Clearing The Tines - Craftsman 247.23000 Operator's Manual

Loading & Unloading the Tiller
Loadingand unloadingthe tiller intoa vehicleis potentiallyhazard-
ous and doing so is not recommended unlessabsolutelynecessary,
as this couldresultin personalinjuryor propertydamage.
you mustload or unloadthetiller, followthe guidelinesgivenbelow:
• Beforeloadingor unloadingthe tiller,stop the engine,wait for all
parts to stop moving,disconnectthe sparkplug wireand letthe
engineand mufflercool.
• Thetiller is too heavyand bulky to be safelylifted by one person.
Twoor morepeopleshouldsharethe load.
• Use sturdyrampsand manually-- withthe engine shutoff -- roll
thetiller into andout of the vehicle.Twoor morepeopleare
neededto do this.
• The rampsmustbe strongenoughto supportthecombined
weightof the tillerand any handlers.The rampsshouldprovide
good tractionto preventslipping;they shouldalso haveside rails
to guidethe tiller alongthe ramps;and they shouldhavea locking
deviceto securethem to the vehicle.
• The handlersshouldwearsturdyfootwearthat will helpto prevent
slipping.
• Positionthe loadingvehicleso that the rampangle is as flat
as possible(theless inclineto the ramp,the better).Turnthe
vehicle'sengineoff and applythe parkingbrake.
• Whengoingup the ramps,stand in the normaloperatingposition
and pushthe tilleraheadof you. Havea personat eachside to
turnthe wheels.
• Whengoingdownthe ramps,walk backwardwith the tiller
followingyou. Keepalert forany obstaclesbehindyou. Positiona
personat each wheelto controlthe speedof the tiller. Nevergo
downthe rampstiller-first,as the tillercould tip forward.
• Placewoodenblockson the downhillside of thewheels if you
needto stopthe tillerfrom rollingdownthe ramp.Also,use the
blocksto temporarilykeepthe tillerin placeon the ramps(if
necessary),and to chockthewheels in placeafter the tilleris in
thevehicle.
• After loadingthe tiller, preventit from rollingbychockingthe
wheelswith blocks,and securelytie the tillerdown.
CLEARING THE TINES
Beforeclearingthe tines by hand,stop theengine,allowall moving
partsto stopand disconnectthe sparkplug wire. Failureto followthis
warningcouldresultin personalinjury.
Thetines havea self-clearingactionwhich eliminatesmostof the
tanglingof debris. However, o ccasionally dry grass,stringystalksor
toughvinesmay becometangled.Followthese proceduresto help
avoidtanglingand to clearthe tines,if necessary.
• Toreducetangling,set the depthstakedeep enoughto get
maximum"chopping"actionas the tines chopthe materialagainst
theground.Also,try to till undercrop residuesor cover crops
whilethey are green,moistandtender.
• Whiletilling,try swayingthe handlebarsfrom sideto side (about
6" to 12").This "fishtailing"actionoften clears thetines of debris.
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