Controlling Speed And Tilling Depth
•Wheel Yoke Adjustment: Place wheel yoke so that the wheels are forward (nearest point between wheels and tines) for shallow tilling, cultivating and transport. The forward speed will increase. Turn yoke around (farthest point between wheels and tines) for deep tilling. Forward speed will decrease. See Figure 11.
Wheel Yoke in this | Wheel Yoke in this |
position for | position for shallow tilling, |
deep tilling. | cultivating, and transport. |
Figure 11
Depth Stake Adjustment:
The depth stake acts as a brake for the tiller and controls the depth and speed at which the machine will operate. Remove the clevis pin and hairpin clip to raise or lower depth stake. See Figure 9.
By increasing the depth of the depth stake, the forward speed of the machine is reduced, and the working depth is increased. See Figure 12 . When the depth stake is raised, the working depth of the machine is reduced and the forward speed is increased. The working depth of the machine may be predetermined by setting the depth stake and wheels so that the wheels are about four inches from the ground when the tines and depth stake are resting on the ground. This setting will permit a working depth of about four inches. When presetting the working depth, the handles should be adjusted so the hand grips are a little above waist height because the tiller will be lower when the tines and depth stake penetrate the ground.
Transport
Position
Depth
Stake
Shallow 
Tilling
Fast
Forward
|
| Raised Wheel Setting | |
Deep Tilling | |||
for Deep Tilling | |||
Slow Forward | |||
| |||
Figure 12
When tilling, leave approximately 8 inches of untilled soil between the first and second tilling paths, then make the third path between the first and second as shown in Figure 13. In some soils, the desired depth is obtained the first time over the garden. In other soils, the desired depth is obtained by going over the garden two or three times. In the latter case, the depth stake should be lowered before each succeeding pass over the garden. Passes should be made across the length and width of the garden alternately. Rocks which are turned up should be removed from the garden area.
Figure 13
Handle Pressure:Further control of tilling depth and travel speed can be obtained by variation of pressure on the handles. A downward pressure on the handles will reduce the working depth and increase the forward speed. An upward pressure on the handles will increase the working depth and reduce the forward speed. The type of soil and working conditions will determine the actual setting of the depth stake and the handle pressure required.
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