Buying Advice What Rear Tine Rototiller to buy

[Willy Wonka]

I am slowly trying to revamp my yard and grow a garden and I'm looking to get a rear tine rototiller. I was kind of hoping to get something for under $800...still haven't decided new or used. A lot of people seem to think there rototiller is like new and want close to new price for them. Anyways, Some that looked good were troybuilt, husqvarna, maybe crapsman. I saw that some have skinnier tines and some are a bit wider/fatter. What would be better for rocky areas or to cut through roots? I have some area that I'm looking to clear trees/etc. or that has been cleared. Initial thoughts were that the skinnier one is better for this.

For the garden and area that I cleared land I wanted to get a single bottom plow to loosen up the land first then hit it with the tiller.

As mentioned with the bottom plow....I do have a tractor (New Holland 2120) but it would be really tight in a lot of spots if I had a tiller on it. Plus I have turf tires and the tiller would need to be 6 feet wide to get to the edge. I was leaning more towards getting one that I could walk behind so I could get close up to the house to plant garden/grass. Additionally some of the spots where there wierd slopes or obstacles it would be easier.

Any advice is greatly appreciated on what I should do or stay away from. Other questions that come to mind is counter rotating better? What size horsepower is good to shoot for? Is 9 hp a good amount of hp for a tiller? A 9hp Husqvarna struck my interest. I like there chainsaws but not sure about the tillers.

 

[fried1765]

I am slowly trying to revamp my yard and grow a garden and I'm looking to get a rear tine rototiller. I was kind of hoping to get something for under $800...still haven't decided new or used. A lot of people seem to think there rototiller is like new and want close to new price for them. Anyways, Some that looked good were troybuilt, husqvarna, maybe crapsman. I saw that some have skinnier tines and some are a bit wider/fatter. What would be better for rocky areas or to cut through roots? I have some area that I'm looking to clear trees/etc. or that has been cleared. Initial thoughts were that the skinnier one is better for this.

For the garden and area that I cleared land I wanted to get a single bottom plow to loosen up the land first then hit it with the tiller.

As mentioned with the bottom plow....I do have a tractor (New Holland 2120) but it would be really tight in a lot of spots if I had a tiller on it. Plus I have turf tires and the tiller would need to be 6 feet wide to get to the edge. I was leaning more towards getting one that I could walk behind so I could get close up to the house to plant garden/grass. Additionally some of the spots where there wierd slopes or obstacles it would be easier.

Any advice is greatly appreciated on what I should do or stay away from. Other questions that come to mind is counter rotating better? What size horsepower is good to shoot for? Is 9 hp a good amount of hp for a tiller? A 9hp Husqvarna struck my interest. I like there chainsaws but not sure about the tillers.

I think the BEST price you will find on a new 72" tiller is the "Rotovator" from Agri-Supply, at $1649 + shipping.
If you are a young guy, a walk behind tiller could work for you.
I have a nice older Troy Bilt, but at 77 years old I am too old for that machine.
I would sell it, but will give it to one of my sons instead.
I use a 60" King Kutter tiller with my Ford 1920 (little brother to your 2120).
The KK is an excellent tiller, but is more expensive than the "Rotovator"
I would actually prefer the "Rotovator", because it can be offset to better cover tire tracks.

 

[oosik]

Hey Fried - I have an old Troy Bilt Horse( new in '82) - I'm only 75 and breaking new ground with that galloping beast would tear me up. Wasn't bad at all when I was younger in '82. I still remember the summer of '82 - breaking new ground - momentarily turned it over to the wife - it got away from her and we chased that dam Horse for about 150 feet. It finally hit a rut - laid over on its side and quit galloping. For a short ways it was actually dragging the wife as she tried to control the situation. Not so funny at the time - later, we laughed our hines off.

 

[fried1765]

Hey Fried - I have an old Troy Bilt Horse( new in '82) - I'm only 75 and breaking new ground with that galloping beast would tear me up. Wasn't bad at all when I was younger in '82. I still remember the summer of '82 - breaking new ground - momentarily turned it over to the wife - it got away from her and we chased that dam Horse for about 150 feet. It finally hit a rut - laid over on its side and quit galloping. For a short ways it was actually dragging the wife as she tried to control the situation. Not so funny at the time - later, we laughed our hines off.

Oh, how I know what you mean!
I bought my Troy Bilt new also,...probably around 1978.
I have not used it now for at least 12 years, but had it refreshed last year.
Why?
I don't know. Guess it's just because I like to know that all my stuff does run.
I don't know why I do some things that I do, at my age.
Just bought a new Hobart Handler 190 MIG welder last month.
Oh well....another toy one of the boys will also get some fun out of, I hope.

 

[prichard]

I think the BEST price you will find on a new 72" tiller is the "Rotovator" from Agri-Supply, at $1649 + shipping.
If you are a young guy, a walk behind tiller could work for you.
I have a nice older Troy Bilt, but at 77 years old I am too old for that machine.
I would sell it, but will give it to one of my sons instead.
I use a 60" King Kutter tiller with my Ford 1920 (little brother to your 2120).
The KK is an excellent tiller, but is more expensive than the "Rotovator"
I would actually prefer the "Rotovator", because it can be offset to better cover tire tracks.

What's the difference between a rototiller and a rotovator? I thought they were the same.

 

[goeduck]

Hey Fried - I have an old Troy Bilt Horse( new in '82) - I'm only 75 and breaking new ground with that galloping beast would tear me up. Wasn't bad at all when I was younger in '82. I still remember the summer of '82 - breaking new ground - momentarily turned it over to the wife - it got away from her and we chased that dam Horse for about 150 feet. It finally hit a rut - laid over on its side and quit galloping. For a short ways it was actually dragging the wife as she tried to control the situation. Not so funny at the time - later, we laughed our hines off.

I still use my Troybilt horse. Not quite your guys age, but not young either. I recall hitting a rock and that thing stood on its nose in a heartbeat. It would have knocked some teeth out if I was hunkered over the handles. I had learned to stand straight and back a little. Sometimes to the side if the soil is well worked. I have a BCS 722 as well and it is more tame but I like the brute strength of the Troybilt plus the tines do not clog as bad.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I buy my tillers from the pawn shops.. 1st one was the Troybuilt 8hp electricric start option but didn't have it.. had a Briggs pull start..
ALWAYS, ALWAYS started on the 2nd pull.. had it for YEARS until the great fire got it..
That thing was a BEAST!! I was 50 at the time & it wore me out.. WAY to much of a tiller..
NOW I have a Husqvarna 14".. PERFECT tiller.. w/ REVERSE.!!!
COMPLETELY customizable.. handle adjusts, speed adjusts w/ a squeeze of the trigger, stops on a dime, light enough to move..
& did I mention its 14".!! Goes anywhere you wannr to go.. fits EASILY between the rows..
& the POWER is fantastic.. I double the size of the garden after I got it.. THATS how much power it had..
I just adjusted the tines to scrape off the top layer of grass.. raked it out of the way.. lowered the tines/depth & went to town.!!!!
I cant say enough good things about it..
I know this sounds like an advertisement for Husq.. but I'm just a happy homeowner..

 

[oosik]

Just another fun thing with a rototiller - doesn't even have to be a Troy Bilt. When breaking new ground I must have "found" five miles of old FLAT BARB - barbed wire and enough hog wire fence to encase North Carolina. The hog fence will let you know - RIGHT AWAY. The old barb wire can wind a whole lot on before it becomes too obvious.

 

[fried1765]

What's the difference between a rototiller and a rotovator? I thought they were the same.

"Rotovator" is a brand name sold by Agri-Supply.

 

[RSKY]

If you want to till up hard ground it MUST be a tiller with counter-rotating tines. A front rotating one will not work. You will end up being dragged across the yard. A Troybilt is the best for tilling a garden between rows in soil THAT IS ALREADY WORKED UP. They cannot be used to break ground.

I have a Troybilt, if I had it to do over again I would purchase one that the tines could be made to go in either direction.

Get one with reverse also.

RSKY