Old Troy-bilt horse

18 years ago

I have a 1963 horse that I bought about 20 years ago. It's been great for my rather large garden. I replaced the engine two years ago, with a bolt-in B&S 8hp, which took about a half-hour total for the replacement. Runs great, and tilled very well until this spring, but now the belts slip so much it won't till, and won't even move unless I force the fwd-rev lever down.

I just replaced the belts with what I was told were the correct ones -- looked about the right size too. The adjustment block is all the way at the bottom of its slot, but the belts still slip.

I've ordered a new block, and a new pawl spring, and am hoping they fix the problem, because I'd hate to do the whole garden with my little RedOx machine!

Any suggestions on what I might have missed?

thanks

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Comments (15)

andyma_gw
18 years ago
My Horse of about the same age came to me with a 8 hp B+S on it. the double shiv pulley had a single NAPA belt in real cruddy shape. I ordered a set of belts and a reverse disc. for it using p/ns from my Dads 71 manual. The belts were a hair too large and I ended up getting a pair of new Napa belts
baymee
18 years ago
You can probably ask NAPA for belts that are 1/2" shorter.
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htuckey
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks! I never thought of NAPA belts! Duh! My mind isn't what it used to be. I'll go and see if I can get any smaller ones.
snuffyinatl
18 years ago
Is the belt itself slipping, or maybe the pully has worked loose on the crankshaft?
I've seen that happen a time or two.
htuckey
Original Author
18 years ago
I must be losing my mind! The B&S engine went on another piece of equipment -- the one I put on the Troy-bilt was a Tecumseh...

No, as far as I can tell, the pulley is not slipping, but I'll watch it closely.

The new belts -- NAPA 4L210 (2 @ $5.69) are just a hair tight, but I think they'll break in with no problem. Now to find a pair of bar-tread tires!

This tiller has always been a little hard to handle on new untilled ground. The tines really dig in and it jumps forward, even tries to run away. I have to set it real shallow for the first couple of passes, or get dragged all over the place! Wouldn't trade it for anything, though.
baymee
18 years ago
You should have two pulleys/two speed settings with the belts. Just swap pulleys on untilled ground
htuckey
Original Author
18 years ago
This one is from 1963 -- only has one set of pulleys. There are two drive belts, but only the one available speed. Only one tine/drive lever too (plus the main hi-lo speed tranny lever), so the tines rotate whenever the wheels are in gear. The later models had two levers, for tines and wheels.
Maybe those had the two pulley system, but this one doesn't.
californian
18 years ago
What model Tecumseh did you put on your Troy-Bilt Horse rototiller and how do you like it? After many hours research it looks to me like the Tecumseh 8 HP model that fits is the HM80-155726, which most places charge around $275 to $280 for plus shipping.
htuckey
Original Author
18 years ago
Sorry to take so long --
I bought the

Tecumseh 8HP
Model HM80 155627U (E)
Engine Family 1TPXS 3182BA
Displacement 318

Paid a little over $200 for it, and as I said, it bolted right in with no problem.
The only problem I had starting it for the first time was a stuck float. Since then it has started on first or second pull every time.
boltonranger
18 years ago
Tuck;
All models have one tine lever and one speed lever
All models have at least 2 speeds by virtue of the gearing.
Later models have four speeds by moving the belt position plus switching the gear lever.

Glad to hear you got a good deal on your re-power.
That horse will last for decades.
-br
garandman
18 years ago
There are at least two eBay sellers with bar-lug tires. Rustybore and samjust (aka Miller's Small Engines).

I've purchsed from both. Rustybore is mostly tire stuff, Samjust is more parts but has tires like what you are looking for.

They both have excellent prices. I recently bought Carlisle Snow Hog tires from Rustybore and they shipped the day payment was received.
dan681
18 years ago
where are you getting your engines at? im only seeing prices of 350 and up
dlang681@peoplepc.com
htuckey
Original Author
18 years ago
I just got a note about the price I paid for the replacement engine for my Troy-bilt Horse. The $200+ figure I first quoted was from memory, and it was for another engine I had bought. I just found the receipt for the Horse engine, and it was for $395, plus $13.50 S+H, from Canns-Bilco, in Alburtis, PA.
So much for memory!
Please accept my apologies if I misled anyone.
csparker
17 years ago
Using a borrowed old TroyBilt tiller with a 5 hp B&S. The machine had two belts installed and one just shreaded. Prior to losing the belt the drive seemed weak. Had to work the tines into the ground very slowly or drive would stop. I am hoping new belts will improve performance. I do not know where to look to find model number to research belts required. Any advice on where to start would be appreciated. Machine is atleast as old as early 70's, maybe older.
preacher
17 years ago
I need the belt adjust block. Does anyone have the part number. My troybilt is a horse with quite a few years on it. It is two speed and the machine soes out of gear when tilling. I will appreciate any help on this.
Tahnks,
preacher

Old Troy-bilt horse

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