New tillers vs. old tillers

[bontai Joe]

Anyone actually own a new tiller that has experience with an old one? I was just curious if the quality was the same. I own a 1980+/- Horse model tiller and the new ones at my local dealer LOOK as good, but the proof is in the pudding as they say. :)

[Durwood]

Anyone actually own a new tiller that has experience with an old one? I was just curious if the quality was the same. I own a 1980+/- Horse model tiller and the new ones at my local dealer LOOK as good, but the proof is in the pudding as they say. :)

I assume you are talking about walk behind tillers? I have been looking at them myself lately Joe and although i can't speak for the premium brands. The Sears , mtds, and others that i have looked at actually seem better to me today. The biggest weakness before was the handles holding up. Now it seems the handles are built better to me. just mho :)

Dur

[Greg]

I only vaguely remember my grandpa's tiller but the TroyBilts seem to be about the same as they have always been, especially the big guys like the Horse, Big Red.

Here's mine, a Super Bronco, and it is well built. The transmission seems like just a mini version of the big ones and I expect it to last a long long time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/DSC00328.jpg

[Argee]

I only vaguely remember my grandpa's tiller but the TroyBilts seem to be about the same as they have always been, especially the big guys like the Horse, Big Red.

Here's mine, a Super Bronco, and it is well built. The transmission seems like just a mini version of the big ones and I expect it to last a long long time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/kgregc/DSC00328.jpg

I have 10 year old Pony that looks identical to that. I imagine the only difference from the Pony to Super Bronco is HP.

[Greg]

Argee,

The "Super" has 1" bigger tires than the standard Bronco, 6.5hp B&S Intek (5.5 on the standard) and came with the engine guard (option on the standard). Other that that, I think they are just the same. The "Super" was $100 more. The engine guard option alone was $74 for the Bronco, so I got the other "extras" for $26! I also got the frame weights which help when the ground is hard. I use it to "condition" my nature trail and the weights really help.

[neil_nassauequipment]

Good question Joe........

When MTD purchased the Troybilt tooling ,name ,etc from the courts it was the best thing that could have happened for the tillers.MTD has alot of experience pulling together old partslist bill-of -materials and figuring out what a manufacturer was doing (in this Gardenway). it took tech department about a year to pull it together,get parts on stream in good quantities and basically support the machines. Gardenway,while in their death throws (it took YEARS) had just let it all go........and not paying their vendors,parts were a nightmare.
In short,build quality is better,paint is better, and now we get parts. And yes......the Horses still develop tine seal and wheel seal leaks...just like the old days,only now you can get the seals.......lol. ROF
Great tillers though !!

[bontai Joe]

Thanks Neil!
My old Troy still runs great with its 7 HP cast iron Kohler thumping away. I always regret not waiting a couple of years to get the PTO feature that came later as it could be used to power a chipper, electric generator and log splitter at one time. I think the only attachment still offered is the log splitter. But like everyone else, I wasn't much good at predicting the future, and the later models didn't come with the Kohler, which I'm VERY fond of.

[johndeere]

I have a 83 or 84 Pro Horse with the Briggs 8hp it has the pto but I have never removed the tiller.I think todays Troybilt tiller is still a quality product that is worth the investment and should last the average user a life time.