I am wanting to get a tiller to use for food plots. Approximately 4-7 acres a year. For those that have tillers I'm wondering how long you've had them and if they hold up. I've heard other say that they tend to break down a lot because its pretty hard on them. BUt those people were using them on their organic farms. Just curious, I dont want to buy something that doesnt hold up.
GOARMY
New Member
I second the king Kutter. I have had 2 and a much more expensive Kubota Tornado and the King Kutter did just as well as the Kubota. Paint may flake off and keep it shedded but as for the running it made great seed beds. all 3 of my tillers were 72 inch models and you must add fluid when you buy new.
Several of my buddies have Maschio's with very good success and heavy duty. They make the tillers for many other companies who put their name on them. I personally would simply keep researching who makes the most heavy duty and I would absolutely make sure they have a slip clutch. Personally, I would not want a shear pin but that's me. HEAVY DUTY makes & models would be my 1st investigation (which you're doing) & I'd pay more for a better unit.
Fishbonker
Life Member
Maschio H 205. I tried my best to break it and couldn't. I got the slipper clutches hot enough to sizzle (I was over horse powered). Once they cooled off I was back in business. I think mine weighs 850 pounds, gear driven, cat 1 and 2 pins. This tiller absolutely pulverizes the soil to a fine tilth. I've been going heavy on the GFR to break up any hard pan the tiller may cause. I turned last summers cloverweeds plot into smooth, couldn't see the mess that I had there before tilling ready to plant plot. It incorporated the cloverweeds so well you would have sworn it was bare dirt before I started.
KnuckleDragr
Active Member
I've been using a smaller either 4 or 5 foot king kutter and wouldn't do it any other way for small plots. One or maybe two laps with a disc and one pass with the tiller and you got powder. For bigger plots it would be pretty time consuming though if you could only work 4-6 feet at a time.
Highmark
PMA Member
I have a Frontier 60". Durable and works awesome but is slow on the bigger plots (over 1/2 acre) This year I'm going to mount a spring loaded cultipacker behind it. Tilling is great but the bed is quite soft when done. Generally I'll let it settle some and even like a soft rain before I plant and even then anything that goes on it sinks in.
I still am happy with the hours of performance my 60" tiller has provided.
ironwood
Active Member
don't do it.
LarryM
Member
Is your tractor 33 hp to the PTO? Tractors run less to the PTO. I had a Mahindra 3525 that was rated at 35 hp and 27 to the PTO. My 5' King Kutter specified a min of 26 hp to the PTO I believe. I don't think I would have had much luck with a 6 footer.
I upgraded last fall to a 41 hp Kioti in 4wd which is 34 hp to the PTO. MUCH better on that tiller.