Hand Tillers Reviews

As simplistic as the tool is it is hard to imagine surviving a day in the garden without the Hori-Hori. Solidly constructed it will withstand any punishment you deliver. With its slightly concave blade it will penetrate the most stubborn soils and pry up the most tenacious weeds with ease. The serrated edge cuts any roots blocking its path. The opposite edge is smooth but not sharp which allows carefree handling. The sheath has a belt loop for convienent carrying. I have also uncovered a larger version of the Hori-Hori with a total length of 14 inches. However this 11 inch model has performed quite nicely in my garden. Perhaps a bit overpriced considering the inexpensive vinyl sheath provided to house the Hori-Hori but overall a worthwhile investment.

When I'm in the Garden wielding my hari hari knife I feel like a super hero in an action movie.

Digs any kind of holes in any kind of soil easily. Best dandelion digger in the world. I've lost two and replaced them as soon as I finished searching. Paint the handle red!

To begin with, my order arrived within a day of the estimated delivery date. Unfortunately, it was damaged by the shipper. It appeared Troybilt did everything possible to ensure it arrived in just minted condition, but the shipper seemed to have piled things on it and let it crash around in the back of the truck. It was dropped off when we were not there to sign for it, which surprised me. While we were not necessarily looking to return the tiller (388 pounds of shipping seemed a waste), we did need replacement parts or something. The on-line returns feature on the web sight would not accept our return request and both Troybilt and Briggs and Stratten balked at providing free replacement parts for the damaged parts of the tiller. Next, we realized after wasting about 45 minutes of our time to convince ourselves that Amazon really does not display a customer service phone number anywhere on the web sight (customers must submit an E-mail (apparently to include requesting a phone number to talk to a customer service rep.) and then await contact/reply). So we sent in a frustrated customer E-mail to Amazon. However, Amazon customer service was very helpful by phone once contact was made and provided multiple acceptable choices for a solution to the problem of the damages during shipment. I am a now completely satisfied customer. After some assembly (handle bars and control cable connections), the tiller was up and running. I did notice the control lever to engage the tiller blades keeps slipping though, thus causing the blades to disengage. Since this is one of the parts I had to assemble, I assume this is something I caused. I have not yet contacted Troybilt to find out how to correct this yet. I expect Troybilt will be able to get me past this small problem. Otherwise the product handled as advertised. It is very well constructed. It is built like a tank and looks like it could take a beating for decades and keep working as long as I keep it oiled. I selected this model "The Horse" because my wife and I plan to expand our garden from a 20-foot X 20-foot patch to something more substantial on unbroken ground. I am now convinced this one will easily do the job. For now though, it is a little cumbersome getting around the tight turns in my current little garden. The tilling action is outstanding. The tiller leaves about a foot deep path of light fluffy soil. After tilling in this past year's tomatoes, basil and bell peppers, we tilled in five wheel barrels full of compost from our compost pile. This tiller mixed it all in so well you could barely see where we dumped it. I am looking forward to adding the snow blade and the woodchopper accessories to get the most out of this purchase. Yes, I would recommend this Troybilt tiller and Amazon to anyone. I have purchased numerous high-end and less expensive items from Amazon and have yet to be disappointed. I have two recommendations to Amazon though. First, check on the damage rate for this shipper if this is a pattern. Second, get a 1-800 phone number for customer service on the web sight or at least provide a note somewhere on the web sight explaining that problem resolution should first be attempted by E-mail and that one will be given to the customer in the first E-mailed response from Amazon. If this doesn't correct a problem that the customer has experienced then help is only a phone call away.

Missing item on Troy 630C Tuffy Tiller.
For Briggs and Stratton Engine, both bolts holding the bottom of the housing - item number 692198.
Would you please ship two of these items?
thanks,

Discussion Thread
Response (Audwin - B & S)09/02/2004 08:52 AM
Thank you for contacting Briggs & Stratton E-Customer Support!

Unfortunately, Briggs doesn't send anything factory-direct. If you are missing screws from your engine, especially if it is new, you should contact the place where the unit was purchase to get these parts.

Briggs ships its engines complete and intact. If there are any missing parts, it could have been during transport through the manufacturer or the retailer.

E-Customer Support

I needed a small manuverable tiller to create/maintain some border gardens around my lawn. A few progressive passes blended up sod much faster than a Mantis. This is the right tool for creating smaller gardens and maintaining larger turned areas. At 130 lbs, recommmend weights for tough soils. I had best success first renting a Horse for my tough jobs, then buying the Tuffy to maintain broken ground and do smaller projects turning sod and ground with limited buried debris.

This machine fits a certain niche:
Excellent power for the price - much more than a $300 cultivator.
Light weight trades away instant deep digging for good manuverability and turning. Small engine runs fairly quietly and starts effortlessly. Its single-speed is perfect for tilling, but need to be patiet when transporting up hills too steep for free-wheeling.

More notes:
Its lightweight makes it more apt to try to run away if you cheat on the depth setting. Not for breaking rough debris filled ground - rent a Horse for that. Switching to/from free-wheel requires manual removal of cotter pins... not tedious, but not like the high-end Horse tranny.

About the reviewer:
I usually like to buy high-end (luv my 44" Troy Snowblower on my huge driveway). Since my gardens just aren't that big, an economic concession had to be made. That said, no regrets with the Tuffy.

I own and have effortlessly used the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco tiller for the past 5 years. The first time I used it I just started it without reviewing any of the provided operation info. (as this is my habit, even though years of experience should have taught me otherwise!). After I fought it a bit I went back in the house, reviewed the video and manual and realized my folly.

After setting the wheels and tine depth level appropriately, I've always been able to operate the tiller with one hand (though I use two) and I'm not a linebacker. You can't expect to break up a surface initially at a deep tine setting with any tiller. I think the poor reviews of this tiller have got to be from people who have never used tillers before. I love my Super Bronco and I've never regretted buying it!

I was hesitant on buying this one after reading some of the reviews here. I was also looking at the Sears model of the same caliber. But in the end I chose the Troy Tiller, and I'm very happy I did. The price from Amazon was better too (shipping inculded). I had looked around at some of the big home improvement and garden centers and the prices for a lesser model were more, so that brought me back to Amazon.
With inside a week the freight company contacted me that it was here and to set up delivery ( I thought it would be longer on account of some of the reviews I read ).
After about an hour or two I had the thing unpacked put together and ready for gas. Put the fuel in grabed the starter rope and gave it a pull. To my suprise it fired right up on the first pull, no priming at all ( that put a smile on my face ).
Now came the time to put it to the test, I putted it over to my veggie garden and ran it through an area I was getting ready to hand till with a garden fork. Boy did my smile broaden when it tilled through it like butter in a few minutes. Now to put it to the big test, the reason I bought it for........WEED CONTROL.
I have a big yard full of weeds in hard ground. So with the tiller set at the 2 inch depth off I went, making crop circle patterns, figure eights, and such. I was having a blast, and the power reverse works great too. Had half the yard done in almost the same time as using a weed whacker with more permanant results. Man I should of gotten one of these sooner. I don't know what these other people were doing to write bad reviews on this tiller, it worked great for me.
Now to be fair to Sears I have not used their tiller so I am not able to compare, but I am so pleased with the Troy-bilt.

I recently purchased this product on the recommendation of a friend, though was almost scared off by other reviews. The tiller works great, just nudge along by slightly lifting up on the bar, even one handed. I have a wide range of terrain, very hard ground, and very soft sandy soil I use it on, and it tills great. I just broke ground for a garden for my daughters, never tilled before, and it did fine. Easy starting, runs smooth, and plenty of power. Much easier to use than a front tine tiller. I would recommend it. The friend that recommended it to me is a 73 year old, and he handles his just fine, and He loves his.

I love my garden. I use tools in my garden. I would happily buy a product that holds tools & seeds & weeds the way the toolbelt I use at work holds tools & fasteners. In fact I use an old carpenter's tool belt just for this purpose. Although not perfect for the garden (it's dark green, leather & heavy!) it seems much better than the choices gardeners are currently given.

The Rumford my boyfriend gave me.... Well, I have other uses for both of them!

This set of tools is of excellent quality. I actually ordered it for the apron, but was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the tools! The tools are heavy duty, and polished to a sheen. The handles fit your hand perfectly. (Note: The apron turned out to be way too big for me. Although it is adjustable, it would not go down to my size - 28" waist. But my handiman husband fixed it so it would fit)

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A SUPER BRONCO AT AN AUCTION, THE MACHINE LOOKED LIKE NEW, AND BELIEVE ME IT DID NOT TAKE VERY LONG TO FIGURE OUT WHY. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE GAS AND OIL, GAVE IT ONE PULL AND IT WAS PURRING LIKE A KITTEN. WHAT A DEAL, I WAS REALLY KIND OF PROUD OF MYSELF FOR GETTING A TROY BILT TILLER, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THE BEST AROUND, AT A VERY GOOD PRICE. O.K. LETS GIVE IT A TRY IN THE GARDEN, WE WILL REV UP THE TROTTLE A BIT AND PUT THIS BEAUTY INTO GEAR. THE REST IS A NIGHTMARE, I UNLEASHED THE BEAST, I AM DAM LUCKY THAT MY WIFE, SON OR FAMILY DOG WAS NOT STANDING WITHIN TEN FEET OF THE MACHINE, BECAUSE IT TOOK OFF DRAGGING ME BEHIND IT, WHEELS OFF OF THE GROUND, BOUNCING ALONG LIKE RABID KANGAROO, TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER I CAME BACK TO MY SENSES, AND SURVEYED THE AREA FOR DAMAGE, I DECIDED TO GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY, THIS TIME HOLDING ON LIKE A DROWNING MAN, SAME RESULTS. I IF YOU STILL WANT TO BUY ONE OF THESE HORRENDOUS BEASTS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT PERFORMS EXORCISMS, BECAUSE IT WILL DEFINITELY NEED ONE.

The first time I used this tiller, it almost overwhelmed me. Our new garden spot was about 1000 square feet of hard-packed clay, on a fairly steep hill. I had read all of the reviews on this forum and when some folks said that it would "run away" on you, they weren't kidding. After the first iteration, I thought back to my days in the Army when we had these big, rotating, round floor polishers in the barracks and how difficult they were to control. At first. Then they were easy. The Super Bronce is the same way......tilt back to dig in and tilt forward to stop the bucking and runaway. And, don't forget to use your depth control sparingly. Start with about 2", then 4", then the full 6". It's a piece of cake and does a wonderful job tilling all kinds of soil.

I have had this tiller for three years now and it is the most asked to borrow item owned by me. It's not to big and not too small. if you need a tiller, this is the one to get.

Tines and tires work against each other and dirt and grass
ball up between tines and tires. I just purchased this machine
March 29,at Lowe's in Longview,Texas. I would like to return
the machine for a full refund. If you have a machine that the
tines and the tires go in same direction I would try that one.
I am not happy with this tiller. Please reply.

Tines and tires work against each other and dirt and grass
ball up between tines and tires. I just purchased this machine
March 29,at Lowe's in Longview,Texas. I would like to return
the machine for a full refund. If you have a machine that the
tines and the tires go in same direction I would try that one.
I am not happy with this tiller. Please reply.

I purchased the Troy-Bilt Bronco and was really dissapointed. With front wheel drive and the tines rotating clock-wise, the tines would grab the soil and launch the tiller forward. It nearly got away from me several times in the first couple uses.

I took the Bronco back to Lowe's and ungraded to this model. It was like night and day. This model is excellent, and you really can walk beside the unit in untilled soil and hold on with one hand (even hard packed clay) as they describe in the manual.

I would highly recommend spending the extra money to get the counter-rotating tines, it makes a world of difference. Also, I looked at other models and I think the Troy-Bilt is made far better than anything else I looked at.

Assembly directions weren't easy to follow. After assembled and filled with oil and fuel, engine started easily. However, after running in the garden for 3 minutes, the engine died and would not restart. One bolt fell out of the carburetor and a second one was loose. By the time I had changed oil the first time, I hated this machine. It is impractical to back up without pulling the wheel pins and placing in free-wheel mode. The wheel pins keep falling out. You can't back it up without straining a muscle in your back. And after a couple of hours, the tubular frame was twisted, due to the constant pressure on the handle trying to keep it going straight. It has a directional bias. It also does not steer well on a slight hill. Troy-Bilt should be ashamed releasing such a product!

I got my tiller later than amazon said. When I got the tiller
it had a broke gas tank it must of got broke in shipping and most of the bolts was lose and one was missing that went to the carb. I tried to get help but only got the run around no help after 5 pm and the help you get was no good. The tiller did run and works good after I spent 3 hours putting it together and finding A bolt to replace the one that was missing. Then the next day I had to buy a repair kit for the gas tank I hope it will hold. good luck if you buy one

Started on the first pull! Impressive. My only complaint with design is that the tiller has to be literally dragged in reverse. This is tough on the rough concrete in our shed where space is very limited and I have to park it with the engine against the wall. Pulling the drive wheel pins is one solution but highly impractical. Would advise checking that all bolts are tight. One of the four bolts holding the entire frame to the transmission was very loose.

Bought Troy Bilt Pony baised on thier claim built to last a life time. It lasted about 4 hours before the welds on the handle broke. Have to admit it did a great job while it worked.

MTD purchased Troy-Bilt a few years back and has decided they have no interest in supporting the dealer network or customers who bought PRE-MTD Troy-Bilt equipment. Specifically the Troy-Bilt 42012 Snow Thrower. They make no recommended engine replacement, offer no spec for the engine refuse to even attempt to work with Tecumseh on a recommended replacement. In short, all dealers are unsupported as are the customers. What they are interested in is taking the Troy-Bilt name and that is it. A reputable company (the REAL Troy-Bilt) would have worked with the dealer (their dealer who originally sold the machine) to find a replacement then document it to their entire dealer network so it would become a non-issue. Troy-bilt chose not to do this. I would think twice if I am a consumer or dealer on how MTD, brands also Club Cadet, Yardman, Bolens, McColloch, and MTD treat their dealers and past customers. If you looking to purchase something the manufacture will stand behind, don't purchase this. To MTD it is disposable and so are their customers. Hope this helps.

MTD purchased Troy-Bilt a few years back and has decided they have no interest in supporting the dealer network or customers who bought PRE-MTD Troy-Bilt equipment. Specifically the Troy-Bilt 42012 Snow Thrower. They make no recommended engine replacement, offer no spec for the engine refuse to even attempt to work with Tecumseh on a recommended replacement. In short, all dealers are unsupported as are the customers. What they are interested in is taking the Troy-Bilt name and that is it. A reputable company (the REAL Troy-Bilt) would have worked with the dealer (their dealer who originally sold the machine) to find a replacement then document it to their entire dealer network so it would become a non-issue. Troy-bilt chose not to do this. I would think twice if I am a consumer or dealer on how MTD, brands also Club Cadet, Yardman, Bolens, McColloch, and MTD treat their dealers and past customers. If you looking to purchase something the manufacture will stand behind, don't purchase this. To MTD it is disposable and so are their customers. Hope this helps.

Its nice to see that Amazon finally got the description and the picture right. Now if you can just give me a refund for the wrong one you sent me based on that screw up I'd appreciate it. Of course, based on the customer service, or lack thereof, that I've received so far I'm not holding my breath.