Wrinkles Loc: NC

Our old (40 years) Chore Boy 8 hp. tiller won't run now and I have been looking for a good rear tine tiller that will break through this gigantic brick we sit upon. I have looked at the Toro 127cc 3.5 hp tiller, which is just too small for my needs. I have read several reviews for the Troy-Bilt Mustang tiller and most of the reviews sounded pretty bad (oil leaks from the gear box) parts breaking or coming loose, etc. I found out that you can no longer buy Cub Cadets, which I really liked the looks of. Surely, someone out there uses a garden tiller and has some ideas and opinions. Here's your chance to voice them. Thanks for any replies.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I bought a Troy-Built Horse rototiller in 1982. I used it until 2023, when I gave it away in a move. Over the years I replaced the engine once and the gearbox once. The last time I used it, it had some problems that would require tearing down the gear box and cleaning it out to get the gears to engage properly. But I was moving to an apartment and had no place to store it so I gave it to someone who would fix and use it. On the whole it was a good piece of equipment and most of the problems it had were my mismanagement.

Sorry I can't recommend a replacement, but when I can find a house to move to I will be looking for a replacement myself.

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

I was an avid Troy-Bilt user for 40+ years. I had an 8hp Horse for many of those.
Troy went belly up in 2001. MTD now makes tilers under the Troy name but they are not the same.

I converted to raised beds so I no longer need a big tiller. I did a little research for you.
Here is a list of some. https://www.electronicshub.org/best-rear-tine-tiller/.

From what I have been told by professional gardeners, the Honda is the closest to the old Troy.
It is probably better with some newer technology.

There is a used Honda listed on eBay right now located in Atlanta that might be a good deal for you as it is priced reasonable.

Wrinkles Loc: NC

Atlanta is a looooong drive from NC. I checked out ebay and Facebook Market Place. I did see one on I liked the looks of but it was too far to drive. I've given up on getting a used one. I will probably have to order one online, but I hate to have to do that. The new Troy Bilt got so many bad reviews that I'm gonna have to get something else unless I hear from people who have the new ones and are happy with them.

sebottino

Good evening Wrinkles, sebottino here. From what I understand, about two years ago the parent company of MTD went bankrupt, taking many of the mid-priced lawn equipment that they produce off the market. Troy build was one of them. Not many players in the marketplace today. Craftsman, is one, they are owned by Black & Decker and I beleive Black & Decker purchased the MTD plant, but they are only producing the Craftsman products. Black & Decker purchased the Craftsman line of products when Sears sold it.

I have used a Husqvarna Rear tine reversing tiller for several years. The model number is CRT900. I have had good luck with this unit. The small drive belt broke once on me when I hit a burried metal fence post. I don't know what other units are on the market, as I said, the Husqvarna has worked well for me.

Wrinkles Loc: NC

Good luck. You can't go by the name any more. Too much has changed, even before the pandemic. It's a dice roll.

Wrinkles Loc: NC

Thanks for replying. I will google that one. I've viewed hundreds online until I got glassy eyed and had to quit. :)

Dean37 Loc: Fresno, CA

Older but quick story. A lot of people had joined my company in California from the Midwest and had bought new houses that needed landscaping. Some got together and decided that one rototiller could do the job for everyone. 1978 the one guy bought a 5 HP Montgomery Wards front tine tiller. 9 people in the group had tilled up their yards. I moved to a new house and asked about the tiller. The guy who owned it said he wanted to sell it for $100.00, so I bought it. It tilled my back yard a couple of neighbors backyards and 3 friends who lived not far away. For a front tine tiller it was a workhorse and had paid for itself many times over. I stored it for over 20 years and finally had to empty the storage because I was moving about 150 miles away.

I hired a guy, my step son had received help from , to empty the storage. I told him the tiller was working very well when it was put away. He said if it works, I won't have to rent or buy one to use in my part time landscaping. That was over 5 years ago, and my step son told me he talked with the guy who told him the tiller does everything he needed and to thank me. The use has spanned almost 50 years, and still going strong.

Steve O Loc: Woodinville WA.

I use a DR tiller, it is a dual rotating rear tine tiller with a Briggs and Stratton motor. Mine is an 18" tiller that also rotates in reverse to help break up the hard ground. It works well and I have had no problems with it.

ggttc Loc: TN

My Troy Built is excellent. Starts on the first pull and works hard

Wrinkles Loc: NC

That's because things used to be made to last. We have an old fridge that would run today if it had freon in it. It's the kind that has a metal ice box in the upper left corner. My mother bought it when my brother was a baby. He's 78 today.

Wrinkles Loc: NC

I looked at those online and considered getting one until I read the reviews. I think it kind of depends on which model and year you get. Anyway, I broke down and bought one today online. It is an Earthquake 16 in. 209 cc. I'm supposed to get it Saturday. Some of those reviews could be from competitors trying to lure people the other way. You just never know.

Wrinkles Loc: NC

Is yours one of the older models ? I know some of the older American made ones were probably constructed better. I was within an inch of getting the Troy Built Mustang rear tine tiller until I started reading about people having problems with oil leaking from the gear box. I ended up getting the Earthquake Victory 209 cc tiller today from Amazon. I'm on pins and needles waiting to see if it will be a good one.