Manual
TILLING TIPS& TECHNIQUES(CON'T)
TerraceGardening(continued)
• Tocreateaterrace, startatthe top of the slopeandworkdown.Gobackandforth
acrossthe first rowas shownin Fig.4-10.
• Eachsucceedinglowerterraceisstartedbywalkingbelowtheterraceyou'repre- e_ll_l___....__,_,.. _e
paring. Foraddedstabilityof thetiller,alwayskeepthe uphillwheelinthe soft, new-
ly tilled soil. Do not till the last 12"or more of the downhill outsideedgeof each _1_
terrace. This untilled strip helps preventsthe terraces from breaking apart and
ClearingtheTines
Thetines havea self-clearingaction which eliminatesmost tangling of debris in
thetines. However,occasionallydry grass,stringy stalksor tough vinesmaybe-
cometangled• Followthese proceduresto helpavoid tangling andto cleanthe
tines, if necessary.
• To reducetangling, set the depth regulatordeep enoughto get maximum
"chopping"actionasthetines chop the materialagainstthe ground. Also,try to
till undercrop residuesor covercropswhile theyaregreen,moist andtender.
• While powercomposting,try swayingthe handlebarsfrom sideto side (about
6"to 12'_).This "fishtailing"action oftenclearsthe tines of debris.
• If tanglingoccurs, liftthe tinesout of the soiland runthetiller in reverse(if unit
is equippedwith poweredreverse) for a fewfeet. This reversingactionshould
unwinda gooddealof debris•
• It maybenecessaryto removethe debrisbyhand
(a pocketknifewill helpyou to cut awaythe mate-
rial). Besure to stop the engineand disconnectthe
spark plugwire beforeclearingthe tines by hand.
_ WARNING: Beforeclearing the
tines byhand, stop the engine,allow
all moving partsto stop and
disconnect the spark plug wire.
Removethe ignition keyon electric
start models.
Failureto follow this warning could
result in personal injury.
LOADINGANDUNLOADING • Usesturdy rampsand manually(engine tiller aheadof you. Havea person at each
THETILLER shut off) roll the tiller into and out of the sideto turn the wheels.
vehicle.Two or more peopleare neededto • Whengoing down ramps, walk back-
,_ WARNING: Loadingand do this. ward with the tiller following you. Keep
unloadingthe tiller into a • Theramps must be strong enough to alert for any obstacles behindyou. Posi-
vehicle is potentially hazardous support the combined weight of the tiller tion a person at eachwheel to control the
andwe don't recommend doing and any handlers•The ramps should pro- speed of the tiller• Nevergo down ramps
so unlessabsolutely necessary, vide goodtraction to preventslipping; they tiller-first, as the tiller could tip forward.
asthis could result in personal should have side rails to guidethe tiller * Placewooden blocks onthe downhill
injury or property damage• alongthe ramps; and they should have a side of the wheels if you needto stop the
However,if you must load or locking deviceto secure them to the tiller from rolling down the ramp. Also,
unloadthe tiller, follow the vehicle• usethe blocksto temporarily keepthe tiller
guidelines given next. • Thehandlersshouldwearsturdyfootwear inplaceontheramps(ifnecessary),andto
that will helpto preventshppmg
• Before loading or unloading,stop the en- " " " , chock the wheels in place after the tiller is
gine, wait for all parts to stop moving, • Position the loading vehicle so that the in the vehicle.
disconnect the spark plug wire and let the rampangle is as flat as possible (the less • After loadingthe tiller, prevent it from
engineand muffler cool. incline to the ramp, thebetter). Turn the rolling by engagingthe wheels in the
° The tiller is t°° heavyand bulky t° lift vehicle's engine °ff and apply its parking WHEELDRIVEposition. Chockthe wheels
safely by one person Two or more people brake, with blocks andsecurelytie the tiller down.
should share the load. • When going up ramps, stand in the
normal operating position and push the
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