Working my tiller in the yard

[CasualObserver 3,408]

Thought I'd share my latest yard project.  We visited the ol' family homestead in IL a couple weekends ago.  One of the purposes was to get some splits of the large quantities and varieties of Iris that were around the farm.  Grandma said I could have all I wanted, so armed with a spade and a wheelbarrow, we traipsed around the farm and I dug/labeled what she told me!  

Now of course, I wasn't smart enough to plan ahead to have someplace to put them, so they sat for a few weeks in the nice cool garage before I got them in the ground. It doesn't hurt them, the tubers just go dormant when they're dry.   So after surveying, measuring, estimating and deliberation, I concluded the perfect place to put them.... right where my wife wants them! :duh:  

I bought a tiller at the LeSueur spring swap this year.  Rusty outside,

but nearly brand new underneath!!  These tines have barely ever seen dirt.  I'm guessing it got used one year, set behind the shed and never used again.

But....(as usual it seems) it didn't have the idler setup.  After some searching and bitching about ebay prices for them, I managed to get a reproduction from a very reputable collector/fabricator whom I trusted would make it correctly. You just never know what you're going to get with a reproduction from an unknown maker. Funny part was it didn't fit!  The centering bushings that were welded on didn't allow it to fit and close the midmount hitch!?!  So after a few emails, we figured out why.  He had copied his original correctly and nothing was wrong with his part.  I was just using it differently than intended. The midmount on the Raider that I was putting it on was an earlier style and made to only accommodate a 3/4" shaft, whereas the later midmount hitches allowed the hitch to close around the larger bushings.  (like this)
 
We both learned something. The original setup for the Raider was one of the earlier tillers that used the two belt system with an idler assembly mounted at the rear of the frame, and I was trying to run a single belt system.

OK... cut the bushings, make it fit and its A-OK.


Got the belt mounted, tested it to see if the belt was running true and now, ready to till.



I know I should be running the belt in the inner pto groove.  I had it on there, but it was guitar string tight, so I moved it back to the outside.  Seemed to work alright for me though.  Maybe if the belt stretches a little bit over time I can get it to the inner one.  It would be nice to get the additional few RPMs on the tines.

I got out the Gravely zero turn, dropped the deck to the ground and scalped out a bed outline to 1/4". The Gravely deck really does get down that far... the ground polishes the blade bolt heads. (Should have taken a picture of that but didn't think of it.)  Parked that in the shade and commenced tilling.  Never used a tractor mounted tiller before, but man... was that nice!!  My Raider 9 has a transplanted K-181 in it, and it had no problem running that tiller in Low 1st gear. The 8HP Kohler is easy on the gas, and the longer frame of the Raider keeps it balanced pretty nicely so I didn't even need additional weight anywhere.  Ideally though, I'd like to run some front wheel weights, or hang a weight bracket out front with about 40-50 lbs on it.  I could feel the front get a tinge light when I let off the clutch.  I can't wait to actually get to use it in the garden this fall.  

So I finished up with this.  


We got it all planted (I think there were about 80-100 tubers) now just waiting to get mulch delivered/spread and figure out edging.  I'll post a finished picture when we get that done.

[dcrage 626]

I hope to be doing the same thing this fall for restoration of parts of my yard -- Hopefully all of my parts and pieces will go together -- Your story gives me hope!

[Griff 17]

   

[bean 85]

nice job,

I had an 8hp, and they are light in the front end. I had a 32lb weight someone had made for a b80 that I bought, and it really helped when plowing and discing.  the  310-8 I have now has the big block kohler, and it's 50lbs heavier than a k181, and I have found that it doesn't need any additional weight

I'm picking up a tiller next week. I need to till in some sand and compost into our garden.

[dclarke 4,032]

Nice work Jason and nice tiller.

[Digger 66 3,478]

 

 

 

Very nice ! 

Would love to see a little vid next time  .

[CasualObserver 3,408]

Thanks. Maybe I can get video of the garden this fall.

Got the mulch delivered and spread this morning. I've been helping a friend build a deck for several weekends, so he volunteered to help shovel today. Wagon loads go so much faster than wheelbarrow loads!

via Tapatalk 4 beta