Great machine! My dad has an older one that we re-powered with a new ohv briggs after I blew the rod in the original Tecumseh, oops. I think that kohler engine you have is the best engine they ever put on the horse tillers. I was just given an old pony tiller, its basically a smaller version of that. Works great tough.
I have the same one with a 7hp Kohler and it still runs with everything original still on it but it's time to rebuild with some new belts and the engine is a little old so I'm going to stuff a 8hp preditor on it and rebuild the 7hp Kohler and save it for later. Them old Kohlers run forever unlike a Briggs and if I see something new that has one I will not buy it.
Just did some work on my 1977 Troy Bilt Horse with the 7 hp Kohler. New axle oil seals, new points, condenser, replaced the carburetor and fuel filter. Changed the gear oil and motor oil. After a few adjustments it starts on the first pull. I tilled our garden area and was so disappointed that it was done so quickly! It only took 25 minutes to till the 250 square foot area twice. It's running so great that it finished the work too soon. It was such a joy to use that I need more to till!
I had a pony troybilt. Love that machine. In 200 I bout a tractor I needed for my bigger property. When he was over to visit around 2000, my brother in law spotted the tiller in the corner of my pole barn. It was all dusty with 2 flat tires. But I could tell by the look in his eyes he knew exactly what he was seeing! Oh yes, he coveted it. He knew its value. Of course I gave it to him, and the manual etc. We used the bucket of my new tractor to lift it up into his his truck bed. He had all fixed up in a few weeks and their garden was lovely thereafter!
Just picked up a 1979 Horse with a 7 HP Kohler for $250.00 at an Estate Sale. The previous owner was an airplane mechanic who was a fanatic about maintaining all of his equipment. All of the manuals and sales literature came with it in a 3 ring binder. This thing in pretty much flawless. Very happy!
You got a DEAL. I bought a 1978 7HP with a Kohler engine. My only regret was not being able to get the clutch to disengage the tines while traveling which came out after I got mine. Find and get a hiller-blade attachment for it to be able to make rows and/or hill potatoes. That attachment is well worth getting. I made double-wide beds for our gardens using the hiller-furrower attachment.
I have a 1978 that someone tossed at a scrap yard because it wouldn't start (they flooded it). Dad brought it home, we tuned it all up and it is a BEAST! I replaced the carb, fuel lines, tines and wheel axle seals and all the oils. Called MTD and had them check the manufacture date. Fantastic machine for 42 years old. Definitely a quality piece of old AMERICAN manufacturing, when things were built to last.
I have pretty much the same model. I love the thing. I had to replace a few bearing on the back axle but was able to find the parts easily. These things are very good and easy to use. Loved your video and the no handed demo.
I love your video and "Ghost till in'" Except for this winter, I used mine for pushing snow, and I have never needed the chains I bought for it with it's weight. Mine came with an iron Tecumseh that started on the first pull except in the winter. So I put a Honda 160 on it with plans to rebuild the OEM engine. I even was able to find a complete set of stickers for the shroud.
from troy ny. buddy i grew up with his dad worked there.. ill say this.. he had a new tiller for sale each week .. hahahhahh... johnny cash song one piece at a time lol. monsters then still goin strong the old girls.. love my horse. had to rebuild the rear from the pto back. but was worth it. she made me money this year.
...well , I do have an older model Try Bilt and I love it. BUT: STAUB made in France is one of the best, not necessarily THE best but it is a mighty good machine for sure. (google the name and take it from there)
built to last? mine was built in 1980 and is going strong. picked it up on craig's a couple years ago for 100 bucks and had to do a little work to get it running. bought a new condenser for the ignition, a new seal for the tines shaft and gave it some new tires so i got less than $200 in it but i would not take twice that much for it now.
the one we had in the 50's was old then, you started it w. a rope and the tines were like large s shaped pieces of wire. I remember the front end had a sort of oval shaped box and a sliding pin to lock it. there were belts in there. I would be ok for garden but don't try to break ground.
Hey superman, We have a Troy as well, a 77 I think. Came with the house we bought 13 years ago. Very much like yours really. And, actually, they are not two speed, they are four speed. The crank has two pulleys, that are different sizes. Moving the belt from the larger to smaller or vise versa gives you two speeds on each pulley. The original engine threw a rod right through the case about five years ago so I re=powered with a China engine. Not a big fan of the Chinese products, but as we only use the machine for about 10 to 12 hours a season, the $ 100 investment was worth it. The engine swap brought us from 5 to 6.5hp and made a big difference in the tillers ability to chew the ground. The junk tillers made today can't compare to these old ones, even a Honda doesn't match. The only tiller available today that is equal is the BSC rig and they cost about 8 grand !
You oughta see my 6 foot 55 hp John Deere green tiller...it's pretty awesome too.😁 But seriously, I have three Troybilts one is electric start and that are great.😉
Advice on the first time breaking ground: DO NOT LET GO OF THE HANDLES until the ground is well broken up and there are no sticks or rocks in the ground. EXPERIENCE!!
I have the manual for my 1977 (I think?) Version. Looks like this. The man who sold it to me saved it thankfully. I'm pretty sure they are also available to buy on line. I'd check ebay etc, for a physical copy or contact the company to see if they have it on line to download.
No rocks in soil hmmm?? so any tiller would have the same results now till rocky soil with that “Horse” and watch its transformation into a bucking bronco that will kick your ass if you’re not careful....lol
Best tiller ever made ?? Its a great light duty home gardener tiller, but not even close to best. Falls far short of a Howard Gem, Ariens TB, or Frazer B1-7 to name a few. Also don't forget some of the new tillers from Baretto, or BCS.
Wish I could say the same, I have the same exact tiller as you do but oh it didn’t last long at all, only two years then the engine just stopped… Literally it just STOPPED and it took 7 months to get it running again, but oh boy I wish tecumseh made better engines, and I wish troy bilt made better tillers
These tillers came with three engine choices depending which model and horsepower you wanted. They came with a Tecumseh, Kohler, or Briggs engine. Mine has the Kohler engine. These are old cast iron engines not modern junk.