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Troy Bilt tiller: Pro-Line FRT rear tine garden tiller review

By Ashley For disclosure regarding product links see the disclosure box at the end of this article

[easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B0001AU33I” locale=”us” height=”450″ src=”https://outdoorpowerbuddy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Troy-bilt-tiller-pro-line-frt1.jpg” width=”450″]

A Troy Bilt tiller was the first rear tine tiller made in America.

The A-1 Model was first made in Troy, New York in 1937 and though based on a German blueprint was specifically designed for American conditions.

It had rear tines and power driven wheels and set the pattern for Troy Bilt tillers that you’ll still find reflected today in the [easyazon-link asin=”B0001AU33I” locale=”us”]Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT Mid-Size rear-tine garden tiller (model number 21A-665B766)[/easyazon-link].

The Pro-Line FRT is an outstanding rear tine tiller (with forward rotating tines) that will take the backbreaking work our of your garden cultivation.

It’s big and powerful, but it is also easy to operate.

Most importantly, it will keep you from causing undue strain to your body and help you get your work done in a fraction of the time it would take otherwise.

Just beginning your garden tiller research? You may want to start with our definitive guide on how to buy the best garden tiller.


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Table of Contents

Troy Bilt Tiller: Pro-Line FRT review
Key features at a glance
What can the Pro-Line FRT be used for?
Engine and transmission
Handling and operating
Tilling tines
Additional features
Assembly
Dimensions
Maintenance
Accessories
Accessories
Pros and cons
Consumer ratings
Price
Other Troy Bilt tiller models

Key features at a glance

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  • Forward-rotating tines
  • 160cc Honda OHV GX engine
  • Cast-iron transmission
  • Bronze gear drive
  • 16 inch tilling width
  • 12 inch tine diameter
  • Recoil start
  • Robust medium size frame

What can the Pro-Line FRT be used for?

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Some larger tillers are powerful enough to break ground and cut through any type of soil, but they can be difficult to operate because of their size.

Smaller tillers are light and maneuverable, but many of them are unable to break new ground or deal with heavy soil.

The Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT garden tiller has been designed to include the best of both worlds while eliminating the negative aspects of them.

This Troy-Bilt tiller is big and powerful, but not so powerful that it cannot be used with relative ease by most able-bodied operators.

It is able to break new ground and it is also capable of getting smaller, existing garden plots ready for the planting season.

It is designed to be able to work effectively in all types of soil.

According to Troy Bilt:

Our Pro-Line FRT rear-tine rototiller works like a pro because it’s designed for your large scale or commercial groundbreaking applications. A professional strength, mid-size tiller, the Pro-Line FRT offers unmatched durability and performance in gardens up to 1,500 square feet.

If you are looking to do some serious growing – vegetables, fruit, ornamentals, the Pro-Line FRT could be an ideal choice for you.

The Pro-Line FRT’s engine and transmission

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The engine

This machine features an ultra-reliable Honda OHV (overhead valve) GX engine, which is one of the finest small engines in its class.

It is designed to be extremely fuel-efficient, quiet, to reduce vibration and to be very easy to start.

This four stroke, 160 cc air cooled engine produces:

  • 4.8 Horsepower (3.6 kW) @ 3,600 rpm, and
  • 7.6 lb-ft (10.3 Nm) of net torque @ 2,500 rpm.

For these and many other reasons, this Honda engine is the perfect power source for the Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT garden tiller.

Key engine features

According to Honda, these are just some of the features of the Honda GX engine:

Fuel efficiency
  • Precision camshaft design for better fuel efficiency
  • OHV design for increased efficiency and optimal power transfer
  • High compression ratio for better fuel efficiency
Reduced noise
Troy Bilt tiller: Pro-Line FRT engine
Troy Bilt tiller: Pro-Line FRT Honda GX160 engine
  • Precision engineered components result in lower vibration
  • Reduced piston weight and precision balanced crankshaft result in lower engine vibration
  • Aluminum push rods reduce valve clearance and noise level
  • Reduced mechanical noise due to light weight, noise-reducing materials
Reliability
  • Forged steel crankshaft and rigid crankcase
  • Sophisticated air intake system
  • New carburetor chamber coating and carburetor filter help to protect against fuel impurities
  • Troy Bilt tiller honda GX engine
    Troy Bilt tiller honda GX engine, image courtesy of Honda
  • Cast iron cylinder sleeve
  • Dual element air cleaner
Starting
  • Heavy duty recoil starter
  • Ergonomic, easy to grip recoil rope design
  • Automatic mechanical de-compression system

The transmission

A great engine is no good unless it has an equally good transmission system to transfer the power it generates into the operating parts of the machine.

The Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT tiller has an impressive cast iron transmission with bronze gears for extra strength and durability.

The drive system has one forward gear and one reverse gear. The reverse gear is essential since it gives you the ability to maneuver the tiller more easily, even if it gets bogged down.

Handling and operating the Pro-Line FRT

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Tilling operations are started by engaging the wheel drive as well as the tine drive.

Tilling is made especially easy by the tiller’s ability to be controlled with a single hand.

As with most tilling machines, work gets done more efficiently when you let the tiller do its job. In other words, you should never try to push the tiller or press down on the handles in order to till more deeply.

You need to set the throttle to give the machine enough power, but at the slowest speed possible until you have tilled to the desired depth.

A tine depth handle helps you regulate depth.

Though this machine is capable of breaking new ground, it may take a few passes to do so effectively.

You can till to a depth of up to 8 inches and in swaths of 16 inches wide. As you work up and down your land you’ll need to overlap the swaths slightly to ensure you cover all the ground.

Full and detailed operating instructions are set out in the user manual.

Tilling tines

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Troy Bilt tiller: Pro-Line FRT tines
Troy Bilt tiller: Pro-Line FRT tines

The tines on the Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT are 12 inches in diameter.

They are forward rotating (hence FRT), Bolo tines.

Bolo tines have a right angled ‘digging scoop’, as you can see in the picture.

Theses tines are ideal for heavy machines like the Pro-Line FRT and are made of tough and durable steel, so they can take a lot of action.

One nice aspect of this tiller is the fact that each tine can be replaced individually. This means that you will not have to replace an entire tine assembly if just one tine requires replacement.

In order to get the most out of the tiller’s tines, you should operate the machine as directed. Obviously, hard or rocky soil will wear the tines down more quickly than softer soil.

Additional features

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The Pro-Line FRT has 13 inch ag tires, for great grip in heavy soil.

It also has the factory fitted bumper guard at the front to protect the engine.

Assembly

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To assemble this Troy-Bilt tiller, all you need to do is attach the handles and the drive cables.

Some adjustment will be necessary for the cables, so this part of the job may take some time. You will also need to add engine oil to the machine.

In order to complete the assembly properly, you will need a set of wrenches and about an hour of your time.

There are very thorough assembly instructions in the user manual.

Dimensions

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Here are some selected dimensions of the Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT :

  • Shipping weight – 195 pounds
  • Tilling width – 16 inches
  • Tine diameter – 12 inches
  • Maximum tilling depth – 8 inches
  • Tire size – 13” x 5”.

Maintenance

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If you want to make sure that your Troy-Bilt tiller lasts as long as it should, you will need to perform some basic maintenance. You will need to change the oil at regular intervals, plus you should check the transmission gear oil after every 10 hours of use.

It is also a good idea to check belt and cable tension from time to time. Checking the air pressure in the tires before each use is also recommended.

Again, a full maintenance schedule is in the manual.

Accessories

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If needed, you can fit an optional hiller/ furrower and/or a row marker to Row Marker to the Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT .

Pros and cons

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Troy-bilt pro-line FRT pros

Pros

  • Versatility
  • Able to break new ground
  • Forward and reverse speeds
  • Adjustable tilling depth up to 8 inches
  • Efficient and powerful Honda engine
  • 2 years manufacturers warranty.

Cons

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Troy-bilt pro-line FRT cons

These are main downsides:

  • May be too heavy for some users or applications
  • Not ideal for small gardens
  • Some assembly required.

Consumer ratings

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At the time of writing, the Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT garden tiller has been reviewed six times on Amazon.com. Its average score on the five star scale is 4.7 out of five stars. Of the six reviewers, five gave the machine a five star rating, while one user rated it at three stars.

The reviews for this machine are overwhelmingly positive. Users have been pleased with how powerful the machine is. They have also expressed their happiness with its ease of operation.

The three star review is hardly negative, but the customer stated that belt adjustment was necessary immediately. This consumer also said that his particular machine was defective in that there was a transmission leak from the front seal. This did not prevent the customer from stating that he was pleased, overall, with the machine since any necessary repairs would be covered under warranty.

On Toy-Bilt’s own website, there are have been 14 reviews: 8 reviewers gave it 5 stars, 4 reviewers gave it 4 stars, 1 reviewer gave it 3 stars and 1 reviewer gave it 1 star.

Here is what one Amazon reviewer had to say:

Pros:

1.) Honda GX engine lives up to the hype. Very easy to start, quiet, and fuel efficient.
2.) Tills already cultivated soil into fine powder.
3.) Reverse option is a great feature.
4.) Perfect size for fitting between rows, but still big enough to tackle large jobs.

Cons:

1.) A bit too light for easily busting new sod (but I knew that before I bought it). Just a word of warning Read more …

Price

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The Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT garden tiller does not come cheap. Check the links below for the latest price.

Its price may be prohibitive for some consumers, but it is worth it if you need a powerful machine to get your garden ready.

The simple fact that it comes with an advanced Honda engine is enough to warrant the extra expense if it is above the top line of your budget.

[easyazon-block align=”none” asin=”B0001AU33I” locale=”us”]

Buy the [easyazon-link asin=”B0001AU33I” locale=”us”]Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT Mid-Size Rear-Tine Garden Tiller (21A-665B766)[/easyazon-link] online at [easyazon-link asin=”B0001AU33I” locale=”us”]Amazon [/easyazon-link].

Other Troy-Bilt tiller models

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The Troy Bilt Pony and Pony ES

[easyazon-image align=”right” asin=”B002DQBV9S” locale=”us” height=”144″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41OptIbnnxL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]

The [easyazon-link asin=”B002DQBV9S” locale=”us”]Troy-Bilt Pony Electric Start 16-Inch 250cc 4-Cycle Briggs & Stratton 1100 Series Garden Tiller[/easyazon-link] is similar to the Pro-Line FRT, but with a more powerful engine and electric start.

Both machines sell for about the same price, but the Pony has a a Briggs & Stratton engine instead of a Honda.

The standard [easyazon-link asin=”B004OM5CI0″ locale=”us”]Troy-Bilt Pony (16″) Forward Rotating Rear Tine Tiller – 21A-662G066[/easyazon-link] is also very similar.

It is identical to the Pony ES, but it does not include electric start.

Troy Bilt Horse

A step up in power and size is the [easyazon-link asin=”B004HKVV52″ locale=”us”]Troy-Bilt Horse 305cc Briggs & Stratton 1450 Series Horse Forward Rotating Rear Tine Tiller[/easyazon-link].

This is a heavy duty machine with 12 inch diameter tines and:

  • 4 forward, 1 neutral and 2 reverse gears
  • 20 inch tilling width
  • A power take-off (PTO)
  • 16 inch tires
  • Steel tine shields for user safety
  • the availability of several optional attachments.
[easyazon-block align=”center” asin=”B004HKVV52″ locale=”us”]

What do you think?

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Do you own one of thees Tro Bilt tillers?

How do they work for you?

Let us know in the review section or comments below.

Ready to buy?

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[easyazon-image align=”center” asin=”B0001AU33I” locale=”us” height=”500″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iNQVCHW9L.jpg” width=”500″]


Buy the [easyazon-link asin=”B0001AU33I” locale=”us”]Troy-Bilt Pro-Line FRT Mid-Size Rear-Tine Garden Tiller (21A-665B766)[/easyazon-link] online at [easyazon-link asin=”B0001AU33I” locale=”us”]Amazon [/easyazon-link].

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Filed Under: Reviews, Tillers Tagged With: Gas powered, Troy-Bilt

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