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Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Hi all! seems like forever since I've been on the boards here. Hope everyone is well.

My Sears Craftsman front tine tiller bit the dust. What does everyone recommend for a replacement?

Thanks,

Matt

12/1/2009 2:57:24 PM

Dover, DE

always use rear tine tillers matt
u would have better luck. craftsman or bolens is good companies,i have a craftsman.


#1

12/1/2009 4:07:28 PM

Cedar Lake, IN.

Troy Built if that,s how it's spelled. They're not cheap $$$ but great!!!!

12/1/2009 4:30:30 PM

Sequim, WA

Get the parts catalog from Sears and order what you need to fix it. Cheaper in the long run if it's an older Sears model becuase they don't build them like that anymore. Mine is from the early 70's and I've overhauled the gearbox twice (different worn parts each time) and it just keeps chugging along. The tines on these newer tillers are more like bent sheet metal than tool steel.

12/1/2009 4:43:35 PM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

any one that you can get someone else to run :-)

12/1/2009 4:47:32 PM

Long Island,New York

troybuilt...stay away from sears.

12/1/2009 4:51:07 PM

Western NY

Happy with BCS here.

12/1/2009 5:02:31 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

you want a old troy bilt not the one's they make now(mtd)makes them now..get you self a old horse model

12/1/2009 5:30:33 PM

BCS for over 30yrs never fails, 5th set of tines and sparkplugs/oil changes

12/1/2009 6:11:13 PM

Anacortes, WA

Kubota B2920 with RTR1550 tiller attachment. A guy can dream can't he?

12/1/2009 6:35:22 PM

northern indiana

If cost to repair is prohibitive then look for a used gear driven tiller. Front or rear tine which ever suits you. Gear driven is way tougher than chain. I just repowerd a 30-40 year old Arens and it chews dirt with no trouble at all. If you can afford a new gear drive one great! if not a used gear drive will outlast a new chain drive if the used one is in decent shape.
Hapdad

12/1/2009 6:42:17 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

I agree keep fixing it find a small engine repair shop near you. Winter time is very slow for them, sometimes they will cut u a great deal.
But i would just replace the parts.

But if u want to get a new one well the debate over which tiller is better will be great winter time debate.

12/1/2009 7:45:58 PM

El Paso TX.

How old is it ?? Craftsman usually has a pretty good warranty Had a grass cutter go bad last year that I had bought almost 3 years ago and they fixed it under the warranty (never hurts to check with them to see if its covered)

12/1/2009 8:02:08 PM

wheel horse behind garden tractor does good job for big area .older troy bilt like billy says before mtd( mow twice and die) buy new engine for older troy bilt you have best of both worlds

12/1/2009 8:09:25 PM

[email protected]

Hey Matt - long time. Hope the family is well.

Troy-Bilt Horse. Older Kohler K series 8HP from a yard sale.

12/1/2009 8:41:23 PM

Eugene, OR

I can't afford to own one but my opinion is that there isn't a walk behind tiller out there that can touch a Barreto tiller. Hydrostatic drive tines and drive wheels, both reversible and independent. No transmission, no gears, and no belts to wear out. Hydraulic power at its best. I rent one twice a year and they are the Cadillac of tillers.

http://www.barretomfg.com/tillers.php

12/1/2009 9:42:54 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I started with an old, used front tine tiller that burned a lot of oil. It was a killer and may have contributed to my shoulder problems. Then I had a 4 hp Craftsman rear tine. First the bearings on the tine shaft started getting loose: you had to keep the tines digging or it would try to fly apart. Then the transmission started going bad, then the engine konked out. But it did get a lot of use and I liked having the reverse gear. 2007 I bought a new TroyBilt with a 6 hp Techumseh engine. Engine runs fine, but a seal on the tine shaft is starting to leak a little. I miss having the reverse gear. That is the limit of my experience.

12/1/2009 10:50:08 PM

valparaiso, in

Earthquake rear tine here.

12/1/2009 11:56:31 PM

Rapid City, SD

got mine at sears........not craftman......husquavana with honda engine...rear tine.........had it since 05' and still starts first pull almost everytime

12/2/2009 12:11:55 AM

Ohio

Matt, you might be better off just to find a motor for it, they are really easy to replace, take off 4 bolts and its off.

12/2/2009 6:29:15 AM

Albert County, New Brunswick,CANADA

yes,get a tiller dirt cheap with a bad motor and then put on a honda engine,they sell them really cheap...and awaay you go. Hondas start sooooeasy!

12/2/2009 7:21:10 AM

ExtremeVegetables.com

About 7 years ago I purchased a HUSKEE rear tine, multi-directional tiller from Tractor Sales (TSC) and I've been very happy with it. It's a beast and as close as I could get to the Troy Bilt Horse. My neighbor has a new Troy-Bilt Pony and was tryiing to break new ground with it last year. He finally gave up and came over for my HUSKEE which just dug right into the new ground.
The HUSKEE I bought has the Briggs and Stratton engine which I don't really care for. The newer models are equiped with a Honda which I'd much rather have.
The HUSKEE runs about $800 where the Troy-Bilt Horse can run around $2500.

If your soil is well worked and loose I wouldn't worry so much about buying the best. Now that my soil is in better condition, it's so loose that the tiller buries itself in the garden and I often have to practically push it through.

Rear Tine is a Must have IMO.
If you can find a good used one at a reasonable price, the Horse Tremor describes is the way to go.

12/2/2009 8:13:32 AM

Murfreesboro, TN, USA

If you do not have to expense of owning a new one at this point there is always the option to rent one for this time around and really conduct a bit more research before purchasing the next one.

I bought my tiller on discount at the local Home Depot. Some one apparently bought it, and didn't know how to use it and tore it up. Because it was under warranty they brought it back to the store and the store inturn fixed it and I bought it for half the price of a new one. I have used it now three different occasions and it works like a charm.

I have also been told you want to find a gear driven tiller verses a belt driven. They are supposed to be more durable. However, my tiller is belt driven and I have no problems tilling and I have major clay like soil. Cuts right through it.

12/2/2009 1:38:49 PM

Bristol,RI,USA.

Check out the BCC tillers nothing els compares

12/2/2009 3:43:37 PM

Bristol,RI,USA.

sorry BCS always do that

12/2/2009 3:44:53 PM

Long Island,New York

At last check a sears rear tine tiller with 6-7 hp enines run anywhere from 450 to 700 bucks. I had one for 5-6 years and it worked fine. Until it came time to maintain it. It jumped the chain and you have to almost completely disassemble it to repair it...theres no frame...its two pieces of sheetmetal screwed together with a gasket. The chain link broke....needless to say it never made it back together. The way the wheels are they froze onto the axel and I ruined the wheel getting it off....just one repair disaster after another.

12/2/2009 5:25:43 PM

Long Island,New York

I now have a used 1970's troybilt horse...a beast that will till anything. Its less manueverable and huge but if you have straight runs its 10 times better than the Sears. Parts are very available and Im told they are easy to fix...I do miss the manueverability of the sears however. If I was rich I'd have a tractor and a tiller. Im not. If I was single I'd have a Sears and a troybilt--troybilt the new ground and first and last till of year, Sears the tilling around the plants in season. I'm not.

12/2/2009 5:30:19 PM

Long Island,New York

But if I was me I'd chose the troy over the sears and be happy I have it.

12/2/2009 5:31:14 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Thanks everybody!

12/3/2009 12:23:28 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I burned out the engine and got an estimate of $242 to have it repaired. It was 7 years old.

12/3/2009 12:27:31 PM

Ohio

$242 to get it repaired,WOW!,,lol,, is that for a new motor?,,, if its not the cost, it would be about the same coat(if you look around) to put a half way decent 5hp new motor on it Matt. The motor is really easy to take off .

Good luck with it.
Brooks

12/3/2009 2:31:28 PM

northern indiana

small engine warehouse dot com

12/3/2009 2:42:10 PM

Long Island,New York

I still have the very good engine from my sears tiller...email me if your into that kind of swap mechanics [email protected]

12/3/2009 5:00:47 PM

Deer Park WA

Troy Built Rear Tine Super Bronco, best tiller I have ever had!

12/5/2009 1:12:13 PM