Tiller width and tractor tire width

[CH4Ohio]

Coincidentally, TractorData has a picture of a JD 5055 pulling a tiller. Looks like it just covers his tire tracks.

TractorData also shows the "width" dimension of this tractor to be a little UNDER 60". Is that incorrect or is that with the wheels at their minimum width mounting position? That's a LOT narrower than the width that you measured on your tractor.

If your wheels are set at max width, do you want / need them that wide? Is it feasible to reduce the wheel spread? You might be able to just swap the rear wheels and tires, keeping them both facing forward, and have a much narrower tire track dimension. Of course there are other possible spacings by different combinations of the wheel mount hardware and rim orientation.

Just thinking about options. . . .

 

[Fallon]

I have a 72" track machine & 60" tiller. I really should upgrade to a 72-74", but can't be bothered. The skinny tiller is paid for & works well enough.

I leave partial tire tracks on either side. But it works well enough for the occasional garden or arena job I do.

 

[Smokeydog]

Big difference what a field tiller vs garden tiller can handle with hard ground, roots, rocks and hillsides. Howard Rotovator made thousands of millionaires cropping hillside orchards, vineyards and vegetables. No problem offsetting and leaving a track free plot on a hillside. Hillside farming takes some learning.

 

[Tinhack]

Just like plowing, the tires that drop into the fresh cut ground on the next pass will tilt the tractor. Being capable of leveling the tiller when this happens keeps the cut/depth equal and covers the tracts. I'm sorry you've never used or understood TnT.

 

[hondo964]

Coincidentally, TractorData has a picture of a JD 5055 pulling a tiller. Looks like it just covers his tire tracks.

TractorData also shows the "width" dimension of this tractor to be a little UNDER 60". Is that incorrect or is that with the wheels at their minimum width mounting position? That's a LOT narrower than the width that you measured on your tractor.

If your wheels are set at max width, do you want / need them that wide? Is it feasible to reduce the wheel spread? You might be able to just swap the rear wheels and tires, keeping them both facing forward, and have a much narrower tire track dimension. Of course there are other possible spacings by different combinations of the wheel mount hardware and rim orientation.

Just thinking about options. . . .

I have the R-4 tires on the 5055E. The dealer may have spaced these wide tires wider as he prep'd it for use with a backhoe.

 

[hondo964]

Big difference what a field tiller vs garden tiller can handle with hard ground, roots, rocks and hillsides. Howard Rotovator made thousands of millionaires cropping hillside orchards, vineyards and vegetables. No problem offsetting and leaving a track free plot on a hillside. Hillside farming takes some learning.

That's a great distinction as I wasn't aware of it. I've been looking for a weightier tiller. I have been eyeing the Phoenix T10's but I'm not sure how easy (or long) one can get parts for it.