Bad Honda Tillers

[Ufatz]

I offer this in hope it might save somebody trouble and money. Bought a nice Honda 4-stroke garden tiller. Didn't use it all that much; just tilled a small potato patch and couple small garden patches. It started right up this spring but the tiller/tines did not turn. Short of it: transmission trashed. Honda Service center guy says "Oh year. Another one of those. It will cost you close to $200 to repair it (parts alone $180) so decision is yours." I took the dandy little Honda engine off and tossed the rest.

Think about this before you buy what seemed to be a wonderful, quiet,, smooth running little machine. And before you suggest it: this till was NOT abused-I doubt it had ten hours on it.

For what it's worth.

[B.R.O.]

Sounds familiar. Had the same thing happen to me with the Harmony self propelled mower. did some research and found it to be very common. I also had a odyssey van that went thru two transmissions..and at 3 grand to fix stings more than the smaller stuff. Im done with hondas unless its maybe a generator

[mnhunter2]

Are you talking about the small tillers honda makes? I have a small tiller that has been used a lot over the last 5 yrs and this year the tines wouldn't turn when I tried it for the first time, checked the grease and filled it with gear oil and with a couple of pounds it has been working fine. After reading the owners manual it sounds like I should have been greasing it every year, lack of grease and it won't work well!

[Ufatz]

As my original note says "Honda 4-stoke tiller".....so yes it is the "little tiller that Honda makes."

I COULD have it repaired, but it would cost close to what I PAID for the tiller new.

If you are shopping for a small garden tiller you may want to think twice about paying for a device that apparently has a mighty poor record for durability. Transmissions are a KNOWN weak spot.