Earthwise TC70001 11-Inch 8-1/2 Amp Electric Tiller/Cultivator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Tiller has great amp to price value. For those considering purchase it may help to elaborate on the ad photo. In the photo it may appear the handle is crooked or bent, and thus flimsy or weird design. Actually by design the sturdy handle is symetrically angled for very comfortable grip, comparable to where one's hands would be on a vehicle steering wheel. Handle is great, photo is poor.
Tiller design is simple yet sturdy and convenient. Wheels can be quickly raised or lowered without tools. In normal garden soil the tiller works effortlessly. No problem to grab handle on top of motor and lift tiller onto new raised strawberry bed.
In hard packed red clay sod that has never been planted, the tiller can do the job. But it takes time and work by operator because pulling tiller backward is quickest method in sod.
A fist-sized rock jammed the tines. Because there is no reverse, best solution is stop instantly and don't try to force the stalled motor. Remove the tine bolt and that side's tines. If the bolt is bent and threads mashed, best to replace bolt and nylon locking nut. Actually, before using tiller, best to remove a tine bolt and nut and take to hardware store and buy some extras. Manual says M8 x 40. At Ace, metric bolt was 47 cents and nylon locking nut was 37 cents. The rock bent one tine, but a hammer blow quickly straightened it like new. 13 mm socket with short extension necessary. Keep nearby to remove grass and weeds from tines.
During hours of tilling sod the tiller maintained speed and never made worrisome sounds or smell. Because tillers leave a gap in the middle where the gearbox is, cross tilling or overlapping tilling is normally advised, even in the Earthwise manual. But because the Earthwise is so light you can sway slightly from side to side and till that little strip as you go. The TC70001 is also great for hillside tilling. You can easily lift the lower side as you till and make a terrace.
Cord management takes a little planning so the cord isn't in the tiller's path. When tilling backwards I put the cord over my shoulder.
There are a few minor negatives: The cord retainer edges are sharper than necessary and bite into cord. Probably best to position cord at different length each time used. There is difficulty seeing recessed large and small plug spades to align into extension cord. A wrap of duct tape with black mark at normal position of ground wire helps quickly orient the plug. The 10 page English manual is better than a common instruction sheet. But lacks details for non-mechanics such as "make sure the square shoulder under bolt head fits into the square notch on outside of handle frame." Assembly is easy 15 minute job.
After several days' hard use I can report the tiller does all I hoped it would do. I'm happy and would gladly make the purchase again.

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