Operating Tiller - Troy-Bilt Garden Way 12194 Owner's Manual

8. Checkbehind you to avoid contacting
any obstacles when pulling the starter
rope. Placeone hand on the fuel tank to
stabilize the unit and use the recoil starter
to start the engine as instructed in the
Engine Owner's Manual. When the engine
starts, gradually move the choke lever (on
engines so equipped) to the NO CHOKE,
CHOKE OFFor RUN position, whichever
applies.
9. Use the FASTthrottle speed setting
when tilling.
Stoppingthe Engine
1. To stop the wheels and tines, release
the Forward Clutch levers or the Reverse
Clutch Control (whichever control is in
use).
2. To stop the engine, move the Engine
Throttle Lever into the STOPposition,
OPERATING TILLER
Before tilling, contact your telephone or
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 backward
toward the operator, which could result
in loss of control, property damage, or
personal injury.
(b) As the tiller moves forward, relax and
let the wheels pull the unit along
while the tines dig. Walk behind and
a little to one side of the tiller. Use a
light but secure grip with one hand
on the handlebars, but keepyour
arm loose. See Figure 4-2. Let the
tiller move ahead at its own pace.
Do not push down on the handlebars
to try and force the tiller to dig
deeper - this takes weight off the
wheels, reduces traction, and causes
the tines to try and propel the tiller.
Figure4.3: Raise tines off greund and look
behindwhen movingin reverse.
6. To turn the tiller around:
(a) Practice turning in a level, open area.
Be very careful to keep your feet and
legs away from the tines.
(b) To start a turn, reduce the engine
speed and then lift the handlebars
until the engine and tines are bal-
anced over the wheels (Figure 4-4).
utilities company and inquire if
undergroundequipment or lines are on
yourproperty.
The following pages provide guidelines to
using your tiller effectively and safely in
various gardening applications. Be sure to
read Tilling Tips & Techniquesin this
Section before you actually put the tines
into the soil.
1. Followthe Pre-StartChecklistonthe
previous page. Be sure that the Wheel
Gear Lever is in the ENGAGE position.
2. Move the Depth Regulator Lever into
the "travel" position (lever all the way
down) so that the tines clear the ground.
Use this position when practicing with or
transporting the tiller. When you are ready
to begin tilling, move the Depth Regulator
Lever into the desired depth setting (see
Tilling Tips & Techniques).
3. Start the engine and allow it to warm
up. When warm, move the throttle control
into the FASTspeed setting.
4. For forward motion of the wheels and
power to the tines:
(a) Pull up and hold the Forward Clutch
levers against the handlebars. To
stop the wheels and tines, release
both levers.
Figure 4.2: Use one hand to guide tiller
whenmoving forward.
5. For reverse motion of the wheels and
tines:
(a) Look behind and exercise caution
when operating in reverse. Do not
till while in reverse.
(b) Stop all forward motion before
reversing. Lift the handlebars with
one hand until the tines are off the
ground and then pull the Reverse
Clutch control out (see Figure4-3).
To stop reverse motion, let go of the
ReverseClutch Control.
Figure4.4: Find balancepoint before
turning.
(c) With the tiller balanced,push side-
ways on the handlebar to move the
tiller in the direction of the turn
(Figure 4-5). After completing the
turn, slowly lower the tines into the
soil and increasethe engine speed.
Figure4.5