The Infamous "Black Horse" 25th Anniversary edition (picture)

I also have one of the black Anniversary Edition tillers. A couple of years ago I answered a CraigsList ad that read "Tiller, Doesn't Run, Needs Work $175.00". There were two very blurry pictures with the ad and I could barely make out that it had the shape of a Troy-Bilt. When I showed up, much to my surpise was the tiller below. The battery was dead, the tires were flat and with the beads off their rims but it had obviously been stored inside. The gas smelled old but not too old so after checking to make sure it had oil I pulled it through by hand a couple of times and it briefly hit. I bought (gave $300.00) the tiller, hauled it home and after a complete maintenance service I've been using it every since. The hour meter shows 102 hours.

LilysDad said:

How did it go from $175 to $300???

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Good question. The story.... I found out this tiller was part of a larger estate sale. Between the time I originally contacted the seller and the day we finally got together, almost 2 weeks elapsed and she had lined up two other potential buyers to come look at it. One guy was coming later that same afternoon and a second was coming the next day from out of town. The out of town guy had given her indications that he was willing to pay more. She told me that after i had driven 45 miles to look at it. She was going to let me walk if I stood my ground at her original ad price of $175.00 especially after it almost started when I pulled it through a couple of times.

I had cash in my pocket and offered it to her. She went off in the corner and consulted with her male friend and they accepted the offer.

After seeing the tiller, verifying it's general overall condition, knowing that it had good compression and then having it nearly start after just a couple of pulls I would probably have gone higher if she had pushed. This is the 8hp Kohler, electric start, tires are in solid shape, tines are in excellent shape and the tiller was stored out of the weather. I bought a battery, a new ignition switch, a new drive belt, changed the fluids, replaced the air filter, reseated the tires on their beads, cleaned the float bowl and added fuel. That was over a year ago and it has been running fine ever since.

3macs1 said:

Is there just the two members that have one of these rare black horse units. Would love to see more pics and details from those that know the particulars or own these machines
Cheers
Joe

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Was really hoping there were other members here than owned one of theses so I could see some more pics and ask some detailed questions. I am closing a deal on one that is totally apart but I am hoping to restore it as close to original as I can
Cheers

chzuck said:

Not to change the subject, but what did they have to say about the oil issue or do you have that in another thread?

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Well I will try my best to share this experience which it was IMO
Ok first contact was with Troy support in canada who basically gave me the standard response

What lubricant should be used in the tiller transmission case?


In the past the rule was: For partial fill-ups (a few ounces or less) use SAE 140, SAE 85W-140 or SAE 80W-90 weight gear oil with an API rating of GL-4 or GL-5. For full replacement use SAE 140 or SAE 85W-140 gear oil with an API rating of GL-4 only.

We have also found that 80W-90 oil with an API rating of GL-1 is acceptable for both partial and full replacement of tiller gear oils.


I told them this was at least 15 year old and today it is impossible for me to find any gl-4 in canada plus why do you suppy your new machines with 85w140 gl5
They had no clue what I was talking about even after an escallation to a supervisor

So I said thank you I will call the US. Which was an issue for me since they will only talk to US customers. So my work around for that was to ask my brother for his cell phone and WV zip since he was here for xmas
First lady I spoke to was not 100% sure other than pretty much the same response I got in canada and said if you hold on I will transfer you to one of our sr. staff

The guy on the phone this time like me loved to talk troy tillers especially old ones and when I told him I was trying to fix an old u-haul model with the robin engine and hoped to buy a black horse it was like I hit a soft spot

Ok what he said was yes the new troy were coming with 85w140gl5 but syn
Most gl-5 made today are yellow metal safe and would be fine but be sure the gl5 used says that
I told him about the tillers I sold last year and was now worried that the lucus gl5 would damage them
He said I and the people would be dead before any significant break down would be experienced since it mainly will effect synchros,clutches and wet brakes none of which a troy tiller has
Also the tiller doesn't run fast enough or hot enough to really see any immediate break down but it could over many many years

He said if it was him overhauling that black horse he would source some gl4 somewhere since that machine has a chance of being around for another 40 years with a lot of non use
Also said the gl-1 people buy is not really a gl-1 any more since it is never tested now and most are just gl-4 which is fine

So I ended up ordering two gallons of crc sl24238 gl-4 for the u-haul and black horse and will keep using gl5 for the rest of the tillers
Why because it cost me $70.00 a gallon to get that gl-4 from the us

Not sure if I helped here or just made it more confusing

Cheers