OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Question on Digging Equipment Rotary Hoes & Tillers Tiller making terrible racket

Hi everyone. I just this tiller used a couple a months ago. It's an old craftsman 5hp rear tune tiller with a new motor. It has had its problems. I got both of the wheels unseized finally. Got a new belt. Actually as I was shooting this video, y'all will witness its death (hopefully temporary) haha. It is stuck in till now. Can't get it back in neutral.

Last time I used it it started making some racket that progressively got worse. We unseized the wheels to take the cover off and look at the belt and pulleys. The belt seems to already be stretched out from the few days I have used it. I suspect there is something up with the gear box. I only paid 150 for the tiller and it had a new motor. The local small engine guy is 70 an hour, so I'd like to fix it myself if I could be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks in advance. I look forward to getting my tiller going again one day hahaha



[video][/video]

Anything can be repaired/rebuilt and small engine places are generally not the place to go. They have to make a profit so everything gets down to rushing things through in an effort to keep the costs down. We all know that when things get old they require buckets of hours to repair them so if you are up for the challenge we can do our best to help

hehe I'm up for the challenge. did you happen to take a look at the video I posted? Not sure if that is helpful or not

Sorry I don't look at vids, they chew up too many of my gigs

Hey mate,

Firstly welcome.

Secondly At around the 35 second mark when you engaged the drive you can see the belot flapping about. Are you sure you have it on properly? It could just be the tensioner is not correct OR pulley bearings are knackered.

Eliminate these issues before you start worrying about the gear box. It's POSSIBLE the shaft is bent and therefore the belt isn't moving truly around the pulleys BUT I'd be more suspect of incorrect installation OR pulley bearings.

Keep us all in the loop - it looks in pretty good nick!

Pete

Hi guys! Thanks so much for the help. So I look around at the belt. There have been issues with that since the day I got it. I opened up the gear box, and I found two gears that are torn up. I looked up the parts for it... and they are "obsolete" at the sears website.

Here are the part numbers and description according to the manual I downloaded. Any clue as to where I can find these parts affordably? The tiller model is 917-299691. Here is a picture of the two parts. Thanks everyone for your help. It has been very valuable



102113X Pinion, Input
124359X Sprocket, Tine

I have no idea if this will help but maybe a new gearbox is easier

http://www.made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/Rotary_Tiller_Gearbox.html

Wow. Those are some munted teeth!

Don't know where you'll get cheap ones unless you can find a good second hand unit.

Good luck!
Pete