Most of the time when a poster lists three or more options, at least one of those possibilities isn't a good one. In your case, all of your options are good. In my opinion, I would choose in this order: #3, #1, #2.

IMHO, option 1 would be best. One qualifier, depending on how much you'll put into the old troy, it might be better to replace. Parts can be very pricey for those and hard to find. If all you're doing is cultivating between rows, doubt you'd need to invest in a new "big red" troybilt. Last I heard MTD (I think?) had bought them and kept name, price, and severely reduced quality. There are several rear tine tillers around now, here's one picked at random at Amazon, Husqvarna with a Honda engine.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Rear%20tine%20tiller

Here's the TroyBilt, three times the cost of the Husqvarna.

http://www.troybilt.com/equipment/troybilt/big-red-garden-tiller?cm_mmc=Google--TroyPLA--Tillers-_-21AE682L766&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhPaqBRDG2uiHzpKLi6ABEiQAk_XXiVL8bNxeuWt0AI2vne1NmekzMAjzhQxOkd3_cvltgzYaAhO28P8HAQ

I have one of the "generic" dual rotating rear tine units made by MTD, going on 14 years and still running strong, 50X70 garden. You see these all over, TSC, Sears, Cub, etc. etc. labeled, same unit, Briggs or Kohler engine

One thing you didn't mention was the size of your garden? Feeding 8 people wouldn't require acres under cultivation. If you're thinking of acres and just running down the "balk" of the rows with the tiller, you'll still have to hand weed between the plants and up close. I've tried the large garden and just running between the rows and now do a much more intensive planting just because it reduces the hand weeding.

Good luck,

Ev

I have 16.4 acres and the garden is 140'x110'.

That's a big garden. The only other thing to consider is do you use the tiller for furrowing or hilling? I believe those attachments are available for the "generic" tillers as well as TB's. Maybe if you already have them for the old unit, that's a consideraton.

If the old tiller issue is the engine, there are several success stories of repowering with a Harbor Freight 212cc "ChiHonda" (Predator?) engines for about $120. Mounting holes line up, and I think the pulley will also fit.

Have fun,

Ev

Ev, after visiting our garden today, I will be investing in a tractor tiller. I believe I have it narrowed down to either a land pride or a king kutter. I also intend to either buy a new Kohler engine for the Troy built horse tiller and do some work on the lower end including seals, bushings and possibly new tines or just purchase a new Husqvarna tiller with reversing tines and a Honda engine. In addition, I plan on getting a sub soil or or one of those three point attachments to do make furrows in order to keep from getting hard pan.

Here's a link to help or further "muddy" the decision.

http://tractorpoint.com/forum/rototiller-plough-review/53251/1/KingKutter-vs-Landpride.html

On the subsoiler issue. I bought what's called a "middle buster" plow from TSC, it was a KK at the time, they now have another brand. Anway, looking at the middle buster and the subsoiler, the only difference was the blade. Everything was the same except the wide blade vs. a long shank blade. I thought the middle buster would do what I wanted for breaking hardpan, it did. However, I did have it on a 60 HP JD diesel which could make a difference. My back up plan was just to order the long shank blade if I needed it. The middle buster is useful around the estate. Think of a wide "furrow out" blade like for digging potatoes. HOWEVER, it's not good for that, it doesn't sweep back enough and cuts some of them.

You might consider hiring someone to bust the hardpan. You won't be doing that every year, get it broken up, and organic material tilled down there, you're good for as long as you keep the land tilled and in use. Soil compaction shouldn't be an issue in a garden which primarily sees a walk behind tiller on it.

I've learned to be careful of buying "wonderful things" like a sub soiler, use it a couple of times, and then it ends up in my barn with all the other wonderful things I don't have any use for. But, I "own" it. so..... Gonna be one heck of a barn sale when I'm gone. :-)

Have fun,

Ev