Don't know anything about current Troybilt (mtd) but I have had a few Horse model Troys.
My current is a 7hp Horse with electric start. Tecumseh motor.
It is good up to 1/4 acre, for larger, look at a Gravely or riding tractor tiller.
I was doing 200 gardens every spring. Changed my oil every 3 hours, never had any problems.
An older Troy is fine. Just watch out, keep tines sharp and always wear boots while making sure you don't get in their way.
It's a heavy machine, so don't try to man handle it, rather dance with it as you let it grind out the 180's. Lift the tines using the weight of the motor to balance and exert a little pressure on one handle. It will spin in circles, but again, be mindful of those tines. After a dozen gardens one day, it was tired and brushed my boot. Cut that leather like it was nothing.
They will most often seep gear lube from all of the bushings, so don't let that scare you. Belts and tines are spendy, and I have found only factory parts fit. Wrong size belt and it either slips or doesn't release. Make sure the reverse is working and watch out, sometimes they will charge you like a mean dog.
When setting the main jet, I put the machine in deep already tilled dirt and walk beside is looking for just a hint of black exhaust. Don't turn the rpm's up, it does its thing with torque, not rpm's. In fact, rpm's are counter productive.
New garden: till north and south, then east to west. Go down in steps and let the machine do the work, don't worry if it hops and bucks. It will if there is sod, but gradually going deeper will grind it up. I add a little fertilizer to speed up decomposition.
In the Fall, I grind everything in, add some cow manure and plant oats or wheat. Let that grow through the Winter and Spring, then till it is for "green manure".
Late in June, I hoe the garden and put down 6 inches of straw around the plants. This chokes out weeds and hangs onto moisture. I till the straw into the garden in the Fall, by Spring, it's gone.
