My best tractor

Tom in Mo. · Jan 21, 2012

I've owned alot of tractors of all different colors and by far, the most reliable and trouble free tractor I have owned has been this Troybilt Horse with the cast iron Kohler 7 hp engine. Bought new in 1983, the only service needed has been 3 sets of tines, 3 drive belts, two air filters, and oil changes. It still has the original spark plug.
That's 29 years of chugging along tilling in the summer and splitting in the winter and it still runs clean and strong.

Dean · Jan 21, 2012

Interesting set up.

Does the tractor engine power a pump for the splitter via belt or PTO or is there a separate, non-visible splitter engine?

Are you able to stand on the splitter when driving the machine?

Dean

ericlb · Jan 21, 2012

looks like the splitter has its pump driven off the tillers pto, the briter orange square piece just behind the tillers tire is the pump and where the different attachments mount to the main power unit, really neat set up, how much power does that splitter ram have?

Tom in Mo. · Jan 21, 2012

Right behind the tire is where the splitter connects to the PTO of the transmission. The splitter has a joint for steering between the pump and the cylinder.
I'd have to look in the manual for the splitter power but it has split everything put to it. Elm, Sycamore, knots and joints; it doesn't matter. If it doesn't split it, it will cut through it like a knife. The splitter was made by Didier and marketed by Troybilt as an accessory.
Yes, you can ride with the feet on the axles.

showcrop · Jan 21, 2012

That adds to my estimation that one Kohler is worth about ten Briggs.

Dean · Jan 21, 2012

Agreed.

I'm not a Briggs fan.

Dean

BushogPapa · Jan 21, 2012

I wonder what it would take to make one of these for my Horse..??
Are there many of these spitters out there..??

I have never seen one..

Ron..

Tom in Mo. · Jan 21, 2012

In order to make one, the one part that would be critical is the PTO driven part that fits on the 1/2" shaft of the pump. It's called the dog clutch coupling: Troybilt logsplitter part # L-69110

This is the only Troybilt splitter I've ever seen too.

Billy NY · Jan 21, 2012

I'm a big fan of the reliability and literal 1 pull start of that 7HP Kohler, even if it has sat awhile. Mine is in the heated garage, used it last end of November, and it runs smoothly. All you have to to is prep an area get the soil worked up and deep, clear any rocks and you are set for years, there might be more modern tillers with advanced or better peformance, aside from that these era Troy Built's are kind of hard to beat, I've used one for many years in soils that were tough.

They used to build these not far from our farm, I know someone who has one of these splitters on a Horse PTO model, we do see them for sale on occasion. 7HP Kohler was real popular around here, I have seen several as clean as mine, stored inside etc. well taken care of, always reasonable, $200-$500, some people price em too high.

larry@stinescorner · Jan 21, 2012

heres the one I bought last fall, It has a kohler too,all original I paid 475 for it My old horse that I bought for 50 dollars had a techumseh motor,I got at lot of use out of it,but the motor seized last season, Saw this one for sale here in nj and bought it ,used it at the end of last season and it worked good , It came with a snow blade and bumper, I have to put the bumper on yet.That is the original paint and decals,and all manuals and pamplets

larry@stinescorner · Jan 21, 2012

here was the old one at work in the garden,I still have it in the shed,It did me well for several years

Billy NY · Jan 21, 2012

Larry, what year is your tiller or the literature date, you can see the difference in the decals where yours says horse, I'm thinking mine is early 80's, there is a serial number on the transmission casting too. I remember delivering to the gardenway plant quite often, was a really interesting place, all old brick buildings, still standing and in use but not like it was. Was cool to know they are literally right over the hill from us.

larry@stinescorner · Jan 21, 2012

I think its from the 70s ,

TonyIN · Jan 22, 2012

Didn"t know you could get a splitter for them. Seen them with snow blades though.
Here"s a shot of mine - used to be my grandfather"s. he bought it new I think in the 60"s? Has the Clinton engine on it and is just a very reliable workhorse.
Any ideas on how to get the true age on one of these?

Thanks

Tony

rockyridgefarm · Jan 22, 2012

Hey Bushogpapa,

You'll need to have a Horse Built in the 80's to mount anything on them. I believe they were the Horse II or III. The tiller attachment has to be able to be unbolted to expose a PTO. You could also buy the tomahawk chipper attachment for them.

Basically, Gardenway was trying to compete with the BCS system and never really was up to it. You can still buy a new BCS today along with over 30 attachments, including a splitter. That, and three different styles of chippers, 5 different styles of mowers, 3 different ways to remove snow, several different solid working attachments, a rake, a round baler, etc, etc, etc... They have 3 or 4 speeds forward, instant reverse, locking differential, steering brakes, diesel engine options. I have an 11 hp diesel 850 with 30 inch tiller, double rotary plow, chipper, sweeper, mowers, etc.

http://earthtoolsbcs.com/html/bcs_implements.html

Here's a horse with splitter atchament for sale in Joysey. The low, low price of $1250 will get you an 8 horse Horse and splitter -

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/grd/2784625075.html

My best tractor

Tom in Mo.

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Dean

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ericlb

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Tom in Mo.

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showcrop

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Dean

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BushogPapa

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Tom in Mo.

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Billy NY

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larry@stinescorner

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larry@stinescorner

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Billy NY

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larry@stinescorner

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TonyIN

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rockyridgefarm

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