Craftsman 9 Torque Rating Front Tine Tiller
Search Sears.com for prices

Craftsman 9 Torque Rating Front Tine Tiller Reviews


www.sears.com


3.39 of 5 (by 36 reviewers)
Rating Summary | 64% of reviewers recommend (23 out of 36)

Pros
  • cheap (2)
  • runs great (2)
  • great tool for the money (2)
Cons
  • cheap (2)
  • transmission (2)
  • sears support (1)
Most Helpful Favorable Review

“This 900 Series Tiller is a back saver!!!”

We bought this tiller last year.  There were mixed reviews, but to rent one here and there was not cost effective.  We didn't need a large rear-tine model but wanted something that would till a garden, be ready when you needed it, and wouldn't break the bank.

The first time I used it it started right...

read full review »
Posted on May 04, 2010
Most Helpful Critical Review

“Five years and then...”

I've had my tiller for 5 years. I'd echo the reliability others have reported. The problem I'm having is the god-awful design of the handlebars. The handlebars are run through a hole cut into the central stem of the machine. The handlebars are *welded* to that stem. Well, after having to support the... read full review »
Posted on Jun 28, 2009

Craftsman 9 Torque Rating Front Tine Tiller Reviews

Displaying reviews 1 - 13 of 36 in total

“i like it, i love it !!!!!!”

This thing is one of the best tillers I have ever owned. It tills beautifully. Easy start, easy to handle. Plenty of power. 
Posted on May 30, 2010

“Transmission was the first thing to go!”

Worked great  for about three summers.  The weak poorly built transmission case, tore out of the flimsy metal housing.  More to fix than buy new.
Posted on Jan 10, 2010

“Small problem”

Brought tiller home from store assembled it and filled with oil and gas,pulled starter twice and it started. Ran it 5 min as instructed and off I went.Got to the garden and engaged tines,nothing happened.Took cover off, belt had jumped.After having that happen 10 or so times I checked the flywheel and saw that the clip that goes over the shaft wasn't holding.The flywheel was riding back and forth. I put a screw clamp on the shaft and have not had another problem.Cheap fix for a poor design.Tiller works fine,just lower throttle if it jumps too much.Very satisfied.
Posted on May 21, 2009

“don't do it!!!”

I drove 30 minutes to purchase this tiller last Sunday,May 3rd. It was the closest one I could find. Loaded it up, got it home, put oil in as instructed, put gas in, pulled the recoil starter and it started on the first pull! I was excited. The instructions state that you should tilt the tiller back, engage the tines and allow them to rotate for 5 minutes before it's first use, so I did. It ran for about 45 seconds and shut off. And when when I tried to start it again, I also found there to be no tension on the recoil starter. It "recoils" just fine, but without any tension it will never crank.... read full review »
Posted on May 07, 2009

“Very Satisfied”

After reading several poor reviews, I was concerned about purchasing this machine, however there were enough positive comments I went ahead and bought it and I'm 100% glad I did. The key is to follow the break-in instructions. This tiller starts on the first pull every time and has all the power I need to cut through tree roots and very hard clay soil. After adding gas and oil, just push the handle downward to lean the tiller back and engage the tines and let them run for 5-6 minutes in the air (no load). After this initial break-in period you should have few if any operational problems.
Posted on Apr 28, 2009

“Craftsman 900 series front tine tiller”

 

I bought this tiller on 4-3-08, tilled a 20'x24' established garden that spring.  Used it the second time in the fall.  It is now 5-3-09 and used it for the third time. After cleaning it, I noticed a 4-5" crack in the bottom of the gear box.  I called the local store to discuss the issue, the manager said bring it down and we'll take care of it.  Once at the store, he looked it up on his computer to see when I purchased it. He informed me that it was out of warranty and sears would not honor a repair outside of the warranty period. It was only 30 days over, that did not matter. A new...

 read full review »
Posted on Jun 08, 2009

“Very Satisfied with Performance”

I was in the market for something to cultivate my three 8X30' tiered garden grow boxes, bordered by railroad ties. I had tried a small Honda tiller which died of transmission failure after one season. I loved its portability but my soil has a lot of clay and it took me two hours to get through the aforementioned garden. The cost to repair was half the price of a new tiller. I also borrowed two Troy-Bilt's, both of which nearly tore my fence down (I couldn't control them) and which could not get to the ends and corners of my grow boxes very well. Makes one wonder what I was thinking when I designed... read full review »
Posted on May 30, 2009

“Piece of junk”

Bought one used, and the clamshell transmission disintegrated.  Bought a new one, about $325, and within three seasons of light tilling -- leaf and grass mulch, no unbroken soil tilling -- the transmission disintegrated again.  The cost to replace the part is $170.  On a $325 tiller?  Sears won't stand behind the transmission and won't discount the replacement part.

Don't waste your money on this junk tiller.
Posted on Sep 26, 2009

“poor manufacturing, oil leak, gas leak, belt slip, poor instruct”

don't buy this tiller very unreliable with very limited instructions that aren't very clear. I bought one and used it a few times and it all the sudden wouldn't start. I tried everything checked the oil drained it to make sure I had the exact amount specified. I tried different choke and drive settings nothing. I then opened the filter noticed oil leaking from the air filter all over!! ahh cleaned it up and tried pulling the started another 150 times, nothing. I exchanged it and got another. ran it a few times same deal, oil came out the air filter even know I had the right measured level. I then...

 read full review »
Posted on Jan 10, 2010

“buyer beware”

So I picked up my tiller today at sears. Unpackaged it, added gas and oil, read the directions, and away I went. I used the tiller for approximately 30 minutes. Let it set until this evening. Walked outside to put it in the shop and saw a huge oil puddle under the unit. The drain and oil fill lid are tight. Appears to be leaking through the gasket. Back to sears in the morning. I wonder if they will pay to clean up the oil mess.
Posted on May 02, 2009

“Nice tiller!”

I originally rented a rear tine tiller to do my garden and was very diasppointed with how it performed. I went over the garden twice and it just wouldn't go deep enough. So, after wasting $40 on that rental I went and bought this one and I'm really impressed. It has plenty of power and will go as deep as you want. Starts easily and quiet enough. Very happy with this, maybe in a few years when I need parts I won't be :)
Posted on Apr 24, 2009

“Great Tiller”

I recommend this tiller to anyone that already has had the ground worked up previous years. It worked really good and was easy to use. I would however, not recommend this for ground that has not been worked up.
Posted on May 06, 2009

“Do not recommend”

Picked the tiller 5/1/09. Put in oil and gased up the unit, started the tiller it ran for about 10 seconds. Pulled the recoil to restart and found no tension, something had broken. When I picked up my unit, another customer had returned the same tiller with the same problem. Should have left this one at the store also.
Posted on May 07, 2009

Reviews of Craftsman 9 Torque Rating Front Tine Tiller

Check price and availability at Sears