Clearing the tines, Tilling on slopes

Section 4: Operation

Tilling Tips & Techniques

Clearing the tines

Dry grass, stringy stalks or tough vines may become tangled in the tines. Follow these procedures to help avoid tangling and to clean the tines, if necessary.

•To reduce tangling, set the depth regulator to maximum depth.

•While tilling, try swaying the handle- bars from side to side (about 6" to 12"). This “fishtailing” action often clears the tines of debris.

•If tangling occurs, lift the tines out of the soil and run the tiller in reverse for a few feet. This may unwind a good deal of debris.

•It may be necessary to remove the debris by hand (a pocket knife will help you to cut away the material).

WARNING

Before clearing the tines by hand, stop the engine, allow all moving parts to stop and disconnect the spark plug wire.

Failure to follow this warning could result in personal injury.

Tilling on slopes

If you must garden on a moderate slope, please follow two very important guide- lines:

1.Till only on moderate slopes, never on steep ground where footing is difficult (review safety rules in the “Safety” section of this manual).

2.We recommend tilling up and down slopes rather than terracing. Tilling vertically on a slope allows maximum planting area and also leaves room for cultivating.

IMPORTANT: When tilling on slopes, be sure the correct oil level is maintained in the engine (check every one-half hour of operation). The incline of the slope will cause the oil to slant away from its normal level and this can starve engine parts of required lubrication. Keep the engine oil level at the full point at all times!

A. Tilling up and down slopes:

•To keep soil erosion to a minimum, be sure to add enough organic matter to the soil so that it has good moisture- holding texture and try to avoid leaving footprints or wheel marks.

•When tilling vertically, try to make the first pass uphill as the tiller digs more deeply going uphill than it does downhill. In soft soil or weeds, you may have to lift handlebars slightly while going uphill.

B. Tilling across slopes without using terraces:

If previously described tilling methods aren’t practical for you, then you can till laterally across a slope. However, we don’t really recommend this method as it can create unsure footing and invites soil erosion.