Three Point Tiller

[Robert Hampton]

have any of you used a ferguson to pull a rotary tiller. would it be slow enough in first gear to do a good job?

 

[Black Swamp]

I have a "Befco" tiller that I use with my TO-35, it's five feet wide & it does a good job in black sand that I have plowed. I have been told that a tiller does destroy soil structure & is not recommended. It sure works up the soil for easy planting. The tiller also does seem to overwork my tractor, but my TO-35 needs serious engine work.

 

[Richard L]

If you check out the archives many threads indicate the grey fergies are not slow enough to use a rotary tiller with out the addition of a secondary transmission such as a Sherman, Howard or a Hupp.

 

[Bruce(OR)]

You are going to find you need a Howard gear reduction transmission. This unit bolts on inside the case behind the main transmission. It slows the final drive while allowing a higher PTO speed.
I have seen 3 or 4 of these sell recently on fleabay.

 

[Bruce(OR)]

The TO-35 I believe has a low range selector as the smaller fergies possibly do not.

 

[Fred Hart]

I borrowed my neighbors 5ft tiller for a few years and it pulled great behind my TO-35.

But I found it gets the ground so loose or fine, that if it rained before the plants come up the ground would seal over making it hard for the small plants to break through.

Could just be our type ground here is western KY.

So I went back to using my disk and a front tine tiller to prepare much of my garden. ground does not look as nice with disk, but it has worked better for me.

I use a john deere 2 row planter for sweet corn, but earthway push planter for other crops.
seams to work good for me, but i am not planting a large garden area.

 

[Jim in OH]

I think you will find little benefit of the Sherman or Hupp as they slow the PTO also.. the Howard slows the tractor but not the PTO... Keep in mind that the Howard is very rare, expensive, and abit light weight for heavy pulling... better off getting a 35.

 

[jimNCal]

If you have one of the 20 or 30's, you'll find first gear too fast. If you have at least the 35 with factory lo range, you're good to go.

I have several of the Howard Gear Reductions (mentioned below) if interested...one for the 20/30 is on eBay now.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I've pulled a tiller behind my 52 8N for years but 1st gear was too fast and the tiller would buck and jump even in loose soil. I had the opportunity to put a 3sp Sherman in it and I am pleased with the results. Although it does slow the PTO as well as ground speed it seems to match up better and does a good job. Another plus is with my 6ft finishing mower it gives me more power and slower speeds 1st & 2nd to mow heavy grass. Not as good as the transmissions with more gears in later model tractors, but it was worth the trouble.

 

[Crem]

Here is a link to a picture of using a rotary tiller with my TO-20. It can be done but it has to be easy going with the right conditions. I have a MF 165, but am going to till my garden this spring with with my TO-20 if it works out.
Rototilling with a TO 20

 

[tlrols]

I use a 5 foot tiller behind a TO-20 with a Sherman under-drive. The speed is just right in 1st gear "low"...the tractor will bog down if I hit a root or something similar. Position control will help with any bogging--and a TO-30 has a bit more ummph. Bottom line is that you need the slow speed axillary transmission to do this properly.