I"m totally confused about tillers. I have a 3000 Ford, 4 speed, transmission PTO (i.e., not a live PTO). I"m wondering if I can use a 5 foot or 6 foot tiller, leave transmission in neutral, and have tiller push the tractor? Otherwise, if I use 1st gear, I"m concerned I will need to keep engine speed up to run tiller but 1st gear will be too fast? Since I"m just doing a small garden plot and other odds/ends, I can always use my neighbor"s Troy bilt horse tiller.
- Thread starter Kirktjohn
- Start date
I asked a tiller manufacturer about ground speed and was told 1 MPH max.
I prefer a tractor with a creeper. Mine can go as slow as 0.2 MPH. Although I have not tried a tiller on a hydrostat tractor, others may be able to relate their experience.
I have used a tiller on an older Cub Cadet Hydrostat. It worked fairly well, but was difficult to maintain a consistent ground speed. This may not be true for a full size hydrostat tractor though.
Soil condition is a major factor. Hard dry sod or clay will take you for a ride and beat the death out of your tiller.
I till only soil that has been plowed.
I prefer a tractor with a creeper. Mine can go as slow as 0.2 MPH. Although I have not tried a tiller on a hydrostat tractor, others may be able to relate their experience.
I have used a tiller on an older Cub Cadet Hydrostat. It worked fairly well, but was difficult to maintain a consistent ground speed. This may not be true for a full size hydrostat tractor though.
Soil condition is a major factor. Hard dry sod or clay will take you for a ride and beat the death out of your tiller.
I till only soil that has been plowed.
Big hat no cattle
New User
I have a 6’ tiller and a 4’ tiller. I use the wife’s compact tractor on the small tiller, it is an hydro and handles it very well, it never does push the tractor and is very easy to maintain the desired speed for the job. On my 6’ tiller I use a 90 horse tractor which has a creeper gear. It has never once tried to push either tractor either, power will not be your issue it is just trying to drive slow enough. People told me that a tiller will push a tractor but I haven’t seen it yet with either of mine. This is just my observation.
Richard G.
Well-known Member
I will never use one of those around here. I know people that pulverize the soil and the first heavy rain makes concrete.
My son used one on his garden and it took a bunch of work to break it up so it could be planted.
Soil type has a lot to do with it.
Richard in NW SC
My son used one on his garden and it took a bunch of work to break it up so it could be planted.
Soil type has a lot to do with it.
Richard in NW SC
Deere Mark
Member
"Leave the tractor in neutral" and allow the tiller to push the tractor and just use the brakes to control your speed. Might work OK for a small garden.
A tiller can push forward enough to move the tractor. Using a Massey-Ferguson 35 with multi-power, first gear, low range, and low multi-power; the tiller pushed the tractor forward faster than desired. Because the multi-power allows the tractor to "free wheel" ( in low multi-power)(run away downhill)(no engine braking) the tractor speed could only be controlled by using the brakes. Might not be noticeable in most tractors that do not free wheel.
It is a common problem that first gear is too fast for tilling.
A tiller can push forward enough to move the tractor. Using a Massey-Ferguson 35 with multi-power, first gear, low range, and low multi-power; the tiller pushed the tractor forward faster than desired. Because the multi-power allows the tractor to "free wheel" ( in low multi-power)(run away downhill)(no engine braking) the tractor speed could only be controlled by using the brakes. Might not be noticeable in most tractors that do not free wheel.
It is a common problem that first gear is too fast for tilling.
Deere Mark
Member
Forgot to mention that a 35 hp hydro tractor with a tiller worked really well. Could go as slow as I wanted, and turn tough old sod into a garden in one pass.
Thanks for all the comments. It looks like the tractor will need to pull the tiller at times, so I can't rely on just the tiller pushing it. And since I don't have a creeper gear, my 3000 will go too fast. I will go with what my gut is saying, and most of you all, and not buy a 3 point tiller.
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