YARDMAX YT5328 Compact Front Tine Tiller, 98cc

Let's be clear, I wanted to like this machine, it had the features I was looking for. I had originally purchased a Cub Cadet on Amazon and when I received it the Honda engine it was advertised with was not on it. It cost about 300 more than this one and to not have that engine was a deal breaker, I returned it. After trying to resolve and find a decent tiller with a Honda engine it came down to I needed one and the reviews for this were halfway decent so I took a gamble. Bad bet, should've went with my instincts. It is a made in China low quality piece of merchandise. I have less than 25 hours of total use on it, have blown 3 inner tubes and one tire already. Wheel bends all out of shape removing tire, cheap, cheap, cheap. Have replaced throttle control, snapped right off, carburetor was replaced, typical Briggs engine problem with all their engines, hunts all over the place, the main reason I wanted a Honda engine to begin with. Every Briggs engine I have ever owned does this, not a matter of if but when. Spend a few hundred extra dollars and find one made in USA with a good Honda or Kohler engine at least, you will thank yourself later. I have already spent more on parts than the money I saved. Just not worth the time, trouble or effort. It continually keeps falling apart, the nuts, bolts all come loose, the metal is cheap, cheap, cheap. Bends and will break. It's a rototiller, needs to be heavy duty. The good points are that customer service is good, provides parts in a timely manner and the actual tiller portion and gearbox seem to be fairly decent. Only reason it gets two stars. Buyer beware, don't be cheap on this bigger ticket item. If you do decide to purchase this item replace the tires before even putting it to use, they are absolute junk and will leave you high and dry in the middle of your project. Get a good 4 ply R lug tire, put some decent tubes in them, not Chinese crap it comes with. Fair Warning!! Update 5/3/2020 It is not even 3 years old yet and now the transmission is shot. This thing wasn't even hardly used much. Very disappointing. Heed my warning.

Assembling the tiller was not too complicated. It took me about 40 minutes. I was surprised, and a little aggravated, that oil was not supplied in the shipment. Every other piece of equipment I've bought has had a container of the recommended oil included in the shipment. I went out the next day and bought a quart. When I added somewhat less that the required amount (.53 quarts), several ounces spilled out. It either already had some oil in it, or the required amount is less than stated in the manual. The engine started after a few pulls of the cord, but the choke and speed indicators are way off. My garden is 30' X 25' and was tilled in the fall, so the ground should have been easily tilled. After a few minutes, I noticed the tines weren't spinning. I tighten the tensioner, but the tiller still bogged down. I removed the rear depth adjuster, and then the tiller performed OK, however, it didn't till as deeply as I wanted. I've only used it once so far, but it's plain to see, this tiller does not do the job nearly as well as my previous front tined tiller.

Can't say enough good things about this tiller. Bought it for first year garden. In reverse it was easy to turn the soil over and it went 6 inchs deep. In forward it dresses the soil to perfection. It is so easy to use my 70 year old wife controls it with one hand. She loves it and uses it every chance she gets. I have only been able to use it once. Delivery was a breeze and the delivery men were very nice and professional. If you want a tiller buy this one.

I'll just start off by saying that I live in Colorado where my soil is not necessarily the best - more like rock/sand/clay. I wanted to work on my yard sections at a time without the worry and rush of renting a piece of equipment. Got to say, setup was easy. Solid unit of destruction - fluffed my dirt up 6.5" no problem. The only thing I had a problem with at times are the concrete chunks that the new construction trades left behind in my ground. The tiller obviously found those chunks - it's not meant to break through those pieces like a hydraulic tiller can - but listen - all you do is put the tiller in it's opposite direction of what you were doing and it will just spit the concrete back out and you can throw it in a pile. Don't keep going until you choke the tiller out, that's not smart with any mechanical piece of equipment.If you want to tear through hard ground and start a new lawn like I did - you need a rear tine tiller. Live in hard soil environment? You need a rear tine tiller. Briggs motor - as much steel as possible - 2 year warranty on all parts. I'm happy. You will be too!