What year tiller is this? MTD Modern line 4 HP Briggs engine

[tigercat]

This machine my dad bought 30 years ago used from an old guy. They are all past on now but the old tiller still runs. I change the oil once a year and if the gas is fresh it will start in 1 or 2 pulls, every time.
Machine is getting old as the last several years I notice bronze in the oil, so the engine will eventually fail in the future.

I'm curious on if this was made in the 60's or possibly the 70's.

Anyone have any info on this machine? Thanks!

 

[Fish]

The last set of numbers on the engine is the year that the engine was made, put up all of the numbers you can find.

 

[tigercat]

Thanks fish.
I grabbed my flashlight and jacket and headed off to the shed again.

Stamped 71 so it's about 43-42 years old. Sweet! :thumbsup:

 

[Fish]

Bronze in the engine oil? Keep changing the oil in the engine and tiller with new air filter, it will probably outlast you!!!!

 

[wjjones]

Thats when they made them really well.

 

[tigercat]

That machine ran a lot when we owned it. Our garden is 40' X 50' and nearly every year it tills the soil from one side to the other. A few times a brother or two will borrow it and reseed their front yard. I get it back and inspect it for low oil or whatever. I recall changing the drive belt once or twice as it snapped and I changed the plug a few times. Otherwise it never needed anything.


I figure a bearing is failing in the engine as I see bronze flakes in the oil. Oh well, the machine doesn't owe anyone anything. It gave a lifetime of good service.

 

[davbell22602]

That looks like something similar to the Huffy tiller I posted on here last year in the spring.

 

[Fish]

Yeah, back then, likely the same mfgr....,,,,,,,,,

 

[EngineMan]

Thats when they made them really well.

Yes, the old one's are or seem to be, the best one's...!