[kmacaoidh]

All of that sounds a bit familiar to me, and that’s just from using newer, but fairly big, two wheel tractors. Especially being lifted of one’s feet! In reverse usually. But I had to make allowances as I have sometimes been working in gardens and fields with slight gradients or dips. Your experiences are also much of the reason why I have been enquiring about DIFF locks and lighter, easily workable, machines. I appreciate the contributions

[kmacaoidh]

Where I took that photo also had an old Trusty, on show outside and in poor condition. I will post a photo, maybe to be added to Geoff’s list of Survivors?

[kmacaoidh]

It’s not a Mayfield in this photo, a British Anzani and the smaller wheeled tractor in behind it, amongst a very busy garage i stumbled upon. Full of old farm equipment. I’ve seen photos of these smaller machines before but can’t think of their name now, abs I couldn’t really climb in to get a closer look! But not a Mayfield?

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[kmacaoidh]

The Mayfield looks like a very adaptable tractor? I have looked at the vhgmc photo gallery, there are some wonder variations, along with your own finger-bar mower and sprayer. The sprayer is a fixed unit? The other attachments interchangeable? The flywheel is very useful. The Mayfield seems to have good ground clearance as well, for inter drill work? Ploughing. Was there a Mayfield plough? The barrow feature is also great. And if it can take 25 gallons, it’s a strong enough engine for every job?

[kmacaoidh]

I’ll have to look out for the Monrotiller, and do a bit of research on the different models? On the vhgmc website maybe, see a few photos. The mid-range to larger Honda’s are similar? Or I may be mistaken. I’ll check the archives

[kmacaoidh]

Good to hear from you all, and thank you for your experienced information. I do have a Goldoni LD63 DF Prof 1999 Jolly, Italian made tractor that is free wheeling, easily steered, with a lever to engage the DIFF for better traction when pulling in a straight line. Strong, heavy enough, machine.

I’m sure that most of the similar Agria, Bertolini, Iseki, Kubota etc tractor have something much the same features. The never BCS tractors definitely have this.

My question relates more to smaller, lighter, and possibly older tractors? Vintage I guess, but not necessarily. It’s more to do with workability, tight spaces and the strength and age to move these things around with ease. As I continue using these small tractors, I find that I’m looking for smaller machines more as the years go by.

Small is beautiful they say?

[kmacaoidh]

What a wonderful cover photograph on the The Cultivator this month! Think it’s the best yet? Lovely old tractor, great bit of ploughing, a sunny day as backdrop. What more do you need.
Makes me take a note to check back on previous ‘covers’ again, and read through some of those old copies and articles.
The second note, to check through those articles to see if there have been many articles on ploughing good practice, advice, tricks of the trade, and suchlike? Information on setting up Ploughs? Lists even, of some of the classic old, and new, ploughs. The tried and trusted tools of the trade, the methods, the tractors that pulled them, and the artists that turned the soil as beautifully as that pictured on the Cultivator 146, April 2023

[kmacaoidh]

I can’t help you with the PDF booklet for your machine, I’ve searched around plenty myself looking for general information on the lineage, history, and Honda model progression down over the years. Without much success. Apart from link I was given to their own Honda website, that has good information on their first tillers.
Where do the F90 & F100 come in early 70’s, 60’s??
Does your tiller have differential lock? Selection of gears? What hp is it even!?
It’s a fine looking machine and I’m always shopping around myself, looking for similar or newer versions of these multi usage Honda tillers.

[kmacaoidh]

That is a very interesting, and detailed, article on the development of their mini tillers, and as alluded to they were making rotavators, bigger ones for agricultural use, we’ll before that. The 50’s maybe? I couldn’t find anything more on bigger tillers on their website!? Lots about motorbikes, racing cars, and so much more as you said. The history of the Kubota and Yanmar equivalents would be equally as interesting. Even the social history that the move to mini-tillers infer, that people had moved away from food growing on a larger, domestic, scale to recreational gardening? Or is this even the case, there does seem to have been a lot of varied equipment out there on the market year ago, as evidenced by VHGM, that’s not really there now. Any other directions of enquiry on the Honda History much welcomed

[kmacaoidh]

Thank you Will, for the photo and Merry Tiller suggestion. I’m still a bit confused as to how the tool fits into the hitch? Or I’m over thinking how complicated the hitch is? Has it got two bolts to tighten it securely into position? A side photo of the hitch would be great if, you Will or anyone else, had one?

[kmacaoidh]

I didn’t know that either!? It’s just that I have both types of spade.i must check the exact labeling on them next time. I’m not sure if the two brand names are historically related? Or a more modern coming together, or just a coincidental marketing name they share, or have appropriated? Either way the old spades I have are fine fine tools, but I have no experience of working with the newly manufactured versions. Very interesting if it is the same company making them both all these years? Think I must take a closer look at all these old work tools when I get a chance.

[kmacaoidh]

Never end! That’s corrective txt for you. Neverbend was what I intended. But kind of appropriate anyway, in the context. Spades that last a lifetime, or two.

[kmacaoidh]

I have two Never end spades, not stainless steel so they need a lick of oil to keep them clean, but very strong well made spades. Comfortable to work with. And bought for a song at a sale. Didn’t realize they might, possibly, be that old! The 30’s? I have old Spears & Jackson spades also, well worn with work, old, but they were great tools as well.

[kmacaoidh]

Thanks for that Alan, hadn’t spotted those amongst the photo options. That great, these wheel hoes will whet the apatite till we get to search out some more. I’m interested in looking around to see what might be the wheel hoes with the best features and tool attachments compatability, ease of use, design, for general field and garden work.

I new VHGMC would have the good stuff hidden away somewhere!

[kmacaoidh]

Look forward to seeing your pictures of your Honda, if it’s from the 50’s it’s definitely not the one I posted pictures of. It’s just that the handle bar neck and engine mounting looks so similar! Must check year and serial no.s on what I have. Interesting. Great that you have it together and work again anyway

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