Breaking in Your Tiller, Tilling Hints

7.If the choke lever has been moved to

the "ON" position to start the engine, gradually move it to the opposite posti- ion as the engine warms up.

NOTE: A warm engine requires less choking to start.

8.Move throttle control to desired running position.

9.Allow engine to warm up for a few minutes before engaging tines.

NOTE: If engine does not start, see trou- bleshooting points.

Fuel Valve

Spark

Throttle

Control

Recoil Starter

Engrne

Switch

BREAKING IN YOUR TILLER

Break-in your belt(s), pulleys and tine con- trol before you actually begin tilling.

•Start engine, tip tines off ground by

pressing handles down and engage tine control to start tine rotation. Allow tines

to rotate for five minutes.

•Check tine operation and adjust if

necessary. See "TINE OPERATION CHECK" in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual.

TILLING HINTS

_I_CAUTION: Until you are accustomed

to handling your tiller, start actual field use with throttle in slow position.

To help tiller move forward, lift up the handles slightly (thus lifting depth stake out of ground). To slow down the tiller, press down on handles.

If you are straining or tiller is shaking, the wheels and depth stake are not set properly in the soil being tilled. The proper setting of the wheels and depth stake is through trial and error and depends upon

the soil condition. (The harder or wetter the ground, the slower the engine and tine speed needed. Under these poor condi- tions, at fast speed the tiller will run and jump over the ground).

A properly adjusted tiller will dig with little effort from the operator.

•Tilling is digging into, turning over, and breaking up packed soil before planting. Loose, unpacked soil helps root growth. Best tilling depth is 4"-6". A tiller will also clear the soil of unwanted vegeta-

tion. The decomposition of this vegeta- ble matter enriches the soil. Depending

on the climate (rainfall and wind), it may be advisable to till the soil at the end of

the growing season to further condition the soil.

•Soil conditions are important for proper tilling. Tines will not readily penetrate dry, hard soil which may contribute to excessive bounce and difficult handling of your tiller. Hard soil should be mois- tened before tilling; however, extremely wet soil will "ball-up" or clump during

tilling. Wait until the soil is less wet in order to achieve the best results. When

tilling in the fall, remove vines and long grass to prevent them from wrapping around the tine shaft and slowing your tilling operation.

•You will find tilling much easier if you leave a row untilled between passes. Then go back between tilled rows There are two reasons for doing this. First, wide turns are much easier to negoti-

ate than about-faces. Second, the tiller

won't be pulling itself, and you, toward the row next to it.

•Set depth stake and wheel height for

shallow tilling when working extremely hard soil or sod. Then work across the

first cuts at normal depth.