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TILLINGTIPS & TECHNIQUES (CON'T)
Tilling On Slopes
Readthe following recommendationsbeforetilling on slopes:
A%
you must gardenon a moderateslope, pleasefollow two very _mportant g uidelines:
If
1. Till oMy on moderatesieges,neveron steepgroundwherefooting isdifficult _reviewsafe-
ry rules in Section 1: Safer/of this manuai).
2. We recommendtilling ue ano eown slopes ratherthan terracing. Tilling vertically on a
slopeallows maximurr plantingareaand also leavesroom for cultivating.
IMPORTANT: Whentilling on slopes besure the correct o levelismaintainedin the engine
(checkevery one-halfhour of operationJ. The inclineof the slope will causethe oil to slant
awayfrom its normal leveland th_scan starveenginepartsof re_Jireelubrication. Keepthe
motor oil levelat the fL point at all t_mes!
WARNING:
Do not
operatetiller on a slope too
steep for safe operation. Till
slowly and be sure you have
good footing. Never permit
tiller to freewheel down
slopes. Failureto follow this
warning could result in
personal injury.
Tilling Up and DownSlopes [Vertical Tilling)
• To keeesoil erosionto a minimum be sureto add enough organicmatterto the soil so that it hasgood moisture-holdingtextureandtry
to avoid leavingfootprints or wheel marks.
• Whentillingvertically,try to makethefirst pass uphill as the t_llerdigs more deeplygoing uphill than _tdoesdownhill. In soft soil or
weeds,you may haveto lift the handlebarsslightly while going uphill. When going downhill, overlapthe first pass by about one-halfthe
width of the tiller.
Clearingthe Tines
The tines have a self-clearing action which eliminates most tangling of debris in the
tines. However,occasionally dry grass, stringy stalks or tough vines may becometan-
gled. Follow these procedures to help avoid tangling and to clean the tines, if neces-
sary.
• To reduce tangling, set the depth regulator deep enough to get maximum "chop-
ping" 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.
• It may be necessary to remove the debris by hand
(a pocket knife will he!pyou to cut away the material).
Be sure to stop the engine and disconnect the spark
plug wire before clearing the tines by hand.
WARNING:
Before c learing t he
tines by hand, stop the engine, allow all
moving parts to stop and disconnect the
• While tilling, try swaying the handlebars from side to side (about 6" to 12"). This
spark plug wile, Remove the ignition key
"fishtailing" action often clears the tines of debris.
on electric start models.
• If tangling occurs, lift the tines out of the soil and run the tiller in reverse (if unit is
Failureto follow this warning could result
equipped with p°wered reverse) f0r a few feet This reversing acti0b sh0uld unwind
in personal injury.
a good deal of debris.
L
.
gad ng and Unloadingthe TIler
* Usesturdy ramps and manually engine shut
• When going up ramps, stand in the
off) roll the tiller into and out of the
normal operating position and push the tiller
_,
WARNING:
Loadingand
vehicle. Two or more people are neededto do
aheadof you. Havea person at each side to
unloading the tiller into a vehicle is
this.
turn the wheels.
potenta yhazardousandwedont
, The ramps must be strong enough to sup-
o When going down ramps, walk backward
recommend doing so unless
port the combined weight of the tiller and any
with the tiller following you. Keepalert for any
absolutely necessary,asthis could
handlers. The ramps should providegood trac-
obstacles behind you. Position a person at
result in personal {njuryot
tion to prevent slipping; they should haveside
eachwheel to control the speedof the tiller.
property damage,
rails to guide the tiller along the ramps; and
Nevergo down rampstiller-first, as the tiller
However, if you must load or
they should havea lockingdevice to secure
could tip forward.
unload the tiller follow the
them to the
• Placewooden blocks on the downhill side of
guidelines given next.
vehicle
•
the wheels if you need to stop the tiller from
• Before loadingor unloading, stop the engine,
Thehandlersshouldwear sturdyfootwear that
rolling down the ramp. Also, use the blocks to
wait for all parts t0 stop moving,
-
will helpto preventslipping,
temporarily keep the tiller in place on the
disconnect the spark plug wire and let the en-
• Position the loadingvehicle so that the ramp
ramps (if necessary),and to chock the wheels
gine and muffler cool
angle is as flat as possible (the less incline to
in place after the ti!ler is in the vehicle.
•
•
•
.
the ramp, thebetter) Turn the
• After loading the tiller, prevent it from rolling
The tiller Istoo heavy and bulky to hft safely
by one person. Two or more people should
vehicle's engine off and app!y its parking brake,
by engaging the wheels in the WHEELDRIVE
share the load. position.
Chock the wheels with b!ocks and
securely tie the tiller down.
15
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