So, what's the problem with Troy-Bilt tillers?

[Ledgemere Farm]

From MTD. Everyone bashes them, but not much talk about why. Specifically, why would one discourage another from buying a new machine from Troy-Bilt? Engines by Briggs & Stratton...pretty easy to buy parts for that. MTD sells the tiller parts and they can be had online by other vendors as well. Just wondering. Thanks.

 

[bontai_Joe]

From my observations, the current Troy-Bilt Horse model is pretty much the same time tested design that it has always been. Same for the Pony models I think. Good machines as far as I am concerned.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Its just the MTD connection. They seem to be a fine tiller.

 

[ByronBob]

I got a friend who bought one a few years ago and it's the bomb. I would buy one myself if I needed one.

 

[KentT]

From MTD. Everyone bashes them, but not much talk about why. Specifically, why would one discourage another from buying a new machine from Troy-Bilt? Engines by Briggs & Stratton...pretty easy to buy parts for that. MTD sells the tiller parts and they can be had online by other vendors as well. Just wondering. Thanks.

Other than no availability of Kohler Command engines, the Pony, Horse and Big Red models seem to be the same as before, but there's also newer counter-rotating tine (CRT) models, some with the Pro-Line name. Troybilt didn't build CRT tillers prior to MTD, as far as I know...

The new Troybilt products that have NO relationship to the old ones are the wood chippers -- MTD did not get rights to the "old-reliable" Troybilt Tomahawk chippers for some reason, and everything sold today as a Troybilt is really an MTD product...

 

[milkman]

So, what's the problem with Troy-Bilt tillers?

Go use the Troy Bilt horse, or whatever the best TB has now, then go use the 732 BCS or up series, use them both for a good preiod of time, then you won't have to ask the question. I don't know how to explain the difference, I've used both, it's like comparing the handling of a Model A Ford to a BMW.

 

[KentT]

So, what's the problem with Troy-Bilt tillers?

Go use the Troy Bilt horse, or whatever the best TB has now, then go use the 732 BCS or up series, use them both for a good preiod of time, then you won't have to ask the question. I don't know how to explain the difference, I've used both, it's like comparing the handling of a Model A Ford to a BMW.

And you're be comparing the price of a Ford to the price of a BMW also...

 

[lopezian]

Other than no availability of Kohler Command engines, the Pony, Horse and Big Red models seem to be the same as before, but there's also newer counter-rotating tine (CRT) models, some with the Pro-Line name. Troybilt didn't build CRT tillers prior to MTD, as far as I know...

My advice, born of experience, is to stay far away from the counter-rotating tine (CRT) models. I bought a troybilt CRT pony last year and I HATE, HATE, HATE it. In fact a neighbor borrowed it a few weeks ago, tried to use it, and immediately returned it.

The good news is the engine starts and runs like a dream. The bad news is the wheels on my model are too thin and the weight too little for it to have much traction. With the tines rotating in the opposite direction of the wheels, the tiller does not move by itself. It will literally just sit there, spinning the tines and spinning the wheels and not going anywhere. To move it you have to push it and heft it down the row. I'm going to have a hard time selling this POS with a straight face.

If I had to do it again I would buy, on order of preference, a tiller for my tractor, a BCS (very, very cool), or a forward-rotating horse model (which weighs more).

 

[Dargo]

My advice, born of experience, is to stay far away from the counter-rotating tine (CRT) models. I bought a troybilt CRT pony last year and I HATE, HATE, HATE it.

Now, before you read anything I write about tillers I just want to say that I have almost zero, zip, nada, experience or knowledge about any tiller except the 7' tiller for my tractor. With that in mind, I just spent several weeks fretting about what tiller to buy. The thread is on here somewhere. As it turned out, I nearly waited too long in the year to get one for my wife's garden. So, in order to stay married, I went out and bought one of the relatively cheap Cub Cadet tillers at Home Depot. It has a Honda engine on it, a 3 year warranty, and the tines turn either way.

I tilled up a garden for my wife with that little tiller with surprising ease considering the rock hard clay soil we have in this draught. If I tried to use it with the tines turning ahead, it literally ran away from me! With the tines in reverse, it tilled 8" deep without much trouble. The tires were spinning the whole time, but all I had to do was lift up on the handle bars just a tad and it would walk right ahead no problem. The only annoying thing was turning it around at the end of each run. Without any differential, I had to just drag it around 180. It has reverse, but all that does is make the tiller try to run me over. All in all, I had to admit that despite my huge reservation of buying anything from Cub Cadet, the little tiller works great for my modest garden needs.

Next year I'll just drop my 7' tiller 12" deep and make a couple of passes and have the garden all ready to go while sitting in the comfort of my cab in 10 minutes or less. The little 5.5 hp Cub tiller will be used just to weed the garden after it's already up and going.

 

[lopezian]

If I tried to use it with the tines turning ahead, it literally ran away from me! With the tines in reverse, it tilled 8" deep without much trouble. The tires were spinning the whole time, but all I had to do was lift up on the handle bars just a tad and it would walk right ahead no problem.

Is this the model you bought? And you say the times can rotate forward OR reverse? That sounds very cool - I wish mine could do that. The tines on mine only operate in the opposite direction from the wheels.

http://www.cubcadet.com/wcsstore/pics/CubCadet/21AB455C710_prod_lg.jpghttp://www.cubcadet.com/wcsstore/pics/CubCadet/21AB455C710_prod_lg.jpg

It looks like about the same HP as the troybilt I bought, but the tires look wider. Maybe that makes a difference. All I know is that in loose soil, the troybilt CRT builds up debris between the tines and the wheels and you have to constantly help it forward. It really is pretty good when breaking up sod, but after that, it is the worst.

 

[RalphVa]

The current Troy Bilt tillers may be even better than when they were exclusively Troy Bilt. Good stuff from other designs (that MTD own) can be incorporated to fix problem spots that the Troy Bilt maybe had.

Car manufacturers do it all the time: Volvo S40 purchased from Mitsubishi and now owned by Ford, Jaguars bought by Ford, Chrysylers merged with MB (quality actually went down in MBs in this case though), etc.

My Troy Bilt chipper/shredder was not equal in quality to McKissic ones. If these two combined, they could make a really good product; I'd think.

Ralph

 

[Dargo]

Is this the model you bought? And you say the times can rotate forward OR reverse? That sounds very cool - I wish mine could do that. The tines on mine only operate in the opposite direction from the wheels.

http://www.cubcadet.com/wcsstore/pics/CubCadet/21AB455C710_prod_lg.jpghttp://www.cubcadet.com/wcsstore/pics/CubCadet/21AB455C710_prod_lg.jpg

It looks like about the same HP as the troybilt I bought, but the tires look wider. Maybe that makes a difference. All I know is that in loose soil, the troybilt CRT builds up debris between the tines and the wheels and you have to constantly help it forward. It really is pretty good when breaking up sod, but after that, it is the worst.

Yup, that's the exact tiller I bought. I think the difference may be that the tires are taller, and maybe wider. I actually went back and forth between Lowes, who had Troy Built, and Home Depot, who had the Cub. Again, I don't know squat about tillers, so take that in mind, but I was thinking that tractors with taller tires seem to pull better than tractors with shorter tires, so maybe tillers would be the same? Many years ago I got really embarrassed when I actually tied up a JD 650 4X4 tractor, tail to tail, with my FIL's old 8N and had a tug of war. We had about the same hp, but I had 4X4, so I just knew I'd win. As you have already figured, he dragged me away with his stupid old tractor. (I've since bought bigger tractors )

I wonder if you could try taller tires on yours? Maybe I'm all wrong too. Oh well, maybe I ended up just getting lucky (thanks to Knight9's suggestion) with the Cub? Oh yeah, the tines do turn forward and reverse on that Cub.

 

[Knight9]

I think one of the differences between the tillers (Troybuilt & Cub Cadet) as far as traction goes is not just the tire size and tread, but also the very large weight on the front of the Cub. It is a very heavy weight and really seems to aid in the traction. I've had my cub in some pretty deep soil on some inclines and never lost traction.

Couple of things about the Cub that I will say, however. Dargo is quite correct in that running this with the tine rotation forward resulted in me running forward Reverse rotation seems to be much more manageable for me. Also, I agree on the turning thing. Especially with the added weight on the front, turning at the end of the rows can be challenging. However, I do take the easy route and use the power reverse.

 

[Savagepike]

I have to say that I own a 30yo(1977) model TB horse and just replaced the engine last year (even though the original was still running). I figured it was about that time. I've compared it to the newer models offered by TB and although less ergonomic than modern TBs, I'd still use my 30yo horse if I had the choice. Much heavier-duty. The thing is a beast and has NEVER let me down. As long as I kept it out of the weather and sprayed some PB Blaster on the moving/adjustable parts, the tiller could not have performed better IMHO.

 

[slowrev]

I have a 71 vintage horse. Love it. has a cast iron Tecumseh engine on it runs great. Has lots of weight and pulls itself along good.

 

[bontai_Joe]

There is an easy technique to turning a Troy Tiller around at the end of the row instead of wrestling with it. As you are walking alongside holding the near handle bar with one hand, you raise that handle bar and push sideways away from you to get the tiller up on the far wheel. Now grab the near handle with the other hand and the far handle with the first hand and pivot the tiller on the single wheel touching the ground. All this is done with it in gear running. It's a little like dancing with a large woman, but once you learn it, you can guide the tiller very well with never really using a lot of strength. If the right wheel is the pivot wheel then it's easy to go left, the left wheel pivots to go right.

 

[ChuckinNH]

My old Troy Built EconoHorse has been a good tiller. I've found that with forward rotating tines, it is very important to adjust the tiller to a very shallow cut for the first pass, or two in sod. Once the tines have some dirt to work in, you can set the cut deeper, and the tiller won't run away from you.

 

[LBrown59]

The MTD Connection

 

[LBrown59]

They're not Troy Built anymore.

.....

 

[milkman]

I have to say that I own a 30yo(1977) model TB horse and just replaced the engine last year (even though the original was still running). I figured it was about that time. I've compared it to the newer models offered by TB and although less ergonomic than modern TBs, I'd still use my 30yo horse if I had the choice. Much heavier-duty. The thing is a beast and has NEVER let me down. As long as I kept it out of the weather and sprayed some PB Blaster on the moving/adjustable parts, the tiller could not have performed better IMHO.

Those were the real workhorses and the ones made by MTD won't compare to those. They had one purpose, tilling and they did that well, I used one for two years before I bought my BCS to garden and mow with, I don't think they make the cast iron horse any more, sure is a loss if they don't.