Old Sears rear tine tiller.....thoughts ?

brin · Sep 13, 2013

I have an old Sears ..craftsman model rear tine tiller with a 3&1/2 Brigs engine that I bought in about 1982...last used in maybe 1992...anyway the engine is not locked up and the shifter works fine...tires are flat and need replacing...but Harbor Freight has a 6 horse engine on sale for $99 supposedly for tillers and mowers...I spoke to a small engine mechanic here and they said it would be cheaper for me to buy the $99 HF replacement engine and bring it to them to install than to bring in the tiller as it is with the old engine and having the rebuild the carb etc...

Now all that makes sense to me....I think I can probably do the engine swap myself...?? Has anyone any experience with the HF replacement engines and the degree of difficulty in matching them up to replace the OEM engines...???/ Thanks...

DJ54 · Sep 13, 2013

Only what I have read from garden tractor forums. So far, rave reviews saying they have lots of torque. Seems like they bolted right on the the David Bradley tractors if I remember correctly. No adapter plate, or drilling needed. Not sure if any mods needed to be done to the pulley on the larger 6 hp models.

I replaced the small engine on my little one wheel drive garden tractor this summer. I looked at the HF engine online. I did some forum research on them, and the only complaint on them was the ad says 5/8" shaft, but it is actually, don't quote me, but thinking 16mm. So the guy just bought a metric drill bit, and solved the problem.

Seeing that, I checked out the 2 hp model from Surplus Center. These engines were over runs from a company that makes sprayers. I checked out that company, and it showed that engine, and parts and support for them. I went that way... It was a few bucks more, but at least I can get air filters etc. I do believe both are Honda clones made in China. And the pulley slid right on, although I had to make an adapter plate to mount it, as I didn't want to drill holes in the base plate, as the tractor is somewhat collectable.

Got to admit, it does have plenty of torque..!! I have a 5 tine weeder on it, and it will spin the wheel if you bury it full depth.