I just picked up this same tiller for free. Owner said it hasn't been used for years. I checked it out. Just needed a new head gasket and some tinkering. Still has the original Tecumseh 6 HP engine. works like new. Winner,winner!
Great video. Thanks! My MIL has a '78 Horse and every time I would come to her place and help in her garden, the old Tecumseh would run for a short while and die. No power anymore... I watched this a dozen times over the years in prep for this upgrade. Just finished and the old tiller is like new. A few things I wish I'd have paid closer attention to: - you gotta have a 1/2" gear wrench! A ratchet won't fit. LORT but those mounting bolts are a pain with just an open end wrench! - make sure you have a new shaft bolt to hold the pulley on. You're right. The old one is too big. The new shaft bolt on mine is 5/16" fine thread. -my MIL wanted an electric start. Really not needed on a Honda, but she's 90, so she gets what she wants 👍🏼. If you're going that way you'll likely need a longer positive battery wire. - her tiller has a brush guard of sorts to protect the engine. If yours does, take that thing COMPLETELY apart and get it entirely out of your way. Great project and now the tiller has a motor that will outlive her (and likely me too!) My engine cost me $650 (summer 2024), but the electric start added about $100. Would have been cheaper without.
Thanks for posting! Old Troy Bilt Horse tillers deserve love. They are the best designed machines. I like them so much I have 4. Last year I picked up a 1989 Horse 8 Kohler that was never started. A museum piece....for 500 bucks. I want to put it in my family room, wife says NO
W TF? When I completed this project to repower my Troy-bilt tiller I used the Honda engine because of its reliability and reputation. When this engine was ordered, the distribution company I bought it from claimed it was built in the USA. A quick visit to Honda’s website indicates that while it is a Japanese company, versions of the GX series small engines are still built in America, with American workers. Thanks for watching.
NCPA Outdoors I have a 8 hp Briggs industrial commercial engine on my tiller. I bought it pretty cheap no running. I want to replace it with the Honda engine. According to small engine warehouse it will fit my tiller. I tried to find the dimensions on my old engine on line but no luck. Maybe I’m Just not looking hard enough. The crank size is 3/4 x2 5/16 keyed shaft that’s the Honda engine.
backspace4093 my original engine was an HH 6.0. Online engine suppliers should be able to set you up with a comparable replacement. Sometimes a phone call can save a lot of time. Best of luck.
Its far easier to remove the vertical pins that hold the cast iron housing around the pulleys and then the entire housing comes off. Mount the housing on the engine, put the pulley back on and then set the hole thing back on and slide the pins in. Muuuuccccchhh faster and easier this way. Also gives you an opportunity to clean and grease the pins.
In your opinion, which engine was better on the horse tillers, the techumseh 6hp or the kholer 7hp, I have a 1979 Troy bilt horse tiller or garden way what ever you want to call it, it has the kholer 7hp on it and runs like new just tilled a nice area today :)
Dad bought a 6hp Tecumseh Troy bilt in 79. I was the mule behind it most days. I inherited it when he passed last year and i just got i it running yesterday to till a patch for my wife to plant an herb garden. Great tools, pity nothing in the market is made to such quality anymore.
@@jamespayne4459 Awesome, sounds like a good memory. Sorry to hear about your dad. I ended up replacing the original Tecumseh with a cheapo predator engine from harbor freight this season, but it works great
A little late to the party…but I’m running a 74 model with the 6hp Tecumseh. Dad got it used in 75. It’s a year older than me. Had a little trouble with carb this year so I ordered a new one. Got it running last year after sitting for about 15 years. It’s one of the tillers I’ve ever used.
This engine revolutionized the small engine industry. Just about every engine manufactured copied this design. By far the best small engine on the market! Nice video!
Thanks for this RU-vid Video. My Troy Built Horse died just a couple of months back, rather than tossing it I found this video, bought the engine you recommended and replaced the old engine. Everything you said was spot on and made the engine change very easy. Now I am tilling better than ever. Thanks again
Awesome! Glad your back in business with your TB tiller. Unfortunately the original engines seem to be the weak link in these old tillers. With minor maintenance this machine should serve you well. Thanks for watching and commenting.
It would have been cheaper to use a clone but I went with the Honda GX as I didn't want to mess with a breakdown when it was time to plant. The tiller works great, can't complain. Thanks for the comment.
You can't beat a modern design OHV engine with the olde obsoleteo flathead designs. The old tillers were great but they are even better with modern engines.
NCPA Outdoors about to tackle my super bronco crt with this swap, ill let you know how it goes, as stated, this video instruction is awesome, thank you
The Predator engine is a good alternative to use on a tiller. With the minimal use required of most tillers it is a good way to save money and get your soil ready. I choose the Honda for longevity and trouble free operation. Thanks for the comment.
I have a Troy-Bilt horse tiller that i believe came originally with a 8horse engine i have a 6 horse honda gx200 would it be underpowered? Also it didn't come with the pulley for the motor so im wondering what the shaft size is and i dont know what the pulley looks like but would really like get it goin thanks in advance.
Wonderful video! I repowered my 2 Troy bilt horse tillers with 2 Honda clones from harbor freight. For $100 with a coupon, i couldn't really beat the price. But i might replace both of those motors with true commercial grade Honda when ever either one dies.
zack hill It would have been cheaper to use a clone but I went with the Honda GX as I didn't want to mess with a breakdown when it was time to plant. The tiller works great, can't complain. Thanks for the comment.
Switched my dead old engine out with a new one but when I started it the engine purred like a kitten but as I began to till with it the engine kept shutting down. It turns out that the new engine has a low oil shut off so when it tipped above it's set oil line it died. I talked to my small engine mechanic and he simply disconnected the wire and it runs fine. I unfortunately just got to Damn old to muscle that thing around anymore so I picked up a DR Power tow behind tiller and now I just pull it behind one of my small garden tractors.
Great video. I need to do the same for my 1974 tiller. Back then, they sold them with a 4hp Clinton. It's impossible to get parts for that anymore, so I'll be upgrading this spring.
I have two of those Clinton engines 498 series. One came off a tiller, one came off a Yazoo mower and I got both of them in 1973 when I was in high school. Both had broken connecting rods. I repaired both and they still run. The tiller one we used to start racing kart engines with.
Where can i find replacement seals for the drive shaft of an older Troybilt ? Also, how do you determine the age of the older models ? Is there a resource for this ?
I did exactly the same to my '72 Horse, only I used a 160 GX off a worn out pressure washer. I would one day like to rebuild my old Tecumseh to retain that "Classic" TB.
Hello are you still happy with the Honda GX200 ENGINE ? I am thinking of ordering one for my Horse tiller. When I read the spec it says that its 5.5 hp and the tiller originally came with a 6hp Tecumseh engine so I was just wondering would it be under powered ?
It’s not underpowered at all I have the same engine on mine. I can till as deep as I want or pull a hiller furrow. It’s never bogged down. It will burn the belts off before it bogs down.
I believe it was a standard bolt pattern, however it’s been a few years since this project was completed and I don’t recall the specific numbers. I refrained from mentioning it due to various model machines. Some TB tillers used engine other than the engine on mine.
How did you remove the pulley bolt? Do I wedge something into the pulley to immobilize it, then loosen? What is the circular fitting your pointing at? My bolt is an exposed 9/16. Thanks.
i am trying to pull the 2 sliding engine support mounts that the engine slides up and down. i pull the locking bolts, but I cannot pound those long rods out. does anybody have any ideas?
Good observation on the tines! We’ve looked at a new set of tines and tires these last few seasons, but its working good as is. Possibly next year. Thanks for the comment.
I’m not sure if Honda offers the smaller c engines with an electric start option. But the Honda starts so easily I couldn’t imagine why you would want to pay the extra cost for a starter if it was offered.
I have a TROY- BILT TUFFY rear tine roto tiller. Tecumseh engine that smokes and won't idle . I took to local mower shop for a tune -up. I got a call 8 weeks later. Hey we rebuilt carb, replaced plug and air filter but it won't idle. We recommend replacing the motor. Your bill for this service is $166.00 + tax . WTF!!!! It has the same problem that it had when I brought it in. They told me that I can pay and take it with me or they would call the police and I would have to pay them. What would be a good engine to put on this machine?
You have nice knees as shown in the entire video, but why didn't you show the assembly from the opposite side, show we could see how you are bolting the engine up, and the install of the pulley?
Got the bolt off. Took off the flywheel guard and held the shaft nut while removing the pulley bolt. I can't seem to get the pulley off. How did you do it? It didn't look like you used a puller. I'm at a standstill and your help would be fantastic. BTW, I'm replacing the Tecumseh 6hp with a Honda clone. The tiller is a Horse 1 from April , 1970.
This is only held on by a key and shouldn't be a tapered shaft. That being said mine fell right off. I would assume that 40+ years of moisture, dirt, rust and grime would have it seized to the key and shaft. A two or three finger puller should take care of it for you. The puller are fairly cheap or most auto parts stores will loan them out. Thanks for watching.
+NCPA Outdoors While tipped forward I soaked the axel/pulley overnight with penetrating oil. No go trying to pull it by hand. Auto Zone loaned me a 3 finger (you have to use your credit card, but get the $ right back) and it slid right off.
+ZenithRadio They are Carolina 10" logger boots, decent boot for cutting firewood and doing garden work. Can't beat the price but they no where close to the quality of a pair of Whites or Nicks boots. Thanks for the comment.
what was the exact model number on your Honda? I'm planning on replacing mine and I have the same engine tecumseh hh-60. thanks for the video was extremely helpful.
The HH-60 is cast iron and the Honda is cast aluminium. As I recall the Honda was a few pounds lighter but I didn't notice any negative impact to the operation. Thanks for the question and be sure to subscribe.
Great video that inspired me to remove my HH60 from my late 70s era Troy Bilt tiller. I was able to get everything apart OK but noticed the shaft on the old engine has a key in it that is keeping the shims on the shaft. I didn’t see this key on your old or new engine? Do I pound it out of the old shaft and put it on the new one along with the shims? Thanks again for the great video!
Check out ebay , there is a lot of used parts on there. People are just tearing these tillers apart and selling the parts individually , because they get more money out of them.
@@adamUDavies thanks for the advice. i ended up picking up a harbor fright engine. for 129.99 sold the the T for almost 200$. i dont understand why they are going for so much .
@@NCPAOutdoors Just finished tilling my garden. it worked amazingly after i disconnected the low oil shut off switch. Why do people want or like these old tecumseh motors so much ?
Beautiful engine, great selection. I hope it serves you well. Is there a Honda with higher horse power that would be as easy to change-out as the one you selected?
Thomas, I've seen Honda GX 240's and GX 390's used since upgrading my TB. I don't feel that more power would be required for.the ground I work. I guess it would depend how much hard pan soil you have to break up every year.
Hi i have a Troy-Bilt Pro Tiller 8 horse Kohler Magnam engine and i would like to do the same as you did on your tiller would a GX270 honda motor fit? Is this a good choice. Just really like your video of your repair. any way Thank you in advance Mike here
@@stevewarner8880 I just pulled my Kohler Magnum off of mine (8HP), the crankshaft is 3/4 dia and is 2 7/16" length. The Honda GX 270 is 3.48 x 1 I think? How did you make that work if I may ask?
Feel free to check out the video, I think I covered the old and new model numbers. I believe its a Honda GX 200QX. The 200 is a few pound lighter than a 240 or larger but it isn't an issue for me, hardly noticeable.
This was several years ago but I recall the removal being a simple straightforward process. However we appreciate your constructive criticism and agree that a factory manual is always the best resource for disassembly and reassembly.
The HH60 is a pain in the butt to keep running reliably. I tried myself to keep playing with it. That carb is junk.The Honda will treat you perfectly for as long as you want as long as you drain the fuel for one storage intervals.
Just placed an order with small engine warehouse. Engine cost $295.00 same as yours. Ordered a set of tines with all hardware $99.00 and the 5/16-24 bolt. Hope to have it in a few days.
5 years later and I am still happy with my decision to re-power my tiller with a Honda GX. Worth the money to keep these well built machines in the soil!
NCPA Outdoors Dont know if I asked this question or not. But did you lose reverse when you put this engine on. I got mine on and a new set of tines. It’s like a new tiller. Did about a quarter acre of garden space. I have two hillers that came with the tiller. Makes pretty rows and this thing is a horse. And it has plenty of HP to till with. I run mine half throttle while tilling or plowing. It never struggles.
Ok I am the only one who could not remove the 4 engine mounting bolts because they could not get the darn pulley off? For those of you as challenged as I was here is the trick. Do the stuff that is obvious, throttle cable, remove gas from tank, oil from engine ect. Now to the brass tacks. You can not remove the engine from the tiller because the pulley has been on there 40 years and rust wins this one. To remove engine this is what I did. 1, Remove the 2 bolts on either side that hold the pins that the engine /cast iron mount sides on. Also remove the 2 bolts that attach directly to the cast iron engine mount. 2,This puppy is really heavy so get help if you can. Now you can get to the pulley. Use a 67021 puller available from O'reillys auto parts as a loaner tool, Use it in the 2 jaw mode other wise there is no room to fit the 3 jaws into the cast iron part. 3, Pull the wire off the spark plug. Use an impact wrench to tighten the puller center bolt otherwise you may tear your arm off. Now you are home free.
Sorry, I don’t recall the bolt size as its been a few years since I’ve had it it apart. I believe it was a standardized bolt pattern and size because the new Honda uses the same mounting holes and the original bolts from the old HH6.0. Good luck with your project. Happy gardening.
