Rotavator advice please

[brooklynodog]

Just taken on a 3/4 virgin lottie plot. Spent 3 hrs this morning digging by hand realiseing I was getting nowhere fast as its basically just a ploughed field with great dry clods etc. Fancy a rotavator, but cant afford a new one. Theres a couple on Ebay, can anyone please advise what to look for and what hp will I need to do the lottie justice?

[jacob marley]

Why not hire one from a plant hire company the rates for a day or 2 ain't to bad .
I use a Honda 502 it is like a Merry Tiller but stronger but each to his own jacob

[brooklynodog]

Good idea Jacob, I will look into hire. I suppose first dig over will be the worse?

[brooklynodog]

Had a look at local tool hire centres. Price to hire a heavy duty tiller is as much as a second hand one! Yipes!
What about hp?

[Paul Wagland]

You could try your allotment association - they may have one you could use, or know of someone who will do it for you cheaply.

[NOG]

First what ever you do get a 4 stroke.....not a 2 stroke. The as much power as you can get. I would say 3.5 HP is the minimum you should look at but 5 would be best.

My plot is clay and my Mountfiled is I think 4 hp has plowes it up a treat but my Mantis will not scrape the surface unless you dig it first.

Also MIND YOUR BACK.......then you use one you pusj down on the spike to get it to dig and lift to get it to move......it takes a toll on you back after a few hours.

[allotmentlady]

First what ever you do get a 4 stroke.....not a 2 stroke. The as much power as you can get. I would say 3.5 HP is the minimum you should look at but 5 would be best.

My plot is clay and my Mountfiled is I think 4 hp has plowes it up a treat but my Mantis will not scrape the surface unless you dig it first.

Also MIND YOUR BACK.......then you use one you pusj down on the spike to get it to dig and lift to get it to move......it takes a toll on you back after a few hours.

good advice!

[Peter]

Deja-vu!

Same advice for this forum as the other.

[Matt.]

Where are you looking to buy second hand ones from? The ones I've seen are far more expensive than hire prices.

[Two_Sheds]

At least if you hire, you know it'll work. If you buy 2nd hand, esp.off eBay, you can't be sure.

[brooklynodog]

The Ebay ones are local to me and can be seen working prior to paying. I might be able to borrow one any way, so that will solve the problem.

[number 1 suspect]

Went to a boot fair and found an old guy who dealt in machinery. Asked him if he ever got any second hand and he told me to drop by his place later.

Am now the proud owner of a 5hp rotovator. All it needed was a tidy up and away we went.

Cost £60.00

Lucky i guess

Martin