Rear tine tillers

[1Admin]

Who's got one, what brand, how do you like it?

Maybe not this year as we have other projects needing to be finished up, but eventually we need to invest in a quality rear tine tiller. If nothing else we can go between rows in the larger areas with it. Also one of the smaller garden sections isn't accessible to the tractor and disc so this would help in that section.

What to look for, what to avoid, what's broke easily, what's lasted, what would you buy again, what would you run from :)

[BioG8r]

We have a Craftsman 21" rear tine that we bought in '89 with a Briggs and Stratton 5hp.
I have not had a single issue with the tiller, short of cleaning the carb after three years of sitting unused.
The drive belt will need to be replaced soon, but it has been a champ! I don't know about the quality of the new ones.
My wife uses this one most of the time, it is easily handled and is a smooth operator in our ground (no rocks).

One of my neighbors has a Troy Bilt that he is less than happy with. He paid a pretty good sum of money for it and has had in in the shop a few times for issues that just shouldn't happen with a new machine! His first trip to the shop was to have the Engine replaced! Bad bushing. (warranty covered both issues) the next was a gear issue they replaced the entire transmission, the unit is now four years old and seems to be OK.

I have borrowed a Mantis to weed between plants in the rows. It was a handy little thing but not for any kind of large area or rocky soils. It tended to be a little harder to handle than I thought, it did jump around a bit when first entering the soil, It also wrapped the taller weeds, needing cleaning regularly.

If you have a big area to till, I would suggest a rotovator for the back of a tractor! We use ours for bed prep each year and the rear tine for weeding between rows the rest of the year. I have been sooo impressed with the rotovator and the time and effort (or lack thereof) required into making the perfect seed bed!! We use our 4 footer behind a 28hp tractor. It's a bit of a strain for the tractor but the end result is Great!

I don't know anything about this one, maybe another member can pick up here, but DR makes a tow behind for atv's/lawn tractors, looks kind of cool but I am sure it will come at a price!

Good Luck,

[1Admin]

We do most of our soil prep with a disc harrow ran behind a small tractor. Their is a 50'x50' north garden area that we cannot get into with the tractor however. This was where/when we originally thought raised beds were the answer to everything ;) Their are still a couple beds remaining in there, but mainly unused or holding long term stuff- echinacea, jerusalem artichoke, etc. This north garden area is kind of our kitchen garden type setup. Usually it's holding smaller amounts of plantings. The stuff we don't plant in any real quantities that year. The south garden area and the other garden areas are larger and they can be accessed with the tractor and disc harrow. *For me* running the disk harrow through the area is enough soil prep for what we plant/do.

Why I'm considering a small rear tine tiller is for between rows of green beans, corn, etc. in the larger areas after they are planted and grown up a bit, and also for cultivation in the north garden area we cannot access with the disk harrow.

[SeldomSeenSlim]

http://www.husqvarna.com/us/products...ators/drt900h/ I picked up one of these Husqvarnas earlier this year for the same kind of use it sounds like you are looking for. I use a tiller in my small yard gardens and in the perimeter raised bed that runs around the house. Before that I had an old Craftsman I bought at an auction that finally got to the point I was fixing it as often as using it. The Husqvarna is brand new and I've only used it this year, but so far it's been flawless and it is a strong tiller that doesn't require muscling it around much. A friend of mine borrowed it and cut in a 40'x60' (guessing at size) garden out of desert hardpan and said it chopped right through it without a hiccup.

I don't know about their tillers, but I have nothing good to say about Troy-bilt generators with the B&S motors. It's made me wary of the brand as a whole.

[Lowdown3]

Exactly the one I was looking at Slim, thanks!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

We had an old briggs n Straton that had a great run for well over 20yrs. replaced the clutch and tune ups but that was about all. FIL took it apart and left it thataway and ruined it

[WiseOwl]

I always borrow a buddys' Honda. That joker rocks. I have also used a Craftsman as well when I had an Urban Garden Installation business.
Hopefully this fall I will find someone that bought one this spring thinking they were going to do a garden and then by fall dont want it and need money for Christmas. Thats how my buddy got his Honda.

[tech]

First year for the rear-tine Craftsman, but thus far it has been doing well. Used it to expand the garden area and ended up cutting through 2 inch roots. Did have to stop and unwind some vines, but overall pleased with it. Rear dirt shield does bend easily, and reverse is too fast. Minor issues, but now you know :)

[Benn Gleck]

I have friends with older Troy Builts but I've heard that since MTD bought them that they are junk.

BCS is what I'd love to have but they are expensive. http://www.bcsamerica.com/

[rockriver]

craftsman here. bought at a benefit auction. donator said it wouldn't crank but it looked great shape.
i couldn't crank it either.
sounded like bad gas.
changed the fuel.
still sounded like bad gas.
found the fuel cut off valve! felt like a d.a.
has worked great since..

except the shift mechanism. getting out of synch.

i'm impressed with that bcs ad.. but whew pricey!

[BioG8r]

@ BG Wow love the versality of the BCS "Tractor" but not in my price range!