Used Garden Tractor – Tips to Find the Best Buy

By Robert Davids

With today’s prices continually increasing and with most people feeling the pinch in their wallets, it’s a good idea to consider looking at used garden tractors for your yard work needs.

Of course, this is assuming that you need a garden tractor for your landscaping maintenance. Perhaps a push-behind lawnmower will take care of your needs.

However, most people who have at least a half acre of lawn will find a riding lawn tractor to be quite useful.

So if you’re wondering whether it’s a good idea to buy a used garden tractor, then read on. We’ll address what to look for in a used model, and we’ll provide tips so that you can decide between a private party sale and a used machine from a retailer.

Used Garden Tractor Tips

You’ll be able to tell a lot simply by how the tractor looks when you pull in. Is it garaged? Washed and waxed? Chances are that if the original owner kept his machine garaged and washed, then he probably took pretty good care of it.

Talk to the seller about his used garden tractor. Ask him some basic questions like: Why are you selling? Is there anything wrong with this used garden tractor? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?

Have the seller start up the engine, and then engage the mower deck. Listen closely for knocking or missing. Watch the seller drive the machine around a bit, and then hop on yourself for a test drive.

Pay attention to the engine of this used garden tractor. Is there any unusual vibration? Does the machine ride comfortably, or does it jerk you around? How’s the steering? The braking?

The seller may also be including some accessories in the sale of his used garden tractor.  Many garden tractors have add-ons like tractor tillers, baggers and so on.

You’ll want to ask if any additional accessories come with this machine.

Try to mow an area with longer grass. How does it perform? Does it cut the grass, or just whack it off? A less-than-clean mower cut can indicate hard use and that the mower blades may need sharpening. In that case, you may want to look at other used garden tractors.

Try a Used Garden Tractor Retailer

Most lawn tractor merchants will carry used garden tractors also. This is because they often get old models that have been traded in on a newer machine.

The good news is that a trade-in will usually go through some sort of inspection from the retailer’s service department.

If the store is going to put its name on this sale, or in other words, stand behind the transaction, the store wants to make sure that this machine is going to do them proud.

The retailer wants to be confident that this used garden tractor will last for the new owner, because if it doesn’t, guess who’s going to come back to the store MAD?!?

Generally the used garden tractor inspection will include fluid checks, cleaning and testing. Many retailers will include some kind of warranty if they complete this type of check up, so be sure to ask what it is.

Many Garden Tractor Manufacturers

The fact that there are many garden tractor manufacturers today is a benefit to the consumer, since you have a large pool to choose from.

You can find such names as MTD, Toro, John Deere, Poulan, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet and more, and many retailers will carry more than one brand name, with both new and used garden tractors in the stable, so to speak.

You will want to figure the cost of a used garden tractor to run at about 50% of new prices, although there are sometimes bargains to be found and prices could even be lower.

Of course, age plays a factor in the asking price as well as previous use.

It’s always a good idea to shop online so you know what new prices are, as well as the available features on most models. Always check the reviews, since you can gain insight from others who have bought and used different models.  These will often provide details as to what they liked — and disliked — about a particular machine

With a little legwork and savvy shopping, you’ll be a pro when it comings to shopping for your “new” used garden tractor, and you’ll be able to find the machine that satisfies your needs.

Rear Tine Tiller – Benefits, Uses, Styles and Types

By Ted Wagner

A good rear tine tiller will always come in handy when you are ready to plant vegetables and cultivate your garden. A tiller can handle tough heavy-duty ground digging work. You do not have to work hard while using this machine. The rear tiller is self-propelled and to keep it operating properly you will have to read the routine maintenance instructions. A tiller can cost anywhere from $300.00 to $1500.00 and you can also rent a tiller.

Benefits of a Rear Tine Tiller

There are benefits to having a rear tine tiller. You can get your gardening work completed faster if you use a tiller. The rear tiller also works fast and has strong digging power for hard soils. This type of tiller can also be used for large gardening projects. A rear tiller will dig deep into the ground and dig up soil and cut-up plants and weeds.

Uses for a Rear Tine Tiller

You can use a rear tine tiller in various ways and with various projects. Landscaping companies will use a tiller to beautify the lawns that they cut. Homeowners use tillers because they are much better to use than trying to do the gardening work by hand. Farmers use very large tillers to cultivate the dirt so that they can plant fruit and vegetables.

Styles of Rear Tine Tillers

Rear tine tillers come in many different styles so you can decide which tiller will meet your needs. Some styles have an adjustable stakes to control how deep the tiller will penetrate the soil. You can also find styles that have a safety guard and blades to prevent a possible accident while using the machine. Check with a tiller salesman to see which styles of tillers operate the best so that you can make a good buying decision.

Check with tiller owners to find out what they think about the style you are trying to buy.

Types of Rear Tine Tillers

Consider the different types of rear tine tillers.

There are actually quite a number of tractor tillers available to choose from.

You can purchase a gas or an electrical tiller. Purchase the gas tiller for larger jobs and for areas where there is no outlet. Buy the electric tiller for areas close to an outlet and smaller jobs. The electric tiller is more environmentally friendly and you do not have to purchase gas. The electric tiller is also easy to start, quite, and lightweight. The gas powered tillers usually perform better and are more durable.

So, we hope you enjoy your new rear tine tiller!

By Jack Griffith

Compact tractor implements are used in farming on a daily basis by farmers or those that love to garden. Compact tractor implements attach to what is known as a 3-point hitch. Which consist of lift arms that attach to each side of the implement. Here it is called a top link or center link, which levels the implement in a forward or rearward leveling. This article will detail various compact tractor implements and their uses.

Compact Tractor Implements

The box blade is used mostly to move and level dirt, gravel or whatever you want to spread. This implement can also have rippers attached to the box so that undisturbed soil is made workable. The road blade is used mostly the same way but not useful for leveling.

The tiller implement is very useful in making soil workable. It tills the soil just like a regular walk behind rear tine tiller except it uses the tractor PTO or power take-off by attaching a shaft from the implement to the tractor. This compact tractor implement is great for tilling on a large scale and breaking new ground.

The lift boom is used for lifting heavy material by means of a chain or lift strap. With this tractor implement, you can lift car engines or anything that is not easily lifted by hand.

A post hole digger is used for what it is named. It digs holes for fence post or small shrubs or trees. This implement also uses the PTO shaft. It comes in handy for those hard to dig holes.

The plow implement breaks ground that is undisturbed and eight inches or more deep. Bringing it to the top surface to where it can be worked later by another implement called a disc harrow. The disc harrow cuts the soil using large round flat metal blades that turn and cut the plowed soil as it is being pulled by the tractor.

A yard rake implement is used for moving unwanted debris such as rocks and roots from yards and pastures so grass can be planted.

The seeder/spreader is used for spreading lime, grass seed and fertilizer. This compact tractor implement also uses the PTO.

As one can see, tractor implements are very useful for farmers and anyone who has a large amount of land that needs to be worked. Choosing the right compact Tractor implements for your needs is vital to maintaining your farm and land.

compact Tractor implements

compact Tractor implements

By Jack Griffith

A tiller is piece of lawn equipment that is used to rotate dirt in a garden so that you can plant seeds to grow fruit and vegetables. Most people buy a tiller to be used in their garden but landscape companies also use tillers to remove grass and to tear out weeds. You can buy a tiller for under $300.00 dollars and you have the option of purchasing an electric or gas mini tiller.

Practical Use
Use your new mini tiller for garden projects around your home. The tiller will break up sod and till the dirt. If you like working in your garden, you can use a tiller to help you prepare the soil so that you can plant the seeds in your garden. It would take you hours to try to do this by hand so this is why it is a good idea to buy and use a tiller to complete the task.

Benefits
What are the benefits of buying a mini tiller? First, tillers have more digging power than what you can do by hand. The four-stoke engine is powerful and it starts very fast. You will find your new tiller to be light weight and inexpensive. Take into consideration that you can also rent a tiller for a once a year project.

Styles and Types
Get ready to purchase a mini tiller that will meet your budget because you can purchase a gas or an electric tiller. A gas tiller is used for jobs under 300 square feet. They are also louder and heavier than the electric tiller. Purchase the electric tiller for jobs that are close to an electrical outlet. This tiller is very light weight and you do not have to buy gas or pull a string to start it. The electric tiller does not perform as well as the gas model but it can get the job done. Keep the cord away from the machine while working.

The Bottom Line
Determine what kind of tiller you will need. Also, find out how much money you can afford to spend on your new tiller. Take your time and do research and ask tiller salesmen questions about what tillers are the best to use for your project.

Tractor Tillers – Origins and How They Work

By Jason Gorka

It was Arthur Clifford Howard who invented the first powered rotary tiller while working on his father’s farm in 1912. He used a steam-generated tractor engine as the power source and this method of tilling to leave the soil just as smooth and unpacked as if it had been done by hand.

The first design that Mr. Howard created ended up throwing the soil off to the side when it cultivated until he redesigned the blades into an “L” shape and set them on a flange to provide more tilling power.

In the early spring of 1922, Mr. Howard formed an independent company by the name of “Austral Auto Cultivators Pty Ltd.” that later went on to be called “Howard Auto Cultivators”.

Tractor Tillers Have British Beginnings

Mr. Howard based his business out of a northern section of Sydney but would soon move on to Britain in the late 1920′s and become the founder of “Rotary Hoes Ltd.”, in east Horndon, Essex by the summer of ’38.

Since then rotary tillers have become a popular small tool for working the soil of smaller gardens while its larger counterpart, the tractor rotary tiller continues to be used by the owners of larger farms and land areas.

Types of Tractor Tillers

There are different types of tractor tillers that are able to till through varying degrees of soil.

A standard rotary tiller is similar to design and function in all brand names. It sits on a box section steel frame with pin brackets that are bolted to the perimeter of the framework but can still be adjusted for various ground tilling levels.

Standard tractor tillers have a forward pulling motion that separates the soil behind the blades, but the digging action is shallow.  Rear tine tillers work better at cultivating ground for gardens and landscaping.

Most standard tractor tillers are equipped with up to 540 rpms of PTO and provide slip-clutch protection to lessen driveline damage. These tillers also have universal driveline joints and rotor shaft bearings with greased fittings that enhance the life of the equipment.

Oil Bath Keeps Tillers Working Smoothly

Both an input gearbox and a side gearbox are installed for maintaining the transmission.

The gear fittings are bathed in oil during each rotation to ensure that all tractor tiller parts run smoothly and efficiently.

Among some of the other features included with standard tractor tillers are an adjustable rear shield to help the tines work more thoroughly through soil beds, adjustable skid shoes that can be set in four positions for terrain depth, and curved tine tips that are fashioned from durable steel for maximum tiller performance.

The heavy-duty models also feature a gear drive with high-speed tines for making the perfect till in one pass. These heavy-duty tractor tillers can be supported on the I and II category, 3-point hitches.

Standard tractor tillers are perfect for cultivating rough, wet, and rooted ground.

Reverse rotation tillers have all the same workings as a standard tractor rotary tiller but they till in the opposite motion of the tractor. This method provides a deeper, more intense line of tilling and is generally used to plow smoother, softer terrain.

Both the standard and reverse rotation tractor tillers can be purchased in the gearbox or the chain driven option.

Be sure to check reviews online for the best selection of tractor tillers.