Troy Built... Horse?

Jafo232 · Apr 13, 2010

I am watching a friends home while they are away on vacation and he lent me his ancient roto tiller so I could till my garden. Kind of a policy of mine to return borrowed items in better condition than I got them, and this will not be too difficult as the thing is falling apart.

This tiller is so old I cannot find a model #, only a serial # which seems rather useless. All I really want to do right now is tighten the belts because the forward belt is so loose, I cannot even get it to till anything with more resistance than water. The only adjustment I could find was here:

But as you can see on the reverse side:

It is as low as it can go.

Would swapping the two belts make a difference? (see pics below)

Is there any other way to tighten these belts?

Is there any way to find a manual for this thing online with only a serial # so I can get new belts?

Thanks!

2manyrocks · Apr 13, 2010

Since it has two belts, I believe it is a two speed Horse. MTD has an on line parts search here: Troy-Bilt - Replacement Parts for Troy-Bilt Mowers, Trimmers and Snow Throwers

In the past, I've bought belts at Tractor Supply.

The serial number is on a tab that is on the side of the transmission housing just under the line of your black arrow. Clean the yuck off and you'll find the serial number.

Since that adjustment block is all the way down, I'd say the belts are stretched beyond further use, and it needs a new set.

87iroc · Apr 13, 2010

The owners manual has info on swapping belts. You can do i w/o removing he motor. You can get the owners manual online...

Flatheadyoungin · Apr 14, 2010

usually they are a matched set and little more pricey.......

does reverse work ok...usually at this age, they are dry rotted and chunks missing...

Jafo232 · Apr 15, 2010

Sorry I haven't replied but I am not getting notifications for some reason..

I already have the serial #: 271306

But what good is the serial #? When I go to the MTD site, it asks for model #?

I do not have the owners manual.

Reverse works GREAT, that is why I was thinking of swapping belts..

JakeBrake · Apr 15, 2010

Your pictures look like my 1976 Horse. I think "Horse" is your model number. This model requires matched belts. There should be no difference in tension. I recommend you purchase a set of matched belts. The local Belt Warehouse can furnish matched belts at a lower price than MTD. If you take the belts to a Belt Warehouse you would want to match the belt that is tighter. Of course it's possible that neither belt is correct, so you may want to order from MTD

Also. check the roller. The roller and the hole in the roller and the pin through the hole will wear out. My guess is yours should be replaced. The roller block will probably last forever. MTD sells a retro kit.

Hope this helps.

Jafo232 · Apr 15, 2010

Swapped belts, did no good..

2manyrocks · Apr 15, 2010

If the belts are stretched, it does no good to swap them, and from the looks of the adjustment block, those belts are either stretched or the wrong ones.

Based on your serial no., I think you're looking for belt no. 1128 for a two speed Horse. Part Finder

Jafo232 · Apr 16, 2010

2manyrocks said:
If the belts are stretched, it does no good to swap them, and from the looks of the adjustment block, those belts are either stretched or the wrong ones.

Based on your serial no., I think you're looking for belt no. 1128 for a two speed Horse. Part Finder

Thanks, can't seem to order it, whenever I try I get: "Unable to add item to cart. Please try again."

That sucks..

Jafo232 · Apr 16, 2010

This seems to be the same one on Amazon agree'd?

Amazon.com: Replacement Belt For Troy Bilt # 1128 / 1128-1: Home Improvement

2manyrocks · Apr 16, 2010

The belt number and the SN range look correct, but I'm assuming the stock photo of the belt is just a generic belt because the stock Troy Bilt belt is too short to be looped around again. The last one I bought came from Tractor Supply co. NAPA might be another source, but I haven't looked.

I had no clue you could find belts on Amazon. com.

Jafo232 · Apr 16, 2010

2manyrocks said:
The belt number and the SN range look correct, but I'm assuming the stock photo of the belt is just a generic belt because the stock Troy Bilt belt is too short to be looped around again. The last one I bought came from Tractor Supply co. NAPA might be another source, but I haven't looked.

I had no clue you could find belts on Amazon. com.

I did not either but once MTD kept refusing the order I googled and it came up. I asked the seller if that was the actual pic because it looked like two belts and also noted that the word exceeds was spelled wrong and they promptly wrote back:

this is just one belt .. some other seller or amazon made this page not us and amazon wont let us change any of the info .... the amazon system will give a break on shipping not sure how much but what you do is put this belt in your cart and update it to 2 belts and it should show what the shipping is before you do the order

i have a big list of pages on amazon that have bad info if i can ever get amazon to fix them

I don't really see a choice, and since the seller answered so fast it gives me a good feeling about them, so I think I will give it a shot.

2manyrocks · Apr 16, 2010

Well, beats driving all over town looking for a belt. If get one that fits, chances are you can measure it and order whatever you want after that.

boxygen · Apr 17, 2010

All the info that I have ever read about my horse seem to stress a "matched" set of belts whenever they are replaced. I seem to remember reading that in my manual. I think they only come in a set when you order them from MTD, I bought some last year but havent installed them yet. You might have trouble finding one that is close enough. I've always struggled with the logic a bit, it seems like the longer one would stretch and they will eventually equalize, however I thought I would mention it.

2manyrocks · Apr 19, 2010

Yes, getting both at one makes better sense.

Jafo232 · Apr 23, 2010

Just wanted to wrap this up. The belts came in (2 day delivery!). I found the manual here (Horse I). I didn't follow the directions to remove the belts, well, I just cut the old belts off.

Getting the new belts on is not a walk in park. The real problem is that there is no good way to describe it lol. You have to loosen the little metal block that adjusts the tension on the belts, in fact I just removed it. It is located on the pivot point of the shifter. Basically, put the thing in neutral, slide both belts on the TOP pulley and slide them both all the way towards the engine, then work the first belt furthest from the engine back (away from engine) and get it on the first pulley (furthest from engine). It takes a bit and if you can get a helper to move the shifter (watch your fingers!) you can get it. I also found putting a wrench on the bolt on the top pulley helped spin the pulleys making it easier to get the belts on.

Once you get the belts on, it is time to put that metal block back on but set it so the tension is more loose than it was with the old belts. The new belts are much tighter than the old and you take a chance of starting it and it taking off, even if you think you have it in neutral. If you find the belt is still too loose, adjust it tighter (with the engine off). I put it on basically the lowest setting I could.

It worked GREAT. Darn thing tore through the garden like water. It was an AMAZING difference.

Thanks everyone here for your help!!!

2manyrocks · Apr 23, 2010

Just watch out for rocks. There's another thread where the poster is asking how to weld his tines after putting on new belt and then breaking some tines. Apparently, his old belts had enough give that he didn't start breaking tines until he put on new belts.

bontai_Joe · Apr 26, 2010

2manyrocks said:
Just watch out for rocks. There's another thread where the poster is asking how to weld his tines after putting on new belt and then breaking some tines. Apparently, his old belts had enough give that he didn't start breaking tines until he put on new belts.

Breaking tines? Gotta be aftermarket tines, I have never EVER broken a tine on a Troy-Bilt and I've run thru all kinds of rock, boulders, buried car parts, iron rods, tree roots, cement chunks, with out breaking any tines. I remember there were some Korean tines on the market with 3 holes in each tine that got a bad reputation (OEM tines had 2 holes). They were cheaper, but you got what you paid for.

honorbound · May 11, 2010

Belts can be ordered through a small engine shop. As for the tine if they are the regular or the hardened tines from Troy they wont break unless they are worn down completely. Tines run aprox 250 dollars for the hardened tine, they have a welded edge, or around 130-160 for the regular bolo tine set. Both sets are available. I just replace the tines on my horse tiller which were worn and I bought the hardened bolo tines.