Troy Bilt Tiller

[oldballs]

I've never had a Troy Built. However, after about 40 years of using a front tine Sears 8 HP tiller, one needs to learn how to use such a tiller....viz.,just like other ground engaging operations. You fellas might already know that stuff. My experience recalls that the soil needs to be close to "just right " for tilling. Then the depth of the wheel set (Troy built aren't adjustable) and the depth of the drag stake is important. On unworked turf it will take several passes at lowering adjustments to get it about 4-5 inches deep. After that it is easy going from year to year. If the ground ain't right, you end up with hard clods. I lent my tiller to a big guy guy one time. He brought it back with the handle bar bolt broken in disgust. I'm 5'4" @ 145 lbs and it works fine for me......:2cents:

Oh, BTW...I just bought a Land Pride 50 inch tiller for my Kubota. ....but "heck"....I'm 81 now.

 

[Depmandog]

I remember using an old Troy-Bilt Horse model. That thing was a tank and it would till sod all day long, one handed. Three passes and you would be full depth, with the soil ready to plant. Now granted, decent soil with some moisture.

Compared to the newer (and smaller) models....well there is no comparison.

 

[NHmitch]

I actually just inherited a Troy Built Horse from my grandparents and it is an 80's model. It is very heavy, and very well built, and it has a pto so you can attach a wood chipper, snow blower, or plow, and you can add cultivator tines. I am going to put a new engine because years of sitting dormant with ethanol and mice, the old engine is shot. I am going to add a 6.5hp harbor freight Honda knock off. Mine has the front bumper, and has been stored indoors, so I can't wait to use it this summer. My grandfather use to have close to an acre food plot that he would till with the horse, instead of using his tractor. I think it made more sense to him to maintain the rows, and space. I know I could not hand till that large of an area, but for my food plot,, it should work great. I'll post a video once I get it repowered.

This is a similar model in about the same condition with a bit more wear,

 

[Western]

That looks like the one I had last, worked great for me (the older models) If the rear drop bar is used to keep the tines from digging in, it doesn't tend to "run away with you".

These days all I'm going to use is my 5' PTO tiller, and I will either get a Honda 110 mini, or a 4stroke Mantis. The large PzTO tiller makes tilling the garden a 20 minute job, but is useless for maintaining the garden rows.