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16
Section 4: Operation
Clearing Debris from the Tines
Long grass, string, or tough vines may
become tangled in the tines. It’s not
necessary to remove all of the tangled
material for best tilling results, but the
bulk of the material should be removed
for effective tilling. The tine hood may be
removed for the most complete tine
cleaning.
To avoid tangled materials:
• Till under crop residues or cover crops
while they are still green.
• Using the handlebar, swing the tiller
from side-to-side (6" to 12" each way)
occasionally– this can clear up tangles.
• If tangled material begins to build up,
stop the engine, let all moving parts
stop completely, disconnect the spark
plug wire, move the wire away from the
plug, then use a pocket knife or
linoleum knife to cut the material away.
WARNING
To help avoid personal injury,
shut off the engine, let all
moving parts stop completely,
disconnect the spark plug wire
and move the wire away from
the plug before attempting to
clean the tiller tines.
How to Operate Your Machine as
a Front Tine Tiller/Cultivator
The VersaTiller is not only a very
capable, high-performance rear tine tiller,
but a wonderful front tine tiller/cultivator
as well. Its cultivating capabilities will help
your garden, flower beds, and shrubbery
areas flourish the entire growing season.
If you plan carefully before planting,
you can leave enough room between plant
rows for later cultivating. That will
eliminate most hand-weeding or hoeing
chores during the growing season. Allow
for the overall wheel width (16") between
rows plus some additional room for plant
growth (particularly for bushy crops like
beans, tomatoes, peas, etc.) See Fig. 4-12.
Tine Width (all four tine gangs): 12"
Tine Width (inner tine gangs only): 7
1
⁄4"
Wheel-to-Wheel Width: 16"
1. Be sure the equipment is in front tine
tiller/cultivator mode (see Fig.4-8 and 4-
12). The handlebar must be positioned
over the engine and the tine hood
removed. (See Page 14 for instructions.)
2. Start the engine and let it warm up.
Adjust the throttle lever to a medium
engine speed.
3. Stand behind the handlebar and at the
front of the engine (Fig. 4-12). Close the
DRIVE BAIL against the handlebar and the
tines will revolve.
IMPORTANT: When in front tine tiller/
cultivator mode, only the tines are
powered when the Drive Bail is closed–
NOT THE WHEELS. In this mode, the
wheels are always in “freewheel” and the
equipment can be easily moved.
4. The rotating tines will pull the machine
along as it tills or cultivates. You can
push down on the handlebar to raise the
tines if they stay in one location too long.
5. To stop the tines, let go of the drive bail.
To stop the engine, move the engine
throttle lever all the way down to STOP.
Cultivating Tips:
• Shallow cultivating is most effective.
Don’t let the tines dig in too deeply as
you proceed through a row. To prevent
this from happening, push down on the
handlebar to raise the tines up. Also use
the handlebar as a depth control so the
tines do not till up vegetable plant roots
which are deeper than weed roots.
• Sweep the tines from side to side by
moving the handlebar. This action imi-
tates hand-weeding and prevents the tines
from staying in one location too long.
• You may remove both outer tine gangs
if a narrower overall tine width will help
cultivate between individual plants.
Simply take off the hardware that secures
both outer tine gangs and slide the outer
gangs off the tine shaft.
Cultivating in Flower Beds and
in Confined Shrubbery Areas
The VersaTiller is designed to help you
cultivate easily in and around congested
flower beds and shrub areas. If
necessary, simply remove the two outer
tine gangs. The remaining inner tine
gangs measure just 7
1
⁄
4" overall. You can
“poke” these tines into very compact
areas without damaging flowers, leaves
and stems.
Fig. 4-12: Cultivating in the garden.