Just spent the last 45 minutes reading with great interest all the archived discussions on rototilling. I recently purchased a Howard HR 30 70". Pulled it with a 50hp 2240 in damp "Chehalis silt clay" did OK until pump went out on tractor (whole nother story) So I hook it up to 56hp 2350 4x4. It tills well at about 1/2 depth on the skids.(no gauge wheels) and after awhile with someone else running the tiller and me watching I was able to come up with a combination of adjustments which seem to work pretty well.(gate closure, gear selection, depth etc.) I am getting 7-9 inches deep and the tilth is great. If I bury this tiller by allowing full depth on the skids it will stall out the tractor in first. Now this 2350 is geared a bit high for tilling but bear with me for a second. I used to run a 48" Kabota tiller on a JD 750 4x4. I could literally bury the tiller in 1st and 2nd gears with about 18hp at the pto. I guess I am a little dissapointed that I cannot do the same with a 70" tiller and 50hp. The HR30 is rated 50-85hp. The HR20 by comparison is rated 30-85. I know I could not increase the tine speed and ground speed and expect to run the HR30 well with 56hp. Heres the question. Despite the hp rating by Howard do I have a bit too much tiller, or am I just used to smaller equipment and the way my old setup performed. Would I be better off with the HR20 same size? All my tractors are set for 60" on center now to accomodate seeders and cultivators so I am not at all interested in decreasing width. I intend to use 2240 with hi/lo @ 50hp for tiller tractor. And whats more, why is the HR20 70" rated for down to a 30hp tractor, is it a reduction gear or something or just the weight.
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