Tillers

[user 7704]

My Craftsman 5.5 hp front tine tiller is about to die.
Tractor Supply Company has a brand EARTHQUAKE. I'e never heard of it. It has good reviews on net. Does anyone know the parent company or anything about them?

My Craftsman has been great for 15 years, then last year, it kept getting harder and harder to start. It has a puppy and it started taking about 15 pulls. I'm too old for that crap.

I don' want to spend a lot because the chickens do much of the work for me.

 

[Dani]

Have you tried spraying the intake with starter fluid first? When mine is cold it takes a fewvpulls too, but starter fluid helps a lot.

 

[WGregMiller]

And maybe a little carb cleaner into the carb. I screwed up and left gas in one over the winter and had a similar problem. The gas/methanol mix causes that.

 

[user 7704]

Thanks a lot. Anything to save a few hundred bucks. I had a chance to buy a really good $700 slightly used for $300, but husband had other plans.

It had barely been used. I should have bought it. It was rear tine, electric start (key). My loss

 

[user 7704]

But, have any of you heard if Earthquake?

 

[Mountain trapper]

Any small engine powered equipment that is going to sit for long periods of time should have the gas tank drained, then start it and let idle until it runs out of gas. Or, if you don't want to drain the gas, add gas treatment (Stabil) to the gas tank prior to storage. I add Stabil to all my gas generators and gas powered tools every time I add fuel.

 

[WGregMiller]

Have you tried spraying the intake with starter fluid first? When mine is cold it takes a fewvpulls too, but starter fluid helps a lot.

COLD? It’s been around 80 here all week,

Which means payback is coming. Going to rain a lot and perhaps get stormy this weekend.... it has been way too warm for February.

 

[WGregMiller]

Any small engine powered equipment that is going to sit for long periods of time should have the gas tank drained, then start it and let idle until it runs out of gas. Or, if you don't want to drain the gas, add gas treatment (Stabil) to the gas tank prior to storage. I add Stabil to all my gas generators and gas powered tools every time I add fuel.

Usually drain them, but I reckon I had a brain fart....

 

[WGregMiller]

But, have any of you heard if Earthquake?

Yes. I think they’re TSC’s store brand. Haven’t heard anything bad about them.

Edit to add: after all my years of reading reviews, if they’re mostly good they I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Somebody is going to complain if you give them a million dollars in cash...

 

[Mountain trapper]

But, have any of you heard if Earthquake?

I think Northern Tool, Walmart and Tiller Direct carries the Earthquake brand. They're a consumer quality tiller, some made in Wisconsin, but the reviews seem to be ok.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I have never seen, or used, a tiller by that brand name. A google search of the parent company got me this :https://www.ardisam.com/our-history

So they are located above me, in Cumberland.

They are now an "international" company, meaning the products are manufactured overseas. But then, most things are these days, so I wouldn't rule them out for that reason.

I could not find a parent company or company of origin for the "viper" 4 cycle engine.

Looking at the product specs (for the 99cc front tine tiller), the wheels do not use bearings, they use nylon bushings, and are a plastic wheel bonded to a plastic rim.

Just by looking at the construction, I would say this thing should last a few years of light duty. It's not going to be a beast in heavy broccoli or tomato roots, or grind up compacted soil.

In an established garden, with few rocks and decently composted soil, I would go for it. But I would expect to be easy on it, and not hog through everything season after season, its just not built for that, IMO.

 

[Dani]

I've only seen them at TSC, but I have talked to a few people up there that liked them and didn't have anything negative to say about them. Mine is a rear tiller, believe Craftsman and have to say I would rather the front tines since I have a fence around the garden, but it does a good enough job for me and makes life easier. Think I would try alternatives first before buying a new one.

 

[user 7704]

Any small engine powered equipment that is going to sit for long periods of time should have the gas tank drained, then start it and let idle until it runs out of gas. Or, if you don't want to drain the gas, add gas treatment (Stabil) to the gas tank prior to storage. I add Stabil to all my gas generators and gas powered tools every time I add fuel.

I drain my small engines each Fall. Pressure washer, tiller, leaf blower, etc. 15 years is quite a long time to have a tiller. (I think) I got a great deal on it. Brand new Craftsman

I think Northern Tool, Walmart and Tiller Direct carries the Earthquake brand. They're a consumer quality tiller, some made in Wisconsin, but the reviews seem to be ok.

I bought my pressure washer at Northern Tool. It has a Honda engine and has worked really well. I bought extra rods to make the wand 9 feet long to reach the top of house and a power gun and nozzles from "The Higher Power". It is super heavy when I make the wand 9' though.

 

[Psalm7]

If its got a Briggs & Stratton on it it should be good .

 

[TexasFreedom]

Robin,

It most like is one of two issues.
1. Adjust the valves. These slowly can tighten making it really hard to turn over the engine and nearly impossible to start. If you slow-turn the engine, and it has a spot where it takes everything you have to get past it, it's likely the valves.
2. Adjust the spark generator. 1/32" can make a world of difference. But this is easy to identify as you can pull the spark plug, turn over the engine and see if it generates a spark.

Now if it turns over easily and has a spark, then the next couple of possibilities is a dirty carb. Oh, and if it has a bunch of safety switches, one of them couple be bad and preventing it from starting (but if you have a spark then this isn't the issue).

These are easily fixed by a competent small engine repair guy. You can also read about them all over youtube.

I would be shocked if even after 15 years that you've worn out an engine on a tiller. Unless you're turning 40 acres.
Good luck!

 

[user 7704]

Thanks for the info, last year I had to replace the pully because the rope broke. I changed spark plug and it was sparking.

 

[TexasFreedom]

Broken rope: ding ding ding. Problem most likely is that the valves need to be adjusted. I assume you're getting fuel in the cylinder?

Here is a sample video. It can take longer to watch the 10 minute video than it will take you to make the adjustments! Only special tool will be a feeler gauge (and maybe a torx bit to open the cover).

 

[user 7704]

I replaced the whole pully stem. Spring and all. Basically, I have no idea what you just told me to do. Lol

 

[WGregMiller]

He was telling you that if the rope was hard to pull, the valves may need adjusting, lol.

 

[user 7704]

He was telling you that if the rope was hard to pull, the valves may need adjusting, lol.

Thanks. For putting it in my language. The "thingy fell off of the other thingy" type language. It just broke from wear and tear. I keep it in the garage, but the rope gets lots of dirt and mud on it.

 

[WGregMiller]

Thanks. For putting it in my language. The "thingy fell off of the other thingy" type language. It just broke from wear and tear. I keep it in the garage, but the rope gets lots of dirt and mud on it.

They all do, and if you got 15 years out of it you have done well!

You’re not far north of me. Crazy weather isn’t it? My wife is ready to plant now.

 

[user 7704]

They all do, and if you got 15 years out of it you have done well!

You’re not far north of me. Crazy weather isn’t it? My wife is ready to plant now.

I did some cleaning on one of my veggie gardens yesterday. It was so beautiful. Now today, we are waiting for the floods. I went to my bee meeting this morning and the wind was so high, we had trouble lighting our smokers.

 

[TexasFreedom]

Robin,

Did you watch the video? It may not be for your exact engine, but it will give you an idea of what I am talking about.

I see 3 options:
1. spend $600 on a new tiller.
2. spend $50-100 at a small engine repair shop.
3. spend $5, but it might take 2-4 hours of your time to find a guide/video/instruction specific to your video. All you need to buy is a feeler gauge to measure the gap in your valves.

A 'valve' is the way air and exhaust go into and out of the engine's cylinder. How far they open and how tightly they close are measured in 1/1000". So that is what the feeler gauge is for. Over time they adjust open or closed. If they adjust closed, that causes a very difficult rotation of the engine. Things like the rope breaking and really hard to start are common symptoms. If it adjusts open, you have very little power.

But rather than spending 20 minutes trying to explain it, I see 2 options. Robin, either watch the video and assess if you have the skills or desire to do this. Or just go to a small engine guy & see how much he'll charge you. Like I said, I'd expect $50-100. He should be able to do it in 30-60 minutes.

I'm fairly certain this is your problem.

 

[user 7704]

Thanks for the advice everyone. When my neighbor come over, I'll have him help me. He has upkeep on all of his lawmaking equipment sun has good with small engines.