Garden Way Horse Troy-Bilt Rototiller questions

[rustyedge1 176]

Garden time again and I’m looking at this tiller at auction, states in working condition. Can’t see it in person until 4-15. If anyone out there is familiar with them would appreciate your opinion.

Also any ideas what one should expect to pay ? Looks all original in photos to me anyway. 

May have to have this one, been wanting one for some time. Depends on how it goes.. Input appreciated. Thanks

[Skwerl58 746]

They are a great tiller for most garden plots. They can be hard to handle if in rocky or root areas because they  dig so good they can abruptly go forward if it grabs a root or large rock. Then just adjust the depth better. I have one and it is from the 78 or so yom. It has a replacement Chinese carb and runs great. They are beast when it comes to doing what they are designed to do. They are rather easy to maintain and this one has a furrower that is a good attachment. Parts are readily available for them. I changed the oil in mine this year and you check the tranny/drive grease by taking the handles off with the T bolt and fill in the hole. As far as price goes if you crank it and it operates as it should with little or no engine smoke I would say  $250-$350 is fair for this one as good as it looks. Area also drives the price and it may go for quite a bit more than my price estimate.

 

 

 

[oliver2-44 10,357]

I received a free Troy Bilt Pony tiller 2 years ago. engine was shot and transmission needed bearings and seals.

I had a Harbor Freight engine on the shelf, and rebuilt the gearbox with new bearings and seals.

Spent too much on bearings and seals even though I matched them up at a bearing supply.

It works good, but no reverse since the HF engine doesn't have the extra drive pulley off the cam shaft like the Briggs did. 

Also one side of the tine shaft had some seal wear and seeps gear oil.  I had tried to shim the seal out, but I guess shaft too worn. 

 I just know I have to check and add gear oil before I use it.  

 

So inspect the tine shaft seals and drive wheel shaft seals before you buy it. 

[oldlineman 1,495]

I have the exact same tiller, except mine has a Kohler 7 hp, great heavy duty tiller, have had mine since early 80's.

[ebinmaine 70,703]

1 hour ago, Skwerl58 said:

$250-$350 is fair for this one as good as it looks. Area also drives the price and it may go for quite a bit more than my price estimate.

 

$400 - $450 up here.  

[JoeM 7,923]

Works good in decent ground but I prefer the WH tiller on a tractor. Much easier on the operator. I called mine "killer tiller".

Never put the running tines on the ground with the wheels in neutral. 

Like Jim says, tine seals are a problem. My friend has one and ended up using corn head grease. 

[pfrederi 18,324]

Tines look fairly good from what I can see.  Tecumseh engine replacement tank.  Ag Tires are a plus Very similar to mine my father bought back in the early 70s.  Picked it up at the factory in Troy NY  Still works never a seal issue...Rugged mac hies can be hard to control on rocky soil but once it is mostly de-rocked you walk along one side control it with one hand.  if you have really rocky soil you can get pic tines for her. $400

[rustyedge1 176]

Thanks for all the input everybody. These are tine photos. Looks like some oil leaks..

[oliver2-44 10,357]

If you look at it, try to wiggle or rock those times to get a feel if the bearing have slop.

 

during reassembly of my Pony tiller, there are shims that are used to set the proper bearing clearance. 

Essentially no wiggle when newly shimmed. 

[rustyedge1 176]

Will do..

[Treepep 631]

9 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

$400 - $450 up here.  

 

 

Nearly twice that here ... asking price.  Im not paying that.  Same rules.  Buy a HORSE.  anything else is substandard.   In my opinion  Good luck!

[rustyedge1 176]

I don’t intend to pay too high a price if in good running condition and tines are fairly tight. Will see how auction goes..

Edited yesterday at 10:54 AM by rustyedge1

[HyperPete 486]

I've got a '74 in my driveway that my stepson is taking to the scrapyard.  In PA, however.

[rustyedge1 176]

On 4/8/2025 at 11:46 AM, rustyedge1 said:

I don’t intend to pay too high a price if in good running condition and times are fairly tight. Will see how auction goes..

Contacted auction reps and they have no idea when last ran.. The previous owner died at 100 years old and lived at home retired GM employee of 36 years and WWII vet and tank buster division..The sticker on the breather nay be the only info available.. May take some starting fluid new plug and fuel see what happens.. Any idea as to what spark plug to get ? Other mower and snow blower also at auction..

 

[rustyedge1 176]

Got it started and bought reasonable for age 1982 according to numbers. HH60 hadn’t ran since 2015.. Got a hotter spark plug than calls for which not a good sign CJ14 calls for J8C.

Starts, runs under load, little smoke, not too bad. Leaks oil around valve cover plate, gaskets gone, replacing next week. 
The spark plug issue has me concerned.

Comments welcome .

Edited Sunday at 05:06 PM by rustyedge1

[HyperPete 486]

I just picked up this '86 for $75.  The engine supposedly died when gas came out of the exhaust.  I drained the crankcase and it was full of gas.  Carb is "petrified.". I'll know more in the next couple of days.

 

EDIT:  $13 carb, less than a qt of 30W oil, and a little fuel line fixed her right up.

 

Edited yesterday at 02:23 AM by HyperPete

[HyperPete 486]

I have many manuals.  Start with this.  Private message me if you would like others.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/106b0zU_uq8qi7vRVPs13OuuUUkKvkE_M/view?usp=drivesdk

[HyperPete 486]

On 4/8/2025 at 3:56 AM, Treepep said:

 

 

Nearly twice that here ... asking price.  Im not paying that.  Same rules.  Buy a HORSE.  anything else is substandard.   In my opinion  Good luck!

 

It is a Horse.

Troy Bilt Horse. 👍

[tunahead72 2,517]

On 4/20/2025 at 8:15 PM, HyperPete said:

I have many manuals.  Start with this.  Private message me if you would like others.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/106b0zU_uq8qi7vRVPs13OuuUUkKvkE_M/view?usp=drivesdk

 

Now THAT's a manual!

 

[rustyedge1 176]

On 4/7/2025 at 9:40 PM, oliver2-44 said:

If you look at it, try to wiggle or rock those times to get a feel if the bearing have slop.

 

during reassembly of my Pony tiller, there are shims that are used to set the proper bearing clearance. 

Essentially no wiggle when newly shimmed. 

 

On 4/7/2025 at 9:40 PM, oliver2-44 said:

 

If you look at it, try to wiggle or rock those times to get a feel if the bearing have slop.

 

Looks like one tine is pretty sloppy, any advice ? All others are solid. Input welcome.

[oliver2-44 10,357]

From watching the video I suggest you check the bolt that goes through the shaft and bolt that outer set of tines on. I suspect the bolt is worn or the hole through the tines or shaft is worn. I 

[rustyedge1 176]

It’s like the tine

 is too loose on the shaft. 

[wallfish 17,485]

10 hours ago, rustyedge1 said:

Looks like one tine is pretty sloppy, any advice ?

You're going to need to remove it and take a look in there for what's worn or loose.

[Lee1977 7,037]

I: have two Troy-Bilt tiller a Horse and an Econo- Horse. In hard ground the way to control it is to make there or four passes gradually lowering the tines.

Too deep in hard ground it will get up on the tines and drag you with it if you try to hold it back. The Econo-Horse is a lot easer to handle as it's a little smaller and a lot lighter then he Horse.