Tiller recommendations?

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We are in the market for a new tiller this year. We hope to purchase one this fall when they close out this year's models. We were using the ones our parents gave us, one an old JD and the other an old MTD but they have decided to quit this year and we have never had to purchase a tiller, therefore we don't know what is out there. We consider this to be a major investment, money wise, so we would like to hear about your experiences and recommendations. We have a decent sized garden (appx 50x90) near our house and also plant our vines/corn in a section of one of our fields.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@linkup.net), July 06, 2001

Answers

You could always go to a large scale SFG and not need to use a tiller again. This is what my intention is once I aquire enough walkway material.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 06, 2001.

I have always used a TroyBuilt 6 horse. I am 4'9'' and can handle the tiller one handed. We recently purchased a second hand one with electric start. That was always the only trouble I had. My arms are not long enough to pull the starting cord and my husband used to do that for me.

When we get the new tractor, we are going to get a rotovator for that.

What ever tiller you get, get a rear tine.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), July 06, 2001.


Trisha you will like a troy built i have a 99 model for sale but your garden is not big enough for a horse model however if you have planes to expand it would be great. what ever you buy try it out first. Bob se.ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@hit.net), July 06, 2001.

As a novice gardener I used a Briggs for years, then a troy bilt if you have to use one. Now, I'm a purest and use the no till method. Find a source of compost and put a 6 - 12" lift over everything. Only dig out the biggest weeds that come through. After a couple of years, your soil will be awesome and full of our good buddy wigglers. I bought 40 acres in northern Nevada and am busy establishing my garden. ggo luck Ray

-- Raymond Gray (RorLGray@Graytv.com), July 06, 2001.

WE PURCHSED A 8 HORSEPOWER TROY BUILT TILLER IN 1984 WHEN WE FIRST STASRTED TILLING AND LOVED IT. THEN IN 1995 WE ADDED A 5 HORSEPOWER TROY BUILT TILLER. THERE GREAT AND I'M 4'11. HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND WAS 6' AND HE USED IT. GOOD LUCK- SUNSHINE MOUNTAIN ASHE ACRE FARM

-- SUNSHINE (MTASHEACRES@AOL.COM), July 07, 2001.


The troybuilt is fine tiller as is BCS or a Honda. I want to put my 2cents in for the Gravely walk behind tractor with its unique rotaryplow attachment as best machine however. Its not like a tiller and really like nothing else available, but makes a fine seed bed in ONE pass and is very rugged. There is a normal looking rototiller attachment available for weeding. Also many, many other attachments made over the years.

Believe it or not the walk behind Gravelys are still made but very expensive (try around $5000). I strongly suggest a used one. I've owned a couple of them. One was a 1954 with the pain in the rear, one cylinder Studebaker engine. These antiques are not the best choice unless you really like to tinker(I always had governor problems). My lastest walk behind Gravely I got couple years ago is a 1977. I bought it privately from man who just got a brand new 4WD compact tractor and didnt need it any more. It resembles the older one, but has a Kohler engine and better gearing. Only cost me $400 with attachments and fresh rebuilt engine. Its a gem and should last me the rest of my life. I also bought a riding Gravely (real riding version, not walk behind one with the sulky) at auction for $30 with attachments. (Nobody seemed to know what it was.) Its Onan engine needs a rebuild but everything else is in good shape. I only bought it as I wanted the extra Gravely mower for Gravely walk behind that was sold with it. Interestingly, it is a simular design to the traditional Gravely walk behind only with front axle, steering wheel, bigger rear wheels etc. added. Attachments mount on the front of it with pto shaft sticking out in front of front wheels so looks little odd compared to conventional garden tractors.

-- Hermit John (Hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), July 07, 2001.


I have had Troybuilt, BCS, Toro & MTD. What i like about the MYD is the tins run in reverse so when you hit those hard spots the tiller does not jerk your arms out of joint to tear the tiller out of your hands. MTSD's are a third the price of the big red one too. I boought a used MTD last fall for $100 and rebuilt the chain case, replace the main shaft and put a new belt on, it's running good now.

For the money though I prefer a front tine tiller for working close to the crop, you can slow them down to a crawl and they don't jump out of control. I do my major tilling with a tractor mounted tiller, I use a mantis for in the rows later in the season.

I think Troybuilt's are too expensive, you might look at the DR tiller on the net.

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), July 07, 2001.


Once you go troybuilt, you will not won't to go back to anything else!

-- Russell Hays (rhays@sstelco.com), July 07, 2001.

Hi Trisha,

I've used my 8 horsepower Troybuilt professional horse model for about 10 years and love it. It works wonderfully. The kohler engine runs great and is very easy to start.

I use it to till up the garden in the spring and fall as well as cultivating between rows all summer. I've never had any trouble with it at all, except for routine maintanence. The only parts I've had to replace were a set of tines this spring. The old ones were to worn to work well.

My garden is much larger than yours (about 3/4 of an acre) so a smaller model Troybuilt would work well for you. Troybuilt tillers do cost more than many others but I think they're worth it. They're very rugged, well built machines. I think mine will last forever as long as I do my part to take care of it.

One other thing, whatever tiller you get, think about getting a hiller/furrower attachment for it if it is available. They're wonderful for planting things like potatoes. I use mine to plant gladiolus every spring. They save a lot of hand work.

Good luck.

-- Murray in ME (lkdmfarm@megalink.net), July 07, 2001.


Trisha, This is going to start a war, but I have been gardening on every size of land from urban backyard to my present ten acres over a period of thiry years, using every size of equipment from a 3hp front tine tiller of unknown manufacture to an 8' Landpride rototiller powered by a large Case tractor. My most successful garden (200' x 35') has been accomplished in the last three years with NO cultivation. I used to till every year to get rid of the weeds only to have them come back with renewed vigor. For the last three years, I have put 10" - 12" of oak leaf mulch down, didn't till, and have enjoyed record (for me) yields with a minimum of weeds. If you must have a tiller, get a Troybilt. Without a doubt, they are the best. If you want to save yourself thirty years of futile effort waging war against the weeds, buy a trailer instead of a tiller and spend your tilling/weeding time picking up bagged oak leaves. Good luck, John

-- John James (jjaqmes@n-jcenter.com), July 07, 2001.


Thanks for all the responses so far. It sure sounds like a Troy-build is worth checking in to. We are also going to look into the DR tiller. We have a DR trimmer and I just love it, it is a well build machine.

For those of you who suggested no till. How on earth are you able to plant anything in the soil without tilling it? We have very rich soil here but it does have some clay in it making it very heavy. Without working it every year there isn't enough organic matter worked in to make it easy to garden. Unfortunately, our very good soil also is ideal for weeds and most of the weeds here are as hardy and vigorous as any of the crops we plant. 6" inches of mulch wouldn't smother them and oak trees don't grow in our area. Any pointers for going no till are appreciated.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@linkup.net), July 07, 2001.


Trisha, for no-till, try reading the Ruth Stout books. She basically bought lots and lots of straw.

For a slower, but more long term approach, read a book called "One Straw Revolution" by Masanobu Fukuoka

And my favorite, "Plowmans Folly" by Edward Faulkner. His ideas were mainly aimed at small farms back in first half of twentieth century, but they work and I have used them successfully with hand tools only in garden when I lived in Upper Peninsula, MI. You read Stout, Fukuoka, and Faulkner and you realize their ideas are not that different. Sort of what Nature does along every farm fencerow where leaves and weed stems and grass collect and make the soil very fertile.

-- Hermit John (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), July 08, 2001.


I bought a Sears Rear Tine and I wish I had my money back. It has a Briggs on it which is good but the rest of it is very cheap. Mel & Donnie from Blue Bird Valley

-- Mel Kelly (MelKelly@webtv.net), July 08, 2001.

Twenty five years ago we tried out all the kinds of tillers that we could borrow from friends or dealers, and bought an Ariens 7hp rear tine tiller. We have since replaced the tines, transmission, and engine, and overhauled the original engine twice. (We tilled lots of alfalfa sod and heavy clay for years.) Once when it was waiting for parts (a rare situation), we borrowed the neighbor's Troybilt, and decided that we wouldn't want a Troybilt as a gift. It was too awkward to use compared to our Ariens. I have also been impressed by the MTD and Hondas, and would consider them if buying new again--but our gardens have improved so much that we don't use the tiller as much as we did 20 years ago. We garden about 1/2 acre.

Jim

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), July 09, 2001.


We have a Troybuilt, 6 hp, and have had it for fifteen years. We bought it new and it has been worth every penny. We have replaced the tines twice and just this year hubby had the mechanic go through and replace springs and whatever else needed replacing to get it into tip top condition. The starter had gone on it and he had that replaced as well. He is happy as a pig in mud with it now that it is all fixed up. Even the depth bar had to be replaced because it had deteriorated over the years. He can go back to starting it with a key and handling it with one hand. I suspect it is going to be with us for another fifteen years or longer. I strongly suggest you get a used one if you can't afford the new ones since they sure seem to last a long time. I will say that I don't use it because it's size intimidates me and we do have hard Virginia clay to use it on here although we have been building up the dirt since we moved to Virginia. We also used it in New Hampshire soil which is sandier but does have rocks and occassionally it would jump when it hit a rock but I would go along after him and pick them up so they were no longer in the garden for the next time. I would recommend that you rent or borrow some tillers first to see how you like them before you buy.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), July 09, 2001.


It's Troybuilt on this spread.

-- Rog-OH (rw285@isoc.net), July 15, 2001.

Troy-Bilt is the way to go. I've got a 2000 model 6 H.P. Pony for sale if you need another or if you havent purchased one. Complete with furrower/hiller.

-- Michael- Martinsville, VA (michael003@digdat.com), December 25, 2001.

I have had Troy built Tillers since 1980. I love them but the tines go fast. This past year the rear seal went out on mine and I cannot find a source for new tines or rear seals. If anyone out there knows where I can find these, please respond. Garden Way Manufacturing it seems as gone out of business. I started and maintained my first two acres of strawberries with the Troy tiller "6 hp" I then acquired an 8 hp. I love it.

-- Judith Brown (sandyriverstrawberry@yahoo.com), January 13, 2002.

Judith,

We needed new tines for our Troy Built and found them, in stock, in Lowe's!

Good luck.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), January 14, 2002.


IVE OWNED A 8HPTROY FOR QUIET SOME TIME IT IS THE FINEST TILLER THERE IS AND THATS A FACT! IT HAS TILLED LITERLY HUNDREDS OF HOURS BECAUSE I GARDEN ALOT! leonards farm &ranch in fort worth tex helps me with all my parts and new heavy duty tines.they are very courtious to me and will help you too! rkm5@earthlink.net

-- RALPH.E MEREDITH .JR (rkm5@earthlink.net), February 20, 2002.

Only way you'll know is to try them. Only person that would have a troybilt is one that never tried a BCS. Thats been my experience.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), February 21, 2002.

I tried a b-broke c-crappy s-scrapper!my dads cows now use it to scratch their hiney with!dad said the cows arnt that crazy about it either! sorry, we wont buy anouther bcs troy tillers are #1 with each gardener i see!

-- ralphmeredith (rkm5@earthlink.net), February 22, 2002.

I bought a 1966 Troy Built at an auction for $10.00. After I got it home, the thing actually started and took off. Thank goodness my truck was in the way to stop it. My neighbor's think I'm crazy because I put a 10 hp electric start motor on it for my garden that's only 4X15. Troy Builts are tough and a lot of fun to work on.

-- Justin-OK (jetch1975@yahoo.com), February 22, 2002.

My wife and I have been enjoying the discussion on rototillers as we are trying to figure out what to buy. My Gram had a Troy-bilt and I enjoyed using it. Based on the discussion here, sounds like that is the way to go! Anyone have a second hand "horse" model, or perhaps a "pony" that they would like to sell - we live near Martinsburg, West Virginia. Thanks.

-- Tod K (todnamyshouse@yahoo.com), March 05, 2002.

As to the no-till issue, it's great for the places that it works! go for it! Wonderful dea. :)

But, it doesn't work as well everywhere. Heavy clay soils, in cold climates, with lots of spring rains - well, you wouldn't get seeds to germinate until July the ground would stay so cold! :) And the weeds - oh my.

I'm not against multch and no-till. Just remember, you have to walk a mile in the other person's shoes to see what it's like! :) no-till doesn't work everywhere.

---->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), March 05, 2002.


Well after doing some calling on tillers I found out some info. Troy-built is now a division of another company, MTD, I believe. They are still offering a good warranty, but when I asked the retailer about what would happen with that if the company got sold or reoranized he said he didn't have any info on it.

After much thought and discussion, we have opted for a less expensive, rear tine tiller, for the time being. Either a Sears or other brand that can be serviced locally. We had purchased a trimmer at a local farm store and when it broke (still under warranty) it was very hard to get it fixed.

We are investigating other methods such as deep mulch, no till but for now we really do need a tiller to get ourselves started.

-- Trisha-MN (coldguinea@netscape.net), March 06, 2002.


Yes I bought a rear tine Sears 6.5 hp 5 years ago, I have tended probably 1/2 acre garden.The bushings on the thing are made of a hard rubber, I tore the machine down yesterday in about 3hours, I hate to put these replacements in, they should have been made of brass. I suggest buy something other than sears. Nobody will work on their transmissions. good luck

-- gerard goldey (howard5@gte.net), March 17, 2002.

The vote seems to be in for TroyBuilt. For all you owners I have a question. The tiller has been g for some time and when I put the tines in gear they will not turn. I pulled the tines off and the drive gear turns and moves in an out but that is as far as I've gotten. Any advise?

-- Mark Schaefer (marks@carr.org), April 08, 2002.

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