OPERATION
NOTE: If at a high altitude (3000 feet) or in cold
temperatures (below 32°F), the carburetor fuel mixture
may need to be adjusted for best engine performance.
See "TO ADJUST CARBURETOR" in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual
NOTE: If engine does not start, see troubleshooting
)oints.
SPARK PLUG
CHOKE
CC
THROTTLE
CONTROL
RECOIL STARTER
HANDLE
FIG. 8
BREAKING IN YOUR TILLER
Break-in your belt(s), pulleys and tine control before you
actually begin tilling.
• Start engine, tip tines off ground by pressing handles
downand engagetine controlto starttine rotation.Allow
tines to rotate for five minutes.
• Check tine operation and adjust if necessary. See
=TINE OPE RATION CHECW'in the Service andAdjust-
ments section of this manual.
TILLING HINTS
I_1_ AUTION: Untilyouareaccustomedto I
handling your tiller, start actual field use
with throttle in slow position.
Tohelpt er move forward, liftupthehandlesslightly(thus
lifting depth stake out of ground). To slow down the tiller,
press down on handles.
If you are strainingor tilleris shaking, the wheels and depth
stake are not set properly inthesoil being tilled. The proper
setting ofthe wheelsand depth stakeisthreugh trialand error
and depends uponthe soilcondition. (The harder or wetter
the ground the slower the engine and tine speed needed.
Under these poorcondit ons, at fast speed the tiller will run
and jump over the ground).
A propedy adjusted tiller will dig with little effort from the
operator.
• Tilling is digging into, turning over, and breaking up
packed soilbeforeplanting. Loose, unpacked soilhelps
rootgrowth. Best tillingdepth is 4 "-6". A tiller will also
clear the soil of unwanted vegetation. The decomposi-
tion ofthisvegetable matter endches the soil. Depend-
ingonthe climate (rainfallandwind!, itmay beadvisable
to tillthe soil at the end of the growing season to further
condition the soil.
• Soil conditionsare important forproper tilling.Tines will
notreadilypenetrate dry, hardsoilwhich maycontribute
to excessive bounce and difficult handling of yourtiller.
Hard soil should be moistened before tilling; however,
extremely wet soil will =ball-up" or clump during tilling.
Walt untilthe soil islesswet inorderto achieve the best
results. When tilling in the fall, remove vines and long
grass to prevent them from wrapping around the tine
shaft and slowing yourtillingoperation.
You will find tillingmuch easier if youleave a row untilled
between passes. Then go back between tilled rows.
(See Fig. 9) There are two reasons for doingthis. First,
wide turns are much easier to negotiate than about-
faces. Second, the tillerwon't be pulling itself,and you,
toward the row next to it.
Setdepth stakeand wheel heightfor shallowtillingwhen
working extremely hard soil or sod. Then work across
the first cuts at normal depth.
FIG. 9
CULTIVATING
Cultivating isdestroying theweeds between rowsto prevent
them from robbing nourishment and moisture from the
plants.At the same time, breaking upthe upper layerof soil
crust will help retain moisture inthe soil. Bestdigging depth
is 1"-3".
• You will probablynot need to usethe depth stake. Begin
by tipping the depth stake forward untilit isheld by the
stake spdng.
• Cultivate up and down the rows at a speed which will
allowtines touprootweedsand leave thegroundinrough
condition, promoting no further growth of weeds and
grass (See Fig. 10).
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FIG._10
