Operating The Tifler - Troy-Bilt 12213 Owner's Manual

Section 4: Operation
Starting the Engine
The following steps describe how to start
and stop the engine. Do not attempt to
engage fhe tines or wheels until you
have read all of the operating instruc-
tions in this Section. Also review
the safety rules in Section 1: Safetyand
the tiller and engine controls
informaUonin Section 3: Features and
Controls.
To help prevent serious
personal injury or damage to
equipment:
• Before starting engine, put both
wheels in the WHEEL DRIVEposition.
Never have the wheels in the
FREEWHEEL position when the
engine is running. When the wheels
are in FREEWHEEL,they do not hold
back the tiller and the tines could
propel the tiller rapidlyforward.
• Before starting engine, put Forward
Clutch Bail in neutral (disengaged)
position by releasing lever.
• Never run engine indoors or ifl
enclosed, poorly ventilated areas.
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide, an odorless and deadly
gas.
*Avoid engine muffler and nearby
areas. Temperatures in these areas
may exceed 150°F.
1. Complete the Pre-Start Checklist on
the previous page.
2. Put the wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE
position (see Wheel Drive Pins in
Section 3).
3. Put the Depth Regulator Lever in the
"travel" position (lever all the way down)
so that the tines are clear of the ground.
4. Releaseall controls on the tiller.
5. If engine is equipped with a fuel valve,
turn valve to open position as instructed
in the separate Engine Owner's Manual.
6. Put Throttle Control Lever on engine in
"ON", "RUN", "FAST" or "START" position
as instructed in the separate Engine
Owner's Manual.
7. Choke or prime engine as instructed in
the separate Engine Owner's Manual.
8. Place one hand on the fuel tank to
stabilizethe unit when you pull the starter
handle. Use the recoil starter rope to start
the engine as instructed in the separate
Engine Owner's Manual. When engine
starts, gradually move choke lever (on
engines so equipped) to "NO CHOKE",
"CHOKEOFF"or "RUN" position.
9. Use the "FAST" throttle speed setting
when tilling.
Keep away from rotatingtines. Rotating
tines will cause injury.
Stoppingthe Engineend Tiller
1. To stop the wheels and tines, release
the Forward Clutch Bail,
2. To stop the engine, put the Throttle
Control Lever on the engine in the "OFF"
or "STOP" position.
OPERATINGTHETILLER
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,
This is a traditional "standard-rotating-
tine" (SRT) tiller with forward rotating
tines. It operates completely differently
from "counter-rotating-tine" (CRT)tillers
or from front-tine tillers.
1. Follow the Pre-StartCheckliston the
previous page. Be sure that the wheels
are in the WHEELDRIVE position.
2. Put the Depth Regulator Lever in the
"travel" position (lever all the way down)
so that the tines are clear of the ground,
Use this position when practicing with
your tiller or when moving to or from the
garden. When you are readyto begin
tilling, you must move the Depth
Regulator Lever to the desired depth
setting (see Tilling Tips & Techniques).
3. Start the engine and allow itto warm
up. When warm, put throttle control in
fast speed setting,
4. For forward motion of the wheels and
tines:
Figure4-2: Useonehandto guidetiller
whenmoving forward.
(a)
(b)
Pull the Forward Clutch Bail up and
hold it againstthe handlebar. Release
the bail to stop forward motion of the
wheels and tines.
As the tiller moves forward, relax and
let the wheels pui! 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 keep your arm loose,
See Figure4-2. Let the tiller move
ahead at its own paceand 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.
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