I recently bought a used JC Penny 5hp front tine rototiller. Now I know JC Penny didn't actually build this thing but instead rebadged with their name. It's probably at least ten years old and it's built pretty stout as it has a cast worm and worm wheel gear box under it. Someone told me that it looks like it could be a Bolens but they weren't sure. Does anyone here know who might be the actual manufacturer of this unit?

 

maybe simplicity

 

the fact that its a CAST gearcase, indicates its something probably pre 1995, I'd suspect more like 1990, or older.

 

Bolens today is not what it was "back in the day".

 

Yea, I know. Now it's part of the MTD (cheap) family...

 

Sometimes, if you can find the model number on the machine, you can go on line to some of the small engine/power equipment parts site and find the manufacturer.

Yep, Bruker, MTD is cheap, but my "Cheap" MTD lawn tractor is now 17 years old and still going strong. Everything is original except 1 tire and the battery.
Fact of the matter, I just bought a new "Cheap" Bolens lawn tractor, made by MTD!