Bercomac (30") Universal-Fit Tow-Behind Forward Rotating Tiller

My Bercomac arrived in three days (plus the weekend) and the delivery man put it right where we asked. The unit was to be mounted on a Craftsman DGS6500(917.28745). Installation was 4 hours start to finish including unpacking crate. I'd read other reviews about the instructions not being clear. I did not find that to be true. In fact, the only problem I had was second guessing the instructions and installing, then uninstalling, reinstalling, uninstalling and re-installing as originally stated in the instructions, the mounting brackets on the transaxle. Probably wasted 30-45 minutes doing that.

I needed to use the spacers between the body and the hitch plate to have clearance for the idler pulley. Again, had I just used all four supplied rather than trying to get by with three, I could have saved a good half hour. Also, I didn't realize that there was a built-in stand for supporting the under tractor frame - which is very nice! I am a drafter/engineer, but I am not a mechanic.

I don't work with wrenches much. And this project showed me why. That, plus I am 62, out-of-shape, and was working on my knees on gravel, which may be why it took four hours. I needed the longest drive belt that was supplied I think, but it fit perfectly. Other than my own mistakes, the installation was easy and the instructions were clear.

The tiller runs very quietly and smoothly. It is well built. For my heavy black Illinois soil, it took 2 passes in pre-tilled (a year earlier) garden. Three passes in sod (only did a small extension area). After four hours of installation, I was a bit disappointed that I only had about an hour and half of use before being done for the spring. The Troy-Bilt would have taken more like four hours and many passes.

I have yet to un-mount and re-mount the unit, but I don't think that it will be too difficult after doing it once.

I did drill an extra hole in the height adjustment hole sequence to allow the tiller to be raised higher for transport or between tills. An easy fix that works great.

All-in-all, I am very pleased with the Bercomac. Well built. Well designed. Smooth. Quiet.
I knocked a star off for cost, only because I am cheap. Had I bought this unit when I bought the tractor (and snowblower attachment) eight years ago, I would have been very, very pleased.

My Bercomac arrived in three days (plus the weekend) and the delivery man put it right where we asked. The unit was to be mounted on a Craftsman DGS6500(917.28745). Installation was 4 hours start to finish including unpacking crate. I'd read other reviews about the instructions not being clear. I did not find that to be true. In fact, the only problem I had was second guessing the instructions and installing, then uninstalling, reinstalling, uninstalling and re-installing as originally... more

Works good

Great product. It works better than I ever expected. It took me a long time to make the decision to buy because there was a lack of good information about this product. I took the plunge and am extremely happy with the quality of this tiller. Instructions are not hard if you read ALL the material provided. The instruction addendum listed my mower specifically and told me what brackets to use and the number of shims and washers to make it work correctly.

This tiller made my old garden plot look fabulous.. It left the soil in a fine powder about six inches deep. I walked across the soil and my shoes were buried under the fluffy stuff. I am well pleased. I plan to post a video on YOUTUBE when I get time. Highly recommend to those tired of struggling with a walk behind tiller.

Great product. It works better than I ever expected. It took me a long time to make the decision to buy because there was a lack of good information about this product. I took the plunge and am extremely happy with the quality of this tiller. Instructions are not hard if you read ALL the material provided. The instruction addendum listed my mower specifically and told me what brackets to use and the number of shims and washers to make it work correctly.

This tiller made my old garden plot... more

I got this tiller primarily to cultivate a small vineyard. It got shipped out the next day and I had it about a week later. Bercomac is correct in saying that it will fit almost any tiller out there but I did have one installation issue that neither the instructions nor Bercomac was able to help with. On my tractor I have 8" wheels. The mounting brackets for the tiller are designed to be used on level or inclined transaxles simply by reversing the bracket. However on my tractor the brackets would touch the wheels when I followed the instructions so I ended up cutting off the part of the backet that was used for inclined transaxles. Once I did that everything went together as described. This shouldn't be an issue for most tractors but just something to be aware of.

The only downside to the whole assembly was that the instructions didn't give a real clear picture of why you needed to use a certain number of sleeves, washers or shims, only that you might need to. It would be much better to have instructions that said "Add sleeves or washers to get at least X inches of clearance between this and that" instead of (in reality) "If the distance between the bottom of the transmission and the bolts is less than 2-1/4" you do not need the sleeves." That's not really telling me what I want to do.

The instructions were unclear in a couple of other places, again not giving you a clear picture of what you wanted. Photographs, rather than the line drawings, would have helped a lot.

The only operation issue I had was that the locking pin does not easily engage with the depth setting as you raise or lower the handle. I'm hoping that this will improve with time.

So the weak instructions, the extra work I had to do to make the universal mount bracket fit, and the iffy depth control cost the tiller a star. I took off a star in the Value rating because for what this cost they should throw in an extra set of brackets instead of trying to make one do double duty.

Otherwise, this thing is one of the tools I'm going to love. It's much heavier duty than most homeowner targeted tools. It's really well engineered and constructed like a brick, well - you know. It's easier to switch from a mower to a tiller and back than either TillersDirect or Bercomac would say. My first time took 15 minutes and that included figuring out how to store it (just tip it upright).

All in all I think this is a great tiller. I got great pre-sale support from both TillersDirect and Bercomac and this thing is so much easier to work with than any hand driven tiller I've ever used.

Highly recommended. Check out the video review.

I got this tiller primarily to cultivate a small vineyard. It got shipped out the next day and I had it about a week later. Bercomac is correct in saying that it will fit almost any tiller out there but I did have one installation issue that neither the instructions nor Bercomac was able to help with. On my tractor I have 8" wheels. The mounting brackets for the tiller are designed to be used on level or inclined transaxles simply by reversing the bracket. However on my tractor the... more

I would recommend this tiller.

I received the tiller, installed it on a Sears 2013 GT5000 with a manual transmission. The initial install can be somewhat difficult, several hours, but that is because the instructions are poor at best.

The tiller itself is well built and works great. After initial install the tiller takes about 10 minutes to re-install.

The pros are that the tiller does not require its own motor, and it does not use any real tractor power to pull since it is forward rotation. Also everything comes with the tiller for most garden tractors including several belts of varying lengths.

The cons are that if you use your tractor for mowing transitioning from mower to tiller takes a little time and the instructions are poor.

I tilled about a quarter of an acre of new ground to 6 inches deep and it took me about an hour. I suspect the same ground, if already broken, would take about 15 or 20 minutes.

I would recommend this tiller.

I received the tiller, installed it on a Sears 2013 GT5000 with a manual transmission. The initial install can be somewhat difficult, several hours, but that is because the instructions are poor at best.

The tiller itself is well built and works great. After initial install the tiller takes about 10 minutes to re-install.

The pros are that the tiller does not require its own motor, and it does not use any real tractor power to pull since it is forward... more

I am pleased with the design and the quality of the material. I installed on a craftsman 28 HP Garden Tractor. I used it to till my garden and worked great. I tested on some very hard ground on my vacant lot that I was going to till for trees.

The ground was too hard, rough, hard & dry to till but the unit stood the abuse. Install was not too bad took about 4 hours. (Mostly to interpret the instructions.) After the initial install appears to be pretty simple to remove and reinstall.

I got this tiller about a month ago. It was delivered to my house in 3 days. Great delivery time! Attaching it to my garden tractor was very simple, I just assembled 2 mounting brackets to my tractor with 4 bolts and 12 shim washers and slid the assembled unit under my garden tractor into the mounting brackets and installed the hitch pin and the tiller was attached.

It took a little bit to figure out the right mounts and shim combination for my tractor, but it only took me about and hour and a half to mount it to my tractor. Most of the time was spent reading the manual and figuring it out. Once it was attached to my tractor I connected the shortest v-belt that came with the unit, but it was about a inch too long, luckly I had a v-belt in my garage that worked. I tilled my garden the next day and I expanded it just a bit. This tiller works great even when tilling up sod. Best purchase i've made in a long time. Wish I would have bought it sooner.

I got this tiller about a month ago. It was delivered to my house in 3 days. Great delivery time! Attaching it to my garden tractor was very simple, I just assembled 2 mounting brackets to my tractor with 4 bolts and 12 shim washers and slid the assembled unit under my garden tractor into the mounting brackets and installed the hitch pin and the tiller was attached.

It took a little bit to figure out the right mounts and shim combination for my tractor, but it only took me about and hour... more

I own a Sears 26.0 HP V-Twin Kohler engine GT6000 garden tractor Model #: 917.28861 with the PTO on the bottom of the tractor. I installed the Bercomac 30 inch tiller using the 'A' brackets and short sleeves. I had to purchase a different drive belt other than the ones supplied. The drive belt from the PTO pulley to the tiller pulley was industry number: Gates belt 4L620K (1/2 inch X 62 inch or 12.5/13 mm X 1575 mm) is the belt utilized.

It fit on the tractor like a glove and the tiller works great! I run a tilling business in Austin, Minnesota and tilled many garden plots with your Bercomac tiller product this spring all from the seat of my Sears garden tractor. In fact, the tiller attachment paid for itself a couple of times over!

I am pleased beyond expectation and my customers were thrilled! It left their garden soil ground up, smooth and pulverized with the torque/RPM's supplied to the tiller tines by the power of the Kohler 26.0 HP V-Twin Sears Garden tractor engine. I couldn't be happier or more satisfied with this tractor attachment. It has, by far, exceeded my expectations.

I own a Sears 26.0 HP V-Twin Kohler engine GT6000 garden tractor Model #: 917.28861 with the PTO on the bottom of the tractor. I installed the Bercomac 30 inch tiller using the 'A' brackets and short sleeves. I had to purchase a different drive belt other than the ones supplied. The drive belt from the PTO pulley to the tiller pulley was industry number: Gates belt 4L620K (1/2 inch X 62 inch or 12.5/13 mm X 1575 mm) is the belt utilized.

It fit on the tractor like a glove and the tiller... more

Got the tiller hooked up to my tractor after some engineering. Works great after the learning process.
you need to get a redneck to help you write the instructions.

Need a tiller for my father-in-law and my deer food plots. We have three acres so I didn't think it would be manageable with a walk behind tiller.

After doing research on this tiller I bought it. Shipping was fast and easy. Installation had a few tricky spots but overall was not that hard (thanks to my father-in-law).

So how does it work? Like a dream! Cut through virgin soil, grass and other weeds. Found some rocks that stopped the belt but every easy to clear.

Overall I think it is a well made, super useful and great product.

Need a tiller for my father-in-law and my deer food plots. We have three acres so I didn't think it would be manageable with a walk behind tiller.

After doing research on this tiller I bought it. Shipping was fast and easy. Installation had a few tricky spots but overall was not that hard (thanks to my father-in-law).

So how does it work? Like a dream! Cut through virgin soil, grass and other weeds. Found some rocks that stopped the belt but every easy to clear.

Overall I think it... more

Installed on a John Deere GT235. Instructions not that hard to follow as some have stated. I used on unbroken ground and this tiller chews right through. Very heavy duty and well built. Hoping it will last a long time as it is a little pricey. Well worth it to me as it is effortless tilling while sitting on a tractor as opposed to fighting with a walk behind tiller, and one less motor to maintain.