I gotta buy a new roto tiller

[Tabassco]

My approx 25 yo Craftsman front tine tiller is either on its last legs or already gone. It was running rough last spring. I checked the compression and it was down to 60 psi. Every thing I read says it should be done at that point.


But anyway, I'm thinking I might like a rear tine tiller. I've never tilled with a rear tine, but I read ya just walk along with them. My garden is about 25' X 25 ', I don't need a lot of tiller. Is that too small for a rear tine ?


I'm looking at two rear tine models, but open minded for any others ........


This Troy Bilt 16" Super Bronco


Super Bronco $799



and this 16" Cub Cadet


Cub Cadet $629



The primary diff between the two besides the price and the brand name value of Troy Bilt , is the Super Bronco has a reverse. Is a reverse gear a big item on a rear tine ?

I'm accustomed to just man-handling my front tine tiller to turn it around. Not sure I get what's involved with a rear tine. I'm thinking I've got to lift the tines off the ground and pivot on the wheels ?

If a rear tine is not a lot easier to till with, I would consider another front tine.

[wildturkey]

The rear tine will not work YOU near as hard. Yes, lift tines up to turn around but point of leverage make it easy.

[Basscaster]

I am a bit $$ wise(cheap a bit). I would look on Craigslist for a older rear tine. They run about $150-$200+ and you might find a nice super condition American Made Tiller....Or even any good tiller with real steel blades>one that might rust if you don't take care of it... I only used my big tiller twice a year but found a nice Mantis baby tiller on craigslist that I used several times a year especially digging up dead grass and planting grass seed and loosing up my clay pile and good dirt pile. I also like the search and don't mind driving to find a good one. Best deals are usually outside your city where buyers think is too far to drive. a Nice drive in the country and lunch in a small town Cafe make a nice 3 hour adventure with your wife or son. heck with the $$ you save on the tiller you might be able to bring Both for Lunch > There is something special to me buying a older Deere Mower/tractor or big old well made mint Tiller made of American steel and the old paint. I can't find or afford a older classic car so I make do with my two classics in my shed > 1998 Deere Mower and my old Roto Tiller.

[Tabassco]

I've been watching Facebook Marketplace and CL since last February, I've seen nothing I'd want to take a chance on. I found a couple of lightly used , but they want $500 to $600 for them. At that price, I'm gonna go ahead and buy new. A tiller is long term purchase. If ya take care of it , it will last 20 or 30 years. I don't mind paying more, over the long haul , that extra gets averaged out to nothing.

[Basscaster]

True true true. next idea, Bring wife and kids and Buy Lunch anyways > that way- they are part of the ownership of the tiller and you all can all take turns tilling the Garden. . . .

[retiredmechanic]

If I was looking for another tiller, it would be a rear tine and a good chance it would be a Troybilt. The only thing that would keep me from buying a Troybilt is if they have started making them cheaper and lighter. The older ones were steel and cast iron

[billnorman1]

A suggestion: bolt a Honda motor to your rototiller. They have the same bolt pattern on the base and the drive side accessories even use the same bolts, at least mine did. I bought a busted Honda powered pressure washer, took the motor off and bolted it directly to my old front tine tiller. It works fine for me at its governed speed, starts every year even though I leave it outside. I did make a larger dirt shield out of an old stop sign to keep the dirt off the motor.

[BPenrod]

The Troy Bilt is great tiller. Bronco or Super Bronco either one would do the job. Rear tine is the only way to go, you won't regret it.

[Walkabout7781]

Why not fix your old tiller? When we moved into this house in '79, I needed one. My FIL gave me his old one. It had real poor compression and a big score in the cylinder wall. For every tank of gas, I had to add a pint of oil, remove the sparkplug and wire brush it to get it started again. Finally finished rototilling the whole yard and sold it to a buddy for $50, after telling him it needed a rebore and oversized piston. Later, he told me that he just threw a new set of rings in it and it ran fine. I was happy for him and even more happy that it wasn't mine anymore.

[CatFan]

Troy-Bilt and Cub Cadet are cheaply-made mass market stuff compared to what they used to be. Not remotely like they used to be. Still halfway decent. Both are made by MTD, so likely not much difference but paint color. If I were shopping for one, I’d be looking at Ariens.

[Axkiker]

Rear tine all the way. I run an old Ariens which doesn't run the tines in reverse but its still hands down better than a front tine tiller. If it would run the tines in reverse it would be perfect. One day I hope to have one of the old Troy built horse models. They seem to be the tanks of the tiller world.

[boatwrench]

Research bcs tillers last one you will ever need

[vatreefarmer]

Yes, you will want a reverse if you have any fencing around the garden.

[Beast]

between the 2, the cub cadet looks like it has the cheap case that houses the gears, if it is, it has the cheap pressed together gears, the Troy looks like it has a shaft driven tines, better in my opinion. and yes you want a reverse, it will save your arms and back, and if it has reverses diven till blades, they do a better job.

[Bsktball55]

Rear tines are easier, but they will still work you over especially if you are breaking new ground.

[okhawg]

I’ve got a 9 yr old Husquavarna and it just runs and runs. Cranks 3 pulls max.

[Basscaster]

They should be able to BREAK UP Payments. . . .

[Landar]

Just spend the money and get a Honda FRC800. Last tiller you’ll ever need.

[buster502]

i have a troy built rear tine and no problems at all,its about 15 years old now,my neighbor has old old bronco and it is the best tiller i have ever seen,it is a animal has a 10 horse engine on it and big long handles,he just walks along side it,i bet it was costly when new

[JTN]

If your garden is 25x25 I'd guess your only putting 5-ish hours a year on your tiller,I've got a Yardman rear tine that's made by MTD that's about A 1990 model.My garden is 40x80 and my bothers is 40x40 we both use it and it's still working good except the tines are getting wore down. Reverse is a very nice feature on a rear tine,once you've had it you wouldn't be with out it.