Storing Your Tiller

Section 5: Maintenance

WARNING

Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the machine, shut off engine, wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Remove ignition key, if so equipped.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage.

When your tiller won’t be used during the off-season, prepare it for storage with the following steps:

1.Clean the tiller and engine.

2.Do routine tiller lubrication and check for loose hardware.

3.Protect the engine from deterioration or damage by referring to the engine storage instructions in your engine manual literature.

4.When engine is still warm, drain oil from engine crankcase. Refill with fresh motor oil.

5.Protect internal cylinder against rust by removing spark plug and pouring one ounce of clean engine oil into spark plug hole. Then slowly pull out recoil start rope 2 or 3 times to distribute oil inter- nally. Replace spark plug, but do not reconnect plug wire. Pull rope until resis- tance is felt — let rope rewind.

6.Charge battery (electric start option). Store battery in cool, dry location.

7.Move Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever to NEUTRAL position. Keep tiller in a clean, dry area.

8.Never store tiller with fuel in fuel tank in an enclosed area where gas fumes could reach an open flame or spark, or where ignition sources are present (space heaters, hot water heaters, furnaces, etc.).

Inspecting Forward Interlock Wiring System

Check the Forward Interlock wiring system every ten (10) operating hours, for tight connections and to see that the insulation on the wires is unbroken (to prevent the system from shorting out).

1.Check insulated wire harness from lower ends of handlebars to wire harness connector on top, right side of transmis- sion cover. Be sure connector is secure.

2.Check insulated tubing from connector to cast iron motor mount/belt shroud.

3.Check the wire leading from the tubing over to the switch assembly mounted on top of the tab on the cast iron motor mount–belt shroud. Also check the second wire that leads to the throttle cable mounting bracket on the right side, forward portion of the engine.

Testing the Forward

Interlock Wiring System

The wiring circuit for the Forward Interlock Safety System is designed to ground out the engine’s ignition system.

There are three switches in the circuit which, when open, let the engine run. One switch is on the neutral plunger tab of the cast iron motor mount. This switch is open whenever the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever is in NEUTRAL or REVERSE positions. The other two switches are located inside the handlebars, directly above the two Forward Interlock Levers.

The switches are wired so when squeezed (open) the engine will run. There is a fourth switch located in the wiring harness connector on the top, right side of the transmission cover. It warns you if the connection is not mated by not letting the engine run while the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever is in FORWARD.

1.A broken or disconnected wire could let the engine run without you having to press one of the Forward Interlock Levers.

2.A bare wire touching tiller or engine metal could ground out the engine’s ignition.

3.A switch that has failed allows the engine to run. Or it may prevent the engine from running.

Refer to the Troubleshooting section if your Forward Interlock Safety System is not operating correctly.