I just posted this in the what rotovator thread, so apologies if quoting it here is overkill.
"I have the "chinese model" as per the e-bay link, though the labelling on the box shows it actually came from the USA.
I'm happy enough with mine. I was keen to go for the self propelled type and couldn't afford, or justify the £1000 - 1200 that branded machines seem to start from. It is a lot easier to use than standard tillers which have the engine mounted over the tines, but bear in mind that the tines all rotate the same way, unlike the branded machines which often have counter rotating tines.
This all means that if you try and dig too deep into uncultivated ground the machine tries to run away with you. The answer is to make two or three passes at increasing depths. Even doing this I managed to do most of my 9 x 33 meter plot in an afternoon without feeling totally shattered afterwards, and it does have good depth - maybe not the 18inches / 450mm that it advertised but not far short of that.
There are concerns, of course. Will it last as long as the more expensive machines - I doubt it, and don't really expect it to. Will I find engine parts if anything goes wrong, there is an address with the machine for service spares but i doubt they'll carry much more than spark plugs etc but it's certainly doing the job for me so far."
I didn't mention the packaging which I thought was really good - and that steel frame makes a great cold frame cum cloche when covered with a bit of polythene! I have a mind to make some kind of front weight to fasten to those two bolt holes used for packing, as this may well reduce the bucking if it hits a section of hard ground. Can't fault that part of the build quality you can see, the tines are good and heavy - mine pulled a re-bar out of my plot and coiled it round the shaft. Not a mark on the tines and very easy to dismantle and remove the offending article.
I bought mine in October, 50/50 with my sister - £180 each. That about the same as hiring a machine for two weekends. Just hope the internal quality of the gears and the motor is up to the mark. As said before, if it makes 5 years I'll consider it good value.