Troy bilt quality and questions

johnrex62 · Nov 20, 2010

mojoinco said:
Haven't seen any reasons listed that the MTD units are less than the old Garden Way units.

Keep in mind that changes over the years are minimal, though some besides tires and engines are significant:

Some had pto shafts, some of the earliest models may have limited availability of parts (not many), or require a number of other parts to be changed to update the machine (and repair it). Later models had two choices of speed ranges, which required moving the belts to alternate pulleys. There were options for a number of features, but they were always very expensive. Like a welder/generator, chipper, etc, that attached in place of the tilling unit. It was cheaper to buy these units as stand alone purpose built units.

The biggest thing? The Horse is a simple machine that is really the H-D of rototillers. The BCS and similar machines are much nicer, do more, but cost more. You don't do much more than till, or maybe push a bit of snow with one.

From what I have been reading from the afficianados, the Garden Way product was cast, hand assembled and much more durable than the stamped machine assembled models MTD puts out. The newer machines are significantly lighter and have much more sheet metal than the old machines. I think if you can find an older horse in good condition, you will be happier with it than a new model.

Jeff Lary · Feb 21, 2011

Unless i miss the point newer than 86 is Junk? I have a mtd high wheel mower for trimming had it for maybe ten years every spring starts up good mows good ? Gotta be honest i dont expect to till more than 2 hrs per week or so during gardening season in Maine May - Sept.

2720wes · Feb 22, 2011

Jeff Lary said:
Unless i miss the point newer than 86 is Junk?

I believe Garden Way made the Troy-Bilts up to about 2000 and MTD since then.

I wouldn't say the MTD's are junk, just not as good as the Garden Way's. If I were buying a tiller I would buy a used Troy-Bilt from either the 70's, 80's or 90's. Mine is an 84 model and is a fantastic machine.

wbarbour · Feb 23, 2011

what year way the gardenway troybilt model 12058 made?

2720wes · Feb 23, 2011

wbarbour said:
what year way the gardenway troybilt model 12058 made?

I checked that model number on the MTD online manual site and it said that model number was made between 1992-94. If that information is correct I would say you have one of the good Garden Way TroyBilts

ptexer · Feb 23, 2011

I have a 1980 horse tiller and a 1993 chipper shredder. The tiller goes and goes. Starts first pull every spring with a new plug. I had it for 26 years before changing points. The chipper shredder very heavily used and abused, still running well. There are a lot of internal parts in shredder that need replaced due to normal wear. I can not find all of them. So I had to make them myself. I have rebuilt the machine 3 times with parts I made. It still runs well and is in balance.

wbarbour · Feb 24, 2011

Thanks. I hope it is a good one!

tcreeley · Feb 26, 2011

I've always used a 6hp troybilt. It worked well- but slow. Then I started renting the troybilt large model horse- Did a great job with clay soil, but needs room to maneuver. Then I rented a big size Honda. ( I tried BCS before- lousy.) It was great, better than troybilt. I have arthritis in my left hip and it hurts to walk behind a tiller - but the Honda made all of the difference - got the job done.

Saxman · Feb 27, 2011

I don't think the 1986 date for junk is correct. I have a 1992 Horse with the 8hp Kohler Magnum that is 100% Garden Way made in Troy, NY. It still looks and runs like new and will last me the rest of my life.

Steve