Troy-Bilt 664D While tilling, relax and let the wheels, Pull the tiller along while the tines do

Tilling Tips& Techniques

Let the tiller do the work

• While tilling, relax and let the wheels

pull the tiller along while the tines do

the digging. Walk on the side that is

not yetfinished (to avoid making foot-

prints in the freshly tilled soil) and

lightly, but securely grip the handlebar

with just one hand.

• Avoid pushing down on the handlebars

in an attempt to force the tiller to dig

deeper. Doing so takes the weight off

the powered wheels, causing them to

lose traction. Without the wheels

helping to hold the tiller back,the tines

will attempt to propel the tiller- often

causingthe tiller to skip rapidly across

the ground. (Sometimes, slight down-

ward pressure on the handlebarswill

help get through a particularly tough

Avoidtilling soggy,wet soil

Tilling wet soil often results in large, hard clumps of soil that can interfere with planting. If time permits, wait a day or two after heavyrains to allow the soil to dry before tilling. Test soil by squeez- ing it into a ball. If it compresses too easily, it is too wet to till.

Avoidmakingfootprints

When possible,walk on the untilled side of the unit to avoid makingfootprints in the freshly tilled soil. Footprintscause soil compactionthat can hamper root )enetrationand contribute to soil erosion. Theycan also "plant" unwanted weed seeds backinto the freshly tilled ground.

•If thegardensizewill not permit

lengthwise and then crosswise tilling, then overlap the first passesby one- half a tiller width, followed by succes- sive passesat one-quarter width (see Figure4-8).

•With planning, you can allow enough room between rows to cultivate (see Figure4-9). Leaveroom for the hood width, plus enough extra room for future plant growth.

section of sod or unbroken ground, but

in most casesthis won'tbe necessary

at all.)

Tilling depths

• Avoid trying to dig too deeply too

quickly, especially when busting sod or

when tilling soil that hasn'tbeentilled

for some time. Use shallow depth reg-

ulator settings (only an inch or two

deep)for the first passesthrough the

gardenarea. With each succeeding

pass, adjust the depth regulator to dig

another inch or two deeper. (Watering

the garden areaafew days prior to

tilling will maketilling easier,as will

letting the newly worked soil set for a

day or two before makinga final, deep

tilling pass.)

• When cultivating (breakingup the

Choosingcorrectwheel and tine speeds

With experience,you will find the "just right" tilling depth and tilling speed com- bination that is bestfor your garden. Set the EngineThrottle Control Lever to a speed to give the engineadequate )ower and yet allow it to operate at the slowest possible speed...at least until you haveachievedthe maximum tilling depth you desire. Fasterengine speeds may bedesirable when making final )asses through the seedbed or when cultivating. Selection of the correct engine speed, in relation to the tilling depth, will ensure a sufficient power level to do the job without causing the engine to labor.

Figure 4-6

Figure4-7

surfacesoil around plantsto help

destroy weeds),use very shallow depth

settingsto preventinjury to plantswhose

roots oftengrow closeto the surface. If

needed,lift up onthe handlebarsslightly

to preventthe tinesfrom diggingtoo

deeply. (Cultivatingona regularbasis

not only eliminatesweeds,it also loosens

andaeratesthe soil for bettermoisture

absorptionandfaster plantgrowth.)

Suggestedtilling patterns

•When preparinga seedbed,go over the same path twice in the first row, then overlap one-half the tiller width on the rest of the passes(see Figure4-6). When finished in onedirection, makea second pass at a right angleas shown in Figure 4-7. Overlapeach passfor best results (in very hard ground it may takethree or four passesto thoroughly pulverizethe soil).

Figure 4-8

Figure 4-9