BWS
Silver Member
john miller 3 where were you getting that price on 6' kk II roto for 1200.00??bws
Tiller Tiller Shopping
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Chuck52
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Didn't ask me, but a local farm supply chain called Orscheln has the 6' unit for $1100-$1200. I bought a 5' for $999 there on sale last year.
Chuck
Chuck
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I have replaced sprockets and stretched chains, but never did take out a gear box in 15 yrs of some pretty tough going with the geardrive kuhn.
You are fortunate to have a Kuhn machine that has proven over time to be very good at design, quality and fair pricing. BEWARE of any dealer selling a gear drive machine that you are not familiar with--There are some new Gear Drive tillers floating around out there with lowball pricing that have countries of origin that you have never heard of and quality that is questionable. Most of the Italians and French machines are a known product and have widespread parts availability and are crossover capable on parts.--Ken Sweet
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sweettractors.com>http://www.sweettractors.com</A>
You are fortunate to have a Kuhn machine that has proven over time to be very good at design, quality and fair pricing. BEWARE of any dealer selling a gear drive machine that you are not familiar with--There are some new Gear Drive tillers floating around out there with lowball pricing that have countries of origin that you have never heard of and quality that is questionable. Most of the Italians and French machines are a known product and have widespread parts availability and are crossover capable on parts.--Ken Sweet
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sweettractors.com>http://www.sweettractors.com</A>
Anonymous Poster
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I don't think you would want a counter rotating tine tiller for tractor application due to the number of tines and power being put to it. I have a craftsman tiller like that and when a rock is hit it will get wedged up under shield and break shear pins, on regular rotating tines the rock blows out the back. I have to agree with rat about the chain transfering power better and as far as strength look up #80 or #100 chain in Graingers cat. you will be suprised at the load these chains will take, they are also run in a oil bath. I bought a 59" Kioti made in italy with a #80 chain and slip clutch, not the most HD but it has gone thru some tuff dirt no problems.
JATO_RaT
Veteran Member
It appears that most manufactuers are making counter-rotating tillers. All indicating a finer pulverizing of the soil and fewer passes. I wonder what the drawback would be? Possibly more problems in debris laden areas such as rocks, roots, boards, etc. They do look interesting.
I thought it was MChalkey who said they made a rotating/counter-rotating tiller in a gear drive. He is the one with a set of rippers that precedes the tiller. Rips and tills in one pass. I ca see where it would have a couple of bonus's. Easier to till and the rippers may help locate buried debris like boards, pipe, etc. He has a picture of it somewhere in attachments. Rat...
I thought it was MChalkey who said they made a rotating/counter-rotating tiller in a gear drive. He is the one with a set of rippers that precedes the tiller. Rips and tills in one pass. I ca see where it would have a couple of bonus's. Easier to till and the rippers may help locate buried debris like boards, pipe, etc. He has a picture of it somewhere in attachments. Rat...
OP
rationalizer
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Rat,
You said "most manufactuers" are making counter rotating tillers - who? I've only seen them mentioned by Landpride.
The comment above on "counter rotating" being less robust to hitting debris/being "self cleaning" is interesting. I'm sure the folks at Landpride are aware of the risk - it is an expected "failure mode". It sounds like you need to keep an eye on the tiller going through rocky soil and make sure the slip clutch is working properly.
BTW - Thanks to all who have posted on this thread so far - I'm learing a lot. I think I'm starting to lean toward a "simpler" (read cheaper) machine than the Landpride (FYI - all CUT size Landpride tillers are chain drive).
Does anyone know if Sicma (made in Italy - correct?) makes gear drive tillers? How long have they been in business?
Six vs. four tines - performance pros and cons? I assume that a six tine machine would cut "smaller chunks" on the first pass (assuming equivalent shaft speed). But - a four tine machine might "cut" more aggresively in hard soil as the "pressure per cutting edge" would tend to be higher... It must be fun to be a machine designer....
Bill
You said "most manufactuers" are making counter rotating tillers - who? I've only seen them mentioned by Landpride.
The comment above on "counter rotating" being less robust to hitting debris/being "self cleaning" is interesting. I'm sure the folks at Landpride are aware of the risk - it is an expected "failure mode". It sounds like you need to keep an eye on the tiller going through rocky soil and make sure the slip clutch is working properly.
BTW - Thanks to all who have posted on this thread so far - I'm learing a lot. I think I'm starting to lean toward a "simpler" (read cheaper) machine than the Landpride (FYI - all CUT size Landpride tillers are chain drive).
Does anyone know if Sicma (made in Italy - correct?) makes gear drive tillers? How long have they been in business?
Six vs. four tines - performance pros and cons? I assume that a six tine machine would cut "smaller chunks" on the first pass (assuming equivalent shaft speed). But - a four tine machine might "cut" more aggresively in hard soil as the "pressure per cutting edge" would tend to be higher... It must be fun to be a machine designer....
Bill
DocHeb
Veteran Member
A picture of <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/5-105553-P1300087a.jpg>Mark Chalkley's Tiller with Scarifiers</A>
Great thread overall: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=101065&page=&view=&sb=&o=&fpart=1&vc=1>Tillers</A>
Great thread overall: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=101065&page=&view=&sb=&o=&fpart=1&vc=1>Tillers</A>
boustany
Platinum Member
Do you mean Sovema? I bought one from www.easternfarmmachinery.com. What a great piece of gear! My wife planted a 1 acre garden she thought she would do with a walk behind. I tilled in in less than an hour! 
If you've ever worked a walk behind 'bucking bronko' you'd know how absolutely amazed I was.
I then visited 2 neighbours and did their gardens
I think mine counter rotates, but I'm not sure. I'll let you know in spring time. As for the number of tines, I suspect that the slower you drive, the more munched up the soil gets. The number of tines is probably a design issue associated with the horsepower rating and width. Mine is 48", but you can easily shift it to cover the tire track of the the tractor.
Oh! I am looking foreward to being a tiller deamon!
If you've ever worked a walk behind 'bucking bronko' you'd know how absolutely amazed I was. I then visited 2 neighbours and did their gardens
I think mine counter rotates, but I'm not sure. I'll let you know in spring time. As for the number of tines, I suspect that the slower you drive, the more munched up the soil gets. The number of tines is probably a design issue associated with the horsepower rating and width. Mine is 48", but you can easily shift it to cover the tire track of the the tractor.
Oh! I am looking foreward to being a tiller deamon!
Anonymous Poster
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a four tine machine might "cut" more aggresively in hard soil
Bill, They are more agressive and that is not always good--Basically the 4 tine machines are just the lower end of the tiller market--I have operated the 4 and 6 tine machines in the same field on the same day and the 4 tine machine vibrated my tractor and itself very badly--I found that I could gain a lot of ground speed with the 6 tine machine. For the record, I was using a 6 tine machine with the scroll mounting pattern for the tines. This design also plays a major factor in smooth and effecient operation..--Ken Sweet
Sweet farm Equipment Co.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sweettractors.com>http://www.sweettractors.com</A>
Bill, They are more agressive and that is not always good--Basically the 4 tine machines are just the lower end of the tiller market--I have operated the 4 and 6 tine machines in the same field on the same day and the 4 tine machine vibrated my tractor and itself very badly--I found that I could gain a lot of ground speed with the 6 tine machine. For the record, I was using a 6 tine machine with the scroll mounting pattern for the tines. This design also plays a major factor in smooth and effecient operation..--Ken Sweet
Sweet farm Equipment Co.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sweettractors.com>http://www.sweettractors.com</A>
rdbrumfield
Veteran Member
I can see where a ripper preceding a tiller would be a good idea in unfamiliar territory, however, in the thirty+ yrs I have been tilling gardens, lawns and fields, the initial pass breaking up sod is the most important. Once the sod is broken it just gets thrashed around and doesn't break up as good as it can be on a fine initial cut. After that, especially in gardens that get tilled every year, I have taken my ripper and subsoiled to break up the packed ground underneath down about 18", then taken a final pass with the tiller.
Before spring gets here I hope to modify the ripper so I can slip it on the loader. The bucket is quick detach from the loader frame, I just have to put the link ups on the ripper, then I won't have to deal with the 3pt on the job. Work both ends at the same time.
Before spring gets here I hope to modify the ripper so I can slip it on the loader. The bucket is quick detach from the loader frame, I just have to put the link ups on the ripper, then I won't have to deal with the 3pt on the job. Work both ends at the same time.
JATO_RaT
Veteran Member
Gearmore makes 4 models of reverse rotation tillers. They come with an optional items like mesh rollers that follow the tiller and a row bed shaper besides the standard tailboard. Kubota has a reverse till model. I understand Kubota builds it as well. I used to have a few more tiller brochures but tossed them. At one time I was close to getting a tiller. The interesting thing is the decision about reverse till never came up. I am finding the chain vs gear drive great education and no doubt, a 6 tine hub vs 4 tine hub great to know what the performance differences are. Rat...
Knight9
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JohnMiller3
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<font color=blue>...a shot of the kind of job it does...</font color=blue>
Nice work Kevin... How long did it take beginning to end? How many sq. ft. total? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Nice work Kevin... How long did it take beginning to end? How many sq. ft. total? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Knight9
Veteran Member
John,
I would estimate that took about 20 min to half hour and that was going over it a couple of times. I'm having trouble remembering the exact size of the garden, /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif but I believe it was about 30' x 70'. It is a little over twice as long as it is wide. For scale you can see the actual vegetables growing in and <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/8-163631-GardenJun2202b.jpg>picture two.
Kevin
I would estimate that took about 20 min to half hour and that was going over it a couple of times. I'm having trouble remembering the exact size of the garden, /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif but I believe it was about 30' x 70'. It is a little over twice as long as it is wide. For scale you can see the actual vegetables growing in and <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/8-163631-GardenJun2202b.jpg>picture two.
Kevin
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How do you figure what to charge for tilling a garden etc...?
HayDR
Veteran Member, Approved Advertiser
The Gearmore tillers are made by Ortolan and the Kubota tillers are made by Maletti, both Italian companies. The Landpride purchases components from Sicma, Azzimondi, & Eurocardan.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ccmachinery.com/tillers.htm>
</A>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ccmachinery.com/tillers.htm>
JATO_RaT
Veteran Member
Thanks Mark, your a plethora of information.
Anonymous Poster
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How do you figure what to charge for tilling a garden etc...?
First of all you will need to figure transit time and fuel costs and then figure the actual job. Most guys locally charge a flat fee of $75-$100 to come out and till a small garden. The other way it is done, is to figure a destination fee based on actual miles traveled and then set your hourly rate for the job--To give you a example: Local contract Brush Hog Guys charge $20 per hour or $25 per acre + $1 per mile (one way) to cover transportation expenses. Of course roto tilling would be higher--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sweettractors.com>http://www.sweettractors.com</A>
First of all you will need to figure transit time and fuel costs and then figure the actual job. Most guys locally charge a flat fee of $75-$100 to come out and till a small garden. The other way it is done, is to figure a destination fee based on actual miles traveled and then set your hourly rate for the job--To give you a example: Local contract Brush Hog Guys charge $20 per hour or $25 per acre + $1 per mile (one way) to cover transportation expenses. Of course roto tilling would be higher--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sweettractors.com>http://www.sweettractors.com</A>
rdbrumfield
Veteran Member
GREAT QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!
When I first started out it was 8 per hr with a ferguson 35 and a 4' howard tiller. I recieved a third with the neighbors tractor, I was 12, that was Big money when the minimum wage was 1.25. Today however, a whole different story. If you are just starting out, carry a tape with you and a notebook. figure out how many sq. ft. you can do and how much you have to have to make it pay. If it looks tough adjust for it and so on.
I did a job the other day, should have been close to a grand, by time it was 450, I beat myself a lot that way, but I like to give the customer his moneys worth, it will come back in the end. I sleep good.
I hope sharing this is ethical in this forum. Don't want to get into trouble.
When I first started out it was 8 per hr with a ferguson 35 and a 4' howard tiller. I recieved a third with the neighbors tractor, I was 12, that was Big money when the minimum wage was 1.25. Today however, a whole different story. If you are just starting out, carry a tape with you and a notebook. figure out how many sq. ft. you can do and how much you have to have to make it pay. If it looks tough adjust for it and so on.
I did a job the other day, should have been close to a grand, by time it was 450, I beat myself a lot that way, but I like to give the customer his moneys worth, it will come back in the end. I sleep good.
I hope sharing this is ethical in this forum. Don't want to get into trouble.
