MTD 250 Operator's Manual page 10

For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983 For Parts Call 606-678-9623 or 606-561-4983
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Operating
Your Tiller
WARNING
Be sure no one other
than the operator is
standing near the tiller
while starting engine
or operating the unit.
Never run engine
indoors or in enclosed,
poorly ventilated
areas. Engine exhaust
contains carbon
monoxide, an odorless
and deadly gas. Keep
hands, feet, hair and
loose clothing away
from any moving parts
on engine and tiller.
Refer to the engine
manual for detailed
instructions pertaining
to the engine controls.
Controlling Speed and
Tilling Depth
When tilling, leave approximately eight inches of
untilled soil between the first and second tilling paths,
then make the third path between the first and second,
Figure 4-4. In some soils, the desired depth is obtained
the first time over the garden. In other soils, the desired
depth is obtained by going over the garden two or three
times. Passes should be made across the length and
width of the garden alternately. Rocks which are turned
up should be removed from the garden area.
4 5 2
Figure 4-4: Recommended tiller paths.
Handle Pressure
Further control of tilling depth and travel speed can be
obtained by variation of pressure on the handles.
A downward pressure on the handles will reduce the
working depth and increase the forward speed. An
upward pressure on the handles will increase the
working depth and reduce the forward speed.
The type of soil and working conditions will determine
the actual setting of the depth stake and the handle
pressure required.
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Cultivating
For cultivating, a two to three inch depth is desirable. With
the outer tines installed, the working width of the machine
is 22 or 24 inches.
For cultivation, the tine width can be reduced to 13 inches
by removing the outer tines, refer to the Adjustment Sec-
tion. When laying out plant rows, be sure to allow enough
width to permit cultivation between the rows. In growing
corn or similar crops, check-row planting will permit cross
cultivation and practically eliminate hand hoeing, Figure
4-5.
3 1
Figure 4-5: Allow enough area between rows.
The tiller has many uses other than tilling and cultivating
a garden. One of these is the preparation of lawn area for
seeding. The tiller will prepare a deep seed bed which will
be free of hard untilled spots, allowing a better stand of
grass to grow. The tiller is very useful for loosening hard
soil for excavation with a shovel; No tedious handwork will
be necessary. Your tiller may be used for mixing compost
in the pile or for mixing it with the soil in your garden. This
should be done after the soil has been broken to the full
working depth. The compost should be worked in to a
depth of six to seven inches. This may be done by work-
ing the length of the garden and then by making separate
passes across its width. The addition of decayed organic
matter will substantially increase the fertility of your
garden. For proper decaying action, fertilizer should be
applied and worked in with the mulch materials. Breaking
up leaves and straw and mixing it with several inches of
soil allows proper aeration of the plant root system and
retards the growth of weeds.
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