Power Composting

Section 4: Operation

WARNING

Before tilling, contact your telephone or utilities company and inquire if underground equipment or lines are used in your area. Their representative will be glad to answer your questions and tell you if any of their equipment or lines are buried underground on your property.

Power composting simply means tilling under and burying in the soil all manner of organic matter such as crop residues, leaves, grass clippings and cover crops. This material will decompose during the non-growing season and add important natural nutrients to the soil.

WARNING

When power composting, do not keep the Depth Regulator Lever at a deep setting if the tiller jumps or bucks.

If jumping or bucking occurs, move the Depth Regulator Lever down to one of the shallower settings and then slowly increase the tilling depth on later passes.

Failure to comply could result in loss of tiller control, property damage or personal injury.

The first place to begin is with crop residues such as leftover vines, stalks, stems and roots. Power compost these crop residues as soon as they finish bearing. The sooner this is done, the better, as tender green matter is easier to till under. Use the deepest depth regulator setting possible without causing the engine to labor or the tiller to jump ahead.

Standing cornstalks of reasonable height can be power composted. Pushing over (but not uprooting) cornstalks will often make it easier for your tiller to chop up the stalks. Keep the tines clear of excessive tangling by “fishtailing” or fre- quently using reverse. Make several passes, then return a few days later to finish off any remaining stubble.

After tilling under crop residues, add more organic matter such as leaves, grass clippings and even kitchen scraps. When tilled into the soil, this organic matter will decompose and add even more important nutrients to the soil.

After power composting, you may want to plant a “green manure” cover crop to protect the soil during the off-season.

You simply grow a crop of clover, alfalfa, buckwheat, peas, beans, rye grass, grain, or kale and then till it into the soil prior to the planting season.

LOADING AND UNLOADING THE TILLER

WARNING

Loading and unloading the tiller into a vehicle is poten- tially hazardous and we don’t recommend doing so unless absolutely necessary, as this could result in personal injury or property damage.

However, if you must load or unload the tiller, follow the guidelines given next.

•Before loading or unloading, stop the engine, wait for all parts to stop moving, disconnect the spark plug wire and let the engine and muffler cool.

•The tiller is too heavy and bulky to lift safely by one person. Two or more people should share the load.

•Use sturdy ramps and manually (engine shut off) roll the tiller into and out of the vehicle. Two or more people are needed to do this.

•Ramps must be strong enough to support the combined weight of the tiller and any handlers. The ramps should provide good traction to prevent slipping; they should have side rails to guide the tiller along the ramps; and they should have a locking device to secure them to the vehicle.

•The handlers should wear sturdy footwear that will help to prevent slipping.

•Position the loading vehicle so that the ramp angle is as flat as possible (the less incline to the ramp, the better). Turn the vehicle’s engine off and apply its parking brake.

•When going up ramps, stand in the normal operating position and push the tiller ahead of you. Have a person at each side to turn the wheels.

•When going down ramps, walk backward with the tiller following you. Keep alert for any obstacles behind you. Position a person at each wheel to control the speed of the tiller. Never go down ramps tiller-first, as the tiller could tip forward.

•Use wooden blocks to place on the downhill side of the wheels if you need to stop the tiller from rolling down the ramp. Also, use the blocks to temporar- ily keep the tiller in place on the ramps (if necessary), and to chock the wheels in place after the tiller is in the vehicle.

•When the tiller is in the vehicle, prevent it from rolling by engaging the wheels in the wheel drive position (put Wheel Gear Lever in ENGAGE). Chock the wheels with blocks and securely tie the tiller down.