Safe Operation Practices • Set-Up • Operation • Maintenance • Service • Troubleshooting • Warranty Operator’s Manual Rear Tine Tiller — Model RT 45 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 Cub Cadet Garden Tiller. It was carefully engineered to provide excellent performance when properly operated and maintained. If applicable, the power testing information used to establish the power rating of the engine equipped on this machine can be found at www.opei.org or the engine manufacturer’s web site. Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment.
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. 11. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against the engine. Thoroughly inspect the machine for any damage. Repair the damage before starting and operating. d.
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 Engine Operator’s Manual • One Handlebar Assembly NOTE: This Operator’s Manual covers several models. Garden Tiller features may vary by model. Not all features in this manual are applicable to all garden tiller models and the garden tiller depicted may differ from yours. 3.
Attaching the Cables 5. To attach the cables, follow these steps: 1. Clip the cables into the cable guides located on the handle assembly panel as seen in Figure 3-3. Route the two cables along the handle assembly on the right-hand side. See Figure 3-2. Black Red Red Black Figure 3-3 Move Tiller Off Crate Figure 3-2 2. Connect the reverse cable (Red) to the reverse cable control by feeding the z-hook through the hole on the reverse cable control from the inside towards the outside.
Set-Up 2. Tire Pressure Remove the oil fill plug from the transmission housing cover and locate the main drive shaft situated inside the housing. See Figure 3-6. Check the air pressure with a tire gauge. Deflate or inflate the tires equally to between 15 and 20 PSI. DO NOT EXCEED 20 P.S.I. NOTE: Be sure that both tires are inflated equally or the tiller will pull to one side. Gas & Oil Fill Up WARNING! Use extreme care when handling gasoline.
4 Controls & Features Reverse Handle Forward Clutch Bail & Tine Engagement Depth Regulator Handle Height Adjustment Rear Tine Shield Side Shield Tines Wheel Drive Pin NOTE: This Operator’s Manual covers several models. Garden Tiller features may vary by model. Not all features in this manual are applicable to all garden tiller models and the garden tiller depicted may differ from yours.
5 Operation WARNING: Before operating your machine, carefully read and understand this manual and all of its safety, operating and maintenance sections and instructions, along with all of the decals on the machine. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury. Starting & Stopping the Engine Pre-Start Checklist With the spark plug wire disconnected from the spark plug, perform the following checks and services before each use: 1. Read the Safety Section in this manual.
To Engage Drive & Tines 1. For forward motion of the wheels and power to the tines pull the Forward Clutch Bail up against the handlebar. Release the bail to stop the forward motion of wheels and tines. 2. When tilling, relax and let the wheels pull the machine while the tines dig. Walk behind and a little to one side of the tiller. Use one hand, yet keep a light — but secure — grip on the handlebar while keeping your arm loose. 3.
Tilling Tips & Techniques Suggested Tilling Patterns Tilling Depth • WARNING! Before tilling, contact your telephone or When preparing a seedbed, go over the same path twice in the first row, then overlap one-half the tiller width on the rest of the passes. See Figure 5-5. utilities company and inquire if underground equipment/ lines are used on your property. Do not till near buried electric cables, telephone lines, pipes or hoses. • This is a CRT (counter-rotating tine) tiller.
• If the garden size will not permit lengthwise and then crosswise tilling, then overlap the first pass by one-half a tiller width, followed by successive passes at one-quarter width. See Figure 5-7. Terrace Gardening 1. To create a terrace, start at the top of the slope and work down. Go back and forth across the first row as shown in Figure 5-8. UPHILL 1 1 2 2 3 12" UNTILLED 3 1 REPEAT DOWNHILL Figure 5-7 Tilling on a Slope Figure 5-8 2.
Loading & Unloading the Tiller WARNING! Loading and unloading the tiller into a vehicle is potentially hazardous and doing so is not recommended 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 the tiller, stop the engine, wait for all parts to stop moving, disconnect the spark plug wire and let the engine and muffler cool.
6 Maintenance & Adjustments Maintenance Schedule Check After first 2 hours Before each use Every 5 Hours Every 10 Hours Every 30 Hours P Clean Engine Check Drive Belt Tension Check Nuts and Bolts P P P P P Lubricate Tiller P P P Check Gear Oil Level in Transmission Check Tines for Wear Check Air Pressure in Tires WARNING! Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the machine, shut off the engine, wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect the spark plug wire and move the wir
6. 7. 8. If adding only a few ounces of gear oil, use API rated GL-4 or GL-5 gear oil having a viscosity of SAE 140, SAE 85W-140 or SAE 80W-90. If refilling an empty transmission, use only GL-4 gear oil having a viscosity of SAE 85W-140 or SAE 140. Off-Season Storage While checking frequently to avoid overfilling, slowly add gear oil into the oil fill hole until it reaches the halfway point on the drive shaft. 1. Clean the tiller and engine. 2.
7 Service Belt Replacement 4. If the drive or reverse belts need to be replaced, it is best to replace both belts at the same time. Use only a factory-authorized belt as an “over- the-counter” belt may not perform satisfactorily. The procedure requires average mechanical ability and commonly available tools. To replace the drive and reverse belts, follow these steps: 1.
6. Remove the flange nut securing the transmission drive pulley, then remove the pulley along with the two belts. See Figure 7-5. Removing/Installing a Tine Assembly 1. Remove the tine shield end covers and side shields by removing the three wing nuts on each side that secure them. 2. A tine assembly consists of a left hand tine assembly and a right hand tine assembly.
8 Troubleshooting Problem Wheels/Tines will not turn Tines turn, but wheels don’t Wheels turn, but tines Don’t Poor tilling performance 20 Cause Remedy 1. Improper use of controls. 1. Review Operation section. 2. Worn, broken, or misadjusted drive belt(s). 2. Replace or adjust belts. 3. Internal transmission wear or damage. 3. Contact authorized service dealer. 4. Bolt loose in transmission pulley. 4. Tighten bolt. 1. Wheel Drive Pins not in WHEEL DRIVE. 1. Inserts Drive Pins properly. 2.
9 Replacement Parts Component Part Number and Description 954-04090 954-04091 Reverse V-Belt Forward V-Belt 946-04506 946-04504 Forward Drive Cable Reverse Drive Cable 642-04072 642-04071 911-0415 714-04043 4-Point Tine Assembly (RH) 4-Point Tine Assembly (LH) Clevis Pin, .375 x 1.75 Internal Cotter Pin 934-04736 Wheels, 13 x 5 x 6 714-0143A Click Pin, .25 x 1.
Notes 22 10
Section 10 — Notes 23
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.