rototiller implement for 1953 Super A

Please help me. My husband needs a rototiller for his 1953 Farmall Supe A and I'm trying to be a good wife and give it to him for Christmas instead of a tie. But I don't know where to find it. What kind of rototiller? Where does a gal go? Would he rather have a tie?

I don't think that Farmall A is well suited for a roto-tiller. It doesn't have slow enough gearing. Go ahead and get him the tie.

To run the rototiller, the engine needs to be revved up, but the tractor must be going so slowly that you can barely see it move. 1st gear on a Super A is more like a brisk walk.

The Super A does not have live PTO, so he can't push the clutch and chew through a tough spot. When the clutch is pushed, the rototiller will also stop along with the tractor.

The PTO on a Super A is offset. This will put a nasty angle on the drive shaft to the rototiller, and it will shake apart in no more than a few minutes.

There are a few tractor mount rototillers that have their own engine, and could be bolted to the drawbar. Even so, the Super A in 1st gear at an idle may be too fast to do a good job. You really need a more modern hydrostatic-drive tractor to run a rototiller.

If you want to get him a rototiller, get him a nice Troy Built rear tine from Home Depot or Lowes.

I would do as mkirsch suggested for getting him a Troy Bilt tiller. He can use the A for plowing the garden and disking. They do a fine job for that. I've had about 30 of those Troy Bilts. Hal

REally good advice below. Stay clear of front mounted tillers, they are not any where as easy to poerate as a rear mount. The type that uses the tilling as a motion system are also worthless (opinion) it needs to have a drive to the (substantial) wheels. JimN

I have to agree with getting him a troy built tiller. I've had the one I have since 1972 sort of. It was my dads and he got it in 1972 but when he died I got it and I use it every year
Hobby farm

I would agree with mkirsch, a Super A is not a very good tractor to use on a rototiller. There was never one designed for a Super A (or the B, C, H or M) and any attempts to modify an existing tiller for use on an A will be fustrating at best.


Buying a walk behind unit is your best bet, or try this if you want a "towed" tiller:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_404565_404565


http://yourhome.shoptoit.ca/shop/product--catId_1002852__locale_en__productId_6755453.html

Gotta say that that's a better recommendation for TroyBilt than havin' gone through 30 of them! ;8^)

The only type of tiller that will work decent on that tractor is a self-powered tiller with it's own engine. I used one for years on my Farmal(had an aftermarket 3 point hitch). That way you run the tractor in 1st with the engine almost idling when tilling. Years back, I built my own by mounting a Wisconsin TED 2 cylinder baler engine on top of a PTO tiller and ran it chain-drive. Now, there are many factory made self-powered tillers - made mostly for four-wheeled ATVs pulling them.

If you have hard, rocky ground, a tiller mounted on that tractor will work a lot nicer than a walk-behind Troybuilt.

The offset in the pto will not cause the implement to vibrate so long as the shaft from the implement is pointed straight forward and level. There will be some vibration in the shaft only which you should not feel because the implement (or super A) pto is offset. Vibration occurs in the immplement when the shaft on the implement is not pointed in the same direction as the one on the power unit (offset or not) such as when turning with a one point pull behind implement even with properly aligned pto's. Manufacturers have been very careful to properly align the end away from the tractor. LMack (Ag Engineer)

Becca,

Do not buy any implement without knowing a lot about it. All the other reponces have understood your frame of reference to be a tractor mounted tiller working the same as the Troy Built pictured in another posting. Tractor mounted tine tillers were rare. There were some shallow draft tillers made in the 60's but they were for light duty cultivating only. I saw one in operation but I do not believe they caught on because they altered the structure of the soil and the tines wore out so fast. As the others have pointed out, the tines turn rather fast as compared to a garden tiller. I may be wrong but I haven't seen a new one in decades. I don't think one was ever made for one row operation like your Super A.
Some people call a disk harrow a tiller. If that was your husbands understanding, you should have little trouble finding one. (Go ask if he could also call the impliment he needs to be a "disk harrow".) If that was it, say so and post again asking for information about a disk harrow for a Super A and the guys will be a lot more positive! Someone might even offer to sell you one but do not buy until your husband has seen it. You can't give it to him as a suprise.

LMack

I bought most of them that wouldn't start, needed tines or seals. The one pictured I gave a $100.00 for it and sold the engine for 60.00. I have about $700.00 in with new seals, tines engine and paint job. Hal

Rebecca: You best get him the tie, or the Troy tiller. If he's going to till more ground than the Troy will handle, he'd be much happier with a plow, disk and cultivator. Farmalls with transmission drive PTO, don't make great roto tiller tractors. Ground speeds are just too fast.

I figgered it was somethin' like that. ;8^)

thank you so much. i will go with the troy. you've all been very helpful

He will like that Troy better than any tie. Hal
PS: Have him plow the garden with the Super A.

The later tillers had those interlocks and the owners couldn't get them started. A lot were left out in the weather at their garden over the winter. There was a big demand for the Troy's back in the 80's and 90's. The younger generation don't want to be bother with a garden. That may change with the current economy. Hal

Old,
I went looking for a new Troy Built to replace the old one I have.
They have been bought out by the same folks that bought all the lawn mower brands up.
Not the same unit at all.
One I saw looked like an old Murry.
Not happy about that at all.
Another good brand bites the dust.

Rebecca: Troy is a good choice, it makes the shopping much easier for you, yet keeping it a secret until Christmas. Find a knowledgable salesman, there are all kinds of optional goodies with those Troy tillers.

Now, I think we have created a problem. This Troy tiller is not going to create new tasks for the Super A, however with the money you save over some of those tractor mounted contraptions the guys were promoting, you folks will have enough left to buy a vintage plow and disk. Let me assure you, the Troy tiller plus the Super A with plow and disk, will keep you folks busy.

In fact you may turn out much like myself. I planted close to a half acre garden last spring. When it started producing the women in my life, ( My wife, two daughters and a daughter in law) decided every pound in excess of fresh summer eating would be processed for winter eating. Think about what I created for myself, I couldn't sit down anywhere in sight of the house, or it was dad, "go pick some beans, go pick some peas, go pull some carrots, go dig some potatoes, etc. I never even had time to go to a tractor show all summer.