Tiller and Harrow for Buck 18hp Diesel

Steve777 · Mar 17, 2009

I am starting to look for some implements for my Satoh Buck 18hp 4WD. I need a tiller or harrow, and was looking for some suggestions as to what this tractor can handle and what will work.

I had been thinking about a Land Pride DH1048 disk which weighs about 420#. But I was a bit concerned if this tractor could pull a 48" disk, and if it could lift 420# on the 3pt.

Also looking at some used 3pt tillers, a couple of JD ones available. Questions here are: does the Satoh shaft turn the correct way for these, and will this tractor have the power and speed combo to use a tiller?

Thoughts on these anyone? And other suggestions for implements which would work?

TIA

oliver28472 · Mar 18, 2009

The pto rotation is standard. I use a 48" tiller on mine and have worn out a set of tines on it. You will want to use low range pto and low range 1st gear on the transmission. I also have a 5' disk that the Buck will pick up and pull. If you get one this big put at least 150 pounds of weight on the front. I would recommend a 48" disk over teh 60". It will pull it but it won't like it. I have hauled round bales on my 3ph. Had to have extra rider stand on the front.

wushaw · Mar 18, 2009

My 15hp Mitsubishi 372 handles my 400lb 45" tiller just fine, I cannot do 6" the first pass on virgin soil. I also have 372lbs on the ft., I had 150 and the ft. end would get a little light and I had to be careful going uphill, I added the extra weight and no problems with a light ft. end anymore.

eightksi · Mar 20, 2009

I had some deja vu about this post. I think you had asked the same question last year. I still think you are looking at a front ballast issue, rather than a horsepower and hitch capacity issue.
The Disc question: The hitch lift arms should be capable of more than 1,400 pounds, per the manual, and 18.5 horsepower is plenty to pull the disc you list below. The torque these little diesels have is really impressive.
The Tiller question: I can lift my 6-foot finish mower easily with the hitch, and it's at least 450 pounds. The issue I have is front weight, since these tractors are so squat, the front gets light on me. That being said, a lighter, more mobile 4-foot mower would have been a better match for the tractor. The Buck's PTO does turn the correct way, and is the correct sizing splines. It also has three PTO speeds to match a higher than 540 PTO speed if the tiller you like is higher than 540 rpm; I think some of them are.

I think you should probably focus on adding as much weight as you possibly can on the front, and you should be just fine with what you'd like to do.

Take it from me, when I am trying to make an uphill turn while mowing with that 450-pound mower.....The more weight on those front wheels, the better.

Sorry for writing a novel. Also, I have an aftermarket operating manual, and an OEM parts manual if anyone ever needs any Satoh Buck info. Always willing to look up things, and share.

Just curious: what implements do you have now?
Brian

Steve777 · Jul 20, 2009

Thought I'd follow up on this thread, in case it might prove useful for someone else...

I borrowed a 4' wide double disk from a friend earlier this spring. This was a Chinese brand, maybe 16" cut disks. It worked pretty well. I found that the Buck could easily pull it and lift it. However to get the back end of it off the ground I needed to shorten to top link and then lengthen it later to get the back disks fully in the soil. A bit of a pain on small plots where there is alot of turning.

Based on that experience, I ended up buying a used smaller tandem disk unit with 11" disks. It is smaller and with the shorter length front to back the resetting of the top link isn't necessary (although even with this smaller unit, the rear disks do drag on corners sometimes). With some weight on this smaller unit, it seems to do almost as good a job as the bigger one; may need an extra pass or two.

I'm curious if there is a trick to the top link length for these (or other implements). I've heard that newer tractors have a separate hydraulic control for the top link; no doubt that would help. Anything else one can do with older 3pt hitch in this situation?