IHhogfarmer Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Thought you all may like seeing one of these since they don’t come up every day. This came from a Big Iron auction and it runs good and the tines work fine. A few days ago I changed oil in the engine and gearbox as well as cleaning the air filter. I haven’t used it yet but I’m looking forward to using it but the belts do need replacing. But overall a great unit, I didn’t realize how big it was until I got it. Also I found this reprint operator’s manual on eBay. I prefer originals but I like having a manual for the machines I have so I went ahead and picked it up. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackb61st Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 That’s a nice tiller you picked up. Looks to be in good original condition. What size engine does it have, and about what years were these built? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Plow Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 5hp Briggs, 26" wide. = 526 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHhogfarmer Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 2 hours ago, Mackb61st said: That’s a nice tiller you picked up. Looks to be in good original condition. What size engine does it have, and about what years were these built? What Mr. Plow said, 5hp Briggs and Stratton which was a big engine for its day. Tines are 26 inches but you can take the outside two off for tilling as well. They were built from 1972-1977. But I have read they were introduced in 1971. My engine was built May 23 1975 so I think it’s safe to say the tiller is a ‘75 model. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welkerfarmsfan Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 I've got one similar to that 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welkerfarmsfan Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Forgot what model number mine is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHhogfarmer Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 Just now, welkerfarmsfan said: Forgot what model number mine is There was a 526A that was newer, which I guess would have replaced the 526. The 526A was white with a little black on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainman Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 #1 son has that same Model 526 I bought new ...'74 . He uses it, I get to store it. Except now it is Honda powered. My younger brother didn't check oil... before use. Yours looks in very good shape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TractormanMike.mb Posted July 31, 2022 Share Posted July 31, 2022 Those are heavy duty units. I got one running for my boss a couple years ago. Originally he wanted to replace the engine but I talked him into rebuilding the Briggs that is on it. After a carb kit, ignition upgrades, and cleaning the combustion chamber of carbon and lapping the valves it ran fine. The belt tensioner drive mechanism was kind of finicky but I got it to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacka Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 Love those old Briggs engines. I am by NO MEANS a lawnmower air-cooled engine mechanic. I quiver whenever my wife says push mower won't start,rototiller running rough.I would even tackle a little Perkins in a hard to work on skid loader or dozer first. But those old Briggs with a REAL throttle,choke,mixture screw,jets that can be cleaned even the newer one on my wife's Cub Cadet push mower that has none of those things are the best.I have a little Honda on a pressure washer that's very good too but still love those old Briggs.I like to find a mower or rototiller with just the pull rope that you attached each time you pulled it. They will smoke some,are unimpressive,laughed at by some Kohler snobs(my brother in law) but they are dependable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHhogfarmer Posted August 1, 2022 Author Share Posted August 1, 2022 2 hours ago, TractormanMike.mb said: Those are heavy duty units. I got one running for my boss a couple years ago. Originally he wanted to replace the engine but I talked him into rebuilding the Briggs that is on it. After a carb kit, ignition upgrades, and cleaning the combustion chamber of carbon and lapping the valves it ran fine. The belt tensioner drive mechanism was kind of finicky but I got it to work. The wheels on mine are a bit wobbly from the bushing wearing out so I just used a couple washers on the axle to keep the wheels from moving so much. It helped a little. How are the wheels on yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TractormanMike.mb Posted August 1, 2022 Share Posted August 1, 2022 16 minutes ago, IHhogfarmer said: The wheels on mine are a bit wobbly from the bushing wearing out so I just used a couple washers on the axle to keep the wheels from moving so much. It helped a little. How are the wheels on yours? They were fine. The tiller as a whole didn't look like it was used much. There was very little wear on the tines. My boss said that him and his wife came home and that tiller was sitting in front of his garage. He pushed it to the side thinking somebody dropped it off there by accident and would be back to pick it up. Days, weeks, months passed and nobody came. It sat by his storage shed for a could years until I started working for him and offered to fix it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHhogfarmer Posted August 2, 2022 Author Share Posted August 2, 2022 I looked at the belts and tightened a pulley and I think it disengages as it should now. Used it for the first time where my garden used to be. Seemed to work good, feels like a solid machine. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Dinan Posted August 3, 2022 Share Posted August 3, 2022 Yours is much nicer than mine. Got mine from the estate of the original owners, son. His mom and dad bought it new from the local IH dealer. I got the owners manual with it. The crew cleaning up and getting ready for the auction, peeled the loose corner of the decal off, and took most of it off. I also have two extra tines for it that were never used. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHhogfarmer Posted August 3, 2022 Author Share Posted August 3, 2022 @Alan Dinan that is the operators manual I would have liked to of had. Pretty neat you have one from the original owner. I also have some extra tines, they are for a different tiller but the blades are the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Dinan Posted August 3, 2022 Share Posted August 3, 2022 Yes, it was bought new in 79, and they have the ad for the 526A along with the owners manual for the 526. I don’t have a picture of the spare tines, but I could add them on for extra WIDE coverage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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