Ariens, Honda, Troy Bilt or MTD? That's the question. I'm thinking Honda
on a smaller budget. Front tine preferred. Not a mantis. I want to
retill my lawn, so a mid tine? Thanks. Any good or bad experiences?

Anthony
NY

wrote in message
...
Ariens, Honda, Troy Bilt or MTD? That's the question. I'm thinking Honda
on a smaller budget. Front tine preferred. Not a mantis. I want to
retill my lawn, so a mid tine? Thanks. Any good or bad experiences?


If you are only going to use it for a few hours a year or for a special
project, I would recommend renting one. If your lawn is of any size you
will regret getting a small, inexpensive, front tine tiller. They are fine
for small beds or a small garden, but I wouldn't want to use one to till a
lawn of any size. One advantage to renting seldom used tools is that you
can get a much better tool for the job than you might want to purchase. You
don't have to store it the other 364 days you aren't using it, and you don't
have to maintain the tool.

Agree, I'm also figuring out that renting is a good way to see if it's the tool
I want to own as well. Thanks, but...those Honda's look soooo nice. Thanks
again.

Vox Humana wrote:

wrote in message
...
Ariens, Honda, Troy Bilt or MTD? That's the question. I'm thinking Honda
on a smaller budget. Front tine preferred. Not a mantis. I want to
retill my lawn, so a mid tine? Thanks. Any good or bad experiences?


If you are only going to use it for a few hours a year or for a special
project, I would recommend renting one. If your lawn is of any size you
will regret getting a small, inexpensive, front tine tiller. They are fine
for small beds or a small garden, but I wouldn't want to use one to till a
lawn of any size. One advantage to renting seldom used tools is that you
can get a much better tool for the job than you might want to purchase. You
don't have to store it the other 364 days you aren't using it, and you don't
have to maintain the tool.

wrote in message
...
Ariens, Honda, Troy Bilt or MTD? That's the question. I'm thinking Honda
on a smaller budget. Front tine preferred. Not a mantis. I want to
retill my lawn, so a mid tine? Thanks. Any good or bad experiences?

Yes bad, see my other post "Warning about tiller".

Those Mantis are cute and have a 1/2 dozen attachments, but they cost alot
and
are plenty of work, more work than a mid front tine.

If it's a one time use go rent (rent a rear tine Troy Built, a bit extra $
but worth it), but if you have a garden and plan to have a garden in future
years go buy one. Don't be like me and rent one for 10 years and then
realized you could have bought almost two by now. Plus the past 2-3 years
of rented tillers needed maintenance which the shop did not perform, belt
tightening and etc. Sure they start right up in the shop, but how do they
perform in the dirt when you get them home? Plus think of your time and
travel to and from the rental shop.

I like Troy Built! And I think Ariens and Honda make good equipment too,
but I've not used their tillers. IMO, they are all better than MTD. Rear
tine is the way to go if $$$ is not an issue.

MTD looks cheap to me, lighter weight metal all over, but I may end up
buying one if I can't find a good used one (another brand) before next
spring. I noticed one at Wal-Mart that had been used and returned. :-(

I really liked the Badger I just bought until I used it in damp soil. The
tine transmission is gear driven and grease filled but over heated. I
returned it today so now Mennards has a used Badger thanks to me, I feel
bad, but I don't like being screwed either.

I wanted a middle of the road machine, I don't need the best, and I didn't
want the cheapest, I buy tools/equipment to fit the need. I'm only going to
use it once or twice a year, so I don't need a Honda motor that will out
live my kids, kids.

Cheers,
Jim

If you are going to spend the cost of a Troybilt, I suggest looking at
BCS. I think they are better than the Troybilt and you can get a lot
a attachments.

Bryan

Go buy a BCS tiller. The are really good tillers. They do more than
that with the attachments. Want more info email me. Mine really
doesn't bounce or jump like TB.

wrote in message ...
Ariens, Honda, Troy Bilt or MTD? That's the question. I'm thinking Honda
on a smaller budget. Front tine preferred. Not a mantis. I want to
retill my lawn, so a mid tine? Thanks. Any good or bad experiences?

Anthony
NY

Go read what Bryan Lafleur wrote. I Agree with him. I one one to.
The make gardening easy.

"Play4aBuck" wrote in message ...
wrote in message
...
Ariens, Honda, Troy Bilt or MTD? That's the question. I'm thinking Honda
on a smaller budget. Front tine preferred. Not a mantis. I want to
retill my lawn, so a mid tine? Thanks. Any good or bad experiences?

Yes bad, see my other post "Warning about tiller".

Those Mantis are cute and have a 1/2 dozen attachments, but they cost alot
and
are plenty of work, more work than a mid front tine.

If it's a one time use go rent (rent a rear tine Troy Built, a bit extra $
but worth it), but if you have a garden and plan to have a garden in future
years go buy one. Don't be like me and rent one for 10 years and then
realized you could have bought almost two by now. Plus the past 2-3 years
of rented tillers needed maintenance which the shop did not perform, belt
tightening and etc. Sure they start right up in the shop, but how do they
perform in the dirt when you get them home? Plus think of your time and
travel to and from the rental shop.

I like Troy Built! And I think Ariens and Honda make good equipment too,
but I've not used their tillers. IMO, they are all better than MTD. Rear
tine is the way to go if $$$ is not an issue.

MTD looks cheap to me, lighter weight metal all over, but I may end up
buying one if I can't find a good used one (another brand) before next
spring. I noticed one at Wal-Mart that had been used and returned. :-(

I really liked the Badger I just bought until I used it in damp soil. The
tine transmission is gear driven and grease filled but over heated. I
returned it today so now Mennards has a used Badger thanks to me, I feel
bad, but I don't like being screwed either.

I wanted a middle of the road machine, I don't need the best, and I didn't
want the cheapest, I buy tools/equipment to fit the need. I'm only going to
use it once or twice a year, so I don't need a Honda motor that will out
live my kids, kids.

Cheers,
Jim

Hi Jim,

Our server must have dropped the Warning Tiller thread. None the less. Good
advice. I like the Honda but pricey. I'll likely go with a TB next year as this
season is nearly over for me. Ariens doesn't make tillers anymore. I've seen
some used good ones here in the local papers but they go the same day their up.
Dang it. I don't think they sell BCS's here whatever brand that is. And I don't
like MTD either nor Yardman. I'll settle for the TB or Honda soon, maybe this
year...never know. Unless the snow starts first, then it's another Ariens
snowblower.

Also, in the mood to build a Pergola. Hoepfully fast and nice, and easy. Any
suggestions?

A-

Play4aBuck wrote:

wrote in message
...
Ariens, Honda, Troy Bilt or MTD? That's the question. I'm thinking Honda
on a smaller budget. Front tine preferred. Not a mantis. I want to
retill my lawn, so a mid tine? Thanks. Any good or bad experiences?

Yes bad, see my other post "Warning about tiller".

Those Mantis are cute and have a 1/2 dozen attachments, but they cost alot
and
are plenty of work, more work than a mid front tine.

If it's a one time use go rent (rent a rear tine Troy Built, a bit extra $
but worth it), but if you have a garden and plan to have a garden in future
years go buy one. Don't be like me and rent one for 10 years and then
realized you could have bought almost two by now. Plus the past 2-3 years
of rented tillers needed maintenance which the shop did not perform, belt
tightening and etc. Sure they start right up in the shop, but how do they
perform in the dirt when you get them home? Plus think of your time and
travel to and from the rental shop.

I like Troy Built! And I think Ariens and Honda make good equipment too,
but I've not used their tillers. IMO, they are all better than MTD. Rear
tine is the way to go if $$$ is not an issue.

MTD looks cheap to me, lighter weight metal all over, but I may end up
buying one if I can't find a good used one (another brand) before next
spring. I noticed one at Wal-Mart that had been used and returned. :-(

I really liked the Badger I just bought until I used it in damp soil. The
tine transmission is gear driven and grease filled but over heated. I
returned it today so now Mennards has a used Badger thanks to me, I feel
bad, but I don't like being screwed either.

I wanted a middle of the road machine, I don't need the best, and I didn't
want the cheapest, I buy tools/equipment to fit the need. I'm only going to
use it once or twice a year, so I don't need a Honda motor that will out
live my kids, kids.

Cheers,
Jim

There aren't many reasons for most gardeners to own a tiller, as opposed to
hiring someone to till on the rare occasions you really need that kind of
work done. Why do you want one?

Perhaps so you can hire me to till your garden when needed! Someone has to
own a tiller so the neighbors can borrow it or hire you to till for them,
right?

;-)

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
.net...
There aren't many reasons for most gardeners to own a tiller, as opposed
to
hiring someone to till on the rare occasions you really need that kind of
work done. Why do you want one?

Jeff Hancock wrote:

Perhaps so you can hire me to till your garden when needed! Someone has to
own a tiller so the neighbors can borrow it or hire you to till for them,
right?

;-)

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
.net...
There aren't many reasons for most gardeners to own a tiller, as opposed
to
hiring someone to till on the rare occasions you really need that kind of
work done. Why do you want one?

I own a small one so I can do my garden etc, plus I have 2 sons who also use
it. I got it as a sort of 'family' tool, much like my new chain saw, 5'x10'
utility trailer, Ford 4x4 Supercab, and darned near everything else I own and
have purchased over the yearsG. Part of being a dad I suppose.

--
John S. DeBoo

That's because you don't have one. Our Troy-bilt gets used really often in
our clay soil. I plant wide enough to get through the rows in July (20"),
and run it shallow to cultivate. Saves a lot of time. We put down tomatoes
etc in a grid so I can go down the rows and then across. Plus use it when
sidedressing active growth. Plus we put down composted material to work
into the top little bit of the soil. Plus completely till again in the
fall, I can plant a cover crop and still get in there in the spring several
weeks earlier. We feed our large family all year long from the garden and
it would take a long time without a tiller.

"

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
.net...
There aren't many reasons for most gardeners to own a tiller, as opposed
to
hiring someone to till on the rare occasions you really need that kind
of
work done. Why do you want one?

Can your tiller be pushed up and down a slight hill/grade? The places on my
lot that I'd like to use a tiller are on a slight grade, and I'm a
relatively small woman of only above average fitness (no *wonder woman*).

Thanks,

Jean in VA

"Tim B" wrote in message
...
That's because you don't have one. Our Troy-bilt gets used really often
in
our clay soil. I plant wide enough to get through the rows in July (20"),
and run it shallow to cultivate. Saves a lot of time. We put down
tomatoes
etc in a grid so I can go down the rows and then across. Plus use it when
sidedressing active growth. Plus we put down composted material to work
into the top little bit of the soil. Plus completely till again in the
fall, I can plant a cover crop and still get in there in the spring
several
weeks earlier. We feed our large family all year long from the garden and
it would take a long time without a tiller.

"

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
.net...
There aren't many reasons for most gardeners to own a tiller, as
opposed
to
hiring someone to till on the rare occasions you really need that kind
of
work done. Why do you want one?

Can your tiller be pushed up and down a slight hill/grade? The places on my
lot that I'd like to use a tiller are on a slight grade, and I'm a
relatively small woman of only above average fitness (no *wonder woman*).

A rear tine like BCS or Troybilt is self propelled.

Bryan