Operating The Tiller - Troy-Bilt 12090 Owner's Manual

Section 4: Operation
18
Reconnect the cables and securely
tighten to battery posts. The engine will
recharge the battery if the battery is still
good.
• If you suspect the batter is "dead", or if
the battery is damaged, disconnect, and
remove it. Have it checkedby a
qualified technician.
• If battery has been removed, wrap cable
terminals at end of positive cable with
electrical tape and secure the cable to
the battery bracket. This will prevent
electrical discharge.
• Before pulling the recoil starter rope,
turn the keyswitch to the RUNposition.
Move the Throttle Lever away from
STOPposition and set the choke as
applicable. See Engine Owner's Manual.
Stopping the Engine and Tiller
1. To stop the wheels and tines, move the
Wheels/Tines/PTODrive Lever into
NEUTRALposition and then releaseboth
Forward Interlock Levers.
2. Move the engine Throttle Leverto the
STOPposition. Then on electric start
models, turn the key to OFF=Removethe
key for safekeeping.
NOTE: The engine may havea separate
Throttle Control Lever and ON/OFF switch
on the engine. These controls can also be
used to stop the engine. Seethe Engine
Owner's manual for information specific
to your engine.
Operating the Tiller
When first practicing, keepthe Tines/PTO
Clutch Lever in DISENGAGE position and
the Wheel Speed Lever in SLOWposition,
To avoid serious personal injury or
damage to equipment:
• Always place Wheels/Tines/PTODrive
Lever in NEUTRAL before starting
engine, and before engaging wheels,
tines or other PTOattachments.
• Be sure there are no obstaclesbehind
you beforemoving in reverse.
• Wheels/Tines/PTODrive Lever should
automatically return to NEUTRAL
when released from REVERSE
position. If it does not, move lever to
NEUTRAL manually and discontinue
use until you adjust the lever. See
Section 5, Checking and Adjusting
Reverse Drive System.
• No reverse motion should occur if
Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever is not
held up in REVERSE. See Section 5,
Checking and Adjusting Reverse
Drive System for adjustment steps.
Do not use tiller unless properly
adjusted.
• Always return to NEUTRALand let all
motion stop before shifting to
FORWARD or REVERSE.
The following pagesprovide guidelines
for using your tiller effectively and safely
in various gardening applications. Be
sure to read Tilling Tips & Techniques,in
this Section, before you actually put the
tines into the soil.
This is a traditionalstandard-rotating-0ne
(SRT) tiller with forward rotating tines. It
operates in a completely different manner
than counter-rotating-0ne (CRT)tillers, or
from front-tine tillers.
Moving the Tiller Forward and Tilling
I. Start the engine and gradually increase
engine speed to FAST (see Starting the
Engine,this Section).
The Forward Interlock Safety System is
designedfor the operator's safety. Do
not disconnector attempt to defeat the
purpose of the system. If the system
malfunctions,immediately contact your
local authorized dealer or the
TROY-BILT Technical Service Depart-
ment for assistance. Do not use the
tiller or the PTO power unit until the
Forward Interlock Safety System is
functioning properly. Always test the
system before using the tiller or PTO
powerunit.
2. Test the Forward Interlock Safety
System. See TestingForward Interlock
System, this Section.
Keep away from rotatingtines. Rotating
tines will cause injury.
3. When practicing, set the Depth
Regulator Leverto Travel position=
Otherwise, set the Depth Regulator Lever
to a desired depth.
4. Move Tines/PTOClutch Leverto
ENGAGE position if you want the tines to
turn. If practicing, leavein DISENGAGE.
IMPORTANT: Do not move Tines/PTO
Clutch Lever to ENGAGE unless
Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever is in
NEUTRAL.Tiller damagemay occur!
5. To move the tiller forward and engage
the tines, squeezeand hold either Forward
Interlock Lever (Figure 4-3) against the
handlebargrip, then move the
WheelslTineslPTODrive Leverdown to
FORWARD position=