If you’re new to tillers, they are a great way to quickly and easily prepare your garden soil for planting. We have a comprehensive article about what tillers do that gives you a pretty good idea of what you might need it for before you start looking.
Plenty of great models are out there, and we've rounded up some of the best tillers, but they are not all created equal. And if you don’t have larger garden beds or drier soil, you might be fine with a small, compact one.
However, consider the Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc Front Tine Tiller for larger gardens. It’s an impressive machine with four 12-inch tires up front powered by a 208cc OHV Troy-Bilt engine. It’s got more than enough power to till up just about any size or type of soli,d and the adjustable cutting depth makes it easy to prep your garden for a wide range of plants.
However, all that power means that it’s fairly big, the gas engine is loud, and it’s a bit pricey. But this is a great option if you’re looking for something to tackle even the more challenging garden beds around your home.
The Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller: Key specs
| Type | Gas |
| Power | 208cc |
| Tilling width | Adjustable: 13 / 22 / 24 inches |
| Tilling depth | 7 inches |
| Tine type | Steel |
| Fuel capacity | 20oz |
| Transmission type | Automatic |
| Weight | 122 lbs. |
Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller: Setup
Troy-Bilt packages the tiller well, but there was more Styrofoam than I felt necessary. They could have eliminated a decent amount of it. The tiller is also a bit heavy, so keep that in mind when unboxing it.
Once it’s out of the box, there’s not too much assembly needed. The tines go on either side with lock pins to keep them in place. Just follow the directions to put them on facing the right way. One nice design feature of this tiller is that you can run it with only two tines instead of four if you have a narrow space to till.
Once the tires are on, you must attach the depth-adjustment pole on the back of the engine and the handlebar above that. You will likely want a ½” socket or ratchet wrench to help tighten all the bolts. Engine oil is included, but you must supply your gasoline.
Once assembled, it’s clear the tiller is very well built. The metal is all heavy-duty, and nothing feels loose or cheap. This tiller means business, and Troy-Bilt designed it for that.
Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller: Design & features
The Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller is well-designed. From the start, it's easy to tell this machine is well-made with high-quality components. Due to its somewhat large size and the odd nature of tillers in general, this tiller can be tricky to store. The handles don’t fold down, so you might have to get creative if you don’t have much storage space.
It’s also a bit heavy. The heavy-duty tires make it easier to maneuver around, which is good because you won’t want to pick this up if you don’t have to. At 40” H x 29” L x 26.5” W and 122 lbs., it’s not the easiest to push around the yard. If you don’t have much space around your garden beds or have more difficulty moving equipment like this, you might want to look at a smaller tiller like the Echo TC-210.
I appreciate two features of this tiller. First, you can adjust the height of the tiller to allow for deeper cuts in the garden bed. You can set it at 13, 22, or 24 inches, depending on what you need. Second, you can remove the outer tines and lock the inner tines in place to use them in more narrow parts of the garden.
- Score: 9/10
Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller: Performance
In my testing, the Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller performed better than expected. We first used it in our garden box with moist, well-maintained soil, and it did a fantastic job.
Next, we took it to the side of our house, where the soil was dry and had been overgrown for a while. None of the weeds were more than a couple of inches high, but the tiller pulled them up with no problems. Once the weeds were up, we went back over the area to dig some furrows, and again, it did a great job.
More importantly, we both appreciated how easy it was to use. The engine always started for us without problems, and neither of us had trouble driving it around the yard. Adjusting the tilling height is as simple as removing the lock pin, setting the bar higher or lower, then replacing the lock pin.
For us, the only real downsides of this tiller, apart from the difficulty storing it in our tiny storage shed, were typical downsides of gas engines. There’s all the fumes, the hassle of just dealing with using and storing gasoline, and the noise level.
Maintenance is also fairly simple. The tines come off easily for cleaning in between uses, and the gas engine will require typical engine maintenance, such as new spark plugs when necessary. When storing for the winter or long periods, it’s a good idea to drain the fuel tank completely or leave just a bit of TruFuel to keep it protected during the winter.
- Score: 9/10
Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller: Price & value
At the time of writing, this tiller is available from Troy-Bilt and Tractor Supply for $699. Home Depot has it for about fifty dollars less, at $649, but that’s still a lot of money for a garden tiller. If you’re a homesteader or do a lot of serious gardening where you rely on it for food or to make a living, then it may be worth the investment.
$700 is too far above some other tillers with similar power and features, but you’ll still have to decide if your use case and the added quality and durability of Troy-Bilt equipment are worth the investment.
- Score: 7/10
Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller: User Reviews
Across more than 300 reviews I found for this tiller, it averages about four and a half stars. Most customers appreciated many of the same things I did about it: it starts easily and has plenty of performance and power for most small-to-medium-sized garden spaces. Many of them commented on the tiller's high-quality build, with one from Tractor Supply saying, “Very versatile and capable little tiller. Not too heavy or awkward, which allows me to cultivate the various small areas in my three vegetable gardens.”
Of the poor reviews I read, nearly all mentioned that the handlebar broke off from the main shaft within the first few uses. Many of them claim the welds holding the handlebars on are not very strong; however, they were still impressed with the quality and performance of the engine. I never had any issues with the handlebars, but it was mentioned often enough that I felt it important to note.
Would I buy the Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller?
Overall, the Troy-Bilt Colt 24-inch tiller has a lot to like. The powerful engine will till almost any soil, and the easy start means you can use it all day without frustration.
Still, it's quite heavy, so it might be a bit harder to push around the garden, and you still have to deal with all the hassles of gas-powered engines. Plus, it's quite expensive.
However, if you're after Troy-Bilt quality and powerful performance, you won't be disappointed.
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Design & features | Well-built with a high-quality engine and useful features | 9/10 |
| Performance | More than enough power for small to medium sized garden spaces | 9/10 |
| Price & value | A bit pricey, but not too unreasonable for a good quality, high-performance tiller | 7/10 |
How I tested the Troy-Bilt Colt FT 208cc 24” Front Tine Tiller
I tested this tiller in several places around my home. First, I used it in a 12’ x 4’ garden box with moist and well-maintained soil. Then, I used it on a larger patch of dry soil that was overgrown with weeds up to about two inches high.
Learn more about how we test.
