{"id":329,"date":"2026-07-24T05:32:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T05:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/?post_type=product&p=329"},"modified":"2026-07-24T05:32:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T05:32:18","slug":"ep30-30hp-540-rpm-rotary-cultivator-gearbox","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/nn\/product\/ep30-30hp-540-rpm-rotary-cultivator-gearbox\/","title":{"rendered":"EP30 30HP 540 RPM Rotary Cultivator Gearbox"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Agricultural Soil Cultivation Transmission<\/p>\n

EP30 30HP 540 RPM
\nRotary Cultivator Gearbox<\/h2>\n

A precision-engineered PTO-driven transmission unit delivering consistent rotor torque across compact and mid-range tractor applications \u2014 built for vegetable farming, seedbed preparation, and inter-row cultivation on arable land worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Technical Specifications \u2014 EP30 Rotary Cultivator Gearbox<\/h2>\n
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Parameter<\/th>\nRotary Cultivator Gearbox Specification<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Model<\/td>\nEP30 (HC30 Series) Rotary Cultivator Gearbox<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Power (HP)<\/td>\n30 HP<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rated Input Speed<\/td>\n540 RPM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gear Ratio<\/td>\n1:2.9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Teeth Configuration<\/td>\n32\/11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Module<\/td>\n3.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Input Shaft Interface<\/td>\n1 3\/8 Z6 spline<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Output Interface<\/td>\nOptic axis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Net Weight<\/td>\n13.5 kg<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Overall Dimensions (mm)<\/td>\n246 (L: 79+84+83) \u00d7 141.5 (H) \u00d7 61.1 (base depth)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"superiortransmissioninc-products-EP30<\/p>\n

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Five Key Performance Advantages<\/h2>\n
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\u25ba High Step-Down Ratio for Maximum Rotor Torque<\/div>\n

The 1:2.9 fixed ratio of the EP30 rotary cultivator gearbox steps down 540 rpm PTO input to approximately 186 rpm at the rotor shaft \u2014 the optimal operating band for L-blade and C-blade tine sets cutting into medium-heavy soils. This high multiplication factor means the tractor engine delivers near-maximum torque to the tines even during sudden increases in soil resistance, protecting the drivetrain from overload stall events.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u25ba Compact and Lightweight at 13.5 kg<\/div>\n

Weighing only 13.5 kg, the EP30 Rotary Cultivator Gearbox is one of the lightest 30 HP rotary cultivator gearbox units in its class. The compact 246 mm overall length allows it to fit within narrower centre-housing designs used on 1.0 m to 1.6 m working-width tillers commonly used in Italian vegetable farms, Japanese market gardens, and Southeast Asian paddy field preparation machines where available centre-section space is limited.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u25ba Universal 1 3\/8 Z6 Spline Input<\/div>\n

The 1 3\/8 Z6 spline is the most widely adopted PTO stub shaft standard across tractor brands globally \u2014 covering virtually every compact and mid-range machine from 20 HP to 65 HP produced by major manufacturers in Europe, North America, and Asia. This means the EP30 Rotary Cultivator Gearbox installs on existing equipment without shaft adaptor sleeves, reducing both installation time and the number of additional components required in a rotary cultivator gearbox replacement<\/strong> scenario.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u25ba Module 3.0 Bevel Gear Set for Long Service Life<\/div>\n

The 32\/11 gear pair cut at module 3.0 provides robust tooth cross-sections sized for the shock loading patterns typical of rotary tilling in stony or root-bearing soils. Gear module selection directly governs tooth bending strength, and module 3.0 at this power rating gives the EP30 Rotary Cultivator Gearbox a meaningful safety factor against tooth root fracture during intermittent obstacle strikes \u2014 a common failure mode in lower-quality agricultural rotary cultivator gearbox<\/strong> alternatives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u25ba ISO 9001:2015 Process-Controlled Manufacturing<\/div>\n

Every EP30 Rotary Cultivator Gearbox is produced under ISO 9001:2015 quality management \u2014 covering raw material traceability, gear tooth inspection at the hobbing stage, case depth verification after heat treatment, bearing pre-load setting at assembly, and a final loaded run-in test. This end-to-end process control produces a gearbox rotary cultivator unit that distributors and end-users can put into service with confidence in its consistency and dimensional accuracy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Working Principle of the EP30 Rotary Cultivator Gearbox<\/h2>\n

The EP30 rotary cultivator gearbox receives rotation from the tractor PTO at 540 rpm through the 1 3\/8 Z6 splined input shaft. Internally, the bevel pinion (11 teeth, module 3.0) meshes with the ring gear (32 teeth) to simultaneously redirect the rotational axis and step the speed down at a ratio of 1:2.9. The output shaft \u2014 which carries the rotor tine assembly through the optic axis interface \u2014 turns at approximately 186 rpm under rated conditions. This output speed is deliberately within the working range that balances effective soil fragmentation with acceptable vibration levels transmitted back into the implement frame and tractor linkage.<\/p>\n

The bevel gear mesh is a right-angle arrangement, allowing the tractor PTO shaft (which runs parallel to the direction of travel) to drive a rotor shaft that runs perpendicular \u2014 a geometry fundamental to all rotary tiller designs. The 32-tooth ring gear runs in a splash oil bath within the sealed housing, receiving continuous lubrication across the full tooth face width. Bearing surfaces on both the input pinion shaft and the output rotor shaft are supported by taper roller or deep-groove ball bearing sets sized to carry both the radial loads from gear mesh forces and the axial loads that arise as the tine rotor cuts into soil under working depth.<\/p>\n

Understanding what a rotary cultivator is used for clarifies why the gearbox ratio matters so much in this application: the goal is to fracture and invert a defined soil profile depth \u2014 typically 100 mm to 200 mm \u2014 in a single pass, producing a fine tilth suitable for direct seeding or transplanting. Too low an output speed leaves the tines unable to fracture clods adequately; too high a speed creates excessive fine material and dust, destroying soil structure. The 1:2.9 ratio of the EP30 sits precisely within the band proven effective across most soil types and arable conditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Materials and Construction of Rotary Cultivator Gearbox<\/h2>\n

The EP30 housing is cast from high-grade ductile iron to GGG50 specification, giving the unit a tensile strength in excess of 500 MPa alongside the vibration-damping characteristics needed to isolate resonance from the tine rotor during operation in stony and root-bearing soils. Ductile iron is the industry-accepted material for agricultural rotary cultivator gearbox housings because it withstands the impact loads that occur when tines strike embedded rocks or compacted subsoil pans \u2014 loads that would crack a lower-grade grey iron housing within a single growing season in stony arable land.<\/p>\n

The bevel gear set is machined from 20CrMnTi or equivalent low-alloy carburising steel. After hobbing to the 32\/11 tooth configuration at module 3.0, gears undergo controlled atmosphere carburising and quench hardening to achieve a case depth of 0.8\u20131.2 mm at HRC 58\u201362 hardness, with the core remaining at 30\u201335 HRC to resist fracture under shock loading. The tooth flanks are finish-ground to AGMA Quality 9 or better for smooth, low-noise mesh and even load distribution across the full tooth width. This is particularly important in a rotary tiller gearbox context where gear noise is transmitted directly through the implement frame to the operator environment.<\/p>\n

Shaft material is 42CrMo4 (AISI 4140 equivalent) alloy steel, hardened to 28\u201332 HRC core hardness and ground to h6 journal tolerance for proper bearing fit. Both the input and output shaft seals are NBR lip seals rated for EP gear oil compatibility at operating temperatures up to 100 \u00b0C, ensuring reliable sealing performance across the wide ambient temperature range encountered from cold spring soil preparation operations in Northern Europe and Canada through to year-round tropical cultivation in South and Southeast Asian rice and vegetable growing regions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Application Scenarios of Rotary Cultivator Gearbox<\/h2>\n
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\ud83c\udf3f Seedbed Preparation on Arable Farms<\/h3>\n

The most fundamental use of a rotary cultivator gearbox<\/strong> is breaking primary-tilled soil into a fine, level seedbed ahead of precision drilling. On arable farms across the UK, Germany, France, and Canada, the EP30 drives rotor tine assemblies at the 186 rpm output needed to fracture winter-compacted seedbeds into the fine tilth required for successful small-seed establishment in crops such as oilseed rape, sugar beet, carrots, and onions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\ud83c\udf3f Paddy Field Preparation in Rice Production<\/h3>\n

In lowland rice production systems across Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, rotary tillers driven by 25\u201340 HP two-wheel and four-wheel tractors perform wet and dry primary tillage in preparation for transplanted and direct-seeded rice crops. The EP30 gearbox rotary cultivator configuration handles the high torque demands of cutting through dry paddy crust and wet puddling operations within a single compact unit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\ud83c\udf3f Vegetable Farm Inter-Row Cultivation<\/h3>\n

Market garden and commercial vegetable operations in Italy, Spain, California, and Japan use narrow rotary tillers for inter-row weed control and soil aeration between established plant rows. The compact housing dimensions of the EP30 allow it to power narrow inter-row cultivator heads where gearbox width is a critical constraint. This is a primary use case that defines what a rotary cultivator is used for in intensive horticulture systems worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\ud83c\udf3f Cover Crop and Stubble Incorporation<\/h3>\n

After harvest, arable farms use rotary tillers to chop and incorporate cereal stubble, straw residues, and overwinter cover crops ahead of the next cultivation cycle. In the UK, US Midwest, and northern India wheat belt regions, the EP30 agricultural rotary cultivator gearbox handles the mixed chopping and incorporation task that would require two separate operations with plough and disc equipment, reducing fuel use and field traffic compaction per season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\ud83c\udf3f Orchard and Vineyard Floor Management<\/h3>\n

Grape growers in France, Spain, South Africa, and Chile, and apple and pear orchardists in New Zealand and Australia, run compact rotary tillers between tree and vine rows to manage grass competition, incorporate pruning material, and maintain aeration of orchard floor soil. The EP30 rotary tiller cultivator gearbox powers narrow (1.0\u20131.2 m) inter-row tillers that fit under low canopy clearances where larger machines cannot operate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"superiortransmissioninc-products-EP30<\/p>\n

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Global Standards and Regulatory Requirements<\/h2>\n

Rotary cultivators and their transmission components are subject to machinery safety legislation in all major agricultural markets. Buyers and OEM integrators should be aware of the applicable framework in their region.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Region<\/th>\nKey Standard<\/th>\nScope for Cultivator Gearboxes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
EU Member States<\/td>\nMachinery Directive 2006\/42\/EC \u00b7 EN ISO 11684<\/td>\nCE marking required; rotating tine and PTO shaft guarding mandatory; safety sign requirements per EN ISO 11684 for all PTO-driven soil tillage machinery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
United Kingdom<\/td>\nUK Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 \u00b7 PUWER 1998<\/td>\nUKCA marking required post-Brexit; PUWER obligations require full guarding of PTO input and tine rotor; pre-work inspection and maintenance records recommended for hired equipment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
United States<\/td>\nANSI\/ASABE S493 \u00b7 OSHA 29 CFR 1928.57<\/td>\nASABE standard governs design and guarding of rotary tillers and cultivators; OSHA agricultural regulations require intact PTO shaft guard during all field operations; state-level OSHA plans may impose additional requirements<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Australia<\/td>\nWHS Regulations 2017 \u00b7 Safe Work Australia<\/td>\nPTO-driven implements must meet guarding standards under model WHS regulations; state OHS authorities have jurisdiction; pre-use risk assessment required under the Safe Work Australia model code for plant and structures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
India<\/td>\nBIS IS 4685 \u00b7 Tractors and Farm Machinery Safety Act<\/td>\nBIS IS 4685 covers rotary tillers and cultivators; implements sold in India must meet Bureau of Indian Standards requirements for guarding and performance; BIS registration is mandatory for commercial agricultural equipment imports<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Japan<\/td>\nJIS B 9726 \u00b7 Agricultural Machinery Safety Ordinance<\/td>\nJIS B 9726 specifies safety requirements for rotary tillers sold in Japan; the Agricultural Machinery Safety Ordinance mandates guarding and operator protection measures; JFMIA accreditation is recognised by major distributors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Regulatory requirements evolve and may vary by jurisdiction. Buyers should verify current local standards with the relevant national authority before deploying PTO-driven cultivation equipment commercially.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Compatible Products \u2014 Integrated Cultivation System<\/h2>\n

The EP30 Rotary Cultivator Gearbox forms the power centre of a complete cultivation drivetrain. Pairing it with a matched rotary cultivator implement and a correctly rated PTO shaft gives operators a fully integrated system in which every component is specified for the same power class \u2014 reducing compatibility issues and simplifying after-sale maintenance across the full drive chain.<\/p>\n

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Rotary Cultivator Implements<\/h3>\n

A complete rotary cultivator<\/a> matched to the EP30 gearbox provides a pre-validated implement-gearbox assembly where rotor tine loading, working width, and gear ratio are all optimised as a system. Sourcing the implement and gearbox from the same production operation reduces engineering risk when specifying for a new cultivation task, and simplifies spare parts management for distributors operating in markets where parts availability strongly influences purchasing decisions \u2014 including smallholder farming regions in South and Southeast Asia and East Africa.<\/p>\n

\"superiortransmissioninc-Rotary<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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PTO Drive Shafts<\/h3>\n

Every EP30 Rotary Cultivator Gearbox installation requires a PTO shaft<\/a> rated to carry the full 30 HP input at 540 rpm between the tractor output stub and the gearbox 1 3\/8 Z6 input. Our shafts for this application are available in standard cross-joint and wide-angle versions, with friction clutch options to meet CE and UK safety guarding requirements for slip protection on PTO-driven rotary tiller cultivator gearbox installations. Using a shaft rated to the same power specification as the gearbox ensures that the weakest point in the drivetrain is never the shaft itself \u2014 and that the friction clutch, not the gearbox input shaft bearing, absorbs any overload event from an obstacle strike during field operation.<\/p>\n

\"PTO<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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About the Manufacturer<\/h2>\n

With more than ten years of applied mechanical engineering behind every product, this manufacturing facility produces a comprehensive range of power transmission and agricultural machinery components. The catalogue spans agricultural gearboxes, worm gear reducers, planetary gear drives, PTO shafts, hydraulic cylinders, precision gear wheels, roller chains, and electric motors \u2014 all managed under an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system with in-process dimensional inspection at every critical machining stage.<\/p>\n

Custom gearbox assemblies are also engineered and produced to buyer specifications in ductile iron, cast iron, cast steel, precision investment cast steel, and cast aluminium. Supporting mechanical components \u2014 gear wheels, chain sprockets, worm gear sets, timing pulleys, worm shafts, and both standard and non-standard precision parts \u2014 are manufactured on-site, giving procurement teams a single accountable source from first drawing through to field-ready delivery without the coordination overhead of multiple sub-suppliers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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WorkShop<\/h3>\n
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\"Gearbox
\n\"CNC
\n\"Production
\n\"Drilling<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
\nQ1. What is the function of a rotary cultivator gearbox and why does the gear ratio matter for seedbed preparation on a UK arable farm?<\/summary>\n
The gearbox in a rotary cultivator reduces the high-speed, low-torque input from the tractor PTO to a lower-speed, high-torque output that spins the tine rotor at a rate appropriate for soil fragmentation. On UK arable farms, where autumn-established cereal seedbeds need to meet a defined tilth quality standard for combine residue incorporation or spring vegetable drilling, the ratio must be matched to working speed and forward travel speed together. The EP30 ratio of 1:2.9 gives a rotor output of approximately 186 rpm at 540 rpm PTO \u2014 proven effective for seedbed work at 4\u20137 km\/h forward speed in medium-heavy soils across the English Midlands and East Anglia.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nQ2. How do I find the correct agricultural rotary cultivator gearbox replacement for a worn-out unit on a 30HP tractor-mounted tiller in Australia?<\/summary>\n
Start by measuring the centre housing mounting bolt pattern, input shaft bore and spline count, output shaft diameter and interface type, and the approximate gear ratio from your existing unit. The EP30 uses a 1 3\/8 Z6 input spline (the standard on most 30 HP-class tractors in Australia including Kubota, John Deere, and Mahindra compact ranges), an optic axis output, and a fixed 1:2.9 ratio. Cross-referencing these four figures against our product drawing will verify compatibility for most Australian rotary tiller cultivator gearbox replacement scenarios without the need for custom machining.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nQ3. Which gear oil should I use in a rotary cultivator gearbox operating in wet paddy field conditions across tropical Southeast Asian rice farms?<\/summary>\n
For wet paddy and humid tropical environments in Vietnam, Thailand, or the Philippines, use an API GL-4 or GL-5 rated EP gear oil in SAE 80W-90 or SAE 90 viscosity. The multi-grade option (80W-90) is preferred where the machine also operates in cooler dry-season conditions, as it maintains adequate viscosity at low morning ambient temperatures while still providing good film strength at midday sump temperatures. Inspect the oil for water contamination \u2014 milky white appearance indicates ingress through the lip seal \u2014 at every 50-hour interval during the first cultivation season in a new unit or after any seal replacement.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nQ4. What are the most common rotary cultivator gearbox parts that need replacement on a commercial vegetable farm in North America after two seasons of use?<\/summary>\n
The components that most frequently require replacement on a 30 HP rotary cultivator gearbox after two commercial seasons of use are, in order of typical replacement frequency: (1) input and output shaft lip seals \u2014 these are consumable items that harden and crack in service and should be replaced proactively at each annual service; (2) input shaft taper roller or deep-groove ball bearings \u2014 worn when perceptible shaft wobble appears; (3) the output shaft bearing set \u2014 worn faster than the input set due to higher radial loads from the rotor assembly. The bevel gear pair itself rarely requires replacement before 4,000\u20135,000 operating hours if oil level is maintained and the unit is not operated beyond its rated power.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nQ5. When is a rotary tiller gearbox suitable for small tractors in Japan and what working width is realistic for a 30HP machine with this type of unit?<\/summary>\n
Rotary tiller gearbox options for small tractors in Japan are well-suited to the 18\u201340 HP tractor segment that forms the backbone of Japanese market garden and paddy field preparation equipment. For a 30 HP machine running the EP30 gearbox, realistic working widths range from 1.0 m to 1.6 m in standard soil conditions, or 1.0 m to 1.2 m in heavy clay or wet paddy conditions where rotor torque demand per unit width is higher. Japanese agricultural practice typically prioritises tillage depth consistency (targeting 150 mm\u2013180 mm for paddy bed preparation) over maximum working width, making the EP30 well-matched to this use pattern.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nQ6. Where can I source rotary cultivator gearbox parts and a bearing service kit for an EP30 if I operate on a remote farm in Canada during spring planting?<\/summary>\n
Core service components \u2014 shaft lip seals, bearing sets, and oil \u2014 for the EP30 are available through agricultural parts distributors in most Canadian provincial centres and via online agricultural supply platforms serving remote operators. For model-specific items such as the 32\/11 bevel gear set or the housing casting, contact us directly with the model designation and, where possible, photos of the worn component. We maintain a spare parts inventory and can ship to Canadian distribution hubs on standard lead times. Pre-ordering a bearing-and-seal kit before the spring tillage season begins is the most effective way for remote Canadian farms to avoid extended downtime when the rotary cultivator is needed most.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Editor: PXY<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The EP30 rotary cultivator gearbox<\/strong> is a 30 HP PTO-driven right-angle transmission purpose-built for rotary tillers, cultivators, and seedbed preparation implements operating at a standard 540 rpm input speed. Featuring a fixed ratio of 1:2.9 and a 32\/11 bevel gear set at module 3.0, this unit steps down tractor PTO speed to the rotor shaft at a multiplication factor that delivers high torque at the tine carrier \u2014 the fundamental requirement for effective soil fracturing in heavy clay, compacted subsoil conditions, and residue incorporation operations encountered across arable farming in the UK, North America, Southern Europe, and South and Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n

At 13.5 kg net weight, the EP30 Rotary Cultivator Gearbox occupies a compact footprint within the standard centre-mounting housing of most rotary tiller and agricultural rotary cultivator gearbox frames from 1.0 m to 2.0 m working width. The 1 3\/8 Z6 splined input shaft and optic axis output shaft cover the two most common interface specifications in the global mid-range tractor segment, making this unit a practical direct-fit rotary cultivator gearbox replacement<\/strong> for the widest range of implements currently in service across commercial and smallholder vegetable growing operations.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":331,"template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[24],"product_tag":[],"class_list":["post-329","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-rotary-cultivator-gearbox","first","instock","shipping-taxable","product-type-simple"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/nn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/nn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/nn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/nn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/nn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/nn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=329"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/nn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=329"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/superiortransmissioninc.com\/nn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}