Rototiller advice

[Vanikiso]

I'm going to buy a new rototiller and retire the ancient 5HP front tine unit.

I'm going for a rear tine, and am wondering if any creekers have experience with:
counter rotating tines
troy-bilt
cub cadet
poulan

any suggestions for a specific model or engine size are welcome.

 

[old]

My dad got a Troy built one back in 1972. I still have it and use it every year. It is on its second engine and has had the transmission rebuilt a couple of time but all in all it has been very good

 

[showcrop]

Troy-bilt used to build a great tiller. They aren't what they used to be.

 

[Bob]

(quoted from post at 11:46:49 02/04/20)
Troy-bilt used to build a great tiller. They aren't what they used to be.

"Troy-bilt used to build a great tiller."

Troy-bilt was taken over by MTD in 2001, did they carry ANY of the old Troy-bilt design forward?

I think they're now just a re-badged MTD?

 

[Kansas4010]

Counter rotating tines work good for
tilling up the ground. Forward rotating
tines work better for cultivating. The
problem is newer tillers aren't half as
good as the older machines. My uncle
bought a $1,000 Cub Cadet and got to till
his small garden once. Went out to the
shed to get it out and a puddle of oil was
under it. A seal went out but it was still
under warranty. Took them 2 months to fix
it. The newer models with counter rotating
tines won't pull itself through the garden
you have to push it through. Unless you
want to spend a few thousand on a new
tiller I'd recommend looking for a good
older used machine. I bought an old
Kubota at70 last year at an auction. It
has forward and counter rotating tines.

 

[timcasbolt]

(quoted from post at 12:29:51 02/04/20) I'm going to buy a new rototiller and retire the ancient 5HP front tine unit.

I'm going for a rear tine, and am wondering if any [b:541cd61e20]creekers [/b:541cd61e20]have experience with:
counter rotating tines
troy-bilt
cub cadet
poulan

any suggestions for a specific model or engine size are welcome.

I'd never heard of a creeker, so I looked it up:

Top definition
Creeker
A being superior to others financially, socially, and intellectually. Attends Cherry Creek High School, and makes six figures look like pocket change.
Man I wish I was a creeker, then I could be better than everyone.
by Kevin April 26, 2005

 

[glennster]

i bought a troy built super bronco about 10 years ago, still working fine, no problems. its rear tine counter rotating.

 

[Billy NY]

See the attached link, the current horse looks very much like those that were built here in Troy at the Gardenway Plant.
What is different about the new ones ?

Not asking in defense of these, but I have heard that before and am wondering if anyone knows how MTD changed this model.
I'm a fan of my old Kohler powered Horse for soil that is regularly worked and or previously moldboard plowed, or otherwise easily worked up. Takes awhile to work up with sod with one of these, and with rocky soil they can get a bit jumpy if you want to run at full throttle in high gear. I typically go slow, and low throttle on initial passes, and lower the depth in increments, taking a full depth cut in sod can be a problem, depends on the conditions, hard dry ground will be difficult.

For what you'll pay for an older Horse, in prepared ground, they are still a good value, easy to get parts for.
I'd still recommend them, but there are quite a few choices out there just the same.
I almost went for a nice clean BCS a few years back, just to compare these 2 different models
Current Troy Bilt Horse by MTD

 

[Billy NY]

See below, the Horse model looks to be that way, other current models I don't know much about, but I have 3 of the older smallest model, forget what the name is, Junior maybe ? They have the 3 or 4 HP Tecumseh engine. Those are not too bad, will likely sell 2 at some point, just wanted one of the smaller ones for cultivating between rows. Light and easy to maneuver,

 

[the tractor vet]

I will add this , ya want a GOOD Bullet proof tiller then get a Troy built Horse model and older one , i have had two and my friend have them . We have demoed several others and prefer the Troy built . Get and 8 hp. one .

 

[TimV]

As mentioned several other times, it's hard to go wrong with an older Troy-bilt. We're still using all 3 of the Horse's we got in the early to mid 70's, and all are on the original engines. Parts are still readily available and maintenance is, in most cases, simple by design and very clearly explained in the manuals. A friend had a smaller MTD-built Pony, and it was a wretched piece of junk--lightly built with plastic everything, and constantly breaking down. He'd borrowed it from a friend of his to till a small garden that he'd already plowed up, and it was barely adequate for that--we worked on it several times to get it back going, as he's the rare type who feels he should return things in at least as good a shape as they came to him, but once was enough and he never borrowed it again.

 

[Traditional Farmer]

If you have deep pockets that are full of cash a BCS is real good.The older Horse Troybilt tillers with the Kohler motor are very good if not completely worn out.
Probably never find one but I have a Hako Boy tiller one fine little machine.

 

[rustyfarmall]

My old Troy-Bilt Horse bit the dust a few years ago so I replaced it with a Craftsman. The Craftsman is NOT a Troy-Bilt, but it is a WHOLE lot more user friendly, and with the counter-rotating rear tines it IS a match for the old Horse. I would not own a rear tine tiller that did not have the counter rotating tines, and yes, I am a creeker.

 

[hanovertom]

The old horse is a great machine, parts are avaiible, Honda engine bolts right up

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 09:29:51 02/04/20) I'm going to buy a new rototiller and retire the ancient 5HP front tine unit.

I'm going for a rear tine, and am wondering if any creekers have experience with:
counter rotating tines
troy-bilt
cub cadet
poulan

any suggestions for a specific model or engine size are welcome.

I have an old Troy Built Horse model that my Dad originally bought. It's a great tiller. I used it to till down weeds. You could set the throttle on this thing and walk along beside and control it with one hand. When my Dad died in 1985, I put it in a storage shed. I didn't use it after that because i got a tractor and mower to keep down the weeds so it just sat there in the shed. A couple years ago, I decided that I needed the space in that shed and pulled it out. At that time, I greased it all up and got it running again but I still don't use it for anything.

It's got the old Kohler engine on it with the front bumper and a little dozer blade too. It's got basically new tines on it since I replaced them before I put it in the shed. I hate to see it sitting there outside. I'd sell it to anyone for $500. Trouble is, I'm in Hemet California.

 

[tomstractorsandtoys]

We have had a BCS for 25 years. Great machine. The only drawback might be the faster tine speed makes them a little harder to handle than a Troy Built especially for an older person. The wife says she still would not trade her BCS for any Troy. Tom

 

[PDRuff]

I've got that same tiller, bought it used in 1995 from a tool rental place (was not treated well) 25 years later still start on 2nd pull with choke. only replaced fuel shutoff and fuel guage on tank. lots of hours.

 

[JayinNY]

Troy built tuffy! Dad has one 3-4 horse Tecumseh, May be what your thinking about. I have a older pony, and horse, both good tillers.

 

[Jeff B.]

I have an old, old Troy built Tiller (I think it's called a pony, has one speed, no reverse) that my dad bought back in the eighties. It's one of the best tillers I ever saw. I've used it every year for the past 30 years, and it still starts on the first or second pull, even after sitting all winter. Has the Tecumseh engine. I've had to fix the handles and replace cables, but the drivetrain is bulletproof.

 

[Billy NY]

That should be the one. Had one, running condition, very cheap, needed a bracket welded up, then found 2 for sale on a run to pick up a ford landscape rake over in Mass., price really good, 2 more in running shape came home ended up in my shed. They seem to be pretty good on soil that has been previously worked, lighter and easier to handle, might come in handy in old age LOL !

 

[bjb in TX from Ne]

I have the cub cadet with the Honda engine.

The counter-rotating tines work good for grinding and breaking the the hard clay here in the Houston Texas area (the front tines setting just walks on the surface and causes the tiller to lunge forward). Then I switch to forward-rotating (the cub cadet can do both) to even out the bed and further break the large pieces. Back in Nebraska at my parents house, my dads forward tine Ariens works fine 95% of the time in the sandy loam.

The Honda engine is CARB compliant, so there is a small fuel pump and return line to the tank. I make sure to manually drain the carburetor before putting it back into storage.

My garden is only 40'x 4' (along my back fence in the suburbs) so I cant really comment on the longevity, as the small amount of work it does every year will make it last a long time. However, the clay get so hard to work by hand here that the tiller is well worth the cost.

 

[JK-NY]

My grandfather bought a new Troy bilt horse tiller in the late 1960?s and my mother and him went to pick it up right from the factory in Troy . We had a fairly new Ford station wagon they took as the old 1958 Willys Jeep truck was not the ideal road trip machine. I remember being mad because I wanted to go too but had to stay home, maybe it was a school day.

 

[JK-NY]

I have an older Troybilt horse model. I grew up running a
similar machine owned by my grandfather as mentioned in my
other post. The older Troybilts are an excellent machine. The
secret to doing a good job with them is to take a couple or
several passes lowering the depth each time. In hard ground
or sod you don?t want to go deep at all the first couple passes.
I cannot comment on counter rotating tines, seems like a
good idea in theory. As mentioned BCS is a top of the line unit
too but very expensive new.

 

[DoubleR]

I have a troy bilt I brought new in 1978. Did allot of custom work with it back then and now just use it for cultivating the
garden. I have replaced the tines on it about 5 times and the motor once. My vote is for a older used troy-bilt. Check the tines
over on it as they do wear down and last I knew were about a 150 a set. But the machine will do allot better job with good tines on
it as opposed to a set that's wore out.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 07:11:07 02/05/20) I have an older Troybilt horse model. I grew up running a
similar machine owned by my grandfather as mentioned in my
other post. The older Troybilts are an excellent machine. The
secret to doing a good job with them is to take a couple or
several passes lowering the depth each time. In hard ground
or sod you don?t want to go deep at all the first couple passes.
I cannot comment on counter rotating tines, seems like a
good idea in theory. As mentioned BCS is a top of the line unit
too but very expensive new.

The old Horse model that I have does not have counter rotating tines. But the big bar tread driving tires hold it back and let the tines do their job. As much as I have used it I never saw the need for counter rotating tines.

 

[Part Time Pete]

I rented one made by Barreto. I'm sure it would be expensive to buy, but it worked great and was very well built
Pete

 

[Butch(OH)]

You won't go wrong with a Troy Horse not
to be confused with an econo Horse. The
newer Troy Bilt Horse tillers have a few
areas that have been cheapened up but are
still very servicable. The biggest issue
I see with them is the operator safety
systems that tend to go bad early on. The
vast bulk are disconnected long before
they end up in my shop. I go through a
dozen or so a year and make them as new
as they can be made. The very best ones
are the 2 speed (drives with two belts)
non-PTO type. As somebody else said a BCS
is probably a better tiller but it ought
to be, they are double the price.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I bought a troybilt pony. I regret it.
Not reverse tines.

 

[Indiana George]

I bought a Sears tiller with rear reverse tines MADE IN USA about 25 years ago and still working good and never have any problems with it.if you find an older Sears tiller buy it

 

[Billy NY]

I've heard a lot of similar stories about people making trips here for these. Thanks for sharing yours !
I think that far back they had Clinton engines in them.

I used to get parts there often, was just a great feeling to actually get to go to the OEM Mfr's factory and see the displays, get OEM parts etc.

I used to deliver to the factory quite often for many years, was always cool to go in the various buildings, and they are all still there, in use by an even older company originating in Troy, Ross Valve.

Gardenway was a good place to work, they made great products and I also knew several who worked these tillers in the proving grounds, some of what you see in the product literature, manuals and such. What happened was a huge loss for Troy, hated seeing them get bought out and the production moved out of state to MTD.

Here is my trusty ole Horse model with 7HP Kohler, starts on 1 pull.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 20:47:21 02/05/20) I've heard a lot of similar stories about people making trips here for these. Thanks for sharing yours !
I think that far back they had Clinton engines in them.

I used to get parts there often, was just a great feeling to actually get to go to the OEM Mfr's factory and see the displays, get OEM parts etc.

I used to deliver to the factory quite often for many years, was always cool to go in the various buildings, and they are all still there, in use by an even older company originating in Troy, Ross Valve.

Gardenway was a good place to work, they made great products and I also knew several who worked these tillers in the proving grounds, some of what you see in the product literature, manuals and such. What happened was a huge loss for Troy, hated seeing them get bought out and the production moved out of state to MTD.

Here is my trusty ole Horse model with 7HP Kohler, starts on 1 pull.
<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto4329.jpg">

It's the twin to mine. I hate to see mine unused sitting out in the weather.

 

[Caryc]

Actually, I put one of those very large plastic storage bins upside down on it, so pretty much all the engine and moving parts are covered.

 

[jaoneill]

Interesting to see your pic of the tiller with the "rollbar". I bought a Horse model new in '72 and replaced the carb twice before I fabricated my own protective cage the first year I had it. Unsure whether it was an option that I missed, or they hadn't yet addressed the problem, but without the cage the carb was fatally exposed if/when you rolled the machine over; a not uncommon occurance in rocky ground.

Jim

 

[ed will]

Hi , I have the pony with Tecumseh motor. I take out the
plug in the spring, put a bit of gas in the cylinder, and
it starts right off. After the initial start it starts
easily. I've had it forever. I also have a larger Honda.
Also perfect. Ed Will

 

[Dusty MI]

(quoted from post at 20:58:35 02/05/20)

(quoted from post at 20:47:21 02/05/20) I've heard a lot of similar stories about people making trips here for these. Thanks for sharing yours !
I think that far back they had Clinton engines in them.

I have a Clinton Chainsaw from the late '50s. It was my dad's.
I would think it was built by the same company.

Dusty