BCS walk-behind tractor with 30" tiller, with
Earth Tools TDS installed (ALSO FITS GRILLO TILLERS)

The BCS PDR and Earth Tools TDS both add a full-width roller to a tiller implement to precisely regulate tilling depth and leave a level, pressed bed. This enables consistently shallow tillage to minimize soil disturbance, plus providing a “pressed” seedbed for best results with precision multi-row seeding equipment; This allows the tiller implement to perform SOME of the functions that the Power Harrow has become famous for. BCS and Earth Tools have developed their own different versions of this roller system: Earth Tools’ version is the TDS (Tiller Depth System), and the BCS version is the PDR (Precision Depth Roller). Both types achieve much the same results, but we have designed our TDS system to be much easier to install & remove, easier to handle, have more versatility, AND it is more affordable. Please see the chart below for the pros / cons of both types. We stock both versions…

The Earth Tools TDS comes standard with a SMOOTH roller made of tubular aluminum, which will not “fill up” with the material discharged rear-ward out of a tiller. Thus, we were able to nestle the roller right up under the tiller rear flap, to “shorten” the whole system up as much as possible (6.5” shorter overall than the BCS version), therefore making it easier to handle (and less prone to whacking your shins on when maneuvering / turning around the machine!). To deal with the fact that a “solid” roller may build up soil on it in damp conditions, we have an adjustable scraper-bar oriented over the top of the roller to scrape off excess soil.
Even though the smooth roller makes the Earth Tools TDS a few pounds heavier than the BCS version, the fact that it is so much shorter (closer to the tractor fulcrum/axle) makes the “perceived weight” (that is, the amount of effort the operator has to generate to lift the tiller out of the ground) LESS than the BCS version.
With EITHER the Earth Tools OR the BCS version, the weight the operator has to deal with when lifting the tiller out of the soil obviously increases when a roller is added to the tiller… so we recommend adding engine-side counterweights to offset this. (See below in pricing section) Our front-weights are “suitcase-style”, so they hook right onto the engine bumper with no tools needed. NOTE: IF YOU HAVE VERY SOFT / SANDY SOILS, EVEN MORE FRONT COUNTER-BALANCE WEIGHTS WILL BE NEEDED – OTHERWISE, THE GROUND-PRESSURE OF THE ROLLER MAY “SQUISH” THE SOIL OUT TO THE SIDES TOO MUCH, PARTICULARLY ON RAISED BEDS. THIS GOES FOR BOTH THE BCS PDR AND THE EARTH TOOLS TDS.

The Earth Tools TDS mounts to BCS 26” OR 30” tillers, or Grillo 27” & 30” tillers. (NOTE: The Earth Tools TDS has a roller that is 30” wide, so if used on a 26” or 27” tiller, the roller will be wider than the tiller), and once the mounting frame is installed, the roller assembly mounts or dismounts from the tiller in about a minute, making it easy to convert back to a “regular” tiller for deep tillage OR for operating the Hiller/Furrower, which is an accessory that goes behind the tiller (but will obviously not attach if there is a roller in the way). NO modifications or changes need to be made to the tiller in order to mount the Earth Tools TDS or to make it work properly. By contrast, the BCS PDR takes at least a half-hour to mount because it requires the removal of the tiller “rear flap” and also requires that the outside tine holders of the tiller actually be changed. So if you have the BCS PDR installed on your tiller and you want to operate a Hiller/Furrower behind your tiller, you will spend quite a bit of time removing the roller so that the Furrower will fit and then more time re-installing the roller afterwards. The BCS-brand PDR system is available in 2 different widths: To fit the BCS-brand 26” tiller, or the BCS 30” tiller. The BCS system requires about a half-hour to mount or dismount it from the tiller.

Cage-type roller is used for weed-control applications

When using the roller to regulate depth in WEEDING applications, the Earth Tools TDS offers an optional Cage-Type Roller, which is made up of horizontal bars with space between them. This still offers precise depth control but minimizes soil contact and leaves the soil “fluffy” to that uprooted weeds have much less chance of re-rooting. The two roller types can be switched out in the frame in less than 2 minutes, with just 2 bolts.

The range of adjustment the Earth Tools TDS system offers allows 11 positions, ranging from 0 to 3” of tilling depth, and will also lift the tiller off the ground for transport. The depth increments are roughly 1/3” apart for very fine adjustment. The BCS version (the “PDR”) has a greater range of working depth: 0 to 7”, with 16 adjustment positions (roughly ½” increments)….so it is capable of doing a “deep till” while the roller is still mounted. This is the one advantage of the BCS PDR: The ability to still till to “full depth” while the roller is in place. (This is fortunate, because the BCS version is quite time-consuming to mount or dismount from the tiller!) By comparison, we made the Earth Tools TDS so that it can be installed or removed in a couple minutes, so that folks who wanted to “deep-till” can just pop the roller off in a minute or two and have a lighter, more maneuverable machine for deep-tilling.

PLEASE NOTE: When EITHER of these “roller” systems are mounted to the tiller, the TOTAL width increases 2” to 3” beyond the original tiller width, as the roller is slightly wider than the tiller (and the so-called 30” BCS tiller is actually 31.25” wide to start with) ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: The Hiller/Furrower accessory will NOT mount to the back of the Tiller implement while any of the “roller” systems are mounted!!

NEW ACCESSORY! ROW MARKER KIT to fit Earth Tools TDS roller

Row-marker frame with 3 markers installed
(shown on power harrow, but also fits TDS)

Now available to fit the Earth Tools TDS roller system (does NOT fit the BCS PDR sytsem). Accommodates up to 6 markers on the frame. Markers easily adjusted / added / subtracted with thumb-screws. The markers are rounded on the bottom, so as to avoid catching and dragging organic material (cover crop residue, etc.). The row-marker frame installs or removes in about 15 seconds. Flips “up” when you need to turn the tractor around, back up, etc. -SEE BELOW FOR PRICES-

Row-marker "down" for marking
(shown on power harrow, but also fits TDS)

Row-marker "up" for turning, etc.
(shown on power harrow, but also fits TDS)

Videos:

Watch: TDS assembly and directions

Watch: The TDS in action

Watch: Tiller With Depth Roller System vs. Power Harrow

Earth Tools TDS (Tiller Depth System)

• Item # ET TDS-B: Fits BCS 26” and 30” tillers (Only 1 width, so if used on a 26” tiller, it will be wider than the tiller) NOTE: ONLY fits Post-1995 BCS tillers (with “rounded” hoods)…does NOT fit older (pre-1995) BCS tillers with “sqared-off” hoods
• Item # ET TDS-G: Fits Grillo 27” and 30” tillers (Only 1 width, so if used on a 27” tiller, it will be wider than the tiller)
• Shipped Disassembled
• MSRP: $800 $750
• Optional Cage-Type Roller for above TDS (for weeding applications) Item: ET TDS Cage Roller; MSRP: $150 $135 – IF PURCHASED AT SAME TIME AS TDS ABOVE, SPECIAL PRICE $110
• 25 lb. “Suitcase-style” Front-weight to fit current BCS gas tractors (requires removal of any decorative plastic from engine bumper on some BCS models): Item ET-FRTWT, MSRP: $79 $69
• Additional 25 lb. weight-plate for above “Suitcase-style” weights (for extra counterbalance if needed) Item ET-FRTWT-ADD: MSRP: $52 $46

Note: Since the Earth Tools TDS is not a “BCS-manufactured” accessory, BCS has stated that if any damage to their tiller implement occurs during the warranty period as a result of the Earth Tools TDS being mounted to it, this damage will NOT be covered by the BCS warranty. However, since we at Earth Tools stand behind our products, if such damage occurs during the warranty period, WE (Earth Tools) will cover the repair.

BCS America PDR (Precision Depth Roller)

• Item # 922.91312 - Fits BCS 26” tillers (does NOT include tiller in picture!) MSRP: $930 Earth Tools Regular Sale price: $883 YEAR-END PROMO PRICE UNTIL DEC 31 2024: $837 NOTE: ONLY fits Post-1995 BCS tillers (with “rounded” hoods)…does NOT fit older (pre-1995) BCS tillers with “sqared-off” hoods
• Item # 922.91311 - Fits BCS 30” tillers (does NOT include tiller in picture!) MSRP: $1015 Earth Tools Regular Sale price: $964 YEAR-END PROMO PRICE UNTIL DEC 31 2024: $914 NOTE: ONLY fits Post-1995 BCS tillers (with “rounded” hoods)…does NOT fit older (pre-1995) BCS tillers with “sqared-off” hoods
• Shipped Disassembled
• 25 lb. “Suitcase-style” Front-weight to fit current BCS gas tractors (requires removal of any decorative plastic from engine bumper on some BCS models): Item ET-FRTWT, MSRP: $79 $69
• Additional 25 lb. weight-plate for above “Suitcase-style” weights (for extra counterbalance if needed) Item ET-FRTWT-ADD: MSRP: $52 $46