4. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.
5. If the unit should start to vibrate abnor- mally, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and prevent it from touching the spark plug, and check imme- diately for the cause. Vibration is gener- ally a warning of trouble.
6. Stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and prevent it from touching the spark plug, whenever you leave the oper- ating position, before unclogging the tines, or when making any repairs, adjustments or inspections.
7.Take all possible precautions when leaving the machine unattended. Stop the engine. Disconnect the spark plug wire and move it away from the spark plug. Be sure that both wheels are in the Wheel Drive position.
8.Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, stop the engine and make cer- tain all moving parts have stopped. Dis- connect the spark plug wire and prevent it from touching the spark plug to prevent accidental starting.
9.The flap on the tine hood must be down when operating the tiller.
10.Never use the tiller unless proper guards, plates, or other safety protective devices are in place.
11.Do not run the engine in an enclosed area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas, a deadly poison that is odorless, colorless, and tasteless.
12.Keep children and pets away.
13.Never operate the tiller under engine power if the wheels are in the Freewheel position. In the Freewheel position, the wheels will not hold the tiller back and the revolving tines could propel the tiller rapidly, possibly causing loss of control. Always engage the wheels with the wheel drive pins in the Wheel Drive position before starting the engine or engaging the tines/wheels with the Forward Clutch Bail.
14.Be aware that the tiller may unex- pectedly bounce upward or jump forward if the tines should strike extremely hard packed soil, frozen ground, or buried obstacles like large stones, roots, or stumps. If in doubt about the tilling con- ditions, always use the following
operating precautions to assist you in maintaining control of the tiller:
a. Walk behind and to one side of the tiller, using one hand on the han- dlebars. Relax your arm, but use a secure hand grip.
b. Use shallower depth regulator set- tings, working gradually deeper with each pass.
c. Use slower engine speeds.
d. Clear the tilling area of all large stones, roots and other debris.
e. Avoid using downward pressure on the handlebars. If need be, use slight upward pressure to keep the tines from digging too deeply.
f. Before contacting hard packed soil at the end of a row, reduce engine speed and lift the handlebars to raise the tines out of the soil.
g. In an emergency, stop the tines and wheels by releasing whichever clutch control is engaged. Do not attempt to restrain the tiller.
15.Do not overload the tiller’s capacity by attempting to till too deeply at too fast a rate.
16.Never operate the tiller at high trans- port speeds on hard or slippery surfaces. Look behind and use care when backing up.
17.Do not operate the tiller on a slope that is too steep for safety. When on slopes, slow down and make sure you have good footing. Never permit the tiller to freewheel down slopes.
18.Never allow bystanders near the unit.
19.Only use attachments and accessories that are approved by the manufacturer of the tiller.
20.Use tiller attachments and accessories when recommended.
21.Never operate the tiller without good visibility or light.
22.Never operate the tiller if you are tired; or under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication.
23.Operators shall not tamper with the engine-governor settings on the machine; the governor controls the maximum safe operating speed to protect the engine and all moving parts from damage caused by overspeed. Authorized service shall be sought if a problem exists.
24.Do not touch engine parts which may be hot from operation. Let parts cool down sufficiently.
25.Please remember: You can always stop the tines and wheels by releasing the Forward Clutch Bail or by moving the igni- tion switch and/or throttle control lever on the engine to “OFF” or “STOP”.
26.To load or unload the tiller, see the instructions in Section 4 of this Manual.
27.Use extreme caution when reversing or pulling the machine towards you.
28.Start the engine carefully according to instructions and with feet well away from the tines.
29.Never pick up or carry a machine while the engine is running.
Maintenance and Storage
1.Keep the tiller, attachments and acces- sories in safe working condition.
2.Check all nuts, bolts, and screws at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure the equipment is in safe working condition.
3.Never store the tiller with fuel in the fuel tank inside a building where ignition sources are present such as hot water and space heaters, furnaces, clothes dryers, stoves, electric motors, etc.). Allow the engine to cool before storing the unit in any enclosure.
4.To reduce the chances of a fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, leaves, or excessive grease.
5.Store gasoline in a cool, well-ventilated area, safely away from any spark- or flame-producing equipment. Store gaso- line in an approved container, safely away from the reach of children.
6.Refer to the Maintenance sections of this Manual and the separate Engine Owner’s Manual for instructions if the unit is to be stored for an extended period.
7.Never perform maintenance while the engine is running or the spark plug wire is connected, except when specifically instructed to do so.
8.If the fuel tank has to be drained, do this outdoors.
