Customer Reviews

Factory Reconditioned Ryobi ZRRY60511 Commercial Grade 25.4cc 1.2 HP Gas Powered Tiller Cultivator

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I really am happy with the Ryobi tiller! I have heavy clay soil and it is backbreaking work to turn the garden with a spade. Plus the clay turns hard as a rock when it doesn't rain for weeks. Enter the Ryobi tiller and a load of compost and peat and the clay soil is turned into wonderfully rich soil in no time flat! In 30 minutes I tilled an area 18' x 12. I then was able to add more compost and retill it again in only 10 minutes. Instead of chunks of solid clay, I now have fine crumbly soil loaded with organic material. I'm adding more planting areas this season thanks to this little 4 blade tiller.

The tiller did not need extra weight, although you can add sand to make it heavier and dig deeper, faster. I found the unit dug in easily without the extra weight to a depth of 10 inches and it probably can go a few inches deeper if I unlatch the wheels. It was a little hard to start the very first time and I've learned to add a few more pumps to prime the carburator. The choke resets itself. Be sure to not let the engine run out of gas becuase it will be harder to restart (unless you are running the tank dry for storage). Restarting when it is still warm is easy.

It is light enough for me to carry around the 1.5 acre yard with one hand if needed, but it has wheels and I think even older people will be able to move and control it easily compared to larger tillers. The lightness makes it easy to lift into a raised bed.

There is also an electric model, but I passed on it because I knew my heavy clay soild might cause the circuit breaker to trip often under load. The gas engine never balks and has all the power you could need. Also I think it would be a hassle to keep avoiding cutting the power cord, which is another reason to think twice about the electric model.

I looked at 3 or 4 other tillers that were more expensive, but I'm 100% happy I bought this tiller and saved myself at least a hundred dollars.

UPDATE: I've had this tiller for over a year now and it still is performing perfectly.

The previous reviewer was accurate...it is hard to start when cold. I suspect it has something to do with the fuel delivery system...you can see air in the line after pumping(priming). It works a little better if you do EXACTLY what they say. Don't use starting fluid...it doesn't help.
Once started this machine is a real work horse...I like it better than the small rental machines (Mantis?) for chewing up clay bearing soil (this is East Texas...not Georgia clay).

This tiller works very well, escpecially for its small size. it is basically a weed eater motor mounted on a small tiller body, and has plenty of power

I have followed start instruction exactly but the unit just refuses to start. You not even hear attempt to start sound. Other than starting problem, the mechanical design seems to be reasonable.

Buyer beware, this item that cannot be returned back to Amazon. I bought this item on 4/3/2008 and try to use it on 4/22/2008. You will be frustrated when you are ready to use the product and only to find out it is a dud.

I have to say I am impressed with this tiller. I put fuel in it and started it up then got to tilling my lawn area. Wow this tiller is a work horse! It easily tears up the soil to about 10" in depth with little effort on my part. This is one purchase I made that I am happy with.

This product is pitiful. Bought at Home Depot, it ran for a couple of hours and then stopped. Have not been able to get it running again. I did a few searches on the internet and this is a consistent problem. My first, and last, Ryobi tool! DO NOT BUY!

I purchased this item back in March; it didn't run well when I got it, I took it to my repair man to see what was wrong with it when it quit completely; he said to send it back, it was a piece of junk. I called the company, emailed the company, emailed Amazon. Amazon jumped right on it. The company responded by emailing me to call them they'd make it right. Amazon signed off on it. The company NEVER got back to me. I tried calling, left messages, sent emails, finally caught someone (supposedly just back from vacation) who said she'd investigate. NEVER called me back, never took my calls again. And Amazon WASHED THEIR HANDS OF IT BECAUSE THE COMPANY TOLD AMAZON IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. NOT HAPPY!

I purchased a refurbished Ryobi Cultivator with a one year warranty. The poor thing had a heart attack five minutes out of the box- I guess the trip was too much for it. I raced it to the recommended repair technical cultivator surgeon who has gone in and gotten to the heart of the matter. The cylinder and piston were both scored. He thought it was possibly a small metal fragment left behind when it was worked on. There was no way it could maintain compression. It is on the donor list for a new cylinder and piston and there is a chance I may still get to spend some quality time with it....hopefully before September.

This tiller is everything advertised. Works great and easy to handle, I highly recomend.

This it the biggest piece of junk I've gotten from Amazon.
It has not worked from the day I got it, you would think it was tested before leaving the factory, looks like it was not, I will not buy another Ryobi product ever again.