Troy-Bilt TB154E Operator's Manual page 3

• Dress properly. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and
close-fitting slacks and shirts. Loose fitting clothes or jewelry
can be caught in movable parts. Never operate this machine
in bare feet or sandals. Use of rubber gloves is
recommended when working outdoors. Wear protective hair
covering to contain long hair.
• Wear safety glasses or goggles when operating this unit. Wear a
face or dust mask if the operation is dusty. Such protective equip-
ment is available from your authorized service dealer or retailer.
• Use the right tool. Do not use cultivator for any job except
that for which it is intended.
Grounding Pin
• Grounding Instructions—The cultivator should be grounded while
in use to reduce the risk of electric shock to the operator. The
cultivator is equipped with a three-conductor cord and a three-
prong grounding plug to fit the proper grounding receptacle. The
green (or green and yellow) wire conductor in the cord is the
grounding wire. Never connect the green (or green and yellow)
wire to a live terminal. Your cultivator has a plug (Fig. A). An
adapter is available for connecting plugs to two-prong receptacles
(Fig. A). The green-colored rigid ear, lug, or the like, must be
connected to a permanent ground, such as a properly grounded
outlet box.
• Use only three-wire outdoor extension cords that have three-
prong grounding plugs and grounding receptacles that
accept the cultivator's plug.
• Keep handle dry, clean, and free from oil and grease.
• Fuses—The cultivator should be operated on a 15 or 20 AMP
circuit. If difficulty in starting is experienced with a standard
15 AMP fuse or circuit breaker or the cultivator's built-in
overload protection switch frequently trips, contact your
nearest authorized service location. Do not use a higher rated
fuse without consulting your power company.
• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection should be
provided on the circuit(s) or outlet(s) to be used for the
cultivator. Receptacles are available having built-in GFCI
protection and may be used for this measure of safety.
• Never attempt to make any adjustments while motor is running.
OPERATION
• Avoid dangerous environment. Don't use cultivator in damp
or wet locations.
• Don't use the cultivator in the rain.
• Do not operate cultivator on excessively steep slopes.
• Avoid unintentional starting. Don't carry plugged-in cultivator
with your hands/fingers on the motor starting controls.
• Do not abuse cord. Never pull or carry the cultivator by cord
or yank the cord to disconnect it from the receptacle. Keep
cord away from heat, oil, and sharp edges.
• If extension cord is damaged in any manner while plugged in,
disconnect extension cord from house receptacle.
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
Cover of Grounded Outlet Box
Rigid Ear/
Metal Screw
Adapter
Fig. A
• Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts. Contact with the
rotating parts can amputate fingers, hands, and feet.
• Do not operate machine while under the influence of alcohol
or drugs.
• Only operate cultivator in daylight or good artificial light. Don't
overreach. Keep proper footing and balance and a firm hold on
the handle at all times.
• Stay alert. Watch what you are doing. Use common sense.
Do not operate cultivator when you are tired.
• Don't force cultivator. It will do a better job and with less
likelihood of a risk of injury if operated at the rate for which it
was designed.
• Keep bystanders, helpers, pets, and children at least 50 feet
from the machine while it is in operation. Stop machine if
anyone enters the area.
• Be careful when cultivating in hard ground. The tines may
catch in the ground and propel the cultivator forward. If this
occurs, let go of the handle and do not restrain the machine.
• Never operate the machine at high transport speeds on hard
or slippery surfaces.
• Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.
• Look down, behind, and use care when pulling machine
towards you.
• Start the motor according to the instructions found in this
manual and keep feet well away from the tines at all times.
• After striking a foreign object, stop the motor and disconnect
the power cord to prevent accidental starting. Thoroughly
inspect the machine for any damage. Repair the damage
before starting and operating.
• Stop the motor, disconnect the power cord to prevent
accidental starting and wait until the tines come to a
complete stop before unclogging the tines, making any
adjustments, or inspections.
• Use caution when cultivating near fences, buildings and
underground utilities. Rotating tines can cause property
damage or personal injury.
• Do not overload machine capacity by attempting to cultivate
soil too deep or too fast of a rate.
• If the machine should start making an unusual noise or vibration,
stop the motor and disconnect the power cord to prevent
accidental starting. Inspect machine thoroughly for damage.
Repair any damage before starting motor and operating.
• Keep all shields, guards and safety devices in place and
operating properly.
• To avoid an electrical shock hazard, never push or pull the
cultivator over the electrical cord while operating.
• When picking up the cultivator, use the handle provided. Don't
grasp the tines when picking up or holding the cultivator.
Never pick up or carry machine while the motor is running.
• Use only attachments and accessories approved by the
cultivator manufacturer. Failure to do so can result in
personal injury and/or damage to your cultivator.
• If situations occur which are not covered in this manual, use
care and good judgment.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper
operation regularly.
• Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at frequent
intervals to keep the machine in safe working condition. Also,
visually inspect machine for any damage.
• Before leaving the equipment, changing tine width, cleaning,
repairing, making adjustments and the like, stop the motor,
disconnect the power cord to prevent accidental starting and
make certain the tines and all moving parts have stopped.
• Do not wash cultivator with a hose. Avoid getting water on
motor and electrical connections
• Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as necessary.
• Follow this manual for safe loading, unloading, transporting,
and storage of this machine.
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