Manual

ADJUSTING THE HANDLE HEIGHT

The handleshouldbe adjustedso thatwhenthe tillerisdigging3-4"

intothe soil,the handlefallsto aboutwaste-high.To adjusthandle,

simplyloosenthe handleknob,movethehandleto thedesiredheight

andretightenthehandleknob.SeeFigure17.

Beforeclearingthe tinesby hand,stoptheengine,allowall moving

partsto stopanddisconnectthe sparkplugwire.Failureto followthis

warningcouldresultin personalinjury.

CLEARING THE TINES

Thetineshavea self-clearingactionwhicheliminatesmostof the

tanglingof debris.However,occasionallydry grass,stringystalksor

toughvinesmaybecometangled.Followtheseproceduresto help

avoidtanglingandto clearthe tines,if necessary.

• Tryto till undercrop residuesor covercropswhile theyare green,

moistandtender.

• Whiletilling,try swayingthe handlebarsfromsideto side (about

6" to 12").This"fishtailing"actionoftenclearsthetinesof debris.

Beforetilling,contactyour telephoneor utilitiescompanyandinquire

l if undergroundequipmentor linesareusedonyour property.Donot

|till nearburiedelectriccables,telephonelines,pipesor hoses.

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TILLING TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Tilling Depth

• Thisisa FRT(forward-rotatingfine) tiller.Whenthe forwardtine

engagementleveris pressedagainstthe handlethe tinesrotate

forward.Thiscreatesan"uppercut"tine actionwhichdigsdeeply,

uprootingsoilandweeds.Don'toverloadthe engine,but digas

deeplyas possibleon eachpass.

• Whencultivating(breakingupthe surfacesoilaroundthe plants

to destroyweeds,SeeFigure18),tryto havethe tinesonlydig 1"

to 2" deep.Usingthe shallowtillingdepthhelpspreventinjuryto

the plantswhoserootsoftengrow closeto the surface.If needed,

lift uponthe handlebarsslightlyto preventthetinesfromdigging

toodeeply.(Cultivatingona regularbasisnotonlyeliminates

weeds,it alsoloosensandaeratesthe soilfor bettermoisture

absorptionandfasterplantgrowth.)Wateringthe gardenareaa

fewdayspriorto tillingwill maketillingeasier,as will lettingthe

newlyworkedsoil setfora day ortwo beforemakinga final,deep

tillingpass.

Figure17

Figure18