To Start and Stop the Engine

Section 4: Operation

IMPORTANT: Use the following steps to practice starting and stopping the engine ONLY. Do not attempt to use the equipment as a tiller or cultivator until you have read all operating instructions in this Owner’s Manual.

To Start the Engine:

1.	The spark plug wire must be connected
to the spark plug and the fuel tank must
have fresh, unleaded gasoline.
2.	Let go of all controls.

Fig. 4-10

3. Move engine throttle lever (E, Fig. 4-10)

all the way up to RUN/START position.

4. Push fuel primer bulb (F, Fig. 4-10) two

or three times. Allow two seconds or so

between pushes. In cold weather (below

50oF) push primer five times. NOTE:

Primer use may be needed to restart a

warm engine after a short shutdown.

5. Grasp starter handle (G, Fig. 4-10) and

pull rope out slowly until it pulls slightly

harder. Let rope rewind slowly. Then pull

rope with a rapid full arm stroke. Let rope return slowly. NOTE: If engine fails to start after three (3) pulls, push fuel primer two times and pull starter rope again.

To Stop the Engine:

1.Move the engine throttle lever (E, Fig. 4- 10) down to the STOP position.

2.Let all moving parts come to a complete stop, then disconnect the spark plug wire and move the wire away from the

spark plug to prevent the possibility of accidental starting.

WARNING

Engine throttle lever speed should not be adjusted while the tines are engaged either for tilling or cultivating.

Failure to comply could result in severe personal injury or property damage.

How to Operate Your Machine as a Rear Tine Tiller

You will find that general tilling, and sodbusting in particular, are real delights with the VersaTiller. This is largely due to the machine’s counter-rotating tines which handle tough ground-breaking jobs easily. Be sure the equipment is in rear tine tiller mode (see Fig. 4-11).

When breaking new sod (especially when it is wet or very hard), the wheels could lose traction and cause the tines to unexpectedly propel the tiller backward. This condition is most likely to occur dur- ing initial tine engagement with the sod, such as when starting a new tilling pass.

If this condition occurs, simply release the drive bail to quickly stop the tines and wheels. Do not exert any downward pressure on the handlebar or attempt to restrain the tiller.

To minimize the possibility of the tiller moving unexpectedly backwards, always avoid pushing down on the handlebar when in the rear tine tilling mode. If necessary, apply upward pressure to increase wheel traction and to prevent

the tines from digging too deeply. This		4. Lower the handlebar to let the tines
is a very important technique! See Fig.		contact the soil again and complete the
4-11.Also, check that the tine hood flap		next row. Continue tilling back and forth.
is back in the trailing position and not		5. Till the complete garden area once
pointing straight down or toward the tines.
		again, but at a right-angle to the original

1.	Start the engine and let it warm up.	direction.
2.	Stand behind and on the left-side of	6. To stop the tiller, let go of the Drive
the handlebar and close the Drive Bail by		Bail. To stop the engine, move the engine
moving the bail up against the handlebar.		throttle lever all the way down to STOP.
The tines and wheels will rotate. You may		IMPORTANT: The wheels will not “free-
walk on the left side of the machine and
		wheel” when the equipment is in rear
slightly behind the handlebar, guiding the
		tine tiller mode (they only “freewheel”
tiller as it moves along, keeping its path
		when in front tine cultivator mode).
straight. Using one

hand on the handlebar
prevents footprints in
the freshly tilled soil
3.	As you approach
the end of the first
row, raise the
handlebar to lift the
tines out of the soil.
As you swing the
handlebar to make
your turn for the next
row, let the powered
wheels assist you in
making the turn.		Fig. 4-11	15