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Section 4: Operation
Tilling Tips & Techniques
Clearing the tines
The tines have a self-clearing action
which helps to eliminate most tangling
of debris. However, occasionally dry
grass, stringy stalks or tough vines may
become tangled. Follow these proce¬
dures to help avoid tangling and to clear
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. Also, try
to till under crop residues or cover
crops while they are green, moist and
tender.
• While power composting, try swaying
the handlebars from side to side (about
6" to 12"). This "fishtailing" action
often clears the tines of debris.
• if tangling occurs on models equipped
with a powered reverse, lift the tines
out of the soil and run the tiller in
reverse for a few feet. This reversing
action should unwind a good deal of
debris.
• It may be necessary to remove the
debris by hand (a pocket knife will help
you to cut away the material).
A
WARNING
Before clearing the tines by hand, stop
the engine, allow all moving parts to
stop and disconnect the spark plug
wire.
Failure to follow this warning could
result in personal injury.
Tilling on slopes
if you must garden on sloping ground,
please follow two very important guide¬
lines:
1. Till only on moderate slopes, never on
steep inclines where footing is difficult
(review safety rules in the "Safety"
Section of this Manual).
2. We recommend tilling up and down
slopes rather than terracing. Tilling
vertically on a slope allows maximum
planting area and also leaves room for
cultivating.
IMPORTANT:
When tilling on slopes, be
sure the correct oil level is maintained in
the engine (check every one-half hour of
operation). The incline of the slope will
cause the oil to slant away from its
normal level and this can starve engine
parts of required lubrication. Keep the
engine oil level at the full point at all
times!
A. Tilling up and down slopes:
• To keep soil erosion to a minimum, be
sure to add enough organic matter to
the soil so that it has good moisture¬
holding texture and try to avoid leaving
footprints or wheel marks.
• When tilling vertically, try to make the
first pass uphill as the tiller digs more
deeply going uphill than it does
downhill. In soft soil or weeds, you
may have to lift the handlebars slightly
while going uphill. When going
downhill, overlap the first pass by
about one-half the width of the tiller.
B. Terrace Gardening:
• When a slope is too steep or too short
for vertical tilling, it may be necessary
to till across the slope and create
terraced rows. Terraces are rows that
are cut into the side of a slope, creating
a narrow, but flat area on which to
plant.
• On a long slope, you can make several
terraces, one below the other.
• Terraces should be only 2-to-3 feet
wide. Digging too far into the side of
the slope will expose poor subsoil that
is unproductive for plants.
• To create a terrace, start at the top of
the slope and work down. Go back and
forth across the first row as shown in
Figure 4-10.
• Each succeeding lower terrace is
started by walking below the terrace
you're preparing. For added stability of
the tiller, always keep the uphill wheel
in the soft, newly tilled soil. Do not till
the last 12" or more of the downhill
outside edge of each terrace. This
untilled strip helps prevents the
terraces from breaking apart and
washing downhill. It also provides a
walking path between rows.
Figure 4-10
C. Tilling across slopes without using
terraces:
• If vertical or terracing gardening aren't
practical for you, then you can till
laterally across a slope. We don't
really recommend this method as it can
create unsure footing and invites soil
erosion.
• As in terrace gardening, start at the top
of the slope and overlap the first pass
by half the width of the tiller. For added
stability of the tiller, always keep the
uphill wheel in the soft, newly tilled soil.
17
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