Comments on: Finds: The Troy-Bilt Horse http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:50:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Sheila http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-411125 Sheila Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:53:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-411125 Sorry, I must have hit the wrong button - continuing on..... we have the parts book, but MTD can't help with getting the parts. We live in Newfoundland, Canada and if anyone has any idea where we can buy the belts and a reverse disc it would be greatly appreciated - my flower beds are waiting!!! Sorry, I must have hit the wrong button - continuing on….. we have the parts book, but MTD can’t help with getting the parts. We live in Newfoundland, Canada and if anyone has any idea where we can buy the belts and a reverse disc it would be greatly appreciated - my flower beds are waiting!!!

]]> By: Sheila http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-411120 Sheila Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:48:55 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-411120 My husband recently bought an 8hp B&S Troy Bilt Horse. We are having trouble getting parts and would appreciate any suggestions. Don't know the age and there are a lot of #s on the machine. The model # is TH1003 and under that is 81-33. We have the manual and the part My husband recently bought an 8hp B&S Troy Bilt Horse. We are having trouble getting parts and would appreciate any suggestions. Don’t know the age and there are a lot of #s on the machine. The model # is TH1003 and under that is 81-33. We have the manual and the part

]]> By: Sheila http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-411119 Sheila Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:48:54 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-411119 My husband recently bought an 8hp B&S Troy Bilt Horse. We are having trouble getting parts and would appreciate any suggestions. Don't know the age and there are a lot of #s on the machine. The model # is TH1003 and under that is 81-33. We have the manual and the part My husband recently bought an 8hp B&S Troy Bilt Horse. We are having trouble getting parts and would appreciate any suggestions. Don’t know the age and there are a lot of #s on the machine. The model # is TH1003 and under that is 81-33. We have the manual and the part

]]> By: whitemountain20.com http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-334421 whitemountain20.com Fri, 30 May 2008 13:22:42 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-334421 You might look into the BCS tillers. TroyBuilt were made so that you would buy a belt ever year or 2 if you use the tiller at all. Very back woods tech! BCS has no belts and works much better in the ground! IMO You might look into the BCS tillers. TroyBuilt were made so that you would buy a belt ever year or 2 if you use the tiller at all. Very back woods tech! BCS has no belts and works much better in the ground! IMO

]]> By: maryannburton http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-283215 maryannburton Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:33:19 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-283215 We have a 1992 8 hp Troy-Bilt Horse and we need a worm gear and a set of oil seals. Can you help us? We have a 1992 8 hp Troy-Bilt Horse and we need a worm gear and a set of oil seals. Can you help us?

]]> By: Mel http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-119912 Mel Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:30:46 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-119912 I have an 8hp HORSE model that I bought new about 1985 or so. If you live where the soil doesn't have rocks, it's great. Otherwise, not so great. BTW, Troy-Bilt (Gardenway Mfg) went bankrupt several years ago. The Troy-bilt name was bought by MTD, but they do NOT support the older Gardenway products, so parts are somewhat hard to find. I have an 8hp HORSE model that I bought new about 1985 or so. If you live where the soil doesn’t have rocks, it’s great. Otherwise, not so great. BTW, Troy-Bilt (Gardenway Mfg) went bankrupt several years ago. The Troy-bilt name was bought by MTD, but they do NOT support the older Gardenway products, so parts are somewhat hard to find.

]]> By: Erik Ordway http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-119846 Erik Ordway Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:52:47 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-119846 When I was a kid back in the late 70's - early 80's my mother had one of these that she bought used then tilled up a couple of football field's worth of garden (2 big gardens for 6 years) that a lot of our food came from. Then she decided that the 3hp motor was to small and pop'ed on a 5hp B&S (she is the mechanically inclined one, She rebored the cylinders on the truck too) and kept going for another 3 years when we moved. I was back in the area with her visiting the old area last year and we found it still in weekly use by the people that bought the place. That thing has been in use for nearly 30 years and been rebuild twice and it still needs only one hand to guide it. I remember using it when the handle were at my chin height. When I was a kid back in the late 70’s - early 80’s my mother had one of these that she bought used then tilled up a couple of football field’s worth of garden (2 big gardens for 6 years) that a lot of our food came from. Then she decided that the 3hp motor was to small and pop’ed on a 5hp B&S (she is the mechanically inclined one, She rebored the cylinders on the truck too) and kept going for another 3 years when we moved.

I was back in the area with her visiting the old area last year and we found it still in weekly use by the people that bought the place. That thing has been in use for nearly 30 years and been rebuild twice and it still needs only one hand to guide it. I remember using it when the handle were at my chin height.

]]> By: Iron Bar http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-47479 Iron Bar Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:41:41 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-47479 Shayne, Don't know if you'll even see this, but there's a Yahoo group strictly for Troy-Bilt tillers. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/troybilttillerclub There's quite a bot of info for your tiller at that club. As for the tiller serial number, typically it is stamped into the metal somewhere on the gear box/transmission. This would be the area right above where the wheels are. I recently purchased an old 7hp Troy-Bilt Horse that I found (through the club) to be a 1976 model. The thing still runs like a champ. I've replaced the spark plug and gear oil, and now all I need to do is change the engine oil, air filter, and belts, and I'll be in tiller heaven. The belts are obviously old and worn because I'm getting slippage when I encounter tough soil. As for the fellow who made the initial post, I'd sell that horse model tiller if you're in such a tiny urban area. I know that things like are very sentimental to hand on to, but wouldn't it be great to know that someone will buy it who can really use it like your dad did? Wouldn't he have wanted that? Just a thought. Shayne,

Don’t know if you’ll even see this, but there’s a Yahoo group strictly for Troy-Bilt tillers. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/troybilttillerclub

There’s quite a bot of info for your tiller at that club. As for the tiller serial number, typically it is stamped into the metal somewhere on the gear box/transmission. This would be the area right above where the wheels are.

I recently purchased an old 7hp Troy-Bilt Horse that I found (through the club) to be a 1976 model. The thing still runs like a champ. I’ve replaced the spark plug and gear oil, and now all I need to do is change the engine oil, air filter, and belts, and I’ll be in tiller heaven. The belts are obviously old and worn because I’m getting slippage when I encounter tough soil.

As for the fellow who made the initial post, I’d sell that horse model tiller if you’re in such a tiny urban area. I know that things like are very sentimental to hand on to, but wouldn’t it be great to know that someone will buy it who can really use it like your dad did? Wouldn’t he have wanted that? Just a thought.

]]> By: Shayne http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-42713 Shayne Fri, 30 Mar 2007 21:09:57 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-42713 I recently came by a troy built tiller.Cant find a model # but plenty of other part numbers and a serial # 21 9239 some of the other numbers are TH1003 and the like.Trying to find a owners manual.Thanks for any info. I recently came by a troy built tiller.Cant find a model # but plenty of other part numbers and a serial # 21 9239 some of the other numbers are TH1003 and the like.Trying to find a owners manual.Thanks for any info.

]]> By: R. A. Bishop http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-3731 R. A. Bishop Sat, 11 Nov 2006 18:42:20 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-3731 I am curious regarding your statement as to the value of the Troy Bilt Horse model. Many years ago, I purchased a used model on a shared basis with another relative. He has since run it poorly and I'm wondering if fixing it would be financially worth while. We could still have use for it, but a smaller model would be more helpful. If you have an opinion, I would appreciate it. Thanks. I am curious regarding your statement as to the value of the Troy Bilt Horse model. Many years ago, I purchased a used model on a shared basis with another relative. He has since run it poorly and I’m wondering if fixing it would be financially worth while. We could still have use for it, but a smaller model would be more helpful. If you have an opinion, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

]]> By: Steve Thompson http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1342 Steve Thompson Fri, 22 Sep 2006 21:24:53 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1342 Oooo. I don't even have a yard to speak of, but I want one! Oooo. I don’t even have a yard to speak of, but I want one!

]]> By: Myself http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1338 Myself Fri, 22 Sep 2006 20:11:57 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1338 Oh yes, I forgot to comment earlier: One major disadvantage of the rear-tine models is that you can't till up to the corner of the yard. Look at how far that sucker's front bumper is from the tine axle! For a country garden with no nearby fences, this Troy-bilt is probably perfect. But here in fenced-in suburbia, I'll take the superior reach of the front-tine beast. Oh yes, I forgot to comment earlier: One major disadvantage of the rear-tine models is that you can’t till up to the corner of the yard. Look at how far that sucker’s front bumper is from the tine axle! For a country garden with no nearby fences, this Troy-bilt is probably perfect. But here in fenced-in suburbia, I’ll take the superior reach of the front-tine beast.

]]> By: SlowJoeCrow http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1331 SlowJoeCrow Fri, 22 Sep 2006 16:56:04 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1331 I used to work in a rental yard and we had something that made a Troy-Bilt look crude and wimpy. Barreto rear tine tillers have hydrostatic drive so no belts to slip and really precise control, plus hydrostatic drives are much harder to break which is why the rental guys love them. Their site is http://www.barretomfg.com/. I used to work in a rental yard and we had something that made a Troy-Bilt look crude and wimpy. Barreto rear tine tillers have hydrostatic drive so no belts to slip and really precise control, plus hydrostatic drives are much harder to break which is why the rental guys love them. Their site is http://www.barretomfg.com/.

]]> By: Eli http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1330 Eli Fri, 22 Sep 2006 16:28:25 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1330 We had a Gravely, with brush hog, tiller, mower, and snow plow attachments. The attachments were heavy and unwieldy to switch, and it took half a can of ether and a lot of pull to get that thing to turn over. I didn't really like it all that much. If the Troy-Bilt takes a light touch to steer, the Gravely takes the exact opposite. That thing used to throw me all over the place and drag me behind it. Luckily speed was not one of it's strong points. My dad hung onto it forever, come to think of it, he may still have it. We ended up either getting other tools to do each job, or hiring people, or in the case of the white stuff, a Dodge Sno-Fighter w/ plow. We had a Gravely, with brush hog, tiller, mower, and snow plow attachments. The attachments were heavy and unwieldy to switch, and it took half a can of ether and a lot of pull to get that thing to turn over. I didn’t really like it all that much. If the Troy-Bilt takes a light touch to steer, the Gravely takes the exact opposite. That thing used to throw me all over the place and drag me behind it. Luckily speed was not one of it’s strong points. My dad hung onto it forever, come to think of it, he may still have it. We ended up either getting other tools to do each job, or hiring people, or in the case of the white stuff, a Dodge Sno-Fighter w/ plow.

]]> By: Roscoe http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1329 Roscoe Fri, 22 Sep 2006 16:11:39 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1329 If you're looking at new models, stick with the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco CRT. CRT stands for counter-rotating tines and means that when the wheels go forward, the tines spin backwards. These are a lot smaller than the horse, but really do a great job. We've got hard Ohio clay, and use two of these all day long for seedbed prep for grass. If you’re looking at new models, stick with the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco CRT. CRT stands for counter-rotating tines and means that when the wheels go forward, the tines spin backwards. These are a lot smaller than the horse, but really do a great job. We’ve got hard Ohio clay, and use two of these all day long for seedbed prep for grass.

]]> By: jeff http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1326 jeff Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:07:37 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1326 My family has a troy-built from the early 80's and it still runs like a champ. It is seriously the best piece of lawn/garden equipment I've ever used. It needed the head gasket replaced a few years ago but other than that it has been trouble free. It is true that it only takes a light touch to guide it. My family has a troy-built from the early 80’s and it still runs like a champ. It is seriously the best piece of lawn/garden equipment I’ve ever used. It needed the head gasket replaced a few years ago but other than that it has been trouble free. It is true that it only takes a light touch to guide it.

]]> By: Myself http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1322 Myself Fri, 22 Sep 2006 08:42:56 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/09/21/finds-the-troy-bilt-horse/#comment-1322 Oh, let's hear the fence-climbing story! That sounds like a doozey. When you're trying to wrangle the thing away from the fence, your natural tendency is to grip the handles harder, not let go of the kill switch, right? Our front-tine Briggs has never done that, but Comcast likes to bury their Coax about an inch deep across the garden. We've offered to rebury it deeper if they'd simply flag it after installation, but neither their techs nor Miss Dig seemed interested in averting the obvious. This last time, we did finally convince Comcast to not bury the line at all. They replaced the whole segment from the house to the pedestal, and left it sitting on the grass for us. We buried the few feet from the house to the fence, then used plastic zipties to secure it along the fence rail where, unless we live next door to Chuck Cage, it should be safe from roto-tillers. At least they're better than SBC (nee Ameritech), who "buried" my phone line so deep it got hit by the lawnmower. Oh, let’s hear the fence-climbing story! That sounds like a doozey. When you’re trying to wrangle the thing away from the fence, your natural tendency is to grip the handles harder, not let go of the kill switch, right?

Our front-tine Briggs has never done that, but Comcast likes to bury their Coax about an inch deep across the garden. We’ve offered to rebury it deeper if they’d simply flag it after installation, but neither their techs nor Miss Dig seemed interested in averting the obvious.

This last time, we did finally convince Comcast to not bury the line at all. They replaced the whole segment from the house to the pedestal, and left it sitting on the grass for us. We buried the few feet from the house to the fence, then used plastic zipties to secure it along the fence rail where, unless we live next door to Chuck Cage, it should be safe from roto-tillers.

At least they’re better than SBC (nee Ameritech), who “buried” my phone line so deep it got hit by the lawnmower.

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