troy bilt tiller

[wh500special 2,188]

Dad has a Troy-Bilt Horse PTO tiller. Mid/late 1980's model with an electric start Kohler Magnum 8. This is the big, classic walk behind unit that everybody who's ever used one raves about. Awesome machine that, when working properly, outperforms even the WH 36" rear mounted tiller. No kidding.

Problem is, it's not working properly.

Couple years back, it stopped staying engaged in fwd gear when tilling. After trying to adjust the little adjustment block under the engagement roller we weren't able to improve things. Having a buttload of WH equipment around here, we just didn't monkey with it until recently.

Bought a new, genuine TB belt and installed it. Adjusted the block per the manual. Still slips out of gear when tilling.

Under light load - like just driving itself around the yard - everything is fine. But when the tines load up in normal soils, it pops out of gear. I'd imagine it would do the same if using the generator or chipper attachments.

Physically holding the engagement handle in fwd postion makes everything run as it should, but is not a good solution. I tightened up the spring: little improvement. Wasn't sure it was the correct spring, so replaced it with a new TB part. Still no improvement.

Anybody know any secrets to these things? Short of putting a bungee on the engagement handle to hold it in place I'm stumped. I see no visible wear on anything that would matter. Nothing binds or feels goofy. I am 150% postive this is not an internal transmission problem since it is the engagement handle that's slipping.

Would finding a way tighten up the engine up/down motion be a solution that might not be mentioned in the OM?

If anybody has any suggestions, I am eager to try them out.

Thanks,

Steve

[mavfreak 11]

mine did same thing. I even replaced the detente that is supposed to hold in place. Didn't work either. so i cut an old broom stick and notched out two "v"s opposite of each other and jammed it between the engagement arm and the handle. when i needed to stop a just hit it out and the tiller would stop.

[wh500special 2,188]

Thanks for the tip.

Dad talked with a local dealer who said that sometimes even following the procedure to the letter won't correct the problem if the soil is really hard. He didn't recommend it because it makes it harder to disengage, but he said "a guy could drill a second spring anchor hole on the handle up a 1/2" from the factory one to increase the spring tension..."

Worked PERFECTLY. That sucker will till almost to full depth in a single pass now just like it used to do.

Steve