tiller tines

jniolon · May 24, 2015

Hi guys... I know this is a tool forum but I'm gonna use my tools to do this.... and you guys know everything so I know I'll get the best answer here...

so

I've got an old (1977) Sears roto tiller... hasn't run in a few years but with a few new parts it's purring again... the transmission and all works fine... it's been sitting in the yard for years with a plastic tub over the engine and the rest exposed to the weather... the tines look a little rough and next chore is cleaning them up...

my question is.... can or should the tines be sharpened... got the tools to do it... just wondering if they are hardened or is there some reason to put a good clean sharp edge on them ???

thanks
John

Indiana Ken · May 24, 2015

I have an early 1970's Troy-Bilt Horse I replaced the tines on this spring. The new tines are formed from 1/4" x 1 1/4" stock. The cutting edge is formed by pressing both sides to form a dull .060" -.070" wide cutting edge. The pressing operation expands the tine from the 1 1/4" to 1 1/2", the tines are not ground and actual cutting edge is not sharp.

I have never sharped any tines, I find the problem is not cutting action but mixing of the soil. My old 1 1/2" wide tines were worn down to 1/2" width at the ends.

The only reason I could see for sharping tines would be if you were tilling in tall weeds. The sharp edge may reduce wrapping. I would not expect a sharp edge to remain on the tines for more than a hour or so depending on hardness and your soil type.

You can test your tines for hardness with a file. Yes, mine are hardened.

Geo-TH,In · May 26, 2015

I've used a right angle grinder to sharpen mine. Only thing is hardened steel will
have brighter sparks when grinding because of the carbon. Put an edge on them. I even
used right angle grinder to sharpen PHD auger. So what if it's hardened? Drill bits are
hardened and you can sharpen them.

tiller tines

jniolon

Member

Indiana Ken

Well-known Member

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

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