Repowering an Old Garden Tiller

Hey guys!! So, this isnt a welding project, but its what I've been
up to lately here...

My mom is an avid gardener, and has had this BCS tiller for
years, but its had engine problems since it was about a year old.
It had an electric start system that only worked for one season,
and this year it wouldn't start unless it got starting fluid, it would
never run right, it leaked oil, and made this ungodly high pitched
squeal, and it was always hard to pull start (an issue for a woman
with a bad back).

We decided that something had to be done, and our options
were:

1) Buy a new tiller
2) Rebuild Old engine, go through the electrical system,
fix/replace broken controls, etc
3) Buy a new engine, be done with it

So, I sat down with her and explained all these options, and she
decided on a new engine.

About a week later, a brand new Honda GX200 showed up from
Northern Tool, and my sister and I started taking the tiller apart.
We cut off the electrical system entirely (new engine isnt set up
for that), got rid of everything on the handlebars except for the
clutch lever, and cleaned it up some. After we got the engine out,
we found something that looked like part of a missile on the
back of it, which was covered in warnings and looked potentially
deadly. I still to this day don't know or understand what it was,
but the guys here on this forum said I should be able to just
swap it over to the new engine, and I did. So, thanks for the
advice there. Here are a couple videos we shot about the
process, just thought I'd share. Theres more in the videos about
a couple small roadblocks we hit, and a few other things, but
anyway, enjoy them and have a good weekend everyone,
yeehaw!!

video1 video2
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I bought Honda Trail 70's to use on the farm in the late 60's. We were very impressed with how easy they started compared to the B&S, Clinton and Tecumseh engines that we had on the farm.

When I went to work at ADOT, I bought some Honda generators. When the Orgs found out that we were buying Honda, they turned in all of their B&S generators because they couldn't get them started when they were out working on the roads and needed them.

Another small engine that we liked was the small Yanmar Diesels; they ran with less vibration than the Honda engines. We mounted them on the trucks and just tapped into the truck's fuel supply line to fuel the Yanmar engine that powered the arrowboards on the truck. However, be advised that, even though they are a long life engine, Yanmar considers them to be "throw away" engines at the end of their life cycle. They will sell you a new engine for less than half of the cost to repair one of those engines.

That looks like a new garden tiller to me, and certainly something worth repairing rather than replacing.

Without more information, I can offer little help regarding the original engine but here are some helpful pointers.

1: Starting batteries that are not used regularly , i.e., off season, should be charged every 4 - 6 weeks. Doing so increases the life of the bateries greatly. It is not uncommon for lawn tractor and similar batteries to fail within a year or two if this is not done.

2. Run the engine completely out of fuel upon fall service so that modern gasoline is not left in the carburetor. Alternatively, use fuel stabilizer during the off season and store with the tank FULL. I recommend the first alternative.

3. Avoid gasoline with ethanol at all costs if at all possible.

4. Change the engine oil regularly and use a good quality oil recommended by the engine manufacturer. I change all of my seasonal equipment each fall after last usage so as to avoid long term storage with used, acid laced oil.

4. Check the oil in the tiller gearbox(s) before each use and replenish if necessary. Do not operate the tiller if the gearbox oil level is not up to recommended level. Tillers gearbox seals are notorious for leaking due to dirt contamination.

Sorry, I did not read all of your post before writing the above. I would save the original engine as it is likely repairable if it has not been run out of (or very low of) oil.

FWIW, I have not before seen anyone garden wearing white slacks.

Dean

Nice job young man. You have now inspired me to re-power my grandfathers old Gilson tiller that has been sitting in my way for 20 years.

Well, I just got a working Gilson Roto Tiller today! Any information or thoughts you may have on this machine I would greatly appreciate. Mine does work, but a bit cranky. Right now wheels are locked. Do you happen to know how to get them into "neutral gear"? Mine is an 8H, model RT5S
Anything knowledge you can share would be appreciated.