Manual

Section4: Operation
SLOWGEAR,LOWBELTRANGE
For:
Tilling in sod.
Tilling in hardclay.
Tilling understandingcorn-
stalks intough soil conditions.
Tilling undercovercrops.
Preparingadeepseedbed.
Tilling instony soil.
Tilling underresiduesand
organic matter.
Mixingin fertilizers,manure.
SLOWGEAR,HIGHBELTRa_NGE
For:
• Tilling in sod or hardclay.
• Tilling understandingcorn-
stalks(slow, steadyspeed
allowstime to shred stalks).
• Tilling undercovercrops
(bestwheelspeedandbelt
speedrangein mostsoils).
• Preparingseedbeds(best
speedchoicein most soils).
• Tilling in stony ground.
• Buildingraisedgardenbeds.
• Mixing in fertilizer.
• Usinghiller wingsin hard
soil
• Mixingfertilizer andmanure.
• Tilling residuesandorganics.
FASTGEAR,LOWBELTRANGE
For:
• Goingover seedbedfor the
lasttime beforeplantingcrops.
• Coveringoverseedsinwide
row or plot planting (lift han-
dlebarsto avoidgoingtoo
deep).
Hilling andfurrowing.
Makingraisedbeds.
Cultivating(lift handlebarsto
avoid goingtoo deep).
• Tilling largeareas.
• Tilling organic matterin.
• Cultivatingbetweenraised
bedswithoptional
hillerlfurrower attachment.
FASTGEAR,HIGHBELTRANGE
For:
•Preparingseedbedsfor
planting.
• Coveringseedswith lessneed
to hold up the handlebars.
• Cultivating(tillertravelsfaster,
rides higheron the soil; allows
engineRPMto bereduced;
handlebarsdon't haveto be
raised).
• Keepinglargeareastilled and
cultivatedin the summer.
• Tilling organicmatter under.
• Movingtiller quickly.
• Cultivatingbetweenraised
bedsusing the optional
hillerlfurrower.
Tilling Tips& Techniques
Let the tiller do the work
• Whiletilling, relax and let the wheels
pull the tiller along while the tines do
the digging. Walk on the side that is not
yet finished (to avoid making footprints
in the freshly tilled soil) and lightly, but
securely grip the handlebarwithjust
onehand (Figure 4-4).
• Avoid pushing down on the handlebars
in an attempt to force the tiller to dig
deeper. Doing so takes the weight off
the powered wheels, causing them to
lose traction. Without the wheels
helping to hold the tiller back, the tines
will attempt to propel the tiller - often
causingthe tiller to skip rapidly across
the ground. (Sometimes, slight
downward pressure on the handlebars
will help get through a particularly
tough section of sod or unbroken
ground, but in most cases this won't be
necessary.)
Tilling depths
• Avoid trying to dig too deeply too
quickly, especially when busting sod or
tilling soil that hasn't been tilled for
some time. Useshallow depth settings
(only an inch or two deep)for the first
passesthrough the gardenarea.
With each succeeding pass, adjust the
depth regulator to dig another inch or
two deeper. (Watering the gardenarea
afew days prior to tilling will make
tilling easier,as will letting the newly
worked soil set for a day or two before
making a final, deeptilling pass.)
• When cultivating (breakingup the
surfacesoil around plantsto help
destroy weeds), use very shallowdepth
settingsto preventinjury to plantswhose
rootsoften grow closeto the surface. If
needed,lift upon the handlebarsslightly
to preventthe tinesfrom diggingtoo
deeply. Cultivatingon a regularbasisnot
only eliminatesweeds,it alsoloosensand
aeratesthe soil for battermoisture
absorptionandfasterplant growth.
Avoid tilling wet, soggy soil
Tilling wet soil often results in large, hard
clumps of soil that can interfere with
planting. If time permits, wait aday or
two after heavyrains to allow the soil to
dry before tilling. Test the soil by
squeezingit into a ball. If it compresses
too easily, it is too wet to till.
To helpavoid personalinjury, be aware
that the tiller can unexpectedlybounce
up orjump aheadand propelawayfrom
you if the tines strike hard or frozen
ground, or buried obstacleslike large
stones, roots or stumps. Always use
the following precautions to help
maintaincontrolofthe tiller:
• Walk behind and to the side of the
tiller. Useonehandonthe handlebars,
relaxing your arm but with a secure
handgrip.
• Use shallowdepthregulatorsettings.
Till graduallydeeper.
• Use slower wheel, tine and engine
speeds.
• Clear the tilling area of all large
stones, rootsandotherdebris.
• Do notput downwardpressureon the
handlebars. If needed, apply slight
upwardhandlebarpressureto keepthe
tinesfrom diggingtoodeeply.
• Avoid contacting hard soil or sod at
theend of a row - reduceengine speed
and lift handlebarsto raise tines out of
thesoil.
• In An Emergency, stop tines and
wheels by moving Wheels/Tines/PTO
Drive Lever to NEUTRAL. If youcannot
roachthe lever or have lostcontrol, Let
GoOfThe HandlebarsandAll Controls.
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