Rotovator recommendations

[Thomas6180]

Planning to upgrade my old well worn Howard rotovator before next season, will be looking for around 3mtr with blades, has anyone recently bought a new one? which makes are good and which to avoid?
not doing big acres and on light land. Thanks in advance

 

[john432]

Haven't they been replaced mainly by power harrows? A much handier machine.Plough and follow with a power harrow so much faster and if needed can go deep enough for root crops.. Stone burriers which are basically glorified rotovators have been tried...too slow in an old ley. My opinion is it's a machine for reinstating dry ripped up cultivated ground.

 

[Thomas6180]

Haven't they been replaced mainly by power harrows? A much handier machine.Plough and follow with a power harrow so much faster and if needed can go deep enough for root crops.. Stone burriers which are basically glorified rotovators have been tried...too slow in an old ley. My opinion is it's a machine for reinstating dry ripped up cultivated ground.

Power harrow is OK, but as its mainly root crops were growing once the tines wear they struggle to work to the desired depth......

 

[Western promise]

Look at Alpego great quality product.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Kuhn was always a very good rotavator

 

[fergie35]

Kuhn was always a very good rotavator

Was going to say Kuhn. Done a few little ones and they runs sweat as and make a nice job. Know of people with older 2 & 3m ones also do a good job still.

 

[Kevtherev]

Hired a Kuhn well built rotavator and have an older krone one here not sure if krone still make them?
Maschio still make them I think.

 

[grainboy]

Have two Dowdeswell ones available. But not 3m

 

[ED.D]

I’ve got a 3m alpego and very pleased with it.

 

[Horn&corn]

Our dowdswell was good but now got machio now and different league. Gearbox rated at 300hp. They do various models to suit budgets and work

 

[Thomas6180]

Have two Dowdeswell ones available. But not 3m

could you send me details of them please

 

[Thomas6180]

Our dowdswell was good but now got machio now and different league. Gearbox rated at 300hp. They do various models to suit budgets and work

Have looked at the Maschio and intend to look into them

 

[grainboy]

Dowdeswell, 72in and 60 in available,

 

[Dchappy]

Hard to beat the heavy duty Howard’s

 

[Zebbedee]

Dowdeswell, 72in and 60 in available, View attachment 1035361View attachment 1035362View attachment 1035365View attachment 1035363View attachment 1035366View attachment 1035367View attachment 1035368

Tidy machines

 

[carpenter1]

Dowdeswell, 72in and 60 in available, View attachment 1035361View attachment 1035362View attachment 1035365View attachment 1035363View attachment 1035366View attachment 1035367View attachment 1035368

How much are they?

 

[ollie989898]

Haven't they been replaced mainly by power harrows? A much handier machine.Plough and follow with a power harrow so much faster and if needed can go deep enough for root crops.. Stone burriers which are basically glorified rotovators have been tried...too slow in an old ley. My opinion is it's a machine for reinstating dry ripped up cultivated ground.

Powerharrow and rotovator do different jobs really. A powerharrow can't bury anything like a rotovator can.

 

[john432]

Powerharrow and rotovator do different jobs really. A powerharrow can't bury anything like a rotovator can.

I did say plough and follow with a power harrow,and in my humble experience does a far better job( if done properly) of burying the turf etc .so much faster and fuel efficient to get a clean clod free seed bed, than using a rotovator.

 

[aled1590]

I would say rotovator far better than plough and PH for root crops, gives a firmer seed bed and keeps stock cleaner and drier under their feet in winter, and surely it’s quicker and cheaper than plough and ph

 

[Dchappy]

Depends on size and model
Rotospikes can be 350 up to 700
Blades 400 right up to 1300
HRN had one for sale was a late model very heavy duty made 2800 was tidy
If you are good with your hands try and pick up one with a good frame work cause the rest is only tin work which it’s easy to cut away and replace same with back doors
And before I get shot down the old Howard’s are well made and still have a place on the farm

I did say plough and follow with a power harrow,and in my humble experience does a far better job( if done properly) of burying the turf etc .so much faster and fuel efficient to get a clean clod free seed bed, than using a rotovator.

totally agree but not on the power harrow my dad always said good farming starts with good ploughing the power harrow is faster by a mile but if your land is heavy and dries out hard a bladed Howard will make just as nice a job if not better so be slower but power harrow will just play with it
Both have there place some are better then other