• Making rows for rasperries
• Making rows for various vegetables
• Possibly cleaning up areas of the field to re-see but that would be minimal

 

[RjCorazza]

I think mine is a chain drive in a sealed oil bath, but not sure. I would be looking at tillers that cover your width, especially since you do not seem to have particularly challenging soil conditions.

 

[JME81]

60" wide tillers require a larger rear PTO. The rear tires are a little larger which puts them over slightly.

 

[newbury]

If the price is right a slightly narrower may do depending on usage.
When I was first NEEDING a tiller (back in ~2009) I had only my B7610. Then I got my M4700. Shortly after I got my 48" tiller for ~$600. Ended up tilling ~1/8 acre of clay using the 4700 and small tiller. Worked for me. The B7610 couldn't pull the tiller through clay.

 

[JME81]

Usage

• Making rows for corn, maybe 5 x 50' rows
• Making rows for rasperries
• Making rows for various vegetables
• Possibly cleaning up areas of the field to re-see but that would be minimal

 

[JME81]

Any experience with the IronCraft tillers?

 

[bsekf]

Equipment salesman told me most tillers are about the same, buy price. Have you checked Tractor Supply, Runnings, etc?

 

[tulenutn2o]

I bought my tiller at tractor supply many years ago for way less than today’s prices. It is a 6’. In my experience, I wish I would have gotten a 4’. My reasoning is I have found that it is much easier to mow between rows than weeding. I only use the 6’ tiller for tilling gardens for city folk.

 

[Phil Timmons]

I bought my tiller at tractor supply many years ago for way less than today’s prices. It is a 6’. In my experience, I wish I would have gotten a 4’. My reasoning is I have found that it is much easier to mow between rows than weeding. I only use the 6’ tiller for tilling gardens for city folk.

Help me understand that?

Did you mean to say rototill between rows? Or actual mowing?

We have been doing some mowing -- but Johnson Grass "moves" along underground by rhizomes and pop up in or near rows, with cover and protection provided by the row crop(s). And rototilling chops up and distributes those root samples, as well. So it can become a lose-lose between two bad choices.

I am also trying to understand your optimal width and max equipment size between the rows -- as you would like to do things. Our test equipment is only two feet wide, and attaches to make a wider path as side-by-side modules. What would you consider the max useful width? Largest rototiller rigs I think I have seen are in the 10 to 15 foot wide range.

Thanks!

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I'd check for a used tiller too. I bought my used tiller that was old way back 14 years ago ($300), put new blades on it. Using it a lot throughout the gardening season. Works great 50" path. Almost covers the wheel tracks. Looked like a caroni but it was so rusted up no real way to be sure.