Cub Cadet RT 35 Operator's Manual page 8

7. Fill the fuel tank with gasoline according
to the directions in the Engine Operator's
Manual. Follow all instructions and safety rules
carefully.
8. Attach the spark plug wire to the spark plug.
Starting & Stopping the Engine
WARNING! To help prevent serious
personal injury or damage to
equipment, put both wheels in the
WHEEL DRIVE position. Never have
wheels in FREEWHEEL position when
the engine is running. When the
wheels are in FREEWHEEL, they do not
hold back the tiller and the tines could
propel the tiller rapidly forward or
backward. Put the Forward Clutch Bail
in the neutral (disengaged) position by
releasing the lever.
WARNING! Never run the engine
indoors or in an enclosed, poorly
ventilated area. Engine exhaust
contains carbon monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas. Avoid the engine
muffler and nearby areas.
Temperatures in these areas may
exceed 150° F.
1. Complete the Pre-Start Checklist above on this
page.
2. Put the wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE position
by removing the click pins, sliding the wheel
all the way in and reinstalling the click pin
through the wheel hubs and wheel shaft.
3. Move the Depth Regulator Lever all the way
down to the "transport" position, so that the
tines clear the ground.
4. Release all of the controls on the tiller and
refer the Engine Operator's Manual for engine
starting and stopping instructions.
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. Let the tiller move at its own pace and do not
push down on the handlebars to try and force
the tines to dig deeper — this takes weight off
the wheels and reduces traction.
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.
4. To stop/disengage the drive/tines release the
clutch bail.
Turning the Tiller
1. Practice turning the tiller in a level, open area.
Be very careful to keep your feet and legs away
from the tines.
8 S 4 — c
ection ontrolS
2. To begin a turn, lift the handlebars until the
tines are out of the ground and the engine and
tines are balanced over the wheels.
3. With the tiller balanced, push sideways on the
handlebar to steer in the direction of the turn.
After turning, slowly lower the tines into the
soil to resume tilling.
Setting The Depth
Tilling depth is controlled by the depth stake which
can be adjusted to five different settings.
• When using the tiller for the first time, use the
second adjustment hole from the top (1" of
tilling depth).
• When breaking up sod and for shallow
cultivation, use the setting which gives 1" of
tilling depth (second hole from the top).
• For further depth, raise the depth stake and
also make one or two more passes over the
area.
• When tilling loose soil, the depth stake may
be raised to its highest position (use bottom
adjustment hole) to give the deepest tilling
depth.
• To transport tiller, lower the depth stake (use
top adjustment hole).
To adjust the depth stake, pull back on the depth
adjustment bracket (A) and push up or down (B) until
the bracket reaches the desired position, see Figure
4-2, then release the bracket (C).
Adjusting the Handle Height
The handle should be adjusted so that when the tiller
is digging 3-4" into the soil, the handle falls to about
waste-high. To adjust the handle, simply loosen the
handle adjustment crank, move the handle to the
desired height and retighten the adjustment crank.
See Figure 4-3.
Tilling Tips & Techniques
Tilling Depth
& o
peration
WARNING: Be certain the spark plug
wire is disconnected and grounded
against the engine when performing
any adjustments.
Figure 4-3
WARNING! Before tilling, contact your
telephone or 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.
As the wheels pull forward, the tines rotate
backward. This creates an "uppercut" tine
action which digs deeply, uprooting soil and
weeds. Don't overload the engine, but dig
as deeply as possible on each pass. On later
passes, the wheels may tend to spin in the soft
dirt. Help them along by lifting up slightly on
the handlebar (one hand, palm up, works most
easily).
• Avoid the temptation to push 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 to hold the tiller
back, the tines will attempt to propel the tiller
backward, towards the operator.
• When cultivating (breaking up the surface soil
around the plants to destroy weeds, see Figure
4-4), adjust the tines to dig only 1" to 2" deep.
Using the shallow tilling depth helps prevent
injury to the plants whose roots often grow
close to the surface. If needed, lift up on the
handlebars slightly to prevent the tines from
digging too deeply. (Cultivating on a regular
basis not only eliminates weeds, it also loosens
and aerates the soil for better moisture
absorption and faster plant growth.) Watering
the garden area a few 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, deep tilling pass.
Figure 4-4
Choosing Correct Wheel & Tine Speeds
With experience, you will find the tilling depth
and tilling speed combination that is best for your
garden. Set the engine throttle lever at a speed
to give the engine adequate power and yet allow
it to operate at the slowest possible speed until
you have achieved the maximum tilling depth you
desire. Faster engine speeds may be desirable when
making final passes through the seedbed or when
cultivating. Selection of the correct engine speed, in
relation to the tilling depth, will ensure a sufficient
power level to do the job without causing the engine
to labor.