Earthquake Victory Review: 209cc Rear Tine Tiller Specs, Pros and Cons

A rear tine tiller has its tines behind powered wheels, so the wheels pull the machine and the tines dig. On a counter-rotating tine (CRT) tiller the tines spin opposite to the wheels, digging down into the soil instead of pulling the machine forward. That is why the Victory is best at the hardest tilling job: turning sod, compacted clay and never-worked ground into a seedbed.

• Breaking new ground. Earthquake positions the counter-rotating tines specifically for tough clay, compacted soil and new ground.
• Depth. Up to 10 inches deep, controlled with the drag stake so the machine keeps a steady tilling speed.
• Turning in tight spots. The Instant Reverse handle lets you back away from fences and bed edges without stopping to shift gears.
• A long-life drivetrain. A cast-iron transmission with bronze gears is built for years of seasonal ground work, backed by a 5-year limited warranty.
• Cleaner rows. Side tine shields limit dirt thrown on nearby plants, and the trailing rear shield smooths the seedbed. The adjustable handlebar allows one-hand steering so you can walk beside the tilled strip instead of in it.

The biggest drawback is size and weight relative to its 16 inch width. The listing does not state the machine weight, but a rear tine tiller with a 209cc engine and cast-iron transmission is heavy to load into a truck or move between beds. At 16 inches wide it also needs more passes than wider tillers: the front tine Earthquake Versa adjusts up to 21 inches wide, though it lacks the Victory's ground-breaking CRT design.

A CRT tiller also asks more of the operator than a forward-rotating one. In rocky or root-filled ground the tines can grab and jolt the machine, and turning a heavy tiller at row ends takes effort. For raised beds and established gardens with loose soil, this is too much machine: a 24 pound Mantis 7940 does the cultivating with far less work. The 4-cycle engine also needs oil changes and fuel storage care.

These are recurring themes in published owner reviews, summarized as consensus rather than our own use. Review volume and quality vary by listing, so read them as tendencies, not guarantees.

Praise themes

• Breaks hard clay and old sod that lighter front tine tillers bounce across.
• Instant Reverse makes working near fences and bed edges much easier.
• The transmission and frame feel heavy-duty, and the 5-year warranty adds confidence.
• Tine shields keep soil off nearby plants.

Complaint themes

• Heavy to move, load and store, especially for smaller operators.
• Grass, roots and vines wrap around the tines in new sod and need clearing.
• Turning at row ends takes muscle.
• Rocky soil makes the machine jump and slows progress.

Buy it if

• You are turning lawn or compacted clay into a new garden.
• Your in-ground garden is several hundred square feet or larger.
• You want a gear-drive transmission and a 5-year warranty for many seasons of use.
• You can store and transport a full-size rear tine tiller.

Skip it if

• You garden in raised beds or established loose soil; the Mantis 7940 or Honda FG110 is lighter.
• Your plot is small and near an outlet; the Sun Joe TJ604E electric tiller covers it without an engine.
• You want wider passes in soil that is already worked; the Earthquake Versa adjusts up to 21 inches.
• Lifting and turning a heavy machine is a problem for you.

Warranty: the listing states a 5-year limited warranty with a U.S.-based customer support team. Limited warranties typically exclude wear parts such as tines and belts and may shorten coverage for commercial or rental use, so read the written terms and register the tiller.

Engine certification: gas engines sold for outdoor power equipment in the US must be certified to EPA emissions standards, and equipment sold in California must also be CARB certified. The emissions label is on the engine. A model listed as 49-state compliant is not sold or shipped to California.

Recalls: check the CPSC recall database at cpsc.gov/Recalls for this model before you buy, and again once a year after you own it. Search by brand and model number, and register the product with the manufacturer so a recall notice reaches you directly.