Spring is here,

After rebuild, before paint.

At least in our part of the country. The Pecan trees are budding, a sure sign all frosts are past. My garden in in and starting to sprout.
For years I have been keeping an eye out for an old Troy Bilt tiller and I found one back in the fall, it had been neglected and left in the weather and was all seized up. The tires were flat, one rim was rusted off. The engine did spin over but a lot of parts were ruined nevertheless I shelled out $150 for it, I reasoned it was better than $2500 for a new one.  They still make these tillers with a cast iron gearbox but even used ones in well worn condition are over $600 usually.

I stripped the tiller down, replaced the coil and removed the cylinder  head and discovered it had almost no wear. I lapped the valves and adjusted them. The rusted rim I replaced with a wheelbarrow rim after I welded the center part from the old wheel and installed the original tire (it is the tire you see in the picture) I had to swap out some rusted parts I had from another engine but after putting it all back together it ran perfectly and tilled like a new on. I figure I have about $200 in it after a few gaskets, tubes and 2 cans of 'rattle can' paint.