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What Is a Hydraulic Tiller?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

A hydraulic tiller is a piece of machinery often used in conjunction with a towing vehicle such as a tractor or ATV that tills soil, turning it for aeration and weed or rock removal. This machine is used in preparation for planting, usually in gardens or areas that are being prepared to be landscaped. A hydraulic tiller will feature rotating teeth or blades that are propelled by a hydraulic system that uses fluids to provide driving force. Such a design cuts down on noise as well as friction that can be damaging to various components.

Some hydraulic tiller models can be used by walking behind the unit rather than towing it on a tractor or ATV. These units offer more portability and versatility in tight spots where a tractor or ATV cannot fit. The handlebars for such designs will feature hand brakes that can slow or stop wheels mounted on either side of the machine, and the brakes can be used to help steer the unit. Pulling the brake handle on the left side, for example, will slow the left wheel, thereby turning the entire hydraulic tiller to the left. Depressing the right brake will have a similar effect in the opposite direction.

Woman holding a book
Woman holding a book

Some models that are mounted to tractors can take advantage of the power take-off system (PTO) often built into the tractor. This system can power a variety of components, and a hydraulic tiller may be mounted to the power take-off to operate the tines. The unit itself can then be raised and lowered using a hydraulic arm; this allows the user to adjust the depth to which the tines will cut into the soil, or to raise the unit entirely off the ground so the driver can drive over areas that do not need tilling. PTO systems may or may not accommodate hydraulically driven tillers; this depends on the type of tractor as well as its compatibility with the tiller.

The fluid used in hydraulic systems is usually a type of oil. The thickness or viscosity of this oil can vary depending on its application; when the oil is forced through hydraulic hoses and into actuator cylinders, the tines of the tiller can be rotated to cut into the soil. When the fluid is retracted, the tines will stop rotating. This motion is usually controlled by some sort of master cylinder that may or may not be adjustable, depending on the type of system included with the particular tiller model.

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