Tiller Howard Tillers

[bigballer]

My local nursery offered to sell me an older chain driven 54" Howard tiller with new tines for my L3400. Was told it's a great runner but since 2 other tillers are in use now this one doesn't do much work anymore. asking price is $500. Seems like a great price considering the cheapest new tiller I have found locally is about $1800/+tax.

What should I look for when inspecting the tiller?

Also, Is Howard a well respected builder of tillers?

cheers,
bigballer

 

[Egon]

Probably check for looseness at the bearings, oil leaks at the gearbox and any play on the shafts to and from the gear box. The chain may need replacing but that is not a big job, just messy. Worn bearings should be standard?? and not that hard to replace. Gear box is main item in my opinion.

 

[Captinjack]

I have a Howard tiller that I bought for $600, but that is another story. I have replaced the blades ($225) and now the tine shaft bearing has completely failed on the non-drive end.

This bearing is located on the end opposite the drive end and is no longer made by the bearing mfg. so they (Howard) recommended this bearing could be replaced with a standard 1 1/2" pillow block bearing. Some modification is required as the original bearing has 3 bolts and the non-OEM has 4 bolts. I'm still in the process of the necessary modification and the way it is now, I will have to use a 1/2" spacer on the end plate to get things properly aligned. I took some pictures and will take them to "We be belts, bearings and stuff" and see if they can't come up with a narrower bearing.

If the gearbox on mine looks brand new while the tiller has seen lotsa hard use with a landscaper so they are durable. The tiller does a good job and if in good shape, go buy it.

I HAD to buy this tiller as I borrowed it (yeah I know better) and couldn't return it to the owner due to being out of town for 3 months on a job and the tiller was 260 miles away at my deer camp. He was happy with the $600 and simply bought another tiller to replace his Howard.

 

[Maxfli]

I bought a Used 48" Howard Model HR6 a few months ago, also from a Tree Nursery. I paid about $620 and it was local so no shipping. He said it hadn't been used much, and tines look almost new. I found a PDF file of the manual at http://www.forddistributing.com/resources/mfg_show.php/Howard Rotavator/70. Seems to be very well made, only this model I think has been discontinued. Seems like the newer units are heavier. This one is right around 300lbs. I think todays more modern King Kutter is 50 to 70lbs heavier.