Topic: Light Weight Rotavators or hiring -that is the question.

[George the Pigman]

Well I have a bad relationship with rotavators - mainly because my engineering skills are basic. I bought a 2 stroke Mantis many years ago and it did me well until it became a pig to start but after much modification it still works but annoys me. In the old days I used to rotavate my standard 90ft by 30ft allotment and it would take at least 3 days - and I would have the finger trembles afterwards.
So four years ago I decided to buy a more powerful, wider tine rotavator. I bought a brand new Handy 3.5HP Tiller which was on offer at my local garden centre. The first time I used it it would go for 30 mins then the tines would stop rotating. I would let it cool down for 30 mins then it would work for a further 30 mins etc etc. So after ages I finished the plot. I rang Handy and they told me how to readjust the clutch. Next year it worked fine and I thought my problems were solved. Today I took it out to the plot and after 20 mins the engine fell off!! What actually happened was two of the the so called lock nuts that hold the engine to the chassis fell off with the vibration. I had checked them the day before. They disappeared somewhere into the churned up soil.
i got the rotavator back home and opened up the bottom plate. Out fell two bolts and a drive belt. I've spent the last two hours trying to get the drive belt back on but it is not simple like the old rotavators/lawnmowers used to be and its not easy to see inside and get your fingers into it.
After all this I am thinking am I mad to have a rotavator that, quite frankly, I use only about once a year when I could hire one - anyone have experience at hiring rotavators?
Also this one weighs 30kg and at my age I am finding it difficult to load it into the car and to move it around on the plot. At 3.5 HP it seems, sometimes, like its taking me for a walk!
Anyone know any rotavators that weigh about 20kg but have decent power!

By the way I have only used this rotavator three times so far and it's failed me twice. Not a good recommendation for a purchase. The Briggs Stratton engine is fine but I think the rest of it is poorly built.

Yours sincerely - having a bad day!

[daveyboi]

Although I will not recommend any particular rotavator to me this is a good example of where one should seriously think of buying from a local specialist business where you can take the machine for servicing and repairs under warranty easily.
I have found that most of them will match an online price if asked and you have the advantage of having initial problems cured at no expense or hastle along with personal service.

[George the Pigman]

I would have liked to go to a local shop to view a range but found it hard to locate a business selling rotavators in Birmingham or within a reasonable distance of it. There used to be a couple of firms but they closed down.  There are a fair number of places selling mowers but  shops selling rotavators are becoming a rarity over here. What we are left with is some garden centres and some DIY stores which tend to sell the same brands with a very limited range.
I actually bought it from a local garden centre in 2013. What one was supposed to do was take it back to the garden centre and they would send it back to Handy or to a nearer Handy service centre. It's now well out of warranty although I have only used it four times since I bought it.
I managed to get locking nuts and reattach the engine. However fitting the belt turned out to be complex as I had to remove the entire gear housing and the handles. Even then it was difficult to ensure the correct alignment. However I tested it out at home and the tines would turn. However when I got to the allotment the belt shredded in 5 minutes of working.
However I have found out someone on the site rotavates peoples plots for a modest sum so I have left my number for him to contact me.

[ancellsfarmer]

They ain't rocket science. Do you have a reasonable relationship with a local garage mechanic or motorcycle repairer?
Otherwise, consider no-dig !! It works.

[Digeroo]

One of my plot neighbours had brought down a different type of rotavators I think it might be called a rear tine cultivator.  It is the only one I have seen which does not need a huge amount of strength to operate and it manages our soil amazingly well. 
And he has managed to chomp right through all sort of weeds including nettles and dead nettles but it takes all sorts!!!
The cultivator has the wheels at the front and drags the tilling behind.  It is very impressive.  I think I might try and hire one next year.  I had a lot of nettles as well but have poisoned them.  Tried no dig got the nettles!!

[Robert_Brenchley]

Nuts coming loose on new equipment is a regular problem; my sister once had a serious cycling accident due to this. It pay in spades to keep things serviced; if you don't know how to do it yourself, find someone who will. That will probably put an end to most of the problems.

[George the Pigman]

Thanks for the tip re rear tine cultivators. I will look into that.
You really wonder how they assemble these things if nuts loosen so soon after purchase. They are supposed to be self locking nuts with nylon inserts specifically designed to reduce the chance of them unlocking.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Bikes do that as well. It always pays to check nuts after a bit of usage just in case.