Charlie wrote in message
...
On Sat, 23 Jun 2007 20:44:27 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
"Eigenvector" wrote in message
...
The soil my yard sits on it extremely rocky. It's very nice soil, all
glacial till and stream bed composition, but more rocks than I care to
count. Digging a hole is an exercise in futility as I will encounter
round rocks about the size of a baseball or grapefruit more often than
not.

I would like to take a rototiller to a patch of land but fear what will
happen with all those damn rocks. What kind of things should I look
out
for when rototilling really rocky soil? Do I need a special tiller,
should I simply not do it, would renting one be a bad idea (I'm
thinking
of damage to the unit), would a rototiller not do a good job? Are
there
other options besides a tractor?


What kinds of plants do you want to grow in the area you're talking
about?
Some plants don't mind rocks, while others MUST have soil free of rocks.
Carrots would be an example of the latter.

I'm not really asking about that part right now. I'm just wondering if a
rototiller can handle large rocks and difficult soil without damaging the
unit.

I'm gathering from the fact that no one wants to directly address the
question that the answer to it is "no". So now I know what not to do.


I'll directly address it. It's a slow day here today, most folks are
elswhere. It hasn't been that long since you posted.

Yeah, you'll likely damage a tiller, though you didn't specify what
kind of tiller. Rear-tine, front tine, belt drive, gear drive?

Likely you'll be shearing pins on a reartine, belt drive, if equipped
with shearpins. Likely will shear drivewheel pins, as rocks get wedged
between the tines/guard/drivewheels.

If rocks are large enough they can be forced inside the tinebasket and
be a bear to get out.

Been there done that, no fun, noisy, bends things.

So yeah, tilling is gonna be rough and damaging. Maybe to yourself as
well. Rocks can split or be shot out and cause injury.

Charlie

Yeah that definitely doesn't sound like what I want. Thanks.