Troybilt 12213 Owner's manual

Brand: Troybilt

Model: 12213

Category: Mini tillers

Type: Owner's manual

GARDEN WAY

_ TRD_J_!LT"

Model

12213- 4.5HP

GARDEN WAYINCORPORATED

Owner'sManual

REAR-TINETILLER

• Safety

• Assembly

• Controls

• Operation

• Maintenance

• Parts List

DearOwner:

You now own one of the finest standard-rotating-tine tillers

available.Your new tiJJerallows you to tiJland cultivateyour

gardenwith ease,andaccomplish dozensof other property

managementprojects aswell. Your tiller isfamous for its

ruggedness,performance and high-quality engineering. We

know you'll enjoyusing it.

Pleasecarefully readthis Manual. It tells you howto safely

and easily assemble, operateand maintain your machine.

Besure that you and anyother operators carefully follow

the recommendedsafety practices atall times. Failureto

do so could result in personal injury or property damage.

Of course, if you should everhaveany problems or

questions, pleasecontact your local authorized dealeror

call the Factory (seehack cover of this Manual). We want to

be sore that you are completely satisfied at arttimes.

NOTE:Be sureto fill out and return the Warranty Registra-

tion Cardthat was supplied with this Manual.

See Back Cover for

Customer Service Information

Safety AlertSymbol

,_ This isa safety alert symbol. It is used in this

manualand on the unit to alertyou to

potential hazards. Whenyou seethis symbol,

readand obeythe messagethat follows it.

Failureto obeysafety messagescould result in personal

injury or property damage.

This machine meets voluntary safety standard B71.8

- 1996, which is sponsored by the Outdoor Power

Equipment Institute, Inc., and is published by the

American National Standards Institute.

WARNING

The engine exhaust from this product contains

chemicals known te the State of California to cause

cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Tableof Contents

SECTION1: SAFETY........................................... 3

SafetyDecals .................................................................... 5

SECTION2: ASSEMBLY....................................... 6

Attach Handlebar............................................................... 7

Move Tiller Off Shipping Platform...................................... 7

Install Forward ClutchCable.............................................. 8

CheckLevelofTransmission GearOil................................ 9

Add Motor Oil to Engine..................................................... 9

CheckHardwarefor Tightness........................................... 9

CheckAir Pressure in Tires................................................ 9

SECTION3: FEATURES& CONTROLS........................ 10

Wheel Drive Pins ............................................................... 10

Forward ClutchBail............................................................ 11

Depth Regulator................................................................. 11

HandlebarHeightAdjustment ............................................ 11

SECTION4: OPERATION...................................... 12

Break-in Operation.......................................................... 12

Starting and Stoppingthe Engine...................................... 12

Operatingthe Tifler ............................................................ 13

Tilling Tips & Techniques.................................................. 15

PowerComposting ............................................................ 17

Loadingand Unloading theTiller ....................................... 17

SECTION5: MAINTENANCE.................................. 18

RequiredMaintenanceSchedule........................................ 18

Tiller Lubdcation................................................................ 19

Checkfor Oil Leaks............................................................ 19

CheckHardware................................................................. 19

CheckTire Pressure........................................................... 19

Transmission GearOil Service........................................... 19

Bold Tines.......................................................................... 20

Checkingand Adjusting Forward Drive BeltTension.......... 21

Forward ClutchBailAdjustment ......................................... 21

EngineCleaning................................................................. 22

Air CleanerService............................................................ 22

EngineOil Service.............................................................. 22

Spark Plug Service............................................................ 22

SparkArrestor ScreenService........................................... 22

CarburetodGovernor Control Adjustments ........................ 22

Off SeasonStorage............................................................ 22

Troubleshooting................................................................. 23

PARTSLIST ..................................................... 24

CUSTOMERSERVICEINFORMATION.............. BackCover

Safety

SPARKARRESTERWARNINGTO RESIDENTSOFCALIFORNIAANDSEVERALOTHERSTATES

UnderCalifornialaw, and under the laws of severalother states, you are not permitted to operatean

internalcombustion engine using hydrocarbon fuels on any forest, brush, hay, grain, or grass

covered land; or land covered by anyflammable agricultural crop without an engine spark arrester in

continuous effectiveworking order.

Theengine on the unit isan internal combustion engine which burns gasoline, a hydrocarbon fuel, and must be equipped with a

spark arrester muffler in continuous effectiveworking order. The spark arrester must beattachedto the engine exhaustsystem in

such a mannerthat flames or heatfrom the system will not ignite flammable material. Failureof the owner/operator ofthe unit to

comply with this regulation is a misdemeanor under California law (and other states) and may alsobe a violation of other state

and/or federal regulations, laws, ordinances or codes. Contactyour local fire marshal or forest servicefor specific information

about which regulations apply in your area.

Training

1. Carefullyreadthis

Owner'sManual,the

separateEngineOwner's

Manual,and any other literature you may

receive.Bethoroughly familiar with the

controls and the proper useof the tiller

and its engine,Know how to stop the unit

and disengagethe controls quickly.

2. Neverallow children to operatethe

tiller. Neverallow adults to operatethe

tiller without proper instruction.

3. Keepthearea of operation clearof all

persons,particularly children and pets.

4. Keepin mind that the operator or user

isresponsible for accidents or hazards

occurring to other people,their property,

andthemselves.

Preparation

1. Thoroughly inspectthe areawherethe

tiller is to be usedand remove all foreign

objects.

2. Be sureall tiller controls are released

and both wheels are in the Wheel Drive

position before starting the engine.

3. Do not operatethe tiller without

wearingadequateouter garments, Avoid

loose garments or jewelry that could get

caught in moving parts.

4. Do not operatethe tiller when barefoot

or wearing sandals,sneakers,or light

footwear. Wear protective footwear that

will improve footing on slippery surfaces,

5. Do nottill near underground electric

cables, telephonelines, pipes or hoses. If

in doubt, contact your telephone or utility

company.

6. Warning: Handlefuel with care; it is

highly flammable and its vapors are

explosive. Besure to take the following

precautions:

a. Storefuel in containers specifically

designedfor this purpose.

b. The gascap shall never be removed

or fuel added while the engine is

running. Allow the engine to cool

for several minutes beforeadding

fuel.

c. Keepmatches, cigarettes, cigars,

pipes, openflames, and sparks

away from the fuel tank and fuel

container.

d. Fillfuel tank outdoors with extreme

care.Neverfill fuel tank indoors.

Usea funnel or spout to prevent

spillage.

e. Replaceall fuel tank and container

caps securely.

f. If fuel is spilled, do not attempt to

start the engine, but move the

machine awayfrom the area of

spillageand avoid creating any

source of ignition until fuel vapors

havedissipated.

7. Nevermake adjustments when engine

is running (unless recommended by

manufacturer).

Operation

1. Do not put handsor feet near or under

rotating parts.

2. Exerciseextreme caution whenon or

crossing graveldrives, walks, or roads.

Stay alertfor hidden hazardsor traffic. Do

not carry passengers.

3, After striking a foreign object, stop the

engine, removethe wire from the spark

plug wire and prevent it from touching

the spark plug. Thoroughly inspectthe

machinefor anydamageand repairthe

damagebefore restarting and operating

the machine.

4. Exercisecaution to avoid slipping or

falling.

5. If the unit should start to vibrate abnor-

mally,stop the engine, disconnect the

spark plug wire and prevent it from

touching the spark plug, and check

immediately for the cause.Vibration is

generallya warning of trouble.

6. Stopthe engine, disconnect the spark

plug wire and prevent it from touching

the spark plug whenever you leavethe

operating position, beforeunclogging the

tines, or when making any repairs, adjust-

ments or inspections.

Section1: Safety

7. Take all possible precautionswhen

leavingthe machine unattended.Stopthe

engine. Disconnectspark plugwire and

move it awayfrom the spark plug. Be

sure both wheels are in the WheelDrive

position.

8. Beforecleaning, repairing, or inspect-

ing, stop the engineand make certain all

moving parts havestopped. Disconnect

the spark plug wire and prevent it from

touching the spark plug to prevent acci-

dental starting.

9. Theflap on the tine hood must be

down when operating the tiller.

10. Never usethe tiller unless proper

guards, plates,or other safety protective

devicesare in place.

11. Do not run engine in an enclosed

area. Engineexhaust contains carbon

monoxide gas, a deadlypoison that is

odorless, colorless, and tasteless.

12. Keepchildren and pets away.

13. Never operatethe tiller under

engine powerifthe wheels are in the

Freewheel position.In the Freewheel

position, the wheels will not hold the tiller

back and the revolving tines could propel

the tiller rapidly, possibly causing loss of

control. Always engagethe wheels with

the wheel drive pins in theWheel Drive

position beforestarting the engine or

engaging the tines/wheels with the

Forward Clutch Bail.

14. Beaware thatthe tiller may unex-

pectedlybounceupwardor jump

forwardif thetines shouldstrike

extremely hardpackedsoil, frozen

ground,or buriedobstacleslike large

stones,roots, or stomps.If in doubt

aboutthe tilling conditions,alwaysuse

the followingoperatingprecautionsto

assistyouin maintainingcontrolofthe

tiller:

a. Walk behindand to oneside ol the

tiller, usingone handonthe han-

dlebars. Relaxyour arm, butusea

securehandgrip.

b. Useshallowerdepthregulator

settings,workinggradually

deeperwith eachpass.

c. Useslower enginespeeds.

d. Clearthetilling area ofall large

stones,rootsand otherdebris.

e. Avoidusingdownwardpressure

on handlebars.If need be, use

slight upwardpressureto keepthe

tines lrom diggingtoodeeply.

f. Beforecontactinghardpackedsoil

atthe end ofa row, reduceengine

speedand lift handlebarsto raise

tines outofthe soil.

go In an emergency, stoptines and

wheels byreleasingwhichever

clutchcontrolisengaged. Donot

attemptto restrainthetiller.

15. Do not overload the tiger's capacity

by attempting to till too deeplyat too fast

a rate.

16. Never operatethetiller at high

transport speeds on hard or slippery

surfaces. Look behind and usecarewhen

backing up.

17. Do not operatethe tiller on a slope

that is too steepfor safety.When on

slopes, slow down and makesure you

havegood footing. Neverpermit the tiller

to freewheel down slopes.

18. Never allow bystanders nearthe unit.

19. Only useattachments and acces-

sories that are approvedby the manufac-

turer of the tiller.

20. Usetiller attachments and acces-

sories when recommended.

21. Neveroperatethe tiller without good

visibility or lighL

22. Neveroperatethe tiller ifyou are

tired, or under the influence of alcohol,

drugs or medication.

23. Operatorsshall not tamper with the

engine-governor settings on the machine;

the governor controls the maximum safe

operating speedto protect the engineand

all moving parts from damagecausedby

overspeed. Authorized serviceshall be

sought if a problem exists.

24. Do not touch engine partswhich may

behot from operation, Let parts cool

down sufficiently,

25. Pleaseremember: You canalways

stop the tines and wheels by releasingthe

Forward Clutch Bail or by moving the

Throttle Control Leveron theengine to

"OFF"or "STOP".

26. Toload or unload the tiller, seethe

instructions in Section 4 of this Manual.

27. Use extremecaution when reversing

or pulling the machine towards you.

28. Start the engine carefully according to

instructions and with feet well away from

thetines.

29. Neverpick up or carry a machine

while the engine is running.

Maintenance and Storage

1. Keepthe tiller, attachments and acces-

sories in safe working condition.

2. Checkall nuts, bolts, and screws at

frequent intervals for proper tightness to

besure the equipment is in safeworking

condition.

3. Neverstore the tiller with fuel in the

fuel tank inside a building where ignition

sources are present such as hot water

and spaceheaters,furnaces, clothes

dryers, stoves, electric motors, etc.).

Allow engineto cool beforestoring in any

enclosure.

4. To reducethe chances of afire hazard,

keepthe engine free ofgrass, leaves,or

excessivegrease.

5. Store gasolinein a cool, welI-ventilated

area,safelyaway from anyspark- or

flame-producing equipment. Store

gasoline in an approved container, safely

awayfrom the reachof children.

6. Referto the Maintenancesections of

this Manual and the separateEngine

Owner's Manual for instructions if the

tiller is to be stored for an extended

period.

7. Neverperform maintenancewhile the

engine is running or the spark plug wire

is connected, exceptwhen specifically

instructed to do so.

8. If the fuel tank hasto be drained, do

this outdoors,

Section1: Safety

Decals

Foryour safety and the safety of

others, various safetyand opera-

tional decalsare located on your

unit (seeFigure 1).

Keepthe decals cleanand legible at

al!times. Contact your local

service dealer or the factory for

replacementsif any decalsare

damaged or missing.

Referto the Parts List pagesin this

Manualfor decallocations, descrip-

tions and part numbers.

ForwardClutchBail

OperatingInstruction

Starting Stabilization

Message(on engine)

WarningMessages

HotSurfaces/MovingBelts

Warning(onbeltcover)

Figure1: LocationofSafetyand OperatingDecals.

OperatingSymbols

Various symbols (shown here, with word

desndptions)areused onthe tiller and engine.

Your unit maynot haveall of the symbols.

FAST SLOW STOP

I-,,-I I+1

CHOKE CHOKE ROTATING

ON OFF TINES

TILLERDIRECTION LEVERDIRECTION

BAIL

ENGAGED

BAIL

DISENGAGED

TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY:

• READTHEOWNER'SMANUAL,

• KNOWLOCATIONSAND FUNCTIONSOFALLCONTROLS.

• KEEPALLSAFETYDEVICESAND SHIELDSIN PLACEANDWORKING.

• NEVERALLOW CHILDRENOR UNINSTRUCTEDADULTSTO OPERATETILLER.

• SHUTOFFENGINEANDDISCONNECTSPARKPLUGWIRE BEFOREMANUALLYUNCLOG-

GINGTINESOR MAKINGREPAIRS.

• KEEPBYSTANDERSAWAYFROMMACHINE,

• KEEPAWAYFROMROTATINGPARTS,

• USEEXTREMECAUTIONWHEN REVERSINGORPULLINGTHE MACHINETOWARDSYOU.

Assembly

To preventpersonal injury or property

damage, do net start fhe engine until

all assembly steps are complete and

you have read and understand the

safety and operatinginstructionsin this

manual.

Introduction

Carefullyfollow these assembly stepsto

correctly prepareyour tiller for use. It is

recommendedthat you readthis Section

in its entirety beforebeginning assembly.

Inspectunit

Inspect the unit and carton for damage

immediately after delivery. Contactthe

carrier (trucking company) ifyou find or

suspect damage. Inform them of the

damageand request instructions for filing

a claim. To protect your rights, put your

claim in writing and mail acopy to the

carrier within 15 days after the unit has

been delivered.Contact us atthe factory if

you needassistancein this matter.

STEP1: UnpackingInstructions

NOTE:Becareful not to severelybend any

of the control cableson the unit.

1. Removeanycardboard inserts and

packagingmaterial from the carton.

Removeanystaples from the bottom of

the carton and remove the carton.

2. Thetiller is heavy (approximately 133

]bs.). Oonot attempt to remove it from

the shipping platform until instructed to

do so in these Assembly steps.

3. Removeall unassembledparts and

the separatehardware bagfrom the

carton, Checkthat you havethe items

listed below(contact your local dealeror

the factory if anyitems are missing or

damaged). NOTE: Usethe screw length

template (Fig. 2-1) to identify screws.

LoosePartsList

Qty. Description

1 HandlebarSupport (seeA, Fig. 2-2,

page 7)

1 HandlebarAssembly(see K,Fig.2-2)

Thefollowing items

are in the hardwarebag:

1 Slotted hd. screw, #10-24 x 2"

1 Hexhd. screw, 1/4-20 x 1-1/4"

6 Hexhd. screw, 5/16-t8 x 1-1/2"

2 Hexhd screw, 3/8-16 x 3/4"

2 Flatwasher,3/8"

6 Split Iockwasher,5/16"

1 Hex Iocknut, 1/4'-20

6 Hex nut, 5/16"-18

1 Hex nut,#10-24

2 Hexlocknut, 3/8"-16

1 Spring, cable (seeW, Fig. 2-5,

page8)

1 Bracket,forward clutch cable (see

P,Fig. 2-4, page8)

IMPORTANT:Motor oil must be addedto

the enginecrankcase beforethe engine is

started. Follow the instructions in this

"Assembiy" Section and in the separate

EngineOwner's Manual.

NOTE:LEFTand RIGHTsides of thetiller

are asviewed from the operator's

position behind the handlebars,

Tools/MaterialsNeeded

for Assembly

(1) 3/8" open-end wrench*

(2) 7/16"open-end wrench*

(2) 1/2" open-endwrench*

(2) 9/16" open-endwrench*

(1) Scissors (to trim plasticties)

(1) Ruler(for belt tension check)

(1) Blockof wood (to support tiller

when removing wheels)

(1) Tire pressure gauge (for models with

pneumatic tires)

(1) Cleanoil funnel

(1) Clean,high-quality motor oil. Refer

to the EngineOwner's Manual for

motor oil specifications and quantity

required.

* Adjustable wrenches may be used,

Figure2-1: Toidentifylengthofscrew,

placescrewontemplateasshownand

measuredistancebetweenbottomofscrew

headandtipofscrew

STEP2: Attach Handlebar

1. Looselyattach the two legsof the

handlebarsupport (A,Fig. 2-2) to the

inner sides of the tiller frame usingtwo

3/8"-16 x3/4" hexhd, screws (B), 3/8' flat

washers (C) and 3/8"-16 hexIocknuts (D)

2. Thereare three height adjustment holes

in the two handlebar support brackets (E

and F,Fig. 2-2). Choosea setting that will

position the handlebarsat approximately

waist levelwhen thetines are 3"-4" into

the soil, Loosely attachthe support

bracketsto the handlebar support (A)

using two 5/16"-18 x 1-1/2' screws (G),

5/16" split Iockwashers (H) and 5/16"-18

hexnuts (I) NOTE:If a support bracket

will not move, loosenattaching screw (J)

and nut.

3. Attachthe handlebarassembly (K) to

the handlebar support (A) using four

5/16"-18 x 1-1/2' screws (G), 5/16" split

Iockwashers (H) and 5/16"-18 hexnuts (I).

Tighten the four screws securely

4. Tighten all handlebar mounting

hardware securely.

STEP3: MoveTiller OffShipping

Platform

To move the tiller without the engine

running, put the wheels inthe

FREEWHEELposition, as described below.

1. Use asturdy block under the transmis-

sion to raiseone wheelabout 1' off the

ground.

2. Removethe hairpin cotter (L, Fig.2-3)

and wheel drive pin (M). Slide the wheel

inward on the wheel shaft (N). Reinstall

the wheel drive pin through the wheel

shaft only (not through the wheel hub)

and secure it with the hairpin cotter (push

hairpin cotter in as far as it will go).

Repeatwith the other wheel.

3. Usingthe handlebaras a lever, roll the

tiller to a flat area.

IMPORTANT:Beforestarting the engine,

the wheels must be placedin the WHEEL

DRIVEposition (pins through wheel hubs

and wheelshaft). This procedure is

described in WheelDrive Pins in

Section 3.

Section2: Assembly

Fig. 2-2:A_achhnndleba_

Fig.2-3: WheelinFREEWHEELposition

(wheeldrivepinthroughwheelshaftonly).

Section2: Assembly

STEP4: Install ForwardClutchCable

1. Attachthe forward clutch cablebracket(P,

Fig. 2-4) to the handlebarsupport (A) with a

1/4"-20 x 1-1/4" hex hd.screw (R, Fig. 2-4) and

1/4"-20 hexIocknut (S). Tightensecurely.

2. Carefullyunwrap the forward clutch cable

(cablewithout a knob) from its shipping

position and slide the thin cablewire (T, Fig.2-

4) into the slot in the cable bracket. Pushthe

cableconnector (U, Fig,2-4) up through the

hole in the bracket until the groove in the

connector snaps into place,

3. Insert the #10-24 x 2" slotted hd.screw (V,

Fig. 2-5) intothe cablespring (W) until the

screw threads extend through the spring.

4. Threadthe #10-24 hex nut (Z, Fig.2-5)

halfwayonto the screw (V).

5. Threadthe screw into the cableadjuster (X).

6. Hook the cable spring (W, Fig. 2-6) into the

"W-shaped bend in the Forward Clutch Bail (Y).

7. Checkfor correct tension on the forward

drive belt bytaking two measurementsofthe

cable spring, asfollows:

a. With the Forward Clutch Sail (Y, Fig.2-6) in

an open (released) position, measurethe

length of the cable spring (W) from the

outermost coil to the outermost coi!.

b. Lift and hold the Forward Clutch Bail against

the handlebar (seeFig. 2-7) and re-measure

the length of the coils while the spring is

under tension. Thebelt tension is correct if

this second measurement is between 1/16"-

to- 3/16" longer than thefirst measurement.

If so, turn the hex nut (Z, Fig. 2-7) tightly

against thecable adjuster (X) while prevent-

ing theadjuster from turning.

c. If the spring length is incorrect, you must

adjust the cabletension asdescribed in

Checkingand Adjusting Forward Drive Belt

Tension in Section 5. Incorrect tension on the

forward drive belt can result in beltslippage

(tension too loose) or unintentional tine

movement whenthe clutch bail is in Neutral

(tension too tight),

Fig, 2-4: Installingforward clutchcable bracketand cable.

w--I

Z-- V

X--

Fig. 2-5: Assemble

springand adjuster.

Fig, 2-6: Install forwardclutchcable,

Fig. 2-7: Tocheckforwardbelt tension,take twomeasurements ofthe

overall length ofthe coils in the spring- first with the clutchbail open,

then withthe clutch bail closed againstthe handlebar.

Section2: Assembly

STEP5: Check Level of

Transmission Gear Oil

Thetransmissionwasfilledwithgearoil

atthefactory.However,youshouldcheck

thegearoillevelto makecertainit is

correct,

IMPORTANT:Do not operatethe tiller if

thegear oil levelis low. Doingso will

result in severe damageto the transmis-

sion components,

1. With the tiller on levelground, pull the

Depth Regulator Lever (FF,Fig. 2-8) back

and thenall the way up until the lowest

notch in the leveris engaged.

2. Removethe oil fill plug (GG,Fig. 2-9)

from the transmission housing cover and

locate the main drive shaft situated inside

the housing.

3. Thegear oil level is correct if the gear

oil is approximately halfway up the side of

the maindrive shaft.

4. If the gear oil levelis low, add gear oil

by referring to A. ToCheckthe Transmis-

sion Gear Oil Level in Section 5,

STEP6: Add Motor Oil to Engine

Thetiller is shipped withoutoil in the

engine.

IMPORTANT:Do not start the engine

without first adding motor oil Severe

engine damagewill result if the engineis

run without oil.

1. Referto the separate EngineOwner's

Manual for engine oil specifications and

capacities,

2. With the tiller on levelground, move

the Depth Regulator Lever(FF,Fig, 2-8)

up or down until the engine is level.

3. Add motor eli as described in the

EngineOwner's Manual.

4. Movethe Depth Regulator Leverall

the way down until the highest notch is

engaged. This placesthe tines in the

"travel" position.

Fig. 2-8: AdjustDepthRegulator Lever.

Fig,Z-9:Removegearoilfillplug.

STEP7: Check Hardware far

Tightness

Checkall nutsandscrewsfor tightness,

STEP 8: Check Air Pressure in

Tires(unitswith pneumatictires)

If the tires areequipped with air valves,

checkthe air pressurewith a tire gauge.

Deflateor inflate thetires equallyto 15-

to-2g PSI(pounds per squareinch), Be

surethat bothtires are inflated equallyor

the unit will pull to oneside.

IMPORTANT: This completes the

assembly steps, Beforeoperatingyour

tiller, make sure you readthe following

Sections in this Manual, aswell asthe

separate Engine Owner'sManual:

• Section 1:Safety

• Section 3: Featuresand Controls

• Section 4: Operation

FeaturesandControls

Before operating your machine,

carefully read end understand all

safety, controlsand operating instruc-

tions in this Manual, the separate

Engine Owner's Manual, and on the

decalson the machine.

Failure to follow these instructionscan

resultin seriouspersonalinjury.

Forward

ClutchBail

_ DepthRegulator

HandlebarHeight

Adjustment

Introduction

This section describesthe location and

function of the controls on your tiller.

Referto the following section

"Operation" for detailedoperating

instructions.

Practiceusing these controls, with the

engine shut off, until you understandthe

operation ofthe controls and feel

confident with eachof them.

IMPORTANT:Refer to the separate

enginemanufacturer's EngineOwner's

Manualfor informationabout the

controls on the engine.

Wheel Drive Pins

Never allow either ofthe wheels to be

in the FREEWHEELposition when the

engine is running. Always put both

wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE position

beforestartingthe engine.

Failure to comply could cause loss of

tiller control, property damage, or

personalinjury.

Eachwheel is equipped with aWheel

Drive Pin (A, Figures3-2 and 3-3) that

securesthe wheelto thewheel shaft (B),

Thewheels can be positioned in either a

WHEELDRIVEor a FREEWHEELmode.

Figure3-1: Featuresandcontrols

Beforestarting the engine,putboth

wheels in the WHEELDRIVEposition by

inserting the WheelDrive Pinsthrough

the wheel hubsand the wheel shaft. This

"locks" the wheelsto thewheel shaft,

causing the wheels to turn whenthe

Forward ClutchBail is engaged.

Use the FREEWHEELmodeonly when the

engine is not running. In FREEWHEEL,

the Wheel Drive Pinsare placed only

through the holes in the wheel shaft (not

the wheel hubs), thus allowing the wheels

to turn freely whenthe tiller is pushedor

pulled by hand.

To Place theWheels in WHEELDRIVEor

FREEWHEEL:

Do not placethe tiller on itsside when

changing the wheel drive positions as

doing so could result in gasoline

leaking fromfhefueltanko

Failure to follow this instructioncould

result in personal injury or property

damage.

Wheel DrivePin

(on eachwheel)

1. Stop the engine,disconnect the spark

plug wire from the spark plug and allow

the engine to cool.

2. Raiseone wheel off the ground and

placea sturdy support under the

transmission,

3. Removethe hairpin cotter (C, Figures

3-2 and 3-3) from the wheel drive pin (A).

4. FORWHEELDRIVEmode (Figure 3-

2): Slide the wheel outward and align the

holes in the wheelhub (D, Figure3-2) and

thewheel shaft (B), Insert the wheel drive

pin (A) through the wheelhub and the

wheel shaft, Securethe wheel drive pin

with the hairpin cotter (C) by pushing the

hairpin cotter in asfar as it will go. Repeat

for the other wheel and then removethe

support from beneaththe transmission.

5. FORFREEWHEELmode (Figure3-3):

Slide the wheel inward and insert the

wheeldrive pin (A, Figure3-3) only

through the hole in the wheelshaft (B),

Securethe wheeldrive pin with the

hairpin cotter (C) by pushing the hairpin

cotter in as far as it will go. Repeatfor the

other wheeland then removethe support

from beneaththetransmission.

Section3: FeaturesandControls

0 1

Figure3-2: WHEELDRIVEposition.

Figure33: FREEWHEELposition.

Beforestarting the engine, be sure that

both wheels are in the WHEEL DRIVE

position. See "Wheel Drive Pins" for

instructions.

Engagingthe ForwardClutchBail when

the wheels are not in the WHEELDRIVE

positioncould allowthe tines to rapidly

propelthetiller forward.

Failure to comply could cause loss of

tiller control, property damage, or

personalinjury.

Forward Clutch Bail

TheForward ClutchBail (E, Figure3-4)

controls the engagementof forward drive

to the wheels and tines.

To Operatethe ForwardClutchBail:

1. Put the wheels in theWHEELDRIVE

position (seethe "WARNING"statement

above),

2. Lift and hold the bail against the

handlebar. Thewheels and tines wilt

rotate in a forward direction.

3. Releasethe bail to disengage (stop)

the wheels andtines. All forward motion

will stop (the engine will continue to run).

Figure34: ForwardClutchBail(E).

DepthRegulatorLever

This lever (G,Figure 3-5) controls the

tilling depth of the tines. Pull the lever

straight back and slide it up or down to

engagethe notched height settings.

Thehighest notch (leverall the way down)

raisesthe tines approximately 1-1/2' off

the ground. This "travel" setting allows

the tiller to be moved without the tines

digging into the ground. Also usethis

setting when starting the engine.

Move the lever upwardto increasethe

tilling depth. Thelowest notch allows a

tilling depth of approximately 6",

depending on soi! conditions.

Forbestresults,always begintilling at

a veryshallow depthsettingand

graduallyincreasethe tilling depth.

Travel

Position ,_ G

Deep

Figure3-5,"DepthRegulatorLever (G).

• Do notattempttotill 1o0deeplytoo

quickly.Graduallyworkdownto

deepertilling depths.

• Place the Depth Regulator Lever in

the "travel" position before starting

the engine. This position prevents

the tines from touching the ground

until youare readyto begintilling.

Failure to follow this warning could

result in personal injury or property

damage.

HandlebarHeightAdjustment

The handlebar height is adjustable to

three different settings (see Figure3-6).

As a generalrule, adjust the handlebars

so they are at waist levelwhen the tines

are 3"-4"into the soil.

To AdjusttheHandlebars:

1. Stop the engine,disconnect the spark

plug wire from the spark plug and allow

the engineto cool.

2. Removethe screws, Iockwashers and

nuts, reposition the handlebars,and

reinstall the hardware.

Figure3-6:Handlebarheightadjustment.

ENGINECONTROLS

Referto the enginemanufacturer's Engine

Owner's Manual (included in the tiller lit-

eraturepackage)to identify the controls

on your engine,

IMPORTANT:Thecontrol for stopping the

engine islocatedon the engine.

Operation

Before operating your machine,

carefully read and understandall safety

(Section 1), controls (Section 3) and

operating instructions (Section 4) in

this Manual, in the separate Engine

Owner'sManual, and on the decals on

the machine.

Failureto follow these instructionscan

resultin seriouspersona]injury.

ForwardClutchBail

_lator Lever

INTRODUCTION

Readthis Section of the manualthor-

oughly beforeyou start the engine, Then,

takethe time to familiarizeyourself with

the basic operation of the tiller before

using it in the garden, Findan open, level

areaand practice using thetiller controls

without the tines engaging the soil (put

tines in "travel" setting), Onlyafter

you've becomecompletely familiar with

the tiller should you begin using it in the

garden.

BREAK-IN OPERATION

Perform the following maintenance

during thefirst hours of new operation

(see"Maintenance" Section in this

Manualand in the Engine Owner's

Manual).

1. Changeengine oil after first 2 hours of

new engineoperation,

2. Checkfor looseor missing hardware

on unit. Tighten or replaceas needed.

3. Checktension on forward drive belt

after first 2 hours of operation.

4. Checktransmission gear oil level after

first 2 hours of operation.

Recoil Starter

Figure4-1

STARTINGANDSTOPPING

THE ENGINE

Pro-StartChecklist

Makethe following checks and perform

thefollowing services beforestarting the

engine.

1. Readthe "Safety" and "Controls"

Sections in this Manual. Readthe

separateEngineOwner's Manualprovided

bythe engine manufacturer.

2. Checkthat the wheels are in the

WHEELDRIVEposition (wheel pins must

be through the wheel hubs and thewheel

shaft holes).

3. Checkunit for looseor missing

hardware. Serviceas required.

4. Checkengine oil level. SeeEngine

Owner's Manual.

5. Checkthat all safety guards and

covers are in place,

6. Checkair cleanerand engine cooling

system. SeeEngineOwner's Manual,

7. Attach spark plug wire to spark plug.

Wheel DrivePin

(on eachwheel)

GASOLINEIS HIGHLYFLAMMABLEAND

ITS VAPORSAREEXPLOSIVE.

Follow gasoline safety rules in this

Manual (see Section 1) and in the

separateEngineOwner'sManual.

Failure to follow gasoline safety

instructions can result in serious

personalinjuryand propertydamage.

8. Fillthefuel tank with gasoline

according to the directions in the separate

EngineOwner's Manual, Follow all

instructions and safety rules carefully.

Section4: Operation

Starting the Engine

Thefollowing steps describe how to start

and stop the engine. Do notattemptto

engagefhe tines or wheelsuntil you

haveread all ofthe operatinginstruc-

tionsin this Section. Alsoreview

the safetyrules in Section1: Safetyand

thetiller and engine controls

informaUonin Section3: Featuresand

Controls.

To help prevent serious

personal injury or damage to

equipment:

• Before starting engine, put both

wheels in the WHEELDRIVEposition.

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

propelthe tiller rapidlyforward.

• Before starting engine, put Forward

Clutch Bail in neutral (disengaged)

positionby releasinglever.

• 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 exceed150°F.

1. Completethe Pre-Start Checkliston

the previous page.

2. Putthe wheels in the WHEELDRIVE

position (see WheelDrive Pinsin

Section 3).

3. Putthe Depth Regulator Leverin the

"travel" position (lever all the way down)

so that thetines 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 separateEngine Owner's Manual.

6. PutThrottle Control Leveron engine in

"ON", "RUN", "FAST"or "START"position

asinstructed in the separateEngine

Owner's Manual.

7. Chokeor prime engineas instructed in

the separate EngineOwner's Manual.

8. Placeone hand on the fuel tank to

stabilizethe unit whenyou pull the starter

handle. Usethe recoil starter rope to start

the engine as instructed in the separate

EngineOwner's Manual. When engine

starts, graduallymove choke lever(on

enginesso equipped)to "NO CHOKE",

"CHOKEOFF"or "RUN" position.

9. Usethe "FAST"throttle speedsetting

when tilling.

Keepaway from rotatingtines. Rotating

tines will causeinjury.

Stoppingthe Engineend Tiller

1. To stop the wheels andtines, release

the Forward Clutch Bail,

2. To stop the engine,put the Throttle

Control Leveron the engine in the "OFF"

or "STOP" position.

OPERATINGTHETILLER

The following pagesprovide guidelinesto

using your tiller effectively and safelyin

various gardening applications. Besure

to read Tilling Tips & Techniquesin this

Section beforeyou actually putthe 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. Besure that thewheels

are in the WHEELDRIVEposition.

2. Putthe Depth Regulator Lever in the

"travel" position (lever all the way down)

sothat the tines are clear ofthe ground,

Usethis 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 Leverto the desireddepth

setting (see Tilling Tips & Techniques).

3. Start the engineand allow itto warm

up. Whenwarm, put throttle control in

fast speed setting,

4. For forward motion of thewheels and

tines:

Figure4-2: Useonehandtoguidetiller

whenmovingforward.

(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.

Asthe tiller movesforward, relaxand

letthe wheels pui! the unit along while

the tines dig. Walk behind and a little

to one side of the tiller. Usea light

but secure grip with one hand onthe

handlebars, but keepyour arm loose,

See Figure4-2. Letthe tiller move

aheadat its own paceand do not push

down on the handlebarsto try and

force the tiller to dig deeper-this

takesweight off the wheels, reduces

traction, and causesthe tines to try

and propel thetiller.

Section4: Operation

Donot pushdownonthe handlebarsto

tryto make thetiller till more deeply.

Thispreventsthewheels from holding

thetiller backandcanallow thetines

to rapidlypropelthe filler forward,

whichcouldresultin lossofcontrol,

properlydamage, or personalinjury.

5. To move the unit rearward:

(a) Look behind and exercisecaution

when moving in reverse. Do nottill

while in reverse.

(b) Releasethe Forward Clutch Bail.

the tines are out of the soil.

(d) Swingthe handlebarto the left so the

right wheeltakesa "step" backward.

Next movethe handlebarto the right so

the left wheeltakesa "step" backward.

(e) Repeatto "walk" the tiller rearward. If

longer distances needto be covered in

reverse,shut off the engine,then place

thetwo wheels in FREEWHEEL.

6. ToTurn the Tiller Around:

(a) Practiceturning the tiller in a level,

open area. Bevery carefulto keep

your feet and legsaway fromthe tines.

(b) To makea turn, lift the handlebars

until the engineand tines are balanced

over the wheels (Figure4-4). The

tines must beout of the ground while

turning the tiller.

on the handlebar to move the tiller in

the direction of the turn (Figure4-5).

After completing the turn, slowly lower

the tines into the soil to resume tilling.

Figure4-3: Raisetines offgroundand look

behind whenmoving in reverse. Unitcanbe

"fishtailed" backwardmanually fora short

distance, orrolled backwardwhen wheels

are in FREEWHEEL.)

SteppingtheTiller andEngine

1. To stop the wheels and tines, release

the ForwardClutch Bail.

2. To stop the engine, put theThrottle

Control Leveron the engine in the "OFF"

or "STOP" position.

Beforetilling, contactyourtelephoneor

utilities companyand inquire if under-

groundequipmentor lines are used in

your area. Their representativewill be

glad to answer your questionsand tell

yon if any of their equipment or lines

are buried underground on your

property.

I Turningthe Tiller Around

Figure4-4: Tobegin turn, lift handlebars

until engineand tinesare balancedover

wheels. Besure tinesare outof ground.

Figure4-5". Withtiller balancedover

wheels (andtinesout of the ground),

push handlebarssideways to turn ti!ler.

Section4: Operation

TillingTips& Techniques

Letthe tiller dothework

• Whiletilling, relaxand letthe wheels

pull the tiller along while the tines do

the digging. Walk on the sidethat is

not yet finished (to avoid making foot-

prints in the freshly tilled soil) and

lightly, but securely grip the handlebar

with just one hand.See Figure4-2.

• Avoid pushing down on the handlebars

in an attempt to force the tiller to dig

deeper. Doing so takesthe weight off

the powered wheels,causing them to

lose traction. Without the wheels

helping to hold the tiller back,the tines

will attempt to propelthetiller - often

causing the tiller to skip rapidly across

the ground. (Sometimes, slight

downward pressure on the handlebars

will help getthrough a particularly

tough section of sod or unbroken

ground, but in most casesthis won't be

necessaryat all.)

Tilling depths

• Avoid trying to dig too deeplytoo

quickly, especially whenbusting sod or

tilling soil that hasn't been tilled for

some time. Use shallow depth settings

(only an inch or two deep) for the first

passesthrough the garden area. With

eachsucceeding pass,adjust the depth

regulatorto dig another inch or two

deeper, (Watering the garden area a

few days prior to tilling will make tilling

easier, aswill letting the newly worked

soil set for a day or two beforemaking

a final, deeptilling pass.)

• Whencultivating (breakingup the

surfacesoil around plants to help

destroy weeds),useveryshallow depth

settings to preventinjuryto plantswhose

rootsoften growcloseto the surface. If

needed,lift up on thehandlebarsslightly

to preventthetines from diggingtoo

deeply. Cultivatingon a regularbasisnot

onlyeliminatesweeds,it alsoloosens

andaeratesthesoil for bettermoisture

absorptionandfasterplantgrowth.)

Avoidtillingwet, soggysoil

Tilling wet soil often results in large,

hard clumps of soil that can interfere

with planting. If time permits, wait a day

or two after heavyrainsto allow the soil

to dry beforetilling. Testthe soil by

squeezingit into a ball. If it compresses

too easily, it is too wet to till.

Avoidmakingfootprints

Whenpossible,walk onthe untilledside

of the unitto avoid makingfootprints in

thefreshlytilled soil. Footprintscause

soil compaction that canhamperroot

penetrationand contributeto soil erosion.

Theycanalso"plant" unwantedweed

seedsbackinto the newlytilled soil.

Choosingcorrectwheel

and tine speeds

With experience,you will find the "just

right" tilling depth and tilling speed com-

bination that is best for your garden.

Setthe engine throttle lever ata speedto

givethe engine adequatepower and yet

allow it to operateat the slowest possible

speed...atleast until you haveachieved

the maximum tilling depth you desire.

Fasterenginespeeds may be desirable

when making final passesthrough the

seedbedor when cultivating. Selection of

the correct engine speed, in relation to

the tilling depth, witl ensure a sufficient

power levelto do the job without causing

the engineto labor.

Suggestedtilling patterns

When preparing a seedbed,go over the

same pathtwice in the first row, then

overlapone-half the tiller width on the

rest of the passes(seeFigure4-6).

Whenfinished in one direction, make a

second pass ata right angle as shown

in Figure4-7. Overlapeachpass for

best results (in very hard ground it

may takethree or four passesto thor-

oughly pulverizethe soil).

• If the garden sizewill not permit

lengthwise and then crosswise tilling,

then overlapthe first passesby one-

half a tiller width, followed by succes-

sive passesat one-quarter width (see

Figure4-8),

• With planning, you can allow enough

room betweenrows to cultivate (see

Figure4-9). Leaveroom for the hood

width, plus enough extra room for

future plant growth.

Figure4-6

Figure4.7

Figure4-8

.guro,-gIOI@I®I

Section4: Operation

TillingTips& Techniques

Clearingthe tines

Thetines havea self-clearing action

which helps to eliminate most tangling

of debris. However, occasionally dry

grass, stringy stalks or tough vines may

become tangled. Follow these proce-

dures to help avoid tangling andto clear

the tines, if necessary.

• To reducetangling, set the depth

regulator deepenough to get maximum

"chopping" action asthe tines chop the

material againstthe ground. Also, try

to till under crop residues or cover

crops while they are green,moist and

tender.

• While power composting, try swaying

the handlebarsfrom side to side (about

6"to 12°). This "fishtailing" action

often clears the tines of debris.

• If tangling occurs on models equipped

with a poweredreverse,lift the tines

out of the soil and run thetiller in

reversefor a few feet. This reversing

action should unwind a good deal of

debris.

• It may be necessaryto remove the

debris by hand (a pocket knife will help

you to cut away the material).

Beforeclearing the tines byhand, stop

the engine, allow all moving parts to

stop and disconnect the spark plug

wire.

Failure to follow this warning could

resultin personalinjury.

Tilling onslopes

If you must garden on sloping ground,

deasefollow two very important guide-

lines:

1.Till only on moderate slopes, neveron

steepinclines wherefooting is difficult

(review safety rules in the "Safety"

Section of this Manual).

2. Werecommend tilling up and down

slopes rather thanterracing. Tilling

vertically on a slope allows maximum

planting area andalso leavesroom for

cultivating.

IMPORTANT: Whentilling on slopes, be

;urethe correct oil level is maintained in

the engine (checkevery one-half hour of

operation). The inclineof the slopewill

causethe oil to slant awayfrom its

normal level andthis canstarve engine

_artsof required lubrication. Keepthe

engine eli levelat thefull point at all

times!

A. Tilling up and downslopes:

-To keepsoil erosion to a minimum, be

sureto add enough organic matter to

the soil so that it hasgood moisture-

holding texture and try to avoid leaving

footprints or wheel marks.

• Whentilling vertically, try to makethe

first pass uphill asthe tiller digs more

deeplygoing uphill than it does

downhill. In soft soil or weeds,you

may haveto lift the handlebarsslightly

while going uphill. When going

downhill, overlapthe first pass by

aboutone-half the width of thetiller.

B. TerraceGardening:

• Whena slope is too steep or too short

for vertical tilling, it may be necessary

to till acrossthe slope and create

terraced rows. Terracesare rows that

are cut intothe side of a slope, creating

a narrow, but flat areaon which to

plant.

• Ona long slope, you can makeseveral

terraces, one below the other.

• Terracesshould be only 2-to-3 feet

wide. Diggingtoo far intothe side of

the slope will expose poor subsoil that

is unproductive for plants.

• To create a terrace,start at thetop of

the slopeand work down. Go back and

forth across the first row as shown in

Figure4-10.

• Eachsucceeding lower terrace is

started by walking below the terrace

you're preparing. Foradded stability of

the tiller, always keepthe uphill wheel

in the soft, newly tilled soil Do not till

the last 12"or more of the downhill

outside edgeof eachterrace. This

untilled strip helps prevents the

terracesfrom breaking apart and

washing downhill. It also provides a

walking path between rows.

o::ll *

O _ _""EPEAT

Figure4.10

C.Tilling across slopeswithout using

terraces:

• If vertical or terracing gardening aren't

practical for you, then you cantill

laterally across a slope. We don't

reallyrecommend this method as it can

create unsurefooting and invites soil

erosion.

• As in terrace gardening, start atthe top

of the slope and overlapthe first pass

by halfthe width of the tiller. For added

stability of the tiller, always keepthe

uphill wheel in the soft, newlytilled soil.

Section4: Operation

POWERCOMPOSTING

Power composting simply meanstilling

under and burying in the soil all manner

of organic matter such as crop residues,

leaves,grass clippings and cover crops.

This materialwill decomposeduring the

non-growing season and add important

natural nutrients to the soil.

When power composting,do not keep

the Depth Regulator Lever at a deep

settingifthe tiller jumpsorbucks.

Ifjumping or buckingoccurs,movethe

DepthRegulator Lever down to one of

the shallower settingsand then slowly

increase the tilling depth on later

passes.

Failure to comply could result in loss

of tiller control, property damage or

personalinjury.

The firstplaceto begin iswith crop

residues such asleftover vines, stalks,

stems and roots. Powercompost these

crop residues assoon asthey finish

bearing. Thesooner this is done,the

better, astender green matter is easierto

till under. Usethe deepest depth

regulator setting possible without causing

the engineto labor or the tiller to jump

ahead.

Standing cornstalks of reasonableheight

can be power composted. Pushing over

(but not uprooting) cornstalks will often

make it easierfor your tiller to chop up

the stalks. Keepthe tines clearof

excessivetangling by "fishtailing" or fre-

quently using reverse. Make several

passes,then return a few days laterto

finish off any remaining stubble.

After tilling under crop residues,add more

organic matter such as leaves,grass

clippings and even kitchenscraps. When

tilled into the soil, this organic matterwill

decompose and add evenmore important

nutrients to the soil.

After power composting, you may want to

plant a "green manure" cover crop to

protect the soil during the off-season.

You simply grow a crop of clover, alfalfa,

buckwheat, peas,beans, rye grass, grain,

or kaleand then till it into the soi! prior to

the planting season.

LOADINGAND UNLOADINGTHE

TILLER

Loadingand unloadingthe tiller intoa

vehicle is potentially hazardous and

we don't recommend doingso unless

absolutely necessary, as this could

result in personal injury or property

damage.

However, if you must load or unload

the tiller, to!low the guidelines given

next.

• Beforeloading or unloading, stop the

engine,wait for all parts to stop moving,

disconnect the spark plug wire and let

the engine and muffler cool.

• The tiller is too heavyand bulky to lift

safely by one person. Two or more

people should sharethe load.

• Usesturdy ramps and manually (engine

shut off) roll the tiller into and out of the

vehicle. Two or more peopleare needed

to do this.

• Ramps must be strong enoughto

support the combined weight of the tiller

and any handlers. Theramps should

provide good traction to prevent

slipping; they should haveside rails to

guide the tiller along the ramps; andthey

should havea locking device to secure

them to thevehicle.

•The handlersshould wear sturdy

footwear that will help to prevent

slipping.

• Position the loading vehicle sothat the

ramp angle is asfiat as possible (the

less incline to the ramp, the better).

Turn the vehicle's engineoff and apply

its parking brake.

• When going up ramps, stand in the

normal operating position and push the

tiller ahead of you. Havea personat

eachsideto turn the wheels.

* When going down ramps, walk

backwardwith the tiller following you.

Keepalertfor any obstacles behindyou.

Position a person at eachwheelto

control the speedof the tiller. Nevergo

down ramps tilter-first, asthetiller could

tip forward.

• Usewooden blocks to placeon the

downhill side of the wheels if you need

to stop the tiller from rolling down the

ramp. Also, usethe blocks to temporar-

ily keepthe tiller in placeon the ramps

(if necessary),and to chock the wheels

in placeafter the tiller is in the vehicle.

• Whenthe tiller is in the vehicle, prevent

it from rolling by engaging thewheels in

the WHEELDRIVEposition. Chockthe

wheels with blocks and securelytie the

tiller down.

Maintenance

Before inspecting, cleaning or

servicingthe machine, shutoffengine,

wait for all moving partsto come to e

complete stop, disconnectspark plug

wire and move wire away from spark

plug. Remove ignitionkey on electric

start models.

Failureto followthese instructionscan

result in serious personal injury or

propertydamage.

REQUIRED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

Before Eve_ Eve_ As

PROCEDURE Each 10 30 Noted

Use Hou_ Hon_

Checkengine oil level

Cleanengine

Checkdrive belttension

Checknuts and bolts

Changeengine oil

Lubricate tiller

Service engineair cleanersystem

Checkgearoil levelin

transmission

Checktines for wear

Checktire pressure

(pneumatic tires only)

Service spark plug

And every5

operating hours

-r

* Changemorefrequentlyindustyordirtyconditions. Changeafterfirst2hoursof

break-in operation,

_ Checkafter first 2 hours of break-in operation.

• SeeEngineOwner'sManual forservice intervalsandinstructions.

Section5: Maintenance

WARNINGBelore inspecting,cleaning or servicingthe unit, shut off engine, wait for all t =,.-.,.

partsto cometo a completestop, disconnectspark plug wire and movewire away from spark

plug. Failure to follow these instructions can result in serious personal injury or

propertydamage.

TILLER LUBRICATION

Proper lubrication of the tiller is an

essential part of your maintenance

program. After every t0 operating

hours, oil or greasethe lubrication points

shown in Figure5-1 and described

below.

Usea good quality lubricating oil (#30

weight engine oil is suitable) and agood

quality general purpose grease(grease

that has a metal lubricant is preferred, if

available).

• Removewheels, cleanwheelshaft (A,

Fig.5-1) and apply thin coating of

greaseto shaft.

• Greaseback,front and sides of depth

regulator lever(g, Fig. 5-1).

• Removetines, clean tine shafts (C, Fig.

5-1) and inspect for rust, rough spots

or burrs (especially around holes). File

or sand smooth and coat ends of shaft

with grease.

• Oilthe threadson the handlebar height

adjustment screws andthe handlebar

attachingscrews (D, Fig. 5-1).

Figure5-I

CHECKFOR OILLEAKS

Beforeeach use, checkyour tiller for

signs of an oil leak- usually a dirty, oily

accumulation either on the unit or on the

floor where it has beenparked.

A little seepagearound a cover or oil sea]

is usually nota cause for alarm. However,

ifthe oil drips overnight then immediate

attention is neededas ignoring a leakcan

result in severetransmission damage.

If a cover isleaking, check for loose

screws. If thescrews are tight, a new

gasket or oil sealmay be required. If the

leakis from around a shaft and oil seal,

the oil seal probably needsto be replaced.

Seeyour authorized dealer or contact the

factory for service or advice.

IMPORTANT:Never operatethe tiller if the

transmission is low on oil. Checkthe oil

levelafter every30 hours of operation and

whenever there is any oil leakage.

CHECK HARDWARE

Checkfor looseor missing hardwareafter

every10 operating hours. Tighten or

replacehardwarebeforeusing the tiller.

Besureto checkthe screws underneath

the tiller hood (lift the hood flap) that

securethe transmission cover andthe

Depth Regulator Leverto the transmis-

sion.

CHECKTIREPRESSURE(Models

withpneumatictires)

Checkthe air pressure inboth tires.

Deflateor inflate both tires evenly from

t 5-to-20 PSI (pounds per square inch).

Besure that both tires havethe same air

pressure or the unit will tend to pull to

one side.

TRANSMISSIONGEAROIL SERVICE

Checkthe transmission gear oil leveiafter

every 30 hours of operation or whenever

you notice anyoil leak, Operatingthe

tiller when the transmission is low on oil

canresult in severe damage.

A. To Checkthe Transmission

GearOil Level:

1. Checkthe gear oil levelwhen thetrans-

mission is cool. Gearoil will expandin

warm operating temperatures and this

expansion will provide an incorrect oil

levelreading.

2. With the tiiler on levelground, pull the

Depth Regulator Leverall the way up.

3. Removethe oil fill plug (A, Fig.5-2)

from the transmission housing and locate

the main drive shaft situated insidethe

housing.

4. Thegear oil level is correct ifthe gear

oil is approximately halfway up the side of

the main drive shaft.

5. If the gear oil levelis low, add gear oil

as described next. If the gear oil levelis

okay,securely replacethe oil fill plug.

IMPORTANT:Do not operatethe tiller if

the gear oil level is Iow. Doing so will

result in severedamageto the transmis-

sion components.

8. If adding only afew ounces of gear

oil, useAPI rated GL-4 or GL-5 gear oil

having a viscosity of SAE140, SAE85W-

140 or SAE80W-90. if refilling an empty

transmission, use only GL-4 gear oil

having a viscosity of SAE85W-140 or

SAE140.

IMPORTANT: Do not useautomatic

transmission fluid or motor oil inthe

transmission.

7. While checking frequently to avoid

overfilling, slowly add gear oil into the oil

fill hole until it reaches the halfway point

on the drive shaft.

8. Securely replacethe oiI fill plug,

B. To Drainthe TransmissionGearOil:

Thetransmission gear oil does not need

to be changedunless it has been contam-

inated with dirt, sand or metal particles.

1. Draingasoline from the fuel tank or

run the engine until the fueI tank is

empty_See"DANGER" statementthat

follows.

Section5: Maintenance

WARNING Before inspecting,cleaningor servicingthe unit, shut off engine, wait for all i

partsto cometo a completestop, disconnectsparkplug wire and movewire away fromspark

plug. Failure to foliowthese instructions can result in serious personal injury or

propertydamage.

Gasoline is highly flammable and its

vapors are explosive. Follow these

safety practices to prevent personal

injury or propertydamage from fire or

explosion.

,, Allow the engine and muffler to cool

for at leasttwo minutesbefore draining

thetiller's gasolinetank.

• Do not allow open flames, sparks,

matchesor smokingin the area.

* Wipe away spills and pushtiller away

fromspilled fuel.

• Use only an approvedfuel container

and store it safely out of the reach of

children.

• Do not store gasoline in an area

where its vapors could reach an open

flame or spark, or where ignition

sourcesare present(such as hot water

and space heaters, furnaces, clothes

dryers,stoves, electricmotors,etc.)

2. Drainthe oil from the engine.

3. Removefour screws (B, Figure5-2) and

removetransmission cover and gasket.

4. Removethe left-side wheel.

5. Tilt the left-side wheelshaft into a

drain pan and allow the gear oil to drain

through thetop of the transmission,

6. Reinstallthe wheel, install a new

gasketcover (do not reuseold gasket)

and reinstall the transmission cover.

7. Refill the transmission using GL-4

gear oil (SAE85W-140 or SAE 140).

8. Refill the engine with motor oil and

replenish the fuel tank with gasoline.

BOLOTINES

The bolo tines will wearwith useand they

should be inspectedatthe beginning of

eachtilling seasonand after every 30

operating hours. The tines can be

replacedindividually or as a complete set.

Seethe Parts Listfor tine identification

and part numbers,

Figure5-2: Remove oil fiRplug (A) to check

gear ofl level and toadd gear niL Remove

fourcoverscrews(B) todraingear oil.

A, Tine Inspection:

With use,thetines will becomeshorter,

narrowerand pointed. Badlyworn tines

will result in aloss of tilling depth and

reducedeffectivenesswhenchopping up

and turning under organic matter.

B. Removinga Single Tine:

1. With the engine shot offandthe spark

plug wire disconnected, removethe two

screws (A, Figure5-3) and Iocknuts (B)

that attach a singletine to the tine holder.

If needed,use penetrating oil on the nuts.

2. When installing a single tine, besure to

position it sothat its cutting edge will

enter thesoil first asthe tiller moves

forward.

C. Removinga TineAssembly:

1. A tine assembly consists of eighttines

mounted on atine holder.

2. If removing bothtine assemblies,mark

them "left" and "right" before removal.

Removethe screw (C, Figure5-3) and

Iocknut (D)that secure thetine assembly

to the tine shaft. If necessary,usea

rubber mallet to tap the tine assembly

outward off the shaft.

3. Beforereinstalling thetine assembly,

inspect thetine shaft for rust, rough

spots or burrs andfile or sandas needed.

Apply a thin coat of greaseto the shaft.

4. Install eachtine assembly so that the

cutting edge of the tines will enter the

soil first when thetiller movesforward.

Securethe tine assembly to thetine shaft

using the screw and Iocknut previously

removed.

ENGINE

Figure5-3: Install tinessothatcuttingedgeof tinesenter softfirst whentiller movesforward.

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Troybilt 12213 Owner's manual

Brand: Troybilt

Model: 12213

Category: Mini tillers

Type: Owner's manual

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Troybilt 12213 Owner's manual

Troybilt 12213 Owner's manual

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