Rototiller for ~$500?

[gumbo2176]

I would think that you could find a used troy bilt horse for $500 or a tad more. Ebay has a few when I just did a fast search. I use one and it is a dirt chewing monster. Though I do enjoy the kubota tractor with a 3pt tiller a little more.

You're right, E-bay usually has quite a few tillers listed, however, I've found them to be way too far away to make it practical to buy and the sellers won't ship due to weight and size. Craigs List is the better solution for the local buyer, but there's just not as many listed on there.

[TheWaterbug]

^^
Craiglist has a Barreto 1320 available for $1,200, plus another $200 for the trailer. It's only about an hour away. That sounds like a really good deal, but I don't know that I can justify spending that much for my occasional use.

It also takes up a lot of storage space that I don't really have.

But it sure seems nice.

There's also a 2007 Honda FRC800 on ebay that's close enough for me to pick up, but ebay's history shows me that these typically sell for ~$1,400 by the time the auctions close.

I've got a saved ebay search for "rear tine tiller" within 100 miles of me; we'll see if anything shows up.

Meanwhile, I've rented the Barreto for tomorrow. Blister City, here we come!

[Yellowsnow]

I would think that you could find a used troy bilt horse for $500 or a tad more. Ebay has a few when I just did a fast search. I use one and it is a dirt chewing monster. Though I do enjoy the kubota tractor with a 3pt tiller a little more.

You're right, E-bay usually has quite a few tillers listed, however, I've found them to be way too far away to make it practical to buy and the sellers won't ship due to weight and size. Craigs List is the better solution for the local buyer, but there's just not as many listed on there.

That is true. Most of them seem to be east coast that I could find. Basically just wanted to give the OP another tiller idea to search for. The Troy Bilt's are good machines.

[Yellowsnow]

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/grd/2873335476.html

Not sure about the model, but fits what you're looking for.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Yellow,

I would buy this tiller over any new Troy Bilt. I beleive Jal_ut owns one.

Eric

[TheWaterbug]

I would buy this tiller over any new Troy Bilt. I beleive Jal_ut owns one.

That's a strong endorsement! I just put a few questions out to the seller. And then I have to figure out a way to pick it up

The only candidate vehicle I have is a minivan, and I don't have any sort of ramp. But I'm sure I can figure this out if it's the right tiller for me.

Today I spent 7 hours doing garden work, including picking up 16 [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=221143#221143]demo bags full of mulch[/url], spreading 20 bags of manure, and [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Naa7pGBrvuU]tilling the entire paddock[/url].

The tilling went pretty well, except that the one I rented this year kept stalling on me. I probably started it 50 times today. Both biceps are _really_ sore right one. That, and I murdered a hose guide by accident.

But the job is done! I'm still thinking about buying for next season, or for additional use this season. I think I'd use it a lot more often if it were always there.

[jal_ut]

That is a great tiller for that money. Yes, I have one that looks just like that except for the bumpers. I will recommend it.

[jal_ut]

The handle bars come right off, one screw, no tools needed, so it is not very tall with those off. I think you can put it in a minivan if the seats fold down. I used to load mine with a 30 inch wide x 8 feet long piece of 3/4 plywood for a ramp. Just run it up the ramp. Worked good for a truck, but may be a tough proposition in a minivan. I don't know how much it weighs, but a couple of stout guys could probably just pick it up and load it. Do you have a trailer hitch? A trailer would be a good option. A toy hauler trailer with the ramp as part of the trailer would be the ticket. Here you can rent such a trailer.

[TheWaterbug]

The handle bars come right off, one screw, no tools needed, so it is not very tall with those off. I think you can put it in a minivan if the seats fold down. I used to load mine with a 30 inch wide x 8 feet long piece of 3/4 plywood for a ramp. Just run it up the ramp. Worked good for a truck, but may be a tough proposition in a minivan. I don't know how much it weighs, but a couple of stout guys could probably just pick it up and load it. Do you have a trailer hitch? A trailer would be a good option. A toy hauler trailer with the ramp as part of the trailer would be the ticket. Here you can rent such a trailer.

Thanks for the tips.

I'm sure I could get a couple of stout guys at the seller's place to help me load it, but then I'd have a problem with unloading, because all I have here is my wife, and she's not stout

If the seller comes back with answers to my questions, I might try the plywood method. I think I can screw some nylons straps into the bottom of it and then anchor them to the seat mounts inside the van to keep it from sliding off.

Good to know about the handlebars. Thanks!

[TheWaterbug]

The tilling went pretty well, except that the one I rented this year kept stalling on me. I probably started it 50 times today.

I told the rental company about this when I returned the unit this morning, and they said that I was probably just tilling too deeply. I suppose that's possible, except that I tilled the exact same field with a similar Barreto 1320 last year, and last year's model was only 13 hp vs. the 16 hp. model I rented this year. Last year I stalled only once, and that was when I ran over a rubber horse mat.

I _am_ tilling much earlier this year, so the soil is still a bit moist, so I'm able to dig a few inches deeper, but it still didn't feel right.

Sometimes it would stall in the middle of a row when the load didn't seem noticeably harder; other times it would stall when I turning around at the end of a row. Once or twice it stalled when I was taking a water break; I just left the motor running, and after 30 seconds it just shut off.

In particular it did _not_ like going over my little hills. I'd mounded up the soil for the pumpkins last season, and I had a bunch of little ~1' high hills left over. They were soft enough to smush down with my boots, but if I attempted to run over them with the tiller it would stall. And then it wouldn't start again until I had muscled the tiller off of the hill. My guess is that it didn't like being tilted at all.

Does this sound like I was tilling too deep and/or insufficient HP for the job? Or does it sound like a defective unit? I was going forward/forward the whole time, with the motor at full throttle.

The reason this is all relevant is that, if I'm going to buy myself a tiller, I want to be sure I have one suitable for the job. If a 16 hp commercial-grade unit is stalling constantly because this job is too hard, a 5 hp or 8 hp consumer-grade unit isn't going to cut it either.

The rental company discounted the rental by 10% for me, so I have enough money to buy lunch at McDonald's today.

The two units I've rented so far have been from different companies. Last year's was only rated at 13 hp, but it may have been maintained better/differently than the one I rented from this year. This year's unit had a marking that said "new engine 2007."

[DoubleDogFarm]

Sounds like a engine problem. I'm finding water in the gas of almost all repairs. Ethanol gas absorbs water from atmosphere. This engine may also have a low oil sensor. If the oil is low and the unit is on a incline, the sensor may short the ignition.

Eric

[btrowe1]

I had a problem like that when I rented a tiller, it was a honda, stalled so much I just took it back,

I've borrowed a neighbors for the last few years its a yard king, not sure how big it is but its a beast, goes through anything, has 6 speeds plus 2 reverse,

I really need to invest in one also, I figure I enjoy gardening so would be a smart investment, It would also be so much easier to set my rows wider so I can just run the tiller through when the weeds begin to grow up,

But money is tight so, I also have to figure out where to place it the sheds getting kind of full with the tractor, mower and snowblower..

Best of luck with your choice I'll be keeping an eye on this treatd to see what you purchase.

[TheWaterbug]

Yellow,

I would buy this tiller over any new Troy Bilt. I beleive Jal_ut owns one.

Eric

I have a line on an "early 90s" Troy Bilt Pony for $500.

It's an hour and a half from me, but I'm going to be reasonably near on Monday for a Memorial Day BBQ anyway, so I'm going to try and see it.

If it runs well, and if the owner will let me tear up a part of his yard to trust out, I might make an offer.

[TheWaterbug]

There's also a "Craftsman Rear Tine Roto Tiller 6.5 HP 17" Tine Width $375 OBO LIKE NEW."

This one is also 25 minutes from me instead of an hour and a half.

Are the older ones really that much better than new ones?

[jal_ut]

I got my Troybilt Horse in the late 70s. It is a great machine. I still use it. I wore out the original 6 HP engine. I got an 8 HP Briggs and put on it. The added 2 HP is a good investment.

[TheWaterbug]

I got my Troybilt Horse in the late 70s. It is a great machine. I still use it. I wore out the original 6 HP engine. I got an 8 HP Briggs and put on it. The added 2 HP is a good investment.

That's pretty amazing that a hard-driving piece of equipment will run for 40+ years.

Are engines on these types of equipment pretty interchangeable? I'm _not_ mechanically inclined, so if an engine needed replacing I'd have to take it to a local repair shop. Is there a reasonably standard form factor and interface so that a competent repair shop can just bolt on a new engine when needed?

[btrowe1]

I bought a tiller, Sears front tine, looks just like the picture posted of the yard man. Works great... $309.00 after all the rebates and stuff (taken off the price on line) purchased online picked up at a store.

[TheWaterbug]

There's also a "Craftsman Rear Tine Roto Tiller 6.5 HP 17" Tine Width $375 OBO LIKE NEW."

This one is also 25 minutes from me instead of an hour and a half.

Are the older ones really that much better than new ones?

Well, the Craftsman sold before I got a chance to look at it, so I think I'm going to make the long trek tomorrow and see the Pony.

any suggestions on what to look for/at when buying used equipment like this?

[tomf]

I have a few tillers and one is a front end tiller that I got cheap some time ago; I do not even use it as it kills me to use. I have a BCS and it is a great tiller. The tines on the BCS are thick and look like tines from a PTO tiller. It is gear driven and has a lot of power.

The one I like best is my Kubota 5' PTO tiller it flat out gets the job done and you can sit down when you till.

DD the local gas station sells high test non ethanol gas and off road diesel, I use the non ethanol gas in all my all gas powered yard tools.

BCS tiller.

[img]https://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e57/twistedtomf/tiller3.jpg[/img]

[TheWaterbug]

So I'm now the proud owner of a Troy Bilt Pony rototiller! I'll post pics tomorrow when it's light.

I was going to try and talk the price down by $50-$100, but then I met the sweet old couple selling it. They're getting rid of stuff because the husband is in Stage 4 of his terminal cancer, so I just teared up and handed over the $500

It seems in pretty good shape, except for a slightly sticky dis/engage cable, but that look easy to fix.

I was really worried about getting in my minivan until I saw it. It's so much smaller than the big Barreto I've been renting! Time will tell if I've bought enough machine for my yard.

I built a ramp with plywood and some 2x4s, and it was really easy to load. I probably could have made the ramp half the length and been OK.

[TheWaterbug]

Ugh. I got it home, and I can get it started without any problems. But as soon as I hit the soil it stalls. If I crank up the throttle, it stalls.

I didn't get a chance to put it any dirt at the seller's house; all we did was drive it around on the concrete with the tines tilling the air.

The good news is that I have a lawnmower repair shop literally down the street from my office, and they're reputed to be very affordable, so I'm going to schlepp it in tomorrow morning.

[bcallaha]

Has the tiller been sitting for some time without use? It could be that the carb is gummed up and sticking.

You say you're not mechanically inclined, but if you have a few minutes, you may want to try something. Go to Wally Mart and get some Carb cleaner in a spray can. It will have a plastic tube that you place on the nozzel to allow you to get into tight spots. Take the air cleaner off, and spray the outside of the carb. You should see varnish and dirt come off. Use an old tooth brush to get the tough stuff. Spray all rods and other mechanical moving parts well so they are moving freely. Next, remove the foam air cleaner from it's holder and wash it well with soapy water. Once it's clean, wring out all water, and place it in then sun to dry. Once dry, apply 10-15 drops of motor oil to the foam air cleaner, then wring out any excess oil.

Make sure you have fresh gas in the tank. If it smells old (you will know old gas when you smell it), replace the old gas with fresh gas.

Next, start the motor with the air cleaner off and let the motor idle. Spray small amounts of the carb cleaner into the carb opening several times, cleaning off the inside surfaces of the carb. If you spray too much at one time, the motor may die. Increase the engine speed, and repeat the spraying of carb cleaner into the carb. Repeat this until you can run at full throttle.

Replace the air filter, and try using the tiller again. With a little luck, this may fix your problem, if not, you have the repair shop nearby. ;>)

This will cost you less than $5.00 and 1/2 hr of your time, and you don't have to be a mechanical wizzard.

I have a Pony, and love it. Mine is a 70's model, and with a little loving care, they will last a long time!!

Brad

[TheWaterbug]

Has the tiller been sitting for some time without use? It could be that the carb is gummed up and sticking.

Yes, it's been unused for years. Thanks for the advice, but I already dropped it off at the repair shop this morning.

I have to get a bunch of stuff prepped and in the ground with a drip system before June 16th, because I'm leaving the country for almost 3 weeks. I need to have the pumpkins started so they're ready for Halloween, and I'd rather be a few weeks early than a few weeks late.

The seller even had his original operators manual, Troy Bilt warranty transfer card*, sales brochure, Briggs & Stratton warranty card, etc. It was kinda neat to read it all. The brochure claims that this model can even knock down and chop up standing corn stalks. I'll have to try that later this season.

There's even a hiller/furrower attachment for this model, though it's a bit hard to find.

Of course having read through the entire brochure and manual, now I have Horse envy


* There's a "No time limit" warranty on the transmission. Once I find Troy Bilt's new mailing address (the one on the postcard is no longer correct) I'm going to try mailing it in with a note and see if it's still valid.

[TheWaterbug]

I already dropped it off at the repair shop this morning.

Hooray! [url=https://www.yelp.com/biz/andys-lawnmower-shop-torrance]Andy's Lawnmower Shop[/url] rebuilt the carburetor for $59, and now it runs great!

I took it home and took it for a spin, and it churns the soil nicely.

Pictures, as promised:

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3552590/PonyTillerProfile.jpg[/img]

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3552590/YupItsAPony.jpg[/img]

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3552590/BriggsStratton5HP.jpg[/img]

For those who are knowledgeable about such things, the model number is 15020S, and it's got a Briggs & Stratton 130297 5HP engine, 16" tilling width, and 4.0 x 12.5" tractor tread tires, and 12" diameter tines with an 8" tilling depth.

Also, for anyone else wondering how difficult it is to transport a rototiller in minivan, it's not! I bought a piece of 5/8" plywood and two 8' 2x4s and built two of these:

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3552590/PlywoodRamp1.jpg[/img]

Home Depot cut the plywood in half for me so I could get it in the van and get it home. I cut the 2x4s shorter by about 2 feet so that the one end of the ramp would sit flat on the ground and the other end would hang off my bumper, then attached them with 2" wood screws spaced about every 8", and every 4" near the stress points.

At first I used 1 1/4" screws, and those ripped right out of the greenish 2x4s, causing my plywood to nearly break in half, but once I put the longer screws in, everything was fine.

I also put a big screw eye in the 2x4 and ran a hook strap from there to the seat anchors in the van so that it wouldn't slide off while the tiller was on it. Here's the underside of the ramp with the screw eye:

[img]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/3552590/PlywoodRamp2.jpg[/img]

I made two ramps because I had no idea how large this tiller was until I got there, but for this little 160 lb Pony tiller one ramp is enough. For this bumper height I could also have cut the ramp about 2' shorter, which would make it easier to transport. If I were to do this for a 300 lb Horse or similar model, I'd probably double up on those 2x4s and put them nearer the edges of the plywood for stability, and I'd definitely use both ramps.

This weekend I'm going to try putting the tiller in my SUV, which has a much higher tailgate, just to see if I can do it and whether I need the full 8' of ramp. The tiller is 24" tall without the handlebars, or 38 1/4" tall with the handlebars at their lowest position. I hope I can get it in the SUV, as I much prefer driving my own car, and it gets up and down the trail behind my house much better than the minivan.

Tomorrow morning I'm going to be out and tilling at 6:30. I hope the neighbors don't complain!

[bcallaha]

Wonderful, glad to hear you're up and runnin'.

One word of caution about that tiller. If you're tilling up hard or previously untilled ground, make multiple passes tilling a little deaper with each pass. If you try to till too deep, the tines have a tendancy to "dig in" and the tiller will take off and leave you behind, and you will fall face first in the garden, and the tiller will hit your truck. (don't ask me how I know this)

Brad

[TheWaterbug]

Ok, I won't ask how, but I will ask if there's a YouTube video!

[TheWaterbug]

This weekend I'm going to try putting the tiller in my SUV, which has a much higher tailgate, just to see if I can do it and whether I need the full 8' of ramp. The tiller is 24" tall without the handlebars, or 38 1/4" tall with the handlebars at their lowest position. I hope I can get it in the SUV, as I much prefer driving my own car, and it gets up and down the trail behind my house much better than the minivan.

Success! I can get the tiller up the ramp and onto my tailgate without undue strain, and if I loosen the bolt that allows the handlebar to pivot all the way down, I can get it into the car. I do _not_ have to remove the handlebar.

I can also get my 8' plywood ramp into the car at the same time, although I can't have a passenger. But this makes it feasible for me to take my tiller in for service and/or to bring it to my parents'/friends's/neighbors' house without dragging the minivan down the trail.

[TheWaterbug]

The sales flyer for this tiller says, "Till in standing corn stalks!" so I thought I'd give it a try.

I picked all the remaining ears to dry, then fired up the tiller and starting mowing down the corn stalks. It knocked them down, no problem, but it didn't really chop them up very much unless I ran the tiller across them perpendicularly. And it took a lot of passes to do the damage.

But after about an hour of work, I ended up with this:



which I thought was pretty respectable results for a little home tiller. Here's a close-up:



My shoe is almost exactly a foot long

The tiller did stall 4-5 times when I had it set too deep*, and also when I ran over my [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=261115#261115]30' pumpkin vine[/url] and it all wound up around the blades.

Maybe I should sharpen the blades first next year.

So anyway, now that the tiller has done about as much as it can, I'm going to let it sit awhile before planting something. I ran the sprinklers over it for a few hours yesterday and again this morning. Any other tips on how to get it all to start breaking down and decomposing faster?

I want to plant carrots, peas, edamame, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, etc., when it cools down a bit.

I am worried a bit about planting carrots in such a chunky place. Should I just rake out all the corn stalks from the carrot beds?

What about the other veggies? Do they care if their soil is a bit chunky with plant matter?

* And yes, Brad, I also had a brief "runaway" tiller episode. I didn't faceplant, but the tiller did run away for a few seconds until my forebrain took over from my hindbrain and unclenched my hands. I ran right over my drip hoses, but I was able to unclench just before I did any damage.

[jal_ut]

Water, heat, nitrogen, and time. Ya, a little nitrogen speeds up the decomposition. I always till in my corn stalks, but I have a little bigger machine. I till them in then don't plant anything until spring.

Plant a short variety of carrot and I don't think you will have much trouble. Other plants won't care.

[TheWaterbug]

Water, heat, nitrogen, and time. Ya, a little nitrogen speeds up the decomposition. I always till in my corn stalks, but I have a little bigger machine. I till them in then don't plant anything until spring.

Plant a short variety of carrot and I don't think you will have much trouble. Other plants won't care.

Thanks, as always.

I've the got the water and heat, so I'll broadcast some nitrogen over it.

Anyone have a way to speed up time?

[DoubleDogFarm]

Anyone have a way to speed up time?

Doing something you like to do. Having Fun.

Eric

[RogueRose]

I just want to say that if you need a tiller for not huge amounts of space - this one: https://www.amazon.com/Earthwise-TC70001-11-Inch-Electric-Cultivator/dp/B004H4X6Z6/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1343694390&sr=1-1&keywords=electric+garden+tiller is pretty awesome and packs a punch. I like it too because it doesn't take any gasoline and makes me feel good about being zero-emissions.

[TheWaterbug]

Thanks for the suggestion, but that's a bit undersized for my [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Naa7pGBrvuU]yearly tilling job[/url].

I just bought myself a 5 HP gas tiller.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Maybe you should try one of these tillers. It has useful emissions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_32z5rBGp4

Eric

[TheWaterbug]

Well, I've had this now for almost 11 months, and I'll say that it's a 2nd best large garden purchase I've made, after my broadfork.

During the last 11 months I've probably used it 6-8 times, which I'd _never_ have done if I'd had to rent one every time.

My 4,000 sf garden is an old horse paddock, and until a given area's been deeply broken up at least once, it's like concrete. I've been planting new areas as much as possible, broadforking and then tilling as deeply as I can. That first tilling is pretty brutal, and I have to make 2-3 passes, and occasionally lean on the tiller to get it through the bigger clods that I've forked up.

If I don't use the broadfork first, the tiller only goes down 3-4 inches and just skates over the hardpan. (It was the same with the rented Baretto tiller). "Tilling" new areas in my paddock without forking first is really not more than just mowing.

A second tilling in a given area is much, much easier than the first time.

But after 3 seasons about 1/2 of my total area has been thoroughly worked at least once. Having this little tiller at my disposal means I can do a few hundred sf at a time, as my time permits, vs. having to plan a huge one-day, multi-blister job because I have an expensive, one-day rental.

I did have to take the unit back into the shop to get the starter thingy and cord replaced, and that cost me $75. But overall I'm very happy with my purchase of a small tiller in general and of this unit in particular.

[estorms]

I have a small stehil. stiehl? stihle? It is made by the chain saw people. It is a little heavier than my old Mantis, but easier to manage. It was about $400.00.

[TheWaterbug]

After nearly 8 years of service with this old Pony, I'm ready for an upgrade:



It's been great, but I think I just use it too hard for its size. The 5 hp motor is probably fine when it's in perfect tune, but if it's not perfect, it stalls. I also don't till in straight lines. I make sharp turns, and I run it in small circles when I'm digging out pits to fill with manure and compost for my Atlantic Giants.

But, more importantly, I've broken many major mechanical parts. I've broken one handlebar (fixed, and now with a welded reinforcement bar), the recoil starter cover, I've sheared off the two bolts that hold the back end to front end (successfully removed and replaced), I've sheared off one of the bolts in the mid-section (un-fixable), the debris shield has been run over backward so many times that it looks corrugated, I've broken many tines, and the spark plug wire needed replacing. The reversing clutch also no longer works. The belt is getting loose, and the replacement belt is difficult to find. I take it in for maintenance/repair at least once a year, and the guy says that all replacement parts for this model are getting hard too find.



If this were a real pony I think I would have euthanized it last year .

Given the intensity and frequency of my use, I'm thinking I can justify spending up to $1,000 this time. I probably won't sell the old one; I'll keep it as a backup.

I think I want a counter-rotating tine model, too. Despite a decade of fairly intensive planting, the soil still turns into concrete in late Spring, just before I need to plant corn and pumpkins. With a forward rotating design, the tiller catches and "skates" over the hard stuff.

Any suggestions for an upgraded model? I'm thinking ~8 hp, counter-rotating tines, a front bumper, and a more rugged overall design. Open to new or used, as long as it's durable and reliable.

Thanks!

[TheWaterbug]

After nearly 8 years of service with this old Pony, I'm ready for an upgrade:

I ended up getting an FRC800 for $700!



It works great!