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Dillsburg, PA

I want to purchase a tiller for under 1K. Does anyone have experience with the Craftman tillers at sears? The Craftmans seem to have a forward/reverse.

2/8/2005 7:47:30 AM

Follansbee, Wv

I bought a new Craftsman last spring. I have had no trouble with at all. My garden is nearly 7000 sq feet and the tiller turns it right over. If you can afford it, I recommend getting the one with reversible tine rotation. Mine only has counter rotating tines. While this is fine for the first till of the year, I think forward rotation would be a little better after the soil is loosened. In any case, I an very happy with my Craftsman tiller.

2/8/2005 7:53:00 AM

Dillsburg, PA

Does Sears sell the same Craftman models or are they of lesser quality.

2/8/2005 8:22:07 AM

Montoursville, PA

Sears has removed the word service and the service and parts department, from their stores, in our area. The answer, to that is you have, to take your Craftsman, to a standard other line dealer, for service. Parts are only on line ordered. I feel this leaves you paying more because the local service will not know the off brand, to his or her shop.

Now most would not tell you this but that other dealer main line equipment seller considers Craftsman crap. This may not be fair but that is the way it is. Think on this a bit before you jump. You still have time to look around.

Maybe rent one for a year or two to try them out. On that thought many rent centers sell their second hand machines and also offer service on what they sell.

2/8/2005 8:49:35 AM

Commack, NY

Sears/Craftsman.......same thing. As far as i know, you cant buy Craftsman brand at any other place besides Sears. Do yourself a favor though, get a rear tined tiller. I cheaped out when i bought mine 5.5 years ago, and bought the front tine. Ive regretted it ever since. Other than it being front tine, it has been a very reliable piece of equipment. No complaints.

2/8/2005 8:49:46 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

What size area are you tilling? How often do you plan on using it? I agree with Doc. If I was using a tiller once or twice a year. I would rent a nice BCS or Baretto. They are the cadillacs of tillers. Rear tine is the way to go. I will never give up my 14 horse Ferrari Tiller. Except that one time when it wasn't running...lol

2/8/2005 9:15:08 AM

Dillsburg, PA

Its small butI might move. In that case I want to purchase a decent one for future.

2/8/2005 9:56:59 AM

Dillsburg, PA

Thanks guys, Monti can you give me the model number of your tiller?

2/8/2005 10:31:20 AM

[email protected]

Craftsman has a solid warranty but you can't buy parts for their Tecumseh motors anywhere but Sears.

Not a problem if you have a full stocking Sears Service Center nearby. Also not a problem if you're handy & don't mind ordering parts from their AWESOME website.

But if onsite repair & parts stocking is important to you, then patronize a local power equipoment shop.

2/8/2005 12:23:13 PM

South Hill, Virginia

I second Farmer Scott. I own a Craftsman front tine tiller because of the price. Never had a lick of trouble with it but my forearms get quite a workout when tilling. Running a rear tine tiller is like take a leisurely walk in the park. The front tine are like trying to plow with an unruly mule.

2/8/2005 12:39:17 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

get one with a "gear drive" if you want to be using it 20 years from now..

2/8/2005 12:44:32 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

a good used troybuilt or arines sell for what new craftsman sell for but last 10 times longer..

2/8/2005 12:45:42 PM

Dillsburg, PA

www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=LAWN&pid=07129448000

This is the one I am looking at. What do you think?

2/8/2005 1:10:30 PM

wisconsin rapids WI

Jeff I found a 9hp Craftsman last year The guy who had it said it was a special order it had two hours use for $600.00 I tilled my garden and also broke new ground on our hunting land for food plots had not problems.

2/8/2005 1:35:55 PM

Lexington,IN

I myself would not purchase a "Crapsman", I had one of thier small 2 cycle tillers and the worm gear went out 17 days after the warranty expired. Sears admitted to having a problem with the gears, but would not stand by thier product. These are made by another company for Sears and another place I can't remember, the other place is fixing the problem free of charge, as long as the warranty has expired no more than one year from request for repairs. I wonder why Sears won't do the same. This is my experiance lately with thier products. Craftsman is not the name brand it used to be 20 years ago, I have heard numerous complaints from those that have owned craftsman products.
Just my pennies worth...Dewight

2/8/2005 3:46:31 PM

Okla

What do you expect from a K-Mart Corp. Store! Sears will go down within the next few years!

2/8/2005 3:58:57 PM

Long Island,New York

I have a 6.5HP sears counter-rotating rear tine tiller and havent had any problems that would indicate it wasn't a good machine. I doo however wish I had purchased a good older used Horse model from Troybuilt...its a better machine in my opinion...goes deeper.

2/8/2005 4:21:23 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I have a Craftsman 5HP front tine tiller. Thought about getting a rear tine tiller, but decided that not only would I be saving money by getting a front tine tiller, but I'd also get good workout, and if you've ever seen me, you know I need it. We have a Sears service center nearby and have had great service. Our lawn mower and snow blower are also sears and we will definitely buy Sears again.

2/8/2005 5:06:44 PM

Rockford,il

You can get a Troybilt rear tine tiller for under a 1000 .I have had mine for 15 years and it runs great.

2/8/2005 6:06:23 PM

Dillsburg, PA

Lowes sells Troybuilt. How are they?

2/8/2005 6:21:35 PM

Montoursville, PA

Please go rent a machine and try them that way. It's a lot of money to tie up and wish you had done something else.

2/8/2005 7:40:10 PM

Northeast

Troybuilt Pony Same depth as the big boy about $800, rear tine, great tiller

2/8/2005 7:48:02 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Stay away from anything that sez MTD...they aren't Troy Built..Even though the salesman tell you they are built by the same company...I'll take my craftsman over them anyday!
just sign me Been there done that!

2/8/2005 8:00:50 PM

Butler, Ohio

I have to agree with doc. Go rent a couple of different tillers and see what you like before you buy one and are stuck with something you dont like just because it was a "good deal". I bought an OLD carftsman 5hp front tine tiller at an auction for $40 and let me tell you what...that thing bucks and kicks like nothin you ever seen. I'm a pretty big guy and my arms and back are killin me when i get done. The motor is an old 5 horse Briggs and runs great, but I will be going down to the big farm equipment auction at the fairgrounds later this month and buying me a nice REAR tine tiller, a nice BIG rear tine tiller. Thank God for babies and tax refunds...lol. Good luck on your tiller search. Mike

2/8/2005 8:06:52 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I'd always rent one on a "new patch"...it beats the heck ut of a tiller those few passes.

2/8/2005 8:43:24 PM

Dillsburg, PA

Maybe I will rent one first. I will have to rent a truck at the same time. Thanks for all the responses.

2/9/2005 6:35:33 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Jeff, the tiller you linked to is exactly the one I bought. As I said, it is built very solid and works great for me. My father in law bought a Husqvarna <sp?> the year before last. It was a bit more than mine, but also does a nice job. It has the Honda 5 horse engine. While I like Troy Built tillers, I have noticed over the years that their quality is beginning to diminish somewhat. The Troy Built tillers of 20 years ago are much more solid than the ones I saw at Lowes last year. As far as parts go, I'm not concerned. Briggs engines are probably the most common small engine in the world, and parts are readily available at many hardware stores as well as on the internet. Service doesn't worry me either. I know which end of a ratchet is the business end.
Like I said, the one you linked to is the same one I have, and works well for me with no problems what so ever.

2/9/2005 7:03:20 AM

Somers, CT

I bought the 5 HP Craftsman front tiller and also fried the gearbox a year after warranty expired. I wish I knew the vendor would have fixed it. Cost me $200. I now have the red Craftsman rear tiller 7 HP. Works great but buy extra shear pins if you have any rocks.

2/9/2005 12:11:31 PM

Puyallup, WA

Jeff....You just need to find a friend with a pick-up! :>)

2/9/2005 12:28:40 PM

[email protected]

There is a difference between the models being compare hear guys. They're starting to sound more like snow-blowers than tillers.

Here is a set of clues yet for the serious gardener who want to get more than a few seasons out of a tiller.

Bring a magnet shopping.

If you can't lift it, consider it.
If the gear case is cast iron, buy it.
If the engine block is cast iron, buy it.
If it was made before 1990 & it runs, buy it.
If the tines are worn out & it runs, buy it.
Honda, Kawasaki or Kohler engine, buy it.
If it's really used & the owner doesn't want to sell it, steal it.

Things to avoid:

Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, K-Mart & other "clean salespeople" stores.
Aluminum gear cases.
Anything at all with sheer bolts.
Anything with MTD on it or in the warranty.
Tecumseh engines.
Any Briggs & Stratton engine made since 1970.
Anything you can lift with two hands without blowing a disc.
If you can lift it with one hand it's a weed wacker/cultivator so run, don't walk to the nearest exit.

2/9/2005 2:35:43 PM

Butler, Ohio

I like your philosiphy, steve. BIGGER is better. lol. Hoping to find one like my dad used to have years ago. Dont know the brand name, but it was big and red, had a big 8 HP briggs and was rear tine, and boy did it go through the dirt. This thing was a tank. It also had like 6 or 7 speed positions on a huge shifter. Mike

2/9/2005 8:22:12 PM

Puyallup, WA

One thing that Steve and I have learned....Mother Earth is one tough Lady!!

2/9/2005 11:58:38 PM

Brillion Wisconsin

Check out e-bay for Troy Bilt tillers. The older Horse or Pony models can be found, sometimes real cheap.

If your mechanically inclined or just like to tinker a tiller rebuild project is a great way to past the time during the off season.

Building great soil can be a lot of fun.

2/10/2005 12:09:34 AM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

or u could just spray round up..and mulch..forget the tiller...

2/10/2005 2:03:07 PM