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troy(el paso, il) 
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Joined: 28 Sep 2009
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 Topic: opinions on Howard rotavators?
Posted: 02 Dec 2010 at 10:11am |
Hello All-
Just wanted to know people's opinions of Howard rotavators or comparable 3 pt. tillers.
Thanks......Troy
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Eldon (WA)
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Location: Spokane, WA
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Posted: 02 Dec 2010 at 10:37am |
The old "Selecta-tilth" models are virtually indestructable....I bought this old guy 9 years ago and have gone thru 2 sets of tines and tons of rocks. This year alone it tilled almost 90 gardens. This 5 footer will make the 175D work at times, and the front end gets a little light when loading it on my trailer. I have a backup just like it sitting out back...as for the newer models, they just don't look like they are built nearly as heavy.
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JohnCO
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Posted: 03 Dec 2010 at 12:12am |
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I ditto Eldon. I heard that they were bought by an Italian company and the quality dropped. I've got one line Eldons' and other then a pto cross going bad and tines wearing out, it's been a solid machine.
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"If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer"
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JohnCO
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Posted: 03 Dec 2010 at 12:12am |
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Thats "one LIKE Eldons".
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"If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer"
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Tricky Dickie
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Location: North Yorkshire
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Posted: 03 Dec 2010 at 4:11am |
I well remember the old Selectatilth Howards. My father used to grow a large acreage of potatoes and we had a 70" model at home when I was young. It was mounted on a Fordson Super Major and my father used to send the driver off to rotavate potato land with the excess fuel button wired in to give the tractor the extra power it needed to drive the rotavator at full depth. Super Majors had a high geared pto shaft (540 rpm @ 1200 engine rpm) so the tractor needed that bit extra - my father used to take an extra 10 gallons of diesel to the driver at about 2 o'clock each afternoon to keep him going until evening because of the rate the tractor was consuming it!. That roatavator was indestructable and was only replaced when bigger tractors came along and could handle a wider model - again a Howard!
Tricky Dickie
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Rayhowling
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Joined: 02 Jan 2010
Location: Ont.
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Posted: 03 Dec 2010 at 6:21am |
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I have one like Eldon's, a 5 foot model. I have had it about 10 years and it was 10 years old when I bought it from a friend. I run it with my Allis CA, it makes the CA work but when I brake sod or grass ground I put a bigger tractor on it. They are one tough tiller and I hang a couple of suitcase weights on the front axle of the CA to keep the front end on the ground. I have a 8 foot model which needs some work done on it. The chain drive is broke and the tines are worn out. Are there any after market companies that make tines for these kind of tillers? I replaced the tines on the 5 foot model a few years after I bought it, but they are pricey.
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KenBWisc
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Posted: 03 Dec 2010 at 11:03am |
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They will make a field look like a garden. My father-in-law was a dealer and used one on 160 acres of corn ground and then planted it to soybeans. He ended up with succotash which ended it's use and the dealership.
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'34 WC #629, '49 G, '49 B, '49 WD, '62 D-19, '38 All Crop 60 and still hunting!
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Eldon (WA)
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Posted: 30 Apr 2011 at 7:39pm |
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Well....my Howard got a bellyache this morning. I tore the right side down, the bearing went out. Now I am not sure what I need to fix it. Fortunately the shaft where the bearing seats is ok, but the nut came off the end and the threads and it are shot. I'm thinking if I can find an outer labrinth seal (the big round steel flange), and whatever the other seal in there was, I can snug up the nut and put some weld on it to keep it tight. I might just try to find a sealed bearing to put in there. Now I am back to my backup machine, kinda scary! Anyone know where to find parts???
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captaindana
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Posted: 01 May 2011 at 5:29am |
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Ditto. I had a 6 footer for 25 years and ran it with a Case 970. They are indestructable!
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Steve M C/IL
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Posted: 01 May 2011 at 1:58pm |
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No one has mentioned the gear set in the drive box which lets you select tine speeds.Pretty cool units.
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JohnCO
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Posted: 02 May 2011 at 12:38am |
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Eldon, there was a distributor in Ill I bought some parts from years ago. Unfortunately I can't find the name in my files. I suspect you can fix it with standard parts for a lot less $ and maybe a bit more work.
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"If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer"
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Rawleigh
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Posted: 02 May 2011 at 10:11am |
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Take the bearing to a bearing supply house and have them match it. It will be a lot cheaper and you can get the latest bearing technology. See what happens when you brag on a piece of equipment!! LOL! Sorry for your problem.
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Eldon (WA)
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Posted: 02 May 2011 at 10:19am |
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Yes I am going to try to find a sealed bearing for it. I think the end just bolts on to the shaft, so I will probably just put a sealed bearing on and weld the nut back in place. After that bearing goes, it will be time for a replacement end from a donor machine, or try to find a new one.
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Rawleigh
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Posted: 02 May 2011 at 4:12pm |
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Or find a good machinist.
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Eldon (WA)
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Posted: 02 May 2011 at 8:17pm |
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Good machinists are expensive around here....and hard to find. I do have a buddy with a couple of CNC machining centers who says my money is no good there....may make a nice winter project for him.
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