Don't buy a Troy Bilt from ANYONE. The new owners have totally trashed quality. I had one of their rototillers 30 years ago and it was a beast. Made money tilling lawns and gardens and paid for it. Sold it 3 years later (dumb move) for almost original price.
My neighbor got one of Troy Bilt's new riding mowers. Lasted about 2 years after numerous downtimes trying to fix it. It's rusting away and was replaced with an ancient Yard King. I wish I could steal it THAT sweet machine.
I bought a "refurbished" Troy Bilt edger at Lowes for cheap. Got it home and the starter cord wouldn't even move. The screen was crushed. After I fixed the cord, it wouldn't run for more than 3 seconds. Priming it 20 times would get you 5 seconds. I ripped the carb apart and cleaned it. Started like champ and ran fine. I shut it off and 5 minutes later it wouldn't start. It sat in the back of the barn for 3 years.
One day I thought, I wonder if some starter fluid would work. Now I use it every time and it works fine. Crappy plastic B&S carb. Still a crappy edger. The belt makes a complicated trip. They last about 500 feet of edging. They either snap (so I got Kevlar) or they twist and eventually opposite moving parts get tangled and melt in no time. Designed by an idiot. Great blue smoke, though.
I just heard that about vt castings stoves. And they were a great brand.
Dont get a mantis either. Damn things drop dead after the 2nd season. I had a ryobi back in the nineties. Small but powerful. After it died I foolishly bought a mantis. Took it to a mennonite repair shop and left it there. POS.
I now have a Honda. Great rototiller!