Opinions on Craftsman rear tine tillers?

Faithful One · #1 03/25/08, 06:09 PM

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...keyword=tiller

They're selling these with $150 dollars off, Tractor supply is selling the Troy Built Bronco for about the same price. The Sears model, you get more bang for your buck, such as bigger tires and bigger tines.

Can anyone give me some Ideals on a good rear tine tiller for under $700, I would like both forward and counter rotating tines, but that is out of my budget.

Can anyone suggest a GOOD used tiller, what do I look for in a used tiller, and what brand/model to keep my eyes out on?

OkieDavid · #2 03/25/08, 06:21 PM

Bought a Craftsman rear tine in 1999....All I can say is she's done everything I've ever asked of her with no breakdowns. To be honest, I can't recall even replacing the pull cord. Just grease fittings regularly, new oil every 50 hours and new plug every spring. Doesn't do forward rotation tines, only counter rotating.

ET1 SS · #3 03/25/08, 07:54 PM

I had the 6.5 Hp Sears unit. I used it one season and it ate it's transmission. Sears sent their repair guy out to our home, he said that is one part which is not covered. So it is an expensive boat anchor.

Then I bought the Sears 8 Hp rear tine unit with the forward-rotation and counter-rotation tines. I snap the pins a lot. I spend a lot of time cutting roots and vines out from wrapping around the tines. Those pins are expensive! I go through 20 pins a season.

foxtrapper · #4 03/25/08, 08:58 PM

Well if used is to be considered, Troy-Bilt must be mentioned. Dollar for dollar, that's probably the most tiller you can get. My god are they a good machine. After that, be it an Ariens, etc, they are all good machines if they simply look heavy and solid. Generically, the more sheetmetal there is, the more flimsy the machine. Cast is good!

Picking the right machine is also a function of your intended use and the ground. You don't want a big heavy tiller for small jobs.

Faithful One · #5 03/25/08, 09:04 PM

Just a quick clearification, but I hear everyone bash MTD, is MTD bad for some reason? I've never owned a MTD, but everyone puts them down.

OkieDavid · #6 03/26/08, 06:30 AM

Good point from Et1SS- I should have mentioned, where I live is one HUGE sandbox.....I've been adding organic matter to "make" garden soil out of it the whole time we've lived here. My results may not be applicable to heavy/rocky soil. WRT- MTD, I would put them in the same class as Craftsman as they are primarily stamped sheet metal as opposed to cast parts. Stamped is going to be less expensive and have a shorter life expectancy IMHO.

oldgaredneck · #7 03/26/08, 06:36 AM

If you can get your hands on a Troy Bilt older model that was actually built by Troy Bilt you will have an excellent machine, IMHO. The newer Troy Bilts are built by MTD and are not as durable.

Auric · #8 03/26/08, 08:39 AM

I bought the Sears 6hp model with the counter-rotating times. Worked great for 3 years, then the chain (I think) that powers the tines came off internally. The tiller would still drive itself around, but no tilling. The only way to fix this is to completely disassemble the unit and split the two halves apart. I gave up and now plan to use the motor for a go-cart!

Thoughthound · #9 03/26/08, 09:09 AM

I'd go for an older Troy-bilt Horse or the next model down in size. Great machine.

Macybaby · #10 03/26/08, 10:05 AM

I would not get one that only has rear tines. I have the craftsman with both, and I would not like the machine near as much with only counter rotation.

It's great for deap digging and working hard soil, but once the soil is worked up and soft, the wheels can not overcome the rear drag of the tines, and the machine just sits there. Switch to forward rotation, and it does great. I make a habit of putting in gardens where the ground has never been worked before.

Also look for some sort of neutral. So you can "free wheel" the machine. The other big one I have requires pulling cotter pins and moving the wheels to be able to disengage the wheels from the motor.

That "other one" is a 7 year old troybilt. I wanted one so bad, and saved up. Unfortunaly I was not aware that MTD had bought the name and was making them into crap. I paid over $500 for that machine in 2001, and have hated it since. I won't even sell it because I would feel guilty about stealing someone's money (even for real cheap). I tried a lot of things to make it work right, over several years, and finally gave up. Right now the plan is to take the tines off and use it as a movable engine to run the pump on the old well.

I also have a small Lawnboy front tiller. Was never intended for serious tilling, but it is what I would resort to when I'd finally get so frustrated with the TB and give up. I got my glove stuck in the bar and had the TB pull me off my feet and drag me until I could get things unstuck. I've even tried it in well worked soil (after the craftsman) and still have it yank me around. Put 10lb weight on the front also to help keep it from rearing up off the front wheels, and it would only be usable if I set the the dig depth to about nothing. I love most tools, but I really hate that one.

The older Troy-bilt (before MTD got them) are wonderful machines. The newer ones might be better - hope they are cause they were really horrible for a while.

I've only had my Sears for a couple of seasons. I have hard soil, but no rocks or tree roots to deal with. So far nothing has broke or given me any grief at all. I plan on putting in a significantly larger garden in an area that use to be pasture. It will be a real test of the machine.

Cathy

sammyd · #11 03/26/08, 11:02 AM

We bought one 3 years ago and have liked it. Only problem I have is the handlebar positioner loosens up while running.
If buying a new troybuilt you have to double check. Anything under 8HP is not built like a troybuilt used to be.

NEOhioSmiths · #12 03/26/08, 11:40 AM

Go for older Troy-bilt or save up and get a BCS

AJ Williams · #13 03/26/08, 12:26 PM

I have had a Craftsman rear tine counter rotating tiller since 1999. I have never had a problem with it. It starts so easy my 8 yr old starts it for me. I clean filters and change oil and it works hard.

fixer1958 · #14 03/26/08, 07:38 PM

I've had one for about 4 years.
I think it was the best they had with the counter rotating tines and all that.
It does all I want it to and haven't had any problems at all.
It will powder the soil after you get it tore up real well.
Does a nice job in my opinion.

hotzcatz · #15 03/27/08, 04:14 AM

Well, my DH rescued an old Merry Tiller on it's way to the dumpster. Got it running but even then it wasn't well mannered and bucked all over the place. It is a front tine tiller though which is probably why it misbehaves. There was also an old rear tine tiller being thrown out at the same time but that needed a shroud so until a part is located that's waiting to run. Then we found a gray Craftsman rear tine tiller (I think it is a 5HP) at the rubbish dump. It looked like it was in good shape and the engine had compression so we brought it home. A shot of ether and it started right up. It works great! We are digging a fresh garden and it goes forward and backward and in a straight line and doesn't jump around all over the place.

We gave away the old red rear tine Merry Tiller and found a cute small Mantis type tiller at a garage sale for $5 so now we have the gray tiller for breaking up new soil and the tiny tiller for weeding.

Faithful One · #16 03/29/08, 08:46 AM

Ok, I was checking the new Troy builts, and noticed all but the Biggest one has like 8" tines, the Craftsman has 12" tines.

Can somone tell me the benefits of larger tines other than digging deeper?

ET1 SS · #17 03/29/08, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faithful One

Ok, I was checking the new Troy builds, and noticed all but the Biggest one has like 8" tines, the Craftsman has 12" tines.

Can someone tell me the benefits of larger tines other than digging deeper?

Like the wheel of an automobile; the longer the radius the less torque.

If the tine reaches out eight inches, it has so much power to spin with, to dig with, to move rocks, to snap roots, etc. The same engine and transmission with twelve inch tines will have approximately half of the same power. So it will not be able to dig through hard soil, it will not be able to move the same kinds of rocks, it will not be able to snap roots in the manner that the smaller tine unit could.

A garden hoe with a five foot handle works well. But add three foot onto the handle making it an eight foot handle, and how much power would you have to dig at plant roots?

An automobile with a chipmunk engine would have terrible acceleration if it had 15 inch tires. The tires would be far too big for the tiny engine to spin and try to accelerate. But 10 inch tires and the car does accelerate, it may even feel perky when climbing a hill.

uyk7 · #18 03/29/08, 09:55 AM

Anyone familiar with the Earthquake front tine tiller with a 4 cycle engine?

Faithful One · #19 03/29/08, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uyk7

Anyone familiar with the Earthquake front tine tiller with a 4 cycle engine?

The local dealer has the full troy built line, and they also had ONE front tine earthquaker.

How Do I · #20 03/30/08, 01:56 AM

My only itch with our Craftsman Rear Tine Tiller is the belt slips off once or twice a season. Going to try a new belt this season and hopefully that will fix that problem. Otherwise, the tiller is solid as a rock. Can hold it with one hand busting up sod or using in existing beds. We've had ours since 2000 and it starts on the first pull at the start of every season. I believe you could start the thing by pulling on the cord with your teeth.