What Size Of Tiller Is Best For You?

Due to the unseasonably warm weather here in Utah, many of us have started to think about getting our gardens ready for spring.  Many of us have gardens both large and small, and yards that are waiting to be cultivated.  It’s important to pick the correct tiller for the job, but it’s also important to understand what size of tiller will be best for your particular project.

When thinking of what type of tiller you will need, think about the size of your garden.  A small garden is considered to be less than 1,500 square feet, a medium garden ranges from 1,500 square feet to 5,000 square feet, and a large garden is anything over 5,000 square feet.  Another consideration is based on the type of garden soil you are dealing with, as well as the size of the gardener! 

Typically, a small garden can be managed by a mini-tiller.  Mini-tillers range in price from $200 to $350.  A medium-sized garden is manageable with a 5 to 6-horsepower front-tined tiller, which range in price from $500 to $800.  Large gardens require at least a 6-horsepower rear-tined tiller, which can run from $800 to $2,000.

If the soil in your garden is very hard or rocky, a mini-tiller will often be underpowered to perform admirably, usually requiring a larger 4 to 6-horsepower tiller.  Keep in mind that if you are looking to till your entire yard, you won’t be able to get by with a mini-tiller either.  A large rear-tined tiller will typically work best when you are covering a large area, and the abundance of room to maneuver will be important. 

There are other cons  Front-tined machines are a little more difficult to manage, but that difficulty is offset by the lighter weight of the machine.  Rear-tined machines are a bit easier to use, due to their increased power, but they are more expensive and take up a great deal of space in your shed or garage. 

iderations when you look at what type of tiller would be more effective for you.

Crowell’s Flying Wrench offers tiller repair in Salt LakeCity, UT for any type of tiller.  Our mobile service will come to you anywhere in Salt Lake County or Park City, and our professional staff will quickly get your tiller running at full speed again.  Give us a call today to see what we can do for you!

By: Kyson Crowell

What If Your Tiller Doesn't Start?

Even though we are mired in the dead of winter, you can never begin to plan too early for lawn care.  The piles of snow and ice have done a number on our lawns, and it may be time to seed new grass or prepare your vegetable or flower garden for when spring comes.  Before long, it will be time to take out the trusty tiller and get to work.  

In order to become more efficient, tillers have come a long way from their humble beginnings.  Simple push mowers have given way to the convenience and accessibility of gas-powered tillers.  Gas-powered tillers are reliable, dependable machines that will serve you faithfully for many years.  However, there does come a time where you add gasoline and oil, pull the starter cord, and… nothing.  The silence can be deafening.  Most failures to start a tiller result from a problem in the fuel or ignition system, so a few troubleshooting methods may help you identify and correct the problem.

Old gasoline is often the cause of a tiller that won’t start.  Gasoline that has been sitting in the tank since last year can often settle or condensation can seep in.  Drain the old fuel and replace it, while checking the carburetor and intake manifold bolts to ensure they are tight and ensure that all linkages are connected.  Everything pertaining to the fuel line needs to be nice and tight.  Be sure to replace the fuel according to manufacturer’s specifications.  Your tiller is likely fueled by regular high-octane fuel or is a two-cycle motor that requires the specified gas-oil mixture.  Ensure that if there is a fuel shutoff valve, that it is put in the open position. 

Also take a moment to check the ignition.  If your tiller has a shutoff switch, make sure the switch is in the “On” position when attempting to start it.  Disengage all attachments, make sure the transmission is in neutral, and all operating handles are in the correct starting positions.  Also check the spark plug by removing it and touching the bare metal of the spark plug’s base to the bare metal of the engine.  Look for the accompanying spark between the electrodes.  If there is none, it’s time to replace the spark plug.

Also, it’s important to check the fuel cap vent to ensure it’s open and that all filter screens in the tank are clear.  Take a moment to look at the air cleaner, as a dirty air cleaner can flood the engine or restrict air intake.  If none of these troubleshooting items fixes your tiller, give Crowell’sFlying Wrench a call.  Our mobile small engine repair team specializes in tiller repair, and we are eager to serve you with professional experience and competitive prices.  We serve Park City and the Salt Lake Valley.  Call us today.

By: Kyson Crowell

Lets Talk About Trimmers

Most of the posts so far have focused on lawnmowers, but it could be argued that the weed trimmer is just as important when it comes to your lawn-care arsenal. Sure, the mower does most of the work; but every homeowner knows that the devil is in the details when it comes to the silent competition between neighbors for best lawn. You’re done for if you don’t clean up the edges, and a trimmer is the best way to do it. But how do you know what kind of weed trimmer to get? Use this guide to determine which type is best for your application and if you have a trimmer and are struggling to get it to work and are watching those edges keep growing check out are great tiller service in Salt lake City UT. 

Curved-Shaft Trimmers

Curved-shaft trimmers are among the most popular because they are generally lightweight and easy to use. They get their name because of the bend in the shaft toward the cutting head. This bend brings the cutting head closer to the operator, which makes it a little easier to handle for detail work and getting at those tricky spots. Because of the bend in the shaft, these trimmers are driven by a flexible cable that runs from the motor to the cutting head. The flexible nature of this cable limits the amount of power that can be applied from the engine, as too powerful of a motor would cause it to break. That said, these machines are more than capable of handling the vast majority of jobs in a suburban setting.

Traight-Shaft Trimmers

Straight-shaft trimmers are most commonly used for industrial uses, or by those with particularly large jobs. Rather than the flexible drive cable used in curved-shaft trimmers, these have a rigid drive shaft. This results in increased durability and power transfer from the motor. This means that more powerful motors can be used. While the straight shaft allows for more power, it also means that the cutting head is further from the operator. This can make getting a level cut slightly more difficult for the inexperienced. These also tend to be heavier than their curved-shaft counterparts.

Rolling Trimmers

Rolling trimmers are a slightly newer development in the lawn-care industry. These machines look like a mix between a standard push mower and a string trimmer. Their rolling platform allows for larger and much more powerful engines along with a wider cutting radius. Unfortunately, their minimum cutting heights are relatively high when compared to most lawn mowers, making them essentially useless for all but the most niche projects.

At the end of the day, the type of trimmer you get depends entirely upon how you intend to use it. Curved-shaft trimmers are perfect for most residential uses because of their light weight and maneuverability. Straight-shaft trimmers are great for larger projects and industrial uses because of the increase in power and length of the drive shaft. Rolling trimmers are useful for some specific applications, but most people have no need for them. Consider these tips before you buy and you’re sure to end up with a machine that is perfect for you.

By: Kyson Crowell