Owner’s Manual TM BRONCO 5 HP Model Tiller • • • • • Safety Assembly Controls Operation Maintenance BRONCO Model 12180 GARDEN WAY INCORPORATED
Table of Contents Dear Owner: You now own one of the finest rear-tine rototillers available. Your new tiller allows you to till and cultivate your garden with ease, and accomplish dozens of other property management projects as well. Your tiller is famous for its ruggedness, performance and high-quality engineering. We know you’ll enjoy using it. Please carefully read this Manual. It tells you how to safely and easily assemble, operate and maintain your machine.
Section 1 Safety SPARK ARRESTER WARNING TO RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA AND SEVERAL OTHER STATES Under California law, and under the laws of several other states, you are not permitted to operate an internal combustion engine using hydrocarbon fuels on any forest, brush, hay, grain, or grass covered land; or land covered by any flammable agricultural crop without an engine spark arrester in continuous effective working order.
Section 1: Safety 7. Take all possible precautions when leaving the machine unattended. Stop the engine. Disconnect spark plug wire and move it away from the spark plug. Be sure both wheels are in the Wheel Drive position. 8. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, stop the engine and make certain all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire and prevent it from touching the spark plug to prevent accidental starting. 9. The flap on the tine hood must be down when operating the tiller. d.
Section 1: Safety Decals For your safety and the safety of others, various safety and operational decals are located on your unit (see Figure 1 below). Keep the decals clean and legible at all times. Contact your local service dealer or the factory for replacements if any decals are damaged or missing. Forward Clutch Control Operating Instruction Refer to the separate parts catalog for decal locations, part numbers and ordering instructions.
Section 2 Assembly WARNING To prevent personal injury or property damage, do not start the engine until all assembly steps are complete and you have read and understand the safety and operating instructions in this manual. carton. Check that you have the items listed below (contact your local dealer or the factory if any items are missing or damaged). NOTE: Use the screw length template (Fig. 2-1) to identify screws. Carefully follow these assembly steps to correctly prepare your tiller for use.
Section 2: Assembly STEP 2: Attach Handlebar 1. Attach the two legs of the handlebar support (A, Fig. 2-2) loosely to the inner sides of the tiller frame using two 3/8"-16 x 3/4" hex hd. screws (B), 3/8" flat washers (C) and 3/8"-16 hex locknuts (D). K 2. Using the middle holes in the handlebar support brackets (E and F, Fig. 2-2), loosely attach the support brackets to the handlebar support (A) using two 5/16"-18 x 1-1/2" curved hd. screws (G), 5/16" split lockwashers (H) and 5/16"-18 hex nuts (I).
Section 2: Assembly STEP 4: Install Forward Clutch Cable R P 1. Place the forward clutch cable bracket (P, Fig. 2-4) on the handlebar support (A). Attach the cable bracket using a 1/4"-20 x 1-1/4" hex hd. screw (R, Fig. 2-4) and 1/4"-20 hex locknut (S). Tighten securely. A T T 2. Carefully unwrap the forward clutch cable (the cable without a knob attached to it) from its shipping position and slide the thin cable wire (T, Fig. 2-4) into the slot in the cable bracket. Push the cable connector (U, Fig.
Section 2: Assembly 3. Unwrap the reverse clutch cable (the cable with a knob and a large hex nut attached to it) from around its shipping position and route the cable (CC, Fig. 2-8 and Fig. 2-9) up to the cable bracket (BB, Fig. 2-8). Be sure that the cable goes beneath the Forward Clutch Bail as it is routed up to the cable bracket. 6. Test the function of the reverse clutch cable by pulling the knob out and releasing it.
Section 3 Features and Controls WARNING Before operating your machine, carefully read and understand all safety, controls and operating instructions in this Manual, the separate Engine Owner’s Manual, and on the decals on the machine. BRONCO Forward Clutch Bail Reverse Clutch Control Depth Regulator Handlebar Height Adjustment Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury. Wheel Drive Pin (on each wheel) Figure 3-1: Features and controls.
Section 3: Features and Controls 4. FOR WHEEL DRIVE mode (Figure 3-2): Slide the wheel outward and align the holes in the wheel hub (D, Figure 3-2)) and the wheel shaft (B). Insert the wheel drive pin (A) through the wheel hub and the wheel shaft. Secure the wheel drive pin with the hairpin cotter (C) by pushing the hairpin cotter in as far as it will go. Repeat for the other wheel and then remove the support from beneath the transmission. 5.
Section 3: Features and Controls Depth Regulator Lever Handlebar Height Adjustment ENGINE CONTROLS This lever (G, Figure 3-5) controls the tilling depth of the tines. Pull the lever straight back and slide it up or down to engage the notched height settings. The handlebar height is adjustable to three different settings (see Figure 3-6). As a general rule, adjust the handlebars so they are at waist level when the tines are 3"-4" into the soil.
Section 4 Operation Reverse Clutch Control WARNING (knob on back of bracket) Before operating your machine, carefully read and understand all safety (Section 1), controls (Section 3) and operating instructions (Section 4) in this Manual, in the separate Engine Owner’s Manual, and on the decals on the machine. Forward Clutch Bail BRONCO Depth Regulator Lever Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury.
Section 4: Operation Starting the Engine The following steps describe how to start and stop the engine. Do not attempt to engage the tines or wheels until you have read all of the operating instructions in this Section. Also review the safety rules in Section 1: “Safety” and the tiller and engine controls information in Section 3: “Features and Controls.” CAUTION To help prevent serious personal injury or damage to equipment: • Before starting engine, put both wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE position.
Section 4: Operation WARNING Do not push down on the handlebars to try to make the tiller till more deeply. This prevents the wheels from holding the tiller back and can allow the tines to rapidly propel the tiller forward, which could result in loss of control, property damage, or personal injury. Figure 4-3: Raise tines off ground and look behind when moving in reverse. 5. For reverse motion of the wheels and tines: (a) Look behind and exercise caution when operating in reverse.
Section 4: Operation Tilling Tips & Techniques Let the tiller do the work • While tilling, 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 handlebar with just one hand. See Figure 4-2. • Avoid the temptation to push down on the handlebars in an attempt to force the tiller to dig deeper.
Section 4: Operation Tilling Tips & Techniques Clearing the tines The tines have a self-clearing action which eliminates most tangling of debris in the tines. However, occasionally dry grass, stringy stalks or tough vines may become tangled. Follow these procedures to help avoid tangling and to clean the tines, if necessary. • To reduce tangling, set the depth regulator deep enough to get maximum “chopping” action as the tines chop the material against the ground.
Section 4: Operation WARNING Before tilling, contact your telephone or utilities company and inquire if underground equipment or lines are used in your area. Their representative will be glad to answer your questions and tell you if any of their equipment or lines are buried underground on your property. POWER COMPOSTING Power composting simply means tilling under and burying in the soil all manner of organic matter such as crop residues, leaves, grass clippings and cover crops.
Section 5 Maintenance WARNING Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the machine, shut off engine, wait for all moving parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Remove ignition key on electric start models. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage.
Section 5: Maintenance WARNING Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the unit, shut off engine, wait for all parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage. TILLER LUBRICATION CHECK FOR OIL LEAKS TRANSMISSION GEAR OIL SERVICE Proper lubrication of the tiller is an essential part of your maintenance program.
Section 5: Maintenance WARNING Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the unit, shut off engine, wait for all parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage. B. To Drain the Transmission Gear Oil: DANGER Gasoline is highly flammable and its vapors are explosive. Follow these safety practices to prevent personal injury or property damage from fire or explosion.
Section 5: Maintenance WARNING Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the unit, shut off engine, wait for all parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage. CHECKING AND ADJUSTING FORWARD DRIVE BELT TENSION Maintaining correct tension on the forward drive belt is important to good tilling performance and long belt life.
Section 5: Maintenance WARNING Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the unit, shut off engine, wait for all parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage.
Section 5: Maintenance WARNING Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the unit, shut off engine, wait for all parts to come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or property damage. ENGINE OIL SERVICE AIR CLEANER SERVICE Check the engine oil level before starting the engine each day and check it after each 5 hours of continuous operation.
Section 5: Maintenance TROUBLESHOOTING Before performing any corrections, refer to the appropriate information in this Manual, or in the Engine Owner’s Manual, for the correct safety precautions and operating or maintenance procedures. Contact your local authorized Engine Service Dealer for engine service. Contact your local authorized equipment dealer or the factory for all other service problems. PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION Engine does not start. 1. Spark plug wire disconnected. 2.
TILLER SPECIFICATIONS/ATTACHMENTS TILLER SPECIFICATIONS TILLER HEIGHT (with Depth Regulator Lever in highest setting): Without Handlebars .................................................................................25-1/2" Handlebars in lowest setting.....................................................................38-1/4" Handlebars in highest setting ...................................................................47-1/2" TILLER LENGTH Without Handlebars...........................................
CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMATION Owner Registration Card Please fill out and mail the enclosed owner registration card. The purpose of this card is to register each unit at the factory in order to keep the owner informed with informational bulletins and safety literature. MA I L Customer Service and Technical Service If you have questions or problems with the unit, contact your local dealer or call or write to the factory. (When calling or writing the factory, provide the model/serial number of the unit.
1905237 (1/99) Printed in U.S.A.
