ford 4000 and rototiller

labjack

Member
I have a '63 Ford 4000(4cyl.) with a 5 speed trans. Just wondering if it would be suitable for use with a 5' rototiller.
Thanks,
Mark
 
Low gear speed is one of the most important
factors in determining if a certain tractor can
effectively operate a tiller. From what I can
determine your tractor has a first gear speed of
about 2.3 mph which is plenty fast for a tiller.
In mellow ground this might be OK but typically
you would want a speed more like 1.5 mph or less
for heavy work.
 
We run a 6 ft Howard rotovator with a Ford 6600, it has a 1.5 mph low gear. Will this be your primary tillage pass or after moldboard plowing? I only use low gear if it is a first pass, I find when the ground has been plowed I can run 2nd or 3rd gear and you can't tell the difference.

With the faster low gear you might find you have to make two passes if you're doing primary tillage. If your rototiller has a selectable gear box like our Howard you could run the tines faster to account for the higher low gear.
 
I have a TO35 Ferguson, it operates a 5 ft. Tiller
fine in first gear, low range.

I think with a heavy tractor like yours the tiller
will work fine. Just go over the ground twice or
crossways.

I always had to borrow one, would love to own a
tiller someday. They sure do a good job preparing a
garden seed bed.
 
As others have stated, it might work in perfect soil conditions but 1st gear will be too fast with throttle set for 540 rpm on the PTO shaft. Can you improvise and make it work possibly, but certainly less than ideal.

The 5 speed on the 600,650,850,851, 4cyl versions of the early 2000, 4000 series which are essientlly just like their predecessors is a huge improvement over the 4 speed models of the same tractor but 1st gear is typically still too fast for tilling.

Now if you wanna talk the 3cyl versions of the Ford 2000 or 4000 with 8 speed trannys then you will have a speed for tilling. Those early Massey's like the TO-35, MF-35, and MF-135 also had a slow first gear for tilling.

Generally though on any vintage tractor, with only a few tranny speeds then you will be lucky if you have 1 speed that is suitable for tilling. Go newer and many tractors have a whole range of speeds dedicated to tilling. Heck even my old Kubota L285 from the 1970's has 3 gears that are ideal tilling gears. Do not get me wrong, I love vintage tractors, but if tilling is going to be a primary function of the tractor then hard to beat newer tractors that are better suited for it. In contrast, hook a plow behind some of those newer tractors that are great tillers and they can sometimes fall on their face due to lack of weight. Often what is a great tilling machine is not a great traction based machine due to lack of weight and sometimes even engine torque on a modern compact tractor. My little Kubota will work circles around many bigger vintage tractors of similar hp on PTO loads due to its decent selection of gears. That said, put it on drawbar loads and it will not compare due to lack of weight and engine torque.
 
I have a MF compact utility tractor and it has 16 speeds. The lowest is 1/2 mph, so I could make powder out of the soil if I used that.
 
i agree with the others. not ideal, even with good soil.

you might get a lil better with a 3 or 4 foot tiller. still ground speed to pto speed is not very good on a 4 or 5 spd tranny. even a 6. get into a 8 or 10 and you are there.
 
Thanks for all the comments. I will be using the tiller mainly for foodplotting. Mostly to put in clover and wheat/brassica plots. So I really wouldn't need deep tillage. Just enought to tear up the existing vegetation and expose some soil so the seed would germinate. The soil is not too clayey either. I would like to get a 5' so it would cover the tire tracks and not take so long.
 
First gear on those Ford 5 speeds is roughly 2.3 mph. Way fast for a tiller unless soil is already real loose. Ideal tilling speeds are typically in the 0.8 to 1.3 mph vicinity.

Hydrostatic tranny likely even better but that is whole another discussion.
 
Far better than a tiller would be about a 6' or 8' disc - especially if you have any rocks.
Plots don't need to be tilled deep, just enough to get the dirt opened up.
Put your buddy on it and have him go round and round like I did.
He'll enjoy the seat time.

IMG_20140823_091023.jpg
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top