I have this same tiller, gifted from my girlfriends dad. Took a new carb, spark plug, fresh oil, and removing a ton of rust from the gas tank but it's running again and is an absolute monster of a machine
Thanks for the tutorial, Jim! I rented one recently from the Home Depot. It was extremely difficult to operate & ran away from the area that I was working often (Honda mid-size option from the tool rental section). I watched your video find out what I might have been doing wrong, yes, after the fact... lol. I believe the sharpness of the blades have much to do with how hard the operator works with one of these machines. If you use a unit with sharp blades, you won't struggle nearly as much as one with dull blades. Just looking to give your viewers a heads-up before they become discouraged or overwork themselves. God bless!
I've had this about four months and have found it to be an aggressive and powerful rig. czcams.com/users/postUgkxjo0FLo5z3Y_qUcT3vSlOqpMaMdFjvsXa I've used several others in the past and the Sun Joe surpasses these, easily. I note that several people have commented that it bounces on rocky and compacted soil. I believe that would be the case with all tillers - the ground does need to be "broken", either with a larger tractor type unit or with a shovel, and rocks need to be removed. I'm living on a Pike silt loam here in the midwest and the Sun Joe turns my garden to bug dust in two quick passes. I use a technique where I do a short 2 foot run then pull it back and let it go over it again.
I have the exact same tiller but a little newer. I got tired of wrestling with that this. Every time I used it felt like my nuts were going to fall off. I found two older model garden way Troy built tillers. I reworked both of them. I wouldn’t take nothing for them. Have the furrow attachments for both. I do use the craftsman tiller to go between the narrow rows. I took the outer tines off and it works pretty good for that.
In the part of this once great country I live in you must pre dig the dirt cause it is hardened clay. Thankyou for tour informative video. Trying one for my first time.... I usually do this garden by hand so I'm pretty excited.
My Dad sold Merry Tillers a long time ago. Had Briggs and Stratton engine. I would help him work on mowers and repair tillers. He would barter for our Dental work with the local Dentist. He would get a tiller for our Dental work. We always had a big garden.
Thanks for the story. How long ago was that? I Googled Merry tillers because I had never heard of them before. I see they are still around. My grandfather always had an Ariens tiller.
Mine is simular to yours. Brigs n stratton motors are great motors. I change oil every spring And run gas dry before storing it. I baught mine in 2003 and never had to do anything major to it. Just changed plug and belt. Hope to get 20 more seasons out of it. HOPE LOL
Hi Mike, You are absolutely right. I was just checking this tiller out for my neighbor, and I wasn't thinking when I made the video because I always keep the transport wheels off of my Honda tillers, and my rear tines' wheels stay on. In spite of the wheels it did a pretty good job.
I own an mtd yard machines model with the newer Briggs ohv 5.5 horse engine. Buddy gave it to me for free. I like to run it without the guide wheels. Found out with just the depth bar. It runs really nice and stable. Even tilling down hill.
I had one given to me years ago and have been struggling wondering why I’m working so hard……I have been leaving the wheels on lol y’all just saved my back
@@blake20054 these are nice machines. Though unlike a rear tine tiller. You need to double over your rows to break them up when first tilling a fresh piece of land. Once you get that top layer of soil scruffed up. You can dig in going the opposite direction. Mixes up the soil nice
@@blake20054 thanks, I'm glad someone has found a benefit to my inadvertant use of the wheels while tilling. It seemed to work pretty well when I made the video.
You have soft soil. My house around lots of various weeds. So i bought 6.5hp, no reverse craftsman on craigslist works well. Hardened grass areas but i am managing so far. Thanks
I removed a bunch of blackberries today and did the best I could cutting them close to the ground as possible afterwards I raked it , would rototilling after be a good idea before re-seeding . I ask as I am no green thumb . Thanks for your time . Cheers
Are you trying to get rid of the blackberries or restart them? If you want to get rid of them, the rototilling would probably help. They are rather invasive and will probably come back either way. If you just mow them when they come up again and again, they will eventually die off. If you wanted to restart them, don't rototill.
At around 4 minutes in that's when it sounds about right RPM wise. Before that it sound like the carb or something wasn't letting enough of the mix in. If you put your tools away too long without adding anything to the fuel of it to not go bad, it'll evaporate and leave a veneer behind. That veneer can be removed with fresh gas. So by running, it probably ended unclogging itself with the fresh gas.
It might be kind of rough on you, and you might break a tine on the tiller. I would try loosening it up by hand with a mattock or a pick a bit before I tried the tiller.
You lift the wheels up on mine to use it ,I put a fork in the ground to break the soil up when doing virgin or hard ground before putting the machine on it
I should have taken these wheels off, but I was just checking out my neighbor's tiller. I keep the wheels off of my Honda Mini tillers, so I just forgot about removing them on this one, since I do not normally use this size or type of tiller.
No. I was just toying around with my neighbor's tiller, and I forgot to take the wheels off. I meant to do another video with this tiller but never got around to it.
Just fyi There's a date code on the motor it will be the first 2 numbers followed by a letter the letter is the month. Those old machines are the best machines.
Nope, this is the hard way!! Remove the wheels, let the anchor do all the work. Trust me it takes off a lot more with its wheels on, its so much more fighting like this. To start a new spot first till about 2 inches deep, then scrape grass off top. Tilling grass in only makes weeds/grass remain in a garden. Trust me, dropping the wheels off a tiller allows it to sink down to its fenders, then you gently lift the tillers stake out of the ground to move forward, push its stake back down deep to stop/sink tiller again. It makes it so much easier, most times its a one hand operation like this even. Bad back here, I know the easy routes..lol Peace
Thanks for the tips. Never used one of these. Got one for $30 at a yardsale and got it running last night after removing all the tank rust. Did the garden by hand with a hoe last year.
I had a craftsman for twenty years and it worked good, also the engagement lever was below of the grip....why did they put it on top of the grip?...that makes no sense.
It is a bit different. Someone gave this tiller to my neighbor, and I was just checking it out for him. I was actually surprised that I got it started and it worked as well as it did.
I’ve got one like that but no reverse and mines yellow with a white engine. It’s a late 60’s machine with the old Briggs logo. Easyspin camshaft and it starts one pull every time
Theres a gonna be some senile old biker come running out and strattle. Your tiller. Be like i used to own a Harley back in the day.. What wrong with your ape hangers boy? ..lmfao..im just kidding ( used to work for daytona hd..sounds kinda like an old harley..
Those things are a real headache to run, and they are very hard on your body. You said that thing had a reverse. It can't. It is not self-propelled in either direction. Never buy a rototiller that is not self propelled.
@@tenatra I had a Howard Gem. Probably built in the 40 or 50s. Many that were built up to sixty or seventy years ago are still in common use today because they did such a beautiful job leaving the ground fluffy and smooth. The best walk behind rototiller ever made and selling for $10,000 when they stopped making them. Mine was a barn find that I got for free and got it working. Three speeds forward One reverse. And I can walk away from it and come back and It's still going straight. There are a few videos of people using those on CZcams but they don't use them very well. They made three different sizes from 20 to 36 in. Wide, and weighing over 600 pounds . I really miss that tiller but I sold it to buy a tractor.
I have this same tiller, gifted from my girlfriends dad. Took a new carb, spark plug, fresh oil, and removing a ton of rust from the gas tank but it's running again and is an absolute monster of a machine
This tiller is from the 70’s and it is an absolute beast to operate especially when you haven’t had a garden for 5-7 years 😂
yes it is I have a western auto briggs 5hp and hold on if you catch a root
Thanks for the tutorial, Jim! I rented one recently from the Home Depot. It was extremely difficult to operate & ran away from the area that I was working often (Honda mid-size option from the tool rental section). I watched your video find out what I might have been doing wrong, yes, after the fact... lol. I believe the sharpness of the blades have much to do with how hard the operator works with one of these machines. If you use a unit with sharp blades, you won't struggle nearly as much as one with dull blades. Just looking to give your viewers a heads-up before they become discouraged or overwork themselves. God bless!
I've had this about four months and have found it to be an aggressive and powerful rig. czcams.com/users/postUgkxjo0FLo5z3Y_qUcT3vSlOqpMaMdFjvsXa I've used several others in the past and the Sun Joe surpasses these, easily. I note that several people have commented that it bounces on rocky and compacted soil. I believe that would be the case with all tillers - the ground does need to be "broken", either with a larger tractor type unit or with a shovel, and rocks need to be removed. I'm living on a Pike silt loam here in the midwest and the Sun Joe turns my garden to bug dust in two quick passes. I use a technique where I do a short 2 foot run then pull it back and let it go over it again.
This is what I love about America
Those old style ones like that will get away from you if not careful. Good running little beasts.
I have the exact same tiller but a little newer. I got tired of wrestling with that this. Every time I used it felt like my nuts were going to fall off. I found two older model garden way Troy built tillers. I reworked both of them. I wouldn’t take nothing for them. Have the furrow attachments for both. I do use the craftsman tiller to go between the narrow rows. I took the outer tines off and it works pretty good for that.
In the part of this once great country I live in you must pre dig the dirt cause it is hardened clay. Thankyou for tour informative video. Trying one for my first time.... I usually do this garden by hand so I'm pretty excited.
It would be easy with a Howard Gem. 😃😁
My Dad sold Merry Tillers a long time ago. Had Briggs and Stratton engine. I would help him work on mowers and repair tillers. He would barter for our Dental work with the local Dentist. He would get a tiller for our Dental work. We always had a big garden.
Thanks for the story. How long ago was that? I Googled Merry tillers because I had never heard of them before. I see they are still around. My grandfather always had an Ariens tiller.
Jim O'Donnell Probably around 1964
@@JimODonnellFarm that thing is shredded the whole grass
You need to get that engine running smoothly & up to full speed before engaging the tines.
Mine is simular to yours. Brigs n stratton motors are great motors. I change oil every spring And run gas dry before storing it. I baught mine in 2003 and never had to do anything major to it. Just changed plug and belt. Hope to get 20 more seasons out of it. HOPE LOL
I hope you do get 20 more seasons out of it. Sounds like you got a good one.
The wheels are for transport only when you are tilling you pull the pin and remove the wheels
Hi Mike, You are absolutely right. I was just checking this tiller out for my neighbor, and I wasn't thinking when I made the video because I always keep the transport wheels off of my Honda tillers, and my rear tines' wheels stay on. In spite of the wheels it did a pretty good job.
I own an mtd yard machines model with the newer Briggs ohv 5.5 horse engine. Buddy gave it to me for free. I like to run it without the guide wheels. Found out with just the depth bar. It runs really nice and stable. Even tilling down hill.
They are transport wheels. Not guide wheels… the machine is not meant to have the wheels on when working. 🤷♂️
I should have taken the wheels off, but I was just checking this tiller out for my neighbor, and the video happened.
I had one given to me years ago and have been struggling wondering why I’m working so hard……I have been leaving the wheels on lol y’all just saved my back
@@blake20054 these are nice machines. Though unlike a rear tine tiller. You need to double over your rows to break them up when first tilling a fresh piece of land. Once you get that top layer of soil scruffed up. You can dig in going the opposite direction. Mixes up the soil nice
@@blake20054 thanks, I'm glad someone has found a benefit to my inadvertant use of the wheels while tilling. It seemed to work pretty well when I made the video.
You have soft soil. My house around lots of various weeds. So i bought 6.5hp, no reverse craftsman on craigslist works well. Hardened grass areas but i am managing so far. Thanks
Thanks for the comment.
Sounds like a Harley Davidson.
Definitely need some earplugs if running it for a while.
You didn't say anything about how to control depth. Are the wheels lowered, raised, in the middle? 😒😒
I removed a bunch of blackberries today and did the best I could cutting them close to the ground as possible afterwards I raked it , would rototilling after be a good idea before re-seeding . I ask as I am no green thumb . Thanks for your time . Cheers
Are you trying to get rid of the blackberries or restart them? If you want to get rid of them, the rototilling would probably help. They are rather invasive and will probably come back either way. If you just mow them when they come up again and again, they will eventually die off. If you wanted to restart them, don't rototill.
Jim O'Donnell thank you for the reply , I am wanting to get rid of them, so I will rototill it after I’m done removing them .
@@JimODonnellFarm it’s like fan propellers on that thing
She sounded a lot better as she warmed up
At around 4 minutes in that's when it sounds about right RPM wise. Before that it sound like the carb or something wasn't letting enough of the mix in. If you put your tools away too long without adding anything to the fuel of it to not go bad, it'll evaporate and leave a veneer behind. That veneer can be removed with fresh gas. So by running, it probably ended unclogging itself with the fresh gas.
Can this be used on hard, compacted soil? Im re-doing he border of my driveway that’s had stones on it for 30 years. It’s hard like concrete.
It might be kind of rough on you, and you might break a tine on the tiller. I would try loosening it up by hand with a mattock or a pick a bit before I tried the tiller.
Troybilt made special pointed pic tines for hard compacted rocky ground. That was 40 years ago so they may not still be available.
You can't beat a Briggs👍
I bet this would be a good way to get rid of my pocket gopher problem
You lift the wheels up on mine to use it ,I put a fork in the ground to break the soil up when doing virgin or hard ground before putting the machine on it
I should have taken these wheels off, but I was just checking out my neighbor's tiller. I keep the wheels off of my Honda Mini tillers, so I just forgot about removing them on this one, since I do not normally use this size or type of tiller.
I have the same one.
Do you consider the soil you were tilling heavy clay?
I don't think it's heavy clay. It's actually pretty good soil, but there are a lot of rocks.
I see your new at this.
No. I was just toying around with my neighbor's tiller, and I forgot to take the wheels off. I meant to do another video with this tiller but never got around to it.
First 2 digits of date code are year on briggs engines. Early 1990s
My dad had the same one I remember it now being from 90s
I think my tiller must be missing the rear drag bar?
Are you running that on full throttle?....doesn't sound like it.
Just fyi There's a date code on the motor it will be the first 2 numbers followed by a letter the letter is the month. Those old machines are the best machines.
Hi Mr. O'Donnell! How's your summer going? This is Ethan if you didnt know.
Good, but quickly. I hope you are also having a good summer.
@@JimODonnellFarm Thank you!
Nope, this is the hard way!!
Remove the wheels, let the anchor do all the work.
Trust me it takes off a lot more with its wheels on, its so much more fighting like this.
To start a new spot first till about 2 inches deep, then scrape grass off top. Tilling grass in only makes weeds/grass remain in a garden.
Trust me, dropping the wheels off a tiller allows it to sink down to its fenders, then you gently lift the tillers stake out of the ground to move forward, push its stake back down deep to stop/sink tiller again. It makes it so much easier, most times its a one hand operation like this even.
Bad back here, I know the easy routes..lol
Peace
Thanks for the tips. Never used one of these. Got one for $30 at a yardsale and got it running last night after removing all the tank rust. Did the garden by hand with a hoe last year.
I don't think I've ever seen anyone try to use a front tine tiller with the wheels down before lol.. Rear tine are the only way to go in my opinion..
open high speed jet (counter clockwise)about 1/4 turn.....engine starving a bit for fuel
The person has really got to be a man to operate a tiller like that
I had a craftsman for twenty years and it worked good, also the engagement lever was below of the grip....why did they put it on top of the grip?...that makes no sense.
It is a bit different. Someone gave this tiller to my neighbor, and I was just checking it out for him. I was actually surprised that I got it started and it worked as well as it did.
I literally just got one of these, I refused to pay what they want for a new one.
You can work the tiller. Or the tiller will work You !
Supposed to remove the transport wheels before using. 👊
Wait really?
@@ColinCearley27 yep…. The wheels just slide off, usually just pop a pin out. Then you can use the machine properly. And not like this guy 🤦🏻
@@dean-does-stuff-81 ok thank you I just revived an old rototiller yesterday and the wheels do come off. I'll have to try that
@@ColinCearley27 I have had a tiller for the past 15/20 years. I threw the wheels away when I got it. 😂
@@dean-does-stuff-81 I just tried it without the wheels and she just hogs through the soil
Sounds like she needs carb adjusted.
I think you are right. I was just checking this tiller out. It isn't mine. It was a bit rough.
Maybe you should reverse blades on your tiller.
It looks to me like they are in oposite position.
Didn't notice that, but I will check it out the next time I use it.
Blades are the correct way around for a tiller. 👍👍👍
sorry I have the same as yours but you could do me a favor if you take a picture where there are straps
Im late but i can help with this in the morning! Its dark rn
Really hitting and missing a lot
I’ve got one like that but no reverse and mines yellow with a white engine. It’s a late 60’s machine with the old Briggs logo. Easyspin camshaft and it starts one pull every time
Sounds like your carb is gummed up.
I thought the same. I've got 4 Briggs on various items, and none sound like that. Sounds like a tune up would help this little guy.
Tillers spend alot of time sitting and are almost never put up properly lol. Most see an hour or two of use a year.
My arms and shoulders are dead
Been doing a bit of tilling?
@@JimODonnellFarm more than a bit
Poor worms lol
Clean that carb lol
Theres a gonna be some senile old biker come running out and strattle. Your tiller. Be like i used to own a Harley back in the day.. What wrong with your ape hangers boy? ..lmfao..im just kidding ( used to work for daytona hd..sounds kinda like an old harley..
Those things are a real headache to run, and they are very hard on your body.
You said that thing had a reverse. It can't. It is not self-propelled in either direction.
Never buy a rototiller that is not self propelled.
The tines do a fine job pulling you.
@@tenatra I had a Howard Gem. Probably built in the 40 or 50s.
Many that were built up to sixty or seventy years ago are still in common use today because they did such a beautiful job leaving the ground fluffy and smooth.
The best walk behind rototiller ever made and selling for $10,000 when they stopped making them.
Mine was a barn find that I got for free and got it working.
Three speeds forward One reverse. And I can walk away from it and come back and It's still going straight.
There are a few videos of people using those on CZcams but they don't use them very well.
They made three different sizes from 20 to 36 in. Wide, and weighing over 600 pounds .
I really miss that tiller but I sold it to buy a tractor.
Turn off the choke!
😂what was the purpose of this video? So lost
Horrible “how to” video. Not even a mention of how to adjust the depth using the drag. What a joke 😂