Tiller Tiller advice for new Kubota B2650 owner

[markjtrickey]

Looking for advice on a 3PH Tiller to put behind a Kubota B2650 (26HP/19.5HP PTO). The dealer where I'm buying the tractor only sells Woods, which I understand to be a good brand, but the one he has in stock is their lower end model, only 4 tines and pretty darn expensive. I have looked at the King Kutter models, but the models I looked at seem to be missing the adjustable offset which I think may come in handy if I want to leave hard pack rows in-between tilled rows.

What I'm hoping to get is one wide enough to cover tracks if I run it centered (maybe 52 - 54 inches), 6 tines, forward rotation, and adjustable offset. And I want it to last forever and be cheap :laughing: Actually, money is not the primary factor. It's not going to get daily use or anything, but I want it to last and not leave any parts behind in the garden

I have looked at the Sicma T5-60 60 over at McGee's and it seems to fit my needs, but I have heard the heavier the better and the Sicma's seem on the light side compared to others. There was a Tarter I looked at that could be used both forward and reverse rotation, but the HP rating was above the 19.5 I have available at the PTO. Are the HP ratings given by the manufacturer's hard and fast rules on the low side? It seems once I get into models where the weight gets up to 500 - 600+ lbs the minimum HP rating jumps up to 25+

 

[ishiboo]

I have a KK and really like it. It's well built, gear drive, and has worked well. My 72" KK was substantially less than the 60" Sicma but does not have adjustable offset.

I found the horsepower suggestions from KK to be slightly conservative. I first bought a 60" but my tractor has a wide stance. I returned it and bought the 72" (the bottom PTO HP number was my PTO HP, versus I was at the top of the 60" HP requirements) and it's perfect and I have PLENTY of power with even having the hard clay soil I have. I'd say you could go a bit above their rating by a few hp. KK rates their 54" as 25hp min so a 60" might be a lot to run.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I bought a Land Pride RTA1558 for a Kubota B2410 10 years ago that has all the features you mentioned that you wanted. It has had zero problems and no tines break so far, and it's churned up a good number of bricks, big rocks, and lots of Georgia red clay. I'm now using that same tiller behind a Kubota L3400, again with zero problems. I'd certainly recommend that you at least consider the Land Pride tiller - it'll be the only tiller that you'll ever need to buy.

 

[jeff9366]

I bought a Land Pride RTA1558 for a Kubota B2410 10 years ago that has all the features you mentioned that you wanted; it has had zero problems.

VOILA!

 

[jeff9366]

Here is a LINK to threads in the T-B-N archive discussing merits of both FORWARD and REVERSE turning PTO tillers:

https://www.google.com/#q=Forward+Reverse+tiller+site:tractorbynet.com

 

[RG1]

Many of the JD tillers are Sicma tillers painted green. mine is, and says so on it. They are very good tillers, and not at all what I call lighter duty. The KK are heavy tillers and have some nice features, but i have seen fat too many KK products of all types that have been returned to local dealers with broken welds. Land Pride and Woods both make great equipment and I'd be happy with either brand.

 

[markjtrickey]

Thanks RG1, I did not realize that Sicma did OEM. I am surprised JD would not go with a US manufacturer just for advertising.

From what I read, I have no doubt that a Woods or Land Pride would work great and last forever it just seemed that the Sicma had a few extra features that I wanted at the same price point as entry level Woods or Land Pride.

 

[RG1]

If you to to ETA's website and watch their videos. Ted explains that many OEM's here use Sicma tillers for their own line, painted in their colors.
Here's a link-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Umzv0w2qY#t=13

 

[bilrus61]

Befco T 40 50 inch. Just has 4 blade per flang but thats ok. If your really wanting the greatest tiller of 'em all get a Kuhn. My Kuhn 62-205 is the most amazing piece of equipment I've ever owned. Never wraps the rotar with weeds, tills fantastic, depth is adjusted with wheels and not skids (takes about 2 mintues instead of 30). The Kuhn also has adorable magnatized drain plugs that act like tiny filters by catching shards of metal as the gears wear in.

Don't get hung up on USA made tillers as most are just parts that are imported and bolted together and painted. The Sicma is a good one but I've never had that brand personally. There is a newer Korean brand that is nice and looks well made. I like to till the max depth here every now and then and it takes real PTO horsepower to dig max depth with a tiller. If your just breaking ground and clutivating mostly you can go wider but with just 19.5 HP a 50 incher should balance nice and taking out both tire tracks is over rated. Just need it to take out one and you can leave a smooth bed with just ONE litte tread mark down the middle at the end of your tilling. (And it will be tilled under that tread mark). I've had both Chain and gear drive and that is another non-issue. Chain works just as good as gear in my experiance. Good luck and don't get too much tiller for your tractor or you won't be able to till in cover crops deep to enrich the soil very well.

 

[markjtrickey]

I'm ok with chain vs. gear. I would almost assume that if something did break, a chain drive would be a less expensive repair. The feature I am most hung up on is 4 tines vs. 6. I read somewhere that 6 tines will wear more even, or over a longer period of time. I have also read that 6 tines tills finer. This is almost as confusing as forward or reverse :confused3:

The main draw of the Sicma was the 6 tines and price compared to Land Pride or Woods. The drawback of the Sicma, and others, is having it shipped. How much wait do you all put into buying local if something goes wrong, or you need parts?

@bilrus61 Does Kuhn ship or have dealers down in the deep south of North Carolina