Tiller for BX23

[bitseeker]

I am considering the Land Pride RTR 2056 tiller for a BX23. I like the Reverse Rotation tilling and the ability to offset 10". It is the smallest Land Pride with reverse tiller rotation (which is reputed to hold the tiller down and handle rocks better.) I don't know if any other brands offer reverse tiller rotation.

Has anyone used this combination?

The Land Pride spec for the 20 Series is 23-40 HP and the BX23 is rated at 22 HP. Are Kubota horses large? Oh, yea, 4,000 ft elevation, which probably cuts the horsepower some. Turbo? ;-) Is just operating more slowly OK to offset the Horsepower gap?

The Tiller is shown at 525 pounds. Is this too much implement for the BX23? Iv'e got bar tires and chains for all of them, if traction is a limit.

I have rocky volcanic soil and like the idea of a stronger implement.

All suggestions and cautions are welcome.

Thanks,
BS

 

[Bob_Skurka]

You should check the HP rating of the tiller and find out if that rating is a PTO HP requirement.

Many implements give a HP rating and that rating is NOT the engine HP it is for the PTO HP. These ratings, and how they are given will vary from one manufacturer to another. But if you need a minimum of 23 PTO HP for that tiller and you only have 16~17 available then you are in way over your head. If the rating is for engine HP then you are pushing things a bit, but you might be able to get away with it???

I don't know what the BX23's PTO HP rating is, but I would guess it is about 16 or 17 PTO HP if the engine is rated at 22.

 

[Rimmer]

BS --

Just a couple of thoughts, for whatever they may be worth:

I have a Land Pride RCR1548 Rotary Cutter, which is listed as weighing 475 pounds. Although this is 50 pounds lighter than the tiller you are asking about, the center of gravity of the RC is quite a bit further back. My BX23 has no trouble lifting the RCR1548.

Given the weight of tractor, FEL, and tiller, I doubt if you would have a traction problem. Then again, I have no experience with a reverse rotation tiller, so I don't know how hard they pull.

Regarding power, I think you will find that the tiller rating is PTO HP, not net engine HP, so what you have to work with is more like 16, not 22. Considering that (as you suggested) you may need to derate some for altitude, you would have quite a power deficit (at least 25%) with respect to the recommended PTO HP. Whether this really matters or not, or can be overcome by operating technique, I don't know. If you start out with not enough power to spin the tiller in the soil, then have to drag it "backwards" at the same time, you might not get the desired results. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

My tiller is a Land Pride RTA1550, which is rated for 17 to 35 HP. This is a bit larger than the 42" recommended by Kubota, but it seems to work fine for me. I am at about 380 ft. MSL here, BTW.

Have you asked your tractor dealer and/or implement dealer what they think about this setup? Will you be the first to turbocharge your BX23??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_In_MN]

Can't comment specifically on the BX, but I run a 50 inch tiller with my JD 4010 (14 PTO HP). I turned an acre of pasture into a smooth lawn with this thing. I have no problems powering the 50 inch.

What I don't know is how much more HP the reverse action uses.

Bob

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Somewhere I was reading that the reverse action tillers require something like a 35% premium in HP to run effectively??? Can't remember where I saw that, it might have been one of the manufacturers specs sheets.

I know that whatever it was, I decided NOT to buy a reverse tine tiller because of the number. My smaller tractor has 19pto and I want a tiller that will operate with both of my tractors so the biggest one I can use on my NH is the limiting factor. When I looked at the reverse tine units, 19pto hp did not seem adequate to power a tiller in the 54" inch range, which is about the size I would like to get.

I think a lot of things are soil dependant too. If you have rocks, you probably need more power. If you have heavy soil or clay, you probably need more power. If you are powering through sod, you probably need more power. If your soil was previously worked, even if it was a couple seasons ago, you probably need less power. If the soil is regularly worked, you definitely need less power. If you have sand, you probably need less power.

 

[Bob_In_MN]

Bob,

I would bet the 35% number isn't far off. The reverse action really pulls the tiller into the ground. When I was leveling the pasture and the tiller would "auger" into a "peak", you could really feel the engine work. I would think a reverse action tiller would be like that most of the time.

So--my comparing a 14 HP PTO tractor and a 50 inch regular action tiller is not a good analysis in this situation.

Bob

 

[art]

For the most part the reverse rotation is only needed on walk behind units. The hydro allows you do fit a speed to the tiller and the job but it will work great. The Kubota tiller for them retails at $1642.

 

[bitseeker]

The BX23 PTO power is listed at 16.7.

An E-mail to Land Pride was quickly answered that the RTR2056 requires 23 HP PTO, so it's not an option.

The 10 and 15 series Land Pride tillers both require 17 minimum PTO HP (even the 34" RTA 1034).

It sounds like the BX23 might be too small for tilling. :~(

--BS

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Befco has a tiller that has a 15hp minimum requirement. Befco equipment is very well made, but is not very well known. They make several different tiller series with different HP requirements, each series has 3 or 4 sizes of tillers. I would think you might want to look into their small series tiller and then pick one on the small end of that series range.

 

[UncleAl]

Woods makes a whole series of implements sized for subcompacts. Check out this link.

http://www.woodsonline.com/turf_grounds/estate/GTC_Tillers.asp