[Bozwell]

Hay Gang

I want to get myself a roto/tiller this year second hand.
Any one got any pointers on type, price or maybe your own preference.
I thought one that you could get bits for easily like a Honda might be good.

[Gwiz]

Honda's are very good, and still being made.
Merry tillers are very good too, but no longer in production.
Alko are ok if the soil isn't too heavy (clay)

There are dozens of makes out there. The most important advice I'd give you is this, Don't buy on an impulse. come back on here and ask about a particular make or machine. One of us will know something about it.
Try not to be too tempted by Ebay, there is a lot of old rubbish sold for a lot of good money. It's far better to get one locally if you can, so freecycle and your local paper are good places to look.
And just one final point, I've noticed just lately that second hand machines are selling for not too much less than new, but new machines come with a warranty.......

[Bozwell]

Thanks Gwiz, that's real good sound advice.  
My allotment is pretty heavy going lots of clay that dry's quickly on the surface like iron.

[m1ckz]

i got a new , mowerland 5.5  briggs an stratten on ebay  new for 180 pounds,,,its a great machine,,20in width,,an digs deep,,,,buy a used machine an you buy someone elses problems lol,, good hunting 

[philskin]

I bought one of these of ebay ,the only problem i had with it was that the pulley and belt tensioner was loose 5 mins with the spanner and bobs your auntie

 

 

[Bigbadfrankie]

I bought one of these of ebay ,the only problem i had with it was that the pulley and belt tensioner was loose 5 mins with the spanner and bobs your auntie

 

 

How deep??

[philskin]

she will go 14" deep and 32" wide with the 4 blades on   but in the manual it says about 250mm deep but i think because of the depth of soil i have she goes right down to the guard   

[Bozwell]

What make and model is that Philskin. It looks a useful tool. Do you think it'll break up heavy clay like i have. I think i'm gonna need something with a bit of power, but small enough to get in the car by myself.

[Gardenmunkey]

I have a rotovator and a tiller .....

The rotorvator was brand new off e-bay and is a Barracuda 6.5 hp Honda Engined beast.
It's similar to Philskins in size and digging width/depth and folds so it fits in the back of the estate .... just!

The only problem with it was the cost ..... £350 delivered from Gloucestershire to Leicestershire by TNT but it does weigh 50kg! Fortunately, whern you own one, there are plenty of others that want it, so mine will be aerning its keep towards the end of the year.

The tiller is a Mantis 2-stroke. Again it was from E-bay (mantis supplied but an ex demo model) It's had so much use and the soil is fantastic ....... it's been used for trenching for potatoes, weeding, edging, and general tilling ..... and not just my plot!

 

[philskin]

im a big bloke but i doubt very much if i could lift mine into a car on my own ,without damage to the car ,and i think it would struggle on lots of clay not power wise but the tines would get clogged