36" Rototiller installation

[HyperPete 919]

I finally started installing the tiller on my 414.  I downloaded the manual(s), and physically attached it to the rear mount.

I do not have the lift cable & clevis, shown in the picture on the right.  It looks as if it has an adjuster built in, like a motorcycle throttle cable.

I have some jacketed stainless steel wire; do you think I can get away with that and a turnbuckle on back so I can get tilling?

Does anyone in the York, PA area have one they can sell me?  Does anyone know the length of the cable so I can have one made?

Many thanks, in advance!

[HyperPete 919]

Some tiller pictures, if it will help you help me,

 

 

 

and, what it's being installed on:

 

 

[ineedanother 2,161]

Hey Pete, I hope you're doing well. Lowell should be able to help you out with that. Those cables get a lot of stress but his cables and parts hold up pretty well. https://wheelhorsepartsandmore.com/product-category/cables/

[HyperPete 919]

Awesome, thanks - I need to till next week if possible!

Edited Sunday at 11:38 PM by HyperPete

[HyperPete 919]

Well, I got a reply from Lowell on Sunday; crickets since then.

 

I made a temporary cable but it's way too light duty.  It works with the spring adjuster cranked to max, but it won't last.  I'll go buy heavier cable and backyard engineer something since time is important.  I guess I'll need some shackles and clevis pins.

 

I don't know where to connect a spring on the front pulley (below the PTO) or what size spring.  The tiller owners manual is no help.  The parts manual is barely helpful.

 

Belt routing is also mysterious to me - it looks as if it will hit the floorboard.

 

Got the AGs & wheel weights mounted.  I need to paint the presently bare steel panels I put back on temporarily.  Lots of cleaning and painting are planned for this.

 

Edited Tuesday at 01:32 AM by HyperPete

[ineedanother 2,161]

Hey Pete, this isn't a great picture but the spring on the "lever" for the idler pulley should run to a bolt that you need to put in the second hole in the frame. It will need to be a 3" or so bolt to serve as an anchor for the spring. The belts make a long run under the footrest to the tiller.

[HyperPete 919]

Perfect, thank you.  Now to try to source an appropriate spring.

[Moparfanforever 929]

Here is a closeup of the "older" style mid mount, if that is what you have. Hope it helps. 

 

 

 

[Moparfanforever 929]

It does take a pretty stiff spring to keep tension on the arm for the pulley.

Edited Tuesday at 06:14 PM by Moparfanforever

[HyperPete 919]

First, Lowell's wife called me this morning. They were dealing with the weekend backlog on Monday. I ended up ordering the entire rock shaft kit, and that will include everything I need. Yes I will have extras, but this is easier and less expensive than trying to source each part individually and paying shipping on them.

I also ordered a new belt just to be safe.

 

In the meantime, I scavenged a spring from a parts tractor that I have and set up the front pulley. See attached pictures. Something is obviously not right as the belts are hitting the support for the floorboards. This is with the tiller in the up position. I am going to go review the belt routing when I get home. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

EDIT:  Reviewing @Moparfanforever's photo, I see at least part of my problem.  To be fixed...

 

Edited Tuesday at 06:45 PM by HyperPete

[Razorback 1,277]

The belt that is touching the floorboard should go around the bottom side of the left idler pulley. The other side of the belt will go straight back to the tiller from the right side and bottom of the right-hand pulley.

 

See the picture a couple of posts back.

 

(Does that make sense???)

Edited Tuesday at 08:48 PM by Razorback

[ineedanother 2,161]

44 minutes ago, Razorback said:

The belt that is touching the floorboard should go around the bottom side of the left idler pulley. The other side of the belt will go straight back to the tiller from the right side and bottom of the right-hand pulley.

 

See the picture a couple of posts back.

 

(Does that make sense???)

Yeah, that looks like the older style so the spring will pull the lever toward the tiller.

[Moparfanforever 929]

@HyperPete There is also two different belt sizes for the two different mid mount setups. Sorry I do not have any part numbers, but seems to me the older mid mount took a 139" belt and the newer was 141" ??? Or it could be the other way around. Maybe someone on here knows for sure the correct length for the right mid mount. 

 

When you try to put your belt on, line everything up and work the belt on with the big pulley on the tiller. Makes the job pretty simple. 

[Moparfanforever 929]

Didn't notice the belt in your picture before, so you should be good!!

 

Put your tractor in the low side, in first gear, and let it eat!! If you have soil that hasn't been plowed or tilled before, it will take awhile and more than one pass to break up your soil,depending on what type of dirt you have. 

 

 

[Razorback 1,277]

I keep looking at your pulley/spring/belt setup. For the belt tensioner you have, the post that the spring anchors on should be in the frame just ahead of the leading end of the right floorboard, so the spring will be pulling the lever on the guide pulleys rearward towards the tiller.  I see the metal tab on the lower edge of the belt guard that has a hole in it.... I would think the fixed spring anchor would go through that and into the frame.

Edited 23 hours ago by Razorback

[kpinnc 18,042]

[cleat 8,958]

This is mine from several years ago installed.

 

 

[HyperPete 919]

17 hours ago, Razorback said:

The belt that is touching the floorboard should go around the bottom side of the left idler pulley. The other side of the belt will go straight back to the tiller from the right side and bottom of the right-hand pulley.

Yep, I see my mistake, thanks!

 

 

16 hours ago, ineedanother said:

Yeah, that looks like the older style so the spring will pull the lever toward the tiller.

 

Thanks Randy.

Does anyone have a photo of the connection point for the spring? The manuals don't show it.   EDIT: I'm not sure how I missed @kpinnc's photo above, but there it is!  

 

I found the manual for the rock shaft kit, and I'm glad I ordered it because I am missing the lever as well.

 

This must be the newer style front idler setup? Still looking for the older style.

Thanks!

 

Edited 11 hours ago by HyperPete

[kpinnc 18,042]

7 hours ago, HyperPete said:

I'm not sure how I missed @kpinnc's photo above, but there it is!  

 

 

I can read something 100 times and never truly understand, but show me a picture and I'm good. 

 

I'm just now beginning to realize what all those books in school were actually for! 

[HyperPete 919]

 

30 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

I can read something 100 times and never truly understand, but show me a picture and I'm good. 

 

Yep, I am definitely a visual learner.

I Frönkensteened it together with a bolt, a "bracket" I made, and a spare spring off a 200 series I'm stripping for parts.  This is temporary, to route the cable and test it out. 

There is no attachment loop on the bottom of the side panel on my particular 414-8, so I am planning to remove the side panel and probably weld a hook in the correct location. I've got to take it all back apart to clean the bare metal of surface rust from sitting over the winter, and paint it anyway. 

I will likely continue the cleaning and painting, just to freshen it up a bit and get rid of all the peeling paint.

 

Thank you all for your help, I appreciate it sincerely. 

 

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by HyperPete

[Moparfanforever 929]

Looks like you got it!!  

[ineedanother 2,161]

Looks great @HyperPete Those are good tillers. You'll appreciate the depth stop on your lift as you start to break ground. Deeper with each pass until you get it where you want it