Tiller Recommendations

I am in the same boat as you. The two i have found that seem good qualtiy for a good price is:

Woods and Bobcat

The prices around here for the woods is about 1700 and the same for the bobcat (found some new ones online for 1500)

I am leaning towards the bobcat because if i can get it for 1500 and then the pto installed it would put me right around the price of the JD 647.

Andrew

homepukes said:

Is the PTO something I can install myself or is it something that takes specialized tools?

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I'm not sure just how much difference there is between the 475 and X748, but on the X7, you just remove the rear cover of the tranny; the gear on bottom comes out and is replaced by a dual gear, and then the rest of the PTO drive fits where the backplate was. There is a "shift lever" that is part of the drive, allows you to select mid-pto rear pto or both. This lever sits to the left side of the frame next to the left rear tire. Doesn't take any special tools, but you have to be scrupulously clean, and have to drain the tranny.

Also check out Land Pride's tillers. They make an excellent product. I have an RTR0550, which is a reverse-rotation, 50" wide tiller. My X748 handles it well, and it is wide enough to cover your tire tracks.

homepukes said:

I have a JD X475 (equivalent to an X700) and want to make a small garden. I am thinking of getting a PTO tiller. What is the most economical tiller with good quality? Currently I don't have a rear PTO nor hitch. I have done a search and found Sitrex, King Kutter, JD etc. I have been watching CL but they seldom come up for sale. I did find one currently listed, a JD647 but he wants just a couple hundred less than he paid which is $2000. I'd like to pay closer to $1000.

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I've got a 5 foot King Kutter on a full size 30 horse tractor and love it. It's been used very hard with zero problems. In the spring after I plow fresh sod, I go over it with tiller to break up clumps before planting sweet corn. I use it on 3-4 acres of very heavy soil full of rocks and it's held up great. I've use it 4 seasons now and it cost me $950 brand new at Tractor Supply. It was a "left-over" with slight damgage from moving around the yard.

My neighbor has a 4 foot King Kutter that comes with an off-set mount so it covers tracks. He has it on a 20 horse compact tractor and does a big garden with it. Again, no problems.

I'm sure there are other brands built just as well, but these King Kutters ARE built solid. I'm wondering though if your tractor can handle a four footer? I guess in light soil, but a 45 cubic inch engine is very small to run a 4 foot tiller in hard ground. Usually takes 6-7 horse per foot of width in hard-packed soil. My diesel tractor with a 144 c.i. engine has just enough power to run a 5 footer. Same with my 134 c.i. gas powered tractor.

What is the lift capacity on the JD? The King Kutter is a very well built tiller, but they are heavy. I use one on my B7100, with loaded front tires and suitcase weights. Even then, the front end can get light. You may need to look closely at how much your tractor will lift comfortably- that may dictate what tiller you get.