garden tiller, what to look for?

[davestlouis]

My darling wife has decreed that we are going to plant a small garden this year, any hints on what to look for in a tiller?

[krusty the clown]

rear tine...........

[PAToyota]

x2 - much easier to use.

A lot depends on the quality of your soil. More horsepower if the soil is hard. If you have river valley loam that you can turn over with your bare hands you won't need a hefty tiller.

[eddyyy302]

I'm a small engine mechanic and I sell used OPE, Buy a troy built Horse model or Pony depending on the size that you need, make sure it is an older model late 80's early 90's vintage. Check your local craigslist, they are bulletproof units, the engines are easily replaceable and they hold their value VERY well. If you have any questions about machines PM me, I would be happy to help.
Dan

[davestlouis]

Thanks Dan, I'm already on the lookout for a good used machine. I'll PM ya with any questions that arise.

Dave

[Uncle Buck]

Rear tine, stick with a Troy Bilt as already mentioned. Older, pre Murry are best.

[HolisticPerformance]

Look for MADE IN ITALY.

The older horse and ponies are GREAT - as long as it has a cast-iron frame/chasis.

Nearly all of them, as well as nearly all lawnmowers today, are made by MTD, and they are f#@$in junk.

[Rigmaster]

Look for one in a friend's or neighbor's garage that you can borrow, or barter for....... ;)

[eddyyy302]

Dave,
If you were closer I would give you a great deal on a horse model that I am redoing for spring, but as far as good tillers go, you either look for a troy built unit, or if you have a use for other attachments, you buy a Gravely as long as it comes with a tiller and add attachments to it later. Both are bullet proof, but a gravely has much more utility to it. As I said if I can be of help just let me know. Oh and stay away from BCS unless you find a screaming deal on a near new one, I have sold a few, they are GREAT machines, but parts are Expensive and can be very hard to get, they are Italian made.
Dan

[HolisticPerformance]

Dave,
and stay away from BCS unless you find a screaming deal on a near new one, I have sold a few, they are GREAT machines, but parts are Expensive and can be very hard to get, they are Italian made.
Dan


Its like dating a supermodel. So much to put up with, but when your "using" her, it makes it all worthwhile :thumbup:

[stevejh82]

I think it depends on the area you are going to plant. If it is near fences or landscaping, a front tine tiller is better to get up close small places (I have a small yard..) If you have plenty of room around your garden a rear tine is definitely the best.

[jeep44]

You will never regret buying a Troy-Bilt. Mine is an '88 Horse. It's made like a little tank.

[PowderKeg]

Older rear tine Troy-Built for sure. Family had one growing up - bullet-proof as previously described - it survived everything my grandfather and the hard rocky soil around our house could throw at it. Geez that thing was a horse 'n a half!

[tatra]

find a guy that comes out and does it for you for the first coupla seasons until the wife realizes the work involved in just the garden itself , never mind the tilling thing.......damhikt........beleive me, this is the best advice

[a390st]

The new Troy Bilt is junk. The old is the best around. I have a CMan rear tine reversable model from a few years ago. It was the wrong season and they had it on clearance for way cheap. It has done perfect so far, despite being your typical stamped and cast metal modern junker. I had a CMan front tine that was nearly 30 years old that broke a con rod and threw it out the side of the engine. It was used HARD for many years. I still like the old Troy Bilt tillers best.

[gardner59]

I have an ancient horse and sort of newer pony. We garden about 1-1/2 acres or so and both the horse can prep soil in a hurry. Granted, we have a friend disc the soil a couple times in the spring but we do final prep with the tillers then "weed" thoughout the year. If you find an older machine, my only suggestion is to get a set of "bolo" tynes. Thy cost about $100.00 but really are worth it. Installed right, they will churn the soil much better than the original tynes that came on the older horses.

[walrus]

I've got an older Horse, nice machine and it gets a work out here. We had a BCS front mounted sickle bar cutter. It ran well, the sickle bar cutter sucked. Its in the barn, hasn't been run in many years

[davestonner]

have an old troy built "horse" and an old ariens "rocket" tiller. both are very heavy duty and way overbuilt. cast iron everything, robust gearboxes, heavy gauge steel, etc. you can always repower an old one with a new motor if you need to.

d.

[OldCarGuy]

Purchase a Rototiller to fit your needs. A tiller that is small is not practical for a large area. And a large makes it impossible to maneuver around bed and garden planting’s

I found this 5 HP front tine MTD tiller two years ago at a garage sale. As you will see I wasn’t really in the market for another tiller. And paid only $40.00 for it. I would imagine if the owner wasn’t in such a hurry to move stuff at the sale, $100.00 to $200.00 would be a more reasonable cost. However I have a tough time passing on a deal...

I Changed the oil, cleaned the spark plug, and filled the tank with fresh gasoline. A few pulls and she came to life. There’s a lot to say about Briggs and Stratton engines.. This tiller is not heavy duty; but would last a lifetime if used where it was designed for.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/OldCarGuy_1955/DSCF3198.jpg

This is my 8 HP Troy-Bilt 8 HP Horse tiller. This machine is not a toy! And a serious cost of $1,253.24 in 1982.. Including the furrower, bush guard, and taxes. I would imagine it would sell for far more than $500.00 used.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/OldCarGuy_1955/DSCF3196.jpg

Now for a more serious tiller. Here’s my 48" King Kutter tiller that mounts on the back of my John Deere tractor. Crank the diesel engine to 2,500 RPM’s, turn on the rear PTO, lower the four point hitch, shift to four-wheel drive. A beer in one hand and the steering wheel in the other... And you get 8" deep, four foot path of finely cultivated dirt ready for planting from hard packed dirt... At a slow walking pace.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/OldCarGuy_1955/DSCF3201.jpg