tractor/tiller recommendation needed

freeisforme · May 19, 2011

I just got permission to plant on a neighboring lot, about a 100x150' plot of open land. I'm thinking of expanding my garden this year and now's the time to get started. I had another neighbor come over and turn it all over and another ran a tiller over it, but both own 50hp or larger tractors, which to me seems like overkill for this size garden. Next year I may not be so lucky to get it done for free so I want my own equipment.
I own a Bolens 1250, along with a Brinly single bottom plow, disc harrow, and cultivator, but I like the results of using the tiller too.
Is the Bolens a suitable machine for the job at hand or should I find something a bit heavier?
What are my options as far as a tiller on the Bolens? I doubt I'd find a good Bolens tiller in my price range, if I did, it would most likely need a lot of work.
I'm thinking of a self powered unit if I go that route but I've never seen one at work. Doing the field with a 20" front tine walk behind tiller would take forever.
The Bolens is a good machine but the PTO is no longer all there, the rest of the machine is fine. I also don't have any of the drive shafts needed for an original rear tiller.

gburnett · May 19, 2011

You need to read the ads section here Ken in NJ has the Bolens stuff you need.Bolens has one fo the heaviest built garden tractor tillers around get it set up on your 1250 and you'll be good to go.The PTO shaft usually comes with the tiller.

ezliving4ume · May 19, 2011

gburnett,
Don't you think a 100 X 150 is a little big for the bolens? Not saying it couldn't do it, as my thoughts were the same as your at first. At 100' wide with a 36" tiller he would need to make 34 passes. Doable I guess.

gburnett · May 19, 2011

Yea its how much time you want to put into it.More practical than mowing 2 or 3 acres all Summer with a 48" lawnmower which many here find OK.Tilling is only once or twice a year and you only have to till just before planting which means a section at a time.I till up to 3 acres a year with a 60 inch tiller on a farm tractor a little time consuming but not a big deal.But the Bolens is more than capable to get the job done.

Sergeant · May 19, 2011

I till My 3acre Garden Plot with my JDX485 and a 42inch tiller(Basicly till about 10 acres a Year My Garden Plot twice Plus Neighbors Gardens) Your 1250 will Be More that up to the task of a 100X150 plot. Here is a Universal Tiller suggestion If You do Not want to go through the Hassel of finding a OEM Bolens tiller for your tractor http://www.drpower.com/tow-behind-tiller.aspx?bn-tb-text :thThumbsU

freeisforme · May 22, 2011

The guy that tilled the field had only a 60" or so tiller but with the larger machine was able to move pretty fast. He went over the field several times and it took less than a half hour.
I used a Bolens 1050 once with an original tiller and it could only crawl along. It was only slightly faster than a walk behind tiller. One neighbor has a rather large walk behind tiller with rear tines that does great, its fast and easy to run, but he paid nearly $2K for it new.

I like the idea of a self powered tiller, especially one that can be towed by any machine.

I wonder why they don't make a larger tow behind? It seems that since it's just being pulled along, you could get by with at least 48" or so with little effort even with the smallest tractor.

jason4567 · May 22, 2011

I think the Bolens will do fine. I tilled an area that was around 50X30 with a Bolens 1050 with no issues, and the 1250 is a much bigger machine.

Jason

gburnett · May 22, 2011

When tilling unless the tiller is rotating faster than a normal tiller then all of them need to run aboout the same speed.I run the basically the same speed with my small tillers as I do with with my AC 5040 (40HP) farm tractor and tiller.Advantage of the bigger tiller is it goes deeper and has larger tines so it'll chop up organic matter better and mixes it in more soil.

U.S.A Tractor Joe · May 22, 2011

I believe that the Bolens GT you have will work great! I'd rather drive a tractor than a walk-behind. So if the time it takes to do the job is 3-4 hrs. tilling, I think you would make out fine. I have a IH # 1 tiller 36" that I will be using once I re-paint it. I also should be getting my gear reduction unit soon. So it has been just something I pieced togeather as money affords. But my walk-behind works super for now. Hope it works out for ya, from what I learned here at MTF, Bolens are a work horse!:greendr:

freeisforme · May 24, 2011

Something that concerns me is that most tow behind tillers seem to be only 36" wide, which is wider than a walk behind but not wider than the rear wheels on my machine, which are over 48" wide. I looked at a tiller off a Bolens 1050, but wasn't sure if it would work on a large frame, and it too was narrow and sat off to the right side.
The Bolens works OK pulling a plow and disc but struggles with the plow in packed soil. It does the job but grunts and rears up a bit pulling the plow. Hit a root or something and your up in the air. I usually put some dirt in bucket up front to keep the front end down but the FEL gets in the way at the far end of the garden.

tractor/tiller recommendation needed

freeisforme

gburnett

ezliving4ume

gburnett

Sergeant

freeisforme

jason4567

gburnett

U.S.A Tractor Joe

freeisforme

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