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  • From: Erik Lane <eriklane AT gmail.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tractor Tillers
  • Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2012 21:23:29 -0700

Yet another vote for fixing it, if it's a good one. (If it's been
running that long it probably is, but I've never heard of that brand.)

I fixed a 60 inch Howard a few years back, and it cost something like
$700-800 for just the parts. I went through it and replaced all the
bearings and seals, as well as one of the bearing houses. It had eaten
right through it from many many years of hard service. It took some
time, but I've been working on things for years, both small farm
equipment (that and a David Browne 880 are the big equipment for us)
and cars/trucks. I didn't have to buy any special tools or have any
work done for me, just wait a week or two for the parts. Luckily I had
the time. We wanted to finish tilling and get stuff in the ground, but
we are just personal food/hobby farm level.

It's really not too big of a deal to work on them, as far as the
complexity. Some of the parts are big and heavy, but with some careful
lifting with overhead chains or floor jacks and you'll be fine. But
yes, if you are really not feeling like you can tackle it yourself
then you're sure to be able to find some locals who are handy and
wouldn't mind helping. Good farm equipment simply holds its value, and
in my opinion is usually worth repairing.

On Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 10:30 AM, <KAKerby AT aol.com> wrote:
> I'm just now getting to this email thread, but I'll toss my vote into the
> same ring, in favor of repairing the well-proven equipment versus buying
> some new unproven machinery, at 4x the cost, with very possibly 1/4 the
> lifespan.  I also would encourage you to find some shadetree mechanics
> rather than go through a dealer.  When our BCS was down and out, we tried
> taking it to a well respected small engine repair service here in the area.
> I was trying to describe the symptoms to them and they'd never heard of a
> BCS, and asked me if it was some cheap import from Harbor Freight which may
> simply have worn out.  And they want $100/hr to work on my machine with that
> attitude?  I don't THINK so!  We eventually found the manuals online (eBay
> is great for such things), found some older "mentor" mechanics at the feed
> store of all places, and we're slowly but surely rebuilding it this year,
> doing most of the work ourselves learning as we go.  When we run into
> something we don't understand, we consult with the "experts" we've found at
> the feed store, and press on.  I'd repeat that in a heartbeat over taking it
> to the high-dollar engine repair place, or buying some mostly plastic
> replacement.
>
> One thought - would it be possible for you to lease a tiller just while you
> get you rmain machine up and running?  That might be the best of both worlds
> - give you a tool for right now to keep your production going, without
> paying through the nose for some replacement which won't have the rugged
> durability you want.  That might be a decent option to explore.
> Kathryn Kerby
> frogchorusfarm.com
> Snohomish, WA
> Ruminations - essays on the farming life at frogchorusfarm.com/weblog.html
>
> In a message dated 6/24/2012 2:10:07 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> ramoyer AT gmail.com writes:
>
> Allan,
> I'm with Mike on this.  It's worth fixing, in part for partnering with folks
> in your area whose practical education has certain benefits over book
> learning.
> Our shaft bearings went out last year on our Italian, chain-drive tiller.
> I was reluctant to get into it, but am blessed with neighbors who've grown
> up taking things apart and usually getting them back together.
> Here in coal country, you and I are blessed with a sizable group of disabled
> coal miners.  Also with coal miners who work shifts with many days on
> followed by several days off.  So I'd bet you can find some folks who enjoy
> the adventure of fixing equipment, and have the time and tools.  Rotating
> shafts, bearings and seals are not unique to ag equipment, so you need not
> depend on farm equipment specialists during hay season.  Unless you've
> broken teeth off your gears, or ruined the chain, $600 sounds way out of
> line.
>
> A local auto parts dealer found the bearing race we needed.  With the
> numbers on your parts (rub off the grime, then magnifying glass may be
> needed), they can search for the parts and get them in quick.
>
> The machinist who pressed off the old bearing race and put on the new one,
> he only asked for a bushel of beans.  We gave other farm products to the
> neighbor who helped us take it all apart, and taught us how to put it all
> back together.  He got a big smile when we were intimidated with taking a
> mere tiller apart!
>
> It's a good time to replace the gear oil in your tiller gear box, if you've
> not done so recently, or ever.  Ask whoever helps you if anything else on it
> needs attention to keep it going.  I'm clueless on such details and folks in
> our area usually won't point out the obvious (including my ignorance) unless
> asked.
>
> Thankful for recent rains, though our spring is still low.
> Richard Moyer
> SW VA
>
>>
>>   1. Tractor Tillers (Allan Balliett)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2012 06:59:04 -0400
>> From: Allan Balliett <allan.balliett AT gmail.com>
>> Subject: [Market-farming] Tractor Tillers
>> To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
>> Message-ID:
>>
>>  <CAEmEFWEzAp6_jf_vbox-h-QfcYJjHneBYzhC=JNC8TM2CkCOOw AT mail.gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>>
>> Does anyone have experience with "Value Leader" farm equipment? Their
>> tiller is made in China, but they claim to have thousands of them sold
>> in the US and to keep a good parts inventory.
>> http://www.value-leader.com/categories/Tiller/
>>
>> Tillers are really expensive nowadays. These sure look good on youtube!
>> ;-)
>>
>> Oh, and they have 'free shipping' (and no sales tax!)
>>
>> On the other hand, the reason I need a new tiller is that my old
>> friend the Solvema, which must be 30 years old, lost the drive rotor
>> bearing yesterday. Solvema told me that it was going to be expensive
>> to buy the parts to repair it and I should consider if the repaired
>> tiller w.b. worth the $$s. He didn't give me  a price but implied it
>> w.b. around $600 for bearing(s), seals, chain cover, etc
>>
>> The question: have you ever replaced a rotor bearing on a heavy duty
>> tiller? It means almost total disassembly and a trip to the machine
>> shop for pressing the bearings out of the housing(s) Not something I
>> want to tackle in June but I'm wondering if Im being too easy on
>> myself? On the other hand, this machine has seen a lot of clod
>> miles....
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> -Allan in WV
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2012 06:36:36 -0500
>> From: Mike Brabo <mdbrabo AT att.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tractor Tillers
>> To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
>> Message-ID: <0EB79C66-AB70-4A35-AD39-B7F4EACAB250 AT att.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>>
>> The equipment and steel coming from overseas isn't the same as what's in
>> the old equipment.  I'd repair your old one.
>> Regards,
>> Mike
>> Vesterbrook Farm - Certified Naturally Grown
>> Clarksville, Missouri - Mississippi River Bluffs, Zone 5b-6a
>>
>
>
>
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