Got myself an Ariens tiller

[Johndeere3720]

Well, last Saturday I got myself another machine. It is an Ariens Rocket VII rototiller. The Carb needs to be cleaned, it has a flat tire, and it needs a new pull string soon. Other than that it should run. It is actually in really good shape considering it sat out in the rain for quite some time. It has a 7 hp Tecumseh engine and a really fancy exhaust pipe. :thumbsup: Best of all, I got it for free. :thumbsup: I got some carb cleaner and foam filler for the tire last night at Napa auto parts so total investment, $11. It also has off set so the handlebar can be rotated and locked to either side so you aren't walking in your tilled soil but to the side. I read that the tires are on backwards to prevent the tiller from pushing itself forward, I guess we'll see when i try it out this spring, or when ever the rain stops. :confused2:

 

[Johndeere3720]

Here it is after it was unloaded. I figured that using the 3720 and forks would be a little easier. :thumbsup: Pictures sure don't do it justice, it is really a nice little tiller.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Well, I removed the carb last night and found that this motor will definitely need some work. Since it sat out in the wonderful Oregon rain for who knows how long there is a decent amount of rust build up in the air filter, carb, and this other filter for what I think is the oil breather. From the carb in is rusted so it appears that this engine may need to be rebuilt. That is good and bad. For one, I want to actually use this tiller some day, but i have also wanted to rebuild a gas engine for quite some time now. I found that the pull string is very short, not exactly easy to start. So i will need to get a new one. But first I am going to check out the engine and make sure it runs before i pile any $$$ into this project. Hopefully the carb is salvageable, i am going to have to take it all apart to examine any bad corrosion. Anyone notice the butter knife? Why it is there, i dont even know.

 

[zman007007]

you can buy carb cleaner in the gallon can size at Napa. It comes in a open type can like paint does and is resealable. Also comes with a small basket. The name brand is Mac and the part number is 6402. It was $19.99 a gallon. better than spending bundles on spray cans. zman

 

[Johndeere3720]

you can buy carb cleaner in the gallon can size at Napa. It comes in a open type can like paint does and is resealable. Also comes with a small basket. The name brand is Mac and the part number is 6402. It was $19.99 a gallon. better than spending bundles on spray cans. zman

I got one spray can, I will definatly keep that in mind. Thank you.

 

[Flatfork]

I also have a Rocket 7, if you replace anything other than engine parts I would be very interested where you pick them up at because I have no manual with mine. It tills great

 

[oldmech]

Hi! For your engine. First remove sparkplug and test compression(At full throtle) if not compression or low. add one teaspoon of motor oil in sparkplug hole and test compression again if more high may be could need rings job if not or very low need valves job. Now test for spark. Put sparkplug connector near ground and crank engine must have a blue spark 1/4 in. Good Luck| Oldmech

 

[Johndeere3720]

Thanks guys! I will have to try that trick out. For parts, I was able to locate some on the web, some on ebay.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

Two VERY important things:
The gear oil has to be formulated for bronse gears.
Don't just dump in any gear oil, synthetic or otherwise; you'll burn it up.
Your local Ariens dealer has the proper lube available.
Also, walk arouind to the rear of the tiller and place your hands on the outer tines and wrestle back and forth on the tiller shaft. Is there any noticable play? If so, you will need to pull the tine shafts off, drain the gear oil, adjust the shims that snub the tapered bearings and install new seals.
This causes the demise of more of these GREAT tillers than you can imagine.
Ariens has parts available for their tillers, even though they made the sad desicion to stop production.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I located a part today for my carb. When I removed my old one the adjuster needle on the bottom side had the bolt break in half when it was attached to the carb and basically cant be screwed back in. Today at school I was in the shop and we have some 8 old engines laying around that don't run. I got to looking closer to one with a hole in the block and asked if I could take the adjuster needle off the carb on the old motor. Shop teacher was planning to scrap the old motor so he gave me the go ahead. :thumbsup: Now i have what i need. I also have one of those things that you can tap into the old threads and unscrew them with a wrench, one of those things that can back out a stripped screw. Will have to try it out.