Hi All,

I recently bought a "Earthquake® Front-Tine Rototiller The Badger" at
Mennards and I was very please with the first use. The tines, frame, kick
plate are much heavier steel than the MTD models and I liked the 5.5 Briggs
motor. It worked great, it was smooth, has large rear wheels, good balance,
and plenty of power.

I tilled my entire garden without any problems. Then we had a couple of
days of rain, after which I mowed the yard and spread the grass clippings in
the garden. I decided to till in the grass since I had not planted. The
tiller only ran about 8-10 minutes (about 44 ft) before the tine
transmission over heated and locked up. The transmission is gear driven
(not chain).

The damp dirt apparently holds in the heat more than the drier dirt. And
thus I'd have to wait until the dirt was dry to till. I'm sure the damp
dirt also increases the load on the tines, but not so much that it should
lock
up after a few minutes of use.

I don't like the MTD's, and did not want to spend the 600 plus for a new
troy built, so I guess I'll just keep watching for a good used one (Troy
Built, nothing comes close).

The Badger is going back, I even gave it a second chance with the same
results. Just a design flaw I guess. If they came out with a chain driven
one, I'd buy it in a second.

Cheers,
Jim

I don't like the MTD's, and did not want to spend the 600 plus for a new
troy built, so I guess I'll just keep watching for a good used one (Troy
Built, nothing comes close).

Now built by the same company

Play4aBuck wrote:

I tilled my entire garden without any problems. Then we had a couple
of
days of rain, after which I mowed the yard and spread the grass
clippings in
the garden. I decided to till in the grass since I had not planted.
The
tiller only ran about 8-10 minutes (about 44 ft) before the tine
transmission over heated and locked up. The transmission is gear
driven
(not chain).

Tilling wet soil damages the soil structure, and shouldn't be done. I
would bet that your manual has a warning about tilling wet soil. When
you use a product in a way it wasn't designed to be used, you take your
chances.

And even if it were dry, tilling a second time in a year would damage
the soil as well. And you've probably have a nice hardpan building up
right below the depth of the tiller tines.

--
Warren H.

==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.

Damage the soil structure?
Please, explain this.

--

Barry


"Warren" wrote in message
news:9OOva.822473$F1.104155@sccrnsc04...
Play4aBuck wrote:

I tilled my entire garden without any problems. Then we had a couple
of
days of rain, after which I mowed the yard and spread the grass
clippings in
the garden. I decided to till in the grass since I had not planted.
The
tiller only ran about 8-10 minutes (about 44 ft) before the tine
transmission over heated and locked up. The transmission is gear
driven
(not chain).

Tilling wet soil damages the soil structure, and shouldn't be done. I
would bet that your manual has a warning about tilling wet soil. When
you use a product in a way it wasn't designed to be used, you take your
chances.

And even if it were dry, tilling a second time in a year would damage
the soil as well. And you've probably have a nice hardpan building up
right below the depth of the tiller tines.

--
Warren H.

==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.