Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty Operator’s Manual Rear Tine Tiller — RT65 WARNING READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY. CUB CADET LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019 Printed In USA Form No.
1 To The Owner Thank You Thank you for purchasing a Garden Tiller manufactured by Cub Cadet LLC. It was carefully engineered to provide excellent performance when properly operated and maintained. Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment. It instructs you how to safely and easily set up, operate and maintain your machine. Please be sure that you, and any other persons who will operate the machine, carefully follow the recommended safety practices at all times.
2 Important Safe Operation Practices WARNING! This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury. When you see this symbol.
c. When practical, remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground. If this is not possible, then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle. d. Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do not use a nozzle lock-open device. e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition.
9. If the fuel tank has to be drained, do this outdoors. 10. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment. 11. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this product has an Average Useful Life of seven (7) years, or 130 hours of operation.
Safety Symbols This page depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine before attempting to assemble and operate. Symbol Description READ THE OPERATOR’S MANUAL(S) Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and operate WARNING— ROTATING TINES Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts. Contact with the rotating parts can amputate hands and feet.
3 Assembly & Set-Up Contents of Carton • One Tiller • One Handlebar Assembly • One Shift Rod • One Depth Stake • One Operator’s Manual • One Engine Operator’s Manual Assembly Depth Stake WARNING! Before assembly, disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine to prevent unintended starting. Unpacking Instructions NOTE: References to the right or left side of the tiller are determined from behind the machine in the operating position. 1.
Handlebar Assembly 1. 4. Remove the top two bolts and flange lock nuts from the handle mounting brackets, but do not remove the bottom bolt and nut. See Fig. 3-2. Bolts & Flange Lock Nuts Remove the slot head screw, nut and two flat washers from the clutch bail. See Fig. 3-4. Slot Head Screw Flat Washers Clutch Control Handle Assembly Threaded Eyebolt Nut Handle Bracket Nut Internally Threaded Tube Figure 3-4 Figure 3-2 2. Place the handle assembly in position between the handle mounting brackets.
Control Rod Adjustments 1. Make sure the handle assembly is in the highest position. Refer to the Controls & Features Section. Clutch Cable 2. Remove the hairpin clips from the control rod, put the rubber washers in place. 3. Insert the shorter, angled end of the control rod through the indicator bracket on the shift cover and secure it with the previously removed hairpin clip. See Fig. 3-5. Control Rod NOTE: Service the engine with oil and gasoline before checking this adjustment.
Set-Up Tires The tires on your tiller may be over-inflated for shipping purposes. Reduce the tire pressure before operating the tiller. Recommended operating tire pressure is approximately 20 p.s.i. (check the sidewall of the tire for the manufacturer’s recommended pressure). WARNING! Maximum tire pressure under any circumstances is 30 p.s.i. Equal tire pressure should be maintained on both tires.
4 Controls and Features Gear Selection Handle Handle Adjustment Lock Clutch Control Depth Stake Engine Controls Figure 4-1 Choke Lever (If equipped) See the separate Engine Operator’s Manual for additional information and functions of the engine controls. The choke lever is used to enrich the fuel mixture in the carburetor when starting a cold engine. Gear Selection Handle Primer (If equipped) The gear selection handle is located on the front of the handle assembly.
5 Operation Starting the Engine 1. WARNING! Read, understand, and follow all the instructions and warnings on the machine and in this manual before operating. NOTE: When pushing the machine with the engine off, you will hear a ratcheting-gear sound coming from the tiller’s chain case. This is normal. When using the tiller for the first time, use the second adjustment hole from the top (1” of tilling depth). See Figure 5-1.
7. To adjust the side shields, remove the wing nuts. Move the side shield to the desired position and replace the wing nuts. Tighten securely. See Fig. 5-2. Operating the Tiller 1. Select the depth stake setting. 2. Start the engine as instructed in the Engine Operator’s Manual. 3. Move the gear selection handle to one of the forward modes or reverse. Shallow Tilling Position WARNING! Do not move the gear selection handle with the wheels or tines engaged.
6 Maintenance & Adjustments WARNING! Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it against the engine before performing any maintenance or repairs. Maintenance Engine Refer to the separate Engine Operator’s Manual for engine maintenance instructions. Tires Recommended operating tire pressure is approximately 14 p.s.i. on 14 inch tires and 20 p.s.i. on 16 inch tires. (Check the sidewall of the tire for the manufacturer’s recommended pressure). Maximum tire pressure under any circumstances is 30 p.s.i.
Idler Pulley Rod After the belt tension has been adjusted, if the belt is excessively stretched, you may need to adjust the idler pulley rod. This can be checked easily. With the engine off and the clutch control bail disengaged, shift the gear selection handle to each forward mode. If the indicator bracket touches the idler pulley rod with the clutch control bail disengaged, then an adjustment is necessary. 1. Disconnect and ground the spark plug wire against the engine. 2.
7 Engine Maintenance Maintenance Schedule First 5 Hours Each Use or Every 5 Hrs. P Check Air Cleaner P P P Service Air Cleaner P Check Spark Plug P Replace Spark Plug Clean around muffler P Periodic inspection and adjustment of the engine is essential if high level performance is to be maintained. Regular maintenance will also ensure a long service life. The required service intervals and the kind of maintenance to be performed are described in the table above.
10w 20w 1 20 30 40 20w40, 20w50 15w40, 15w50 2 10w40 10w30 (ºC) -30º -20º -10º 0º 10º 20º 30º 40º (ºF) -20º 0º 20º 40º 60º 80º 100º Oil Drain 3. 4. 5. Figure 6-1 Reinstall the drain plug and tighten it securely. Refill with the recommended oil and check the oil level. Refer to the Assembly & Set-up section for instructions on how to properly check the oil level. 1. Ambient Temperature Single Viscosity 2. Multi Viscosity caution! DO NOT use non-detergent oil or 2-stroke engine oil.
2. To clean foam element, separate it from the paper element and wash in liquid detergent and water. Allow to dry thoroughly before using. Do not oil the foam element. Spark Plug Service WARNING! DO NOT check for spark with spark plug removed. DO NOT crank engine with spark plug removed. WARNING! If the engine has been running, the muffler will be very hot. Be careful not to touch the muffler. To ensure proper engine operation, the spark plug must be properly gapped and free of deposits. 1.
Off-Season Storage Engines stored between 30 and 90 days need to be treated with a gasoline stabilizer and engines stored over 90 days need to be drained of fuel to prevent deterioration and gum from forming in fuel system or on essential carburetor parts. If the gasoline in your engine deteriorates during storage, you may need to have the carburetor, and other fuel system components, serviced or replaced. 1. Remove all fuel from tank by running engine until it stops from lack of fuel.
8 Service Belt Replacement 4. Your tiller has been engineered with a belt designed for long life and optimal performance. It should never be replaced with a non-OEM belt. Order all belts through an authorized service dealer or by contacting Customer Support as instructed on page 2. 1. Disconnect and ground the spark plug wire against the engine. 2. Remove the belt cover from the left side of the tiller by removing the two screws from the top of the belt cover. See Fig. 7-1.
9 Troubleshooting Problem Engine fails to start Engine runs erratic Engine overheats Tines do not engage Cause Remedy 1. Fuel tank empty or stale fuel. 1. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. 2. Throttle control lever not in correct starting position (if equipped). 2. Move throttle lever to start position. 3. Blocked fuel line. 3. Clean fuel line. 4. Dirty air cleaner. 4. Refer to the Engine Operator’s Manual 5. Choke not in ON position. 5. Move switch to ON position. 6.
10 Replacement Parts Component Part Number and Description 954-0434 Belt, 4L x 58.16 742-0305A-0637 Articulating Tine 946-1117 Clutch Cable 934-04365 Tires, 16 x 4.6 x 8 714-04043 911-0415 714-0147 911-0415 Cotter Pin, Tine Assembly Clevis Pin, Tine Assembly Cotter Pin, Depth Stake Clevis Pin, Depth Stake 951-10794 Air Filter 951-10292 Spark plug Phone (800) 965-4CUB to order replacement parts or a complete Parts Manual (have your full model number and serial number ready).
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CUB CADET LLC MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR edgers, string trimmers & tillers The limited warranty set forth below is given by Cub Cadet LLC with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its possessions and territories, and by MTD Products Limited with respect to new merchandise purchased and used in Canada and/or its territories and possessions. c.
