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12
WARNING: Before
operating your machine,
carefully read and understand
all safety (Section 1), controls
(Section 3) and operating
instructions (Section 4) in this
Manual, the separate Engine
Owner’s Manual, and on the
decals on the machine.
Failure to follow these
instructions can result in
serious personal injury.
INTRODUCTION
Read this Operation Section and the sepa-
rate Engine Owner’s Manual before you
start the engine. Then, take the time to fa-
miliarize yourself with the basic operation
of the tiller before using it in the garden.
Find an open, level area and practice using
the tiller controls without the tines engag-
ing the soil (put tines in “travel” setting).
Only after you’ve become completely fa-
miliar with the tiller should you begin using
it in the garden.
BREAK-IN OPERATION
Perform the following maintenance after
the first two (2) hours of new operation
(see Maintenance Section in this manual
and in the Engine Owner’s Manual).
1. Change engine oil.
2. Check for loose or missing hardware on
unit. Tighten or replace as needed.
3. Check tension on forward drive belt.
4. Check transmission gear oil level.
STARTING AND STOPPING
Pre-Start Checklist
With the spark plug wire disconnected
from the spark plug, perform the following
checks and services before each use:
1. Read the Safety and Controls Sections
in this manual. Read the separate Engine
Owner’s Manual provided with the unit.
2. Put the wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE po-
sition (wheel pins must be through holes
in wheel hubs and wheel shaft).
3. Check unit for loose or missing hard-
ware. Service as required.
4. Check engine oil level. See Engine Own-
er’s Manual.
5. Check that all safety guards and covers
are in place.
6. Check air cleaner and engine cooling
system. See Engine Owner’s Manual.
WARNING: GASOLINE IS
HIGHLY FLAMMABLE AND ITS
VAPORS ARE EXPLOSIVE.
Follow gasoline safety rules in
this Manual (see Section 1) and
in the separate Engine Owner’s
Manual.
Failure to follow gasoline safety
instructions can result in
serious personal injury and
property damage.
7. Fill the fuel tank with gasoline according
to the directions in the separate Engine
Owner’s Manual. Follow all instructions
and safety rules carefully.
8. Attach spark plug wire to spark plug.
Starting the Engine
The following steps describe how to start
and stop the engine.
WARNING: Do not attempt
to engage the tines or wheels
until you have read all of the
operating instructions in this
Section. Also, review the safety
rules in Section 1: Safety, and
the tiller and engine controls
information in Section 3:
Features and Controls.
1. Complete the Pre-Start Checklist on this
page.
2. Put the wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE po-
sition (see Wheel Drive Pins in Section 3 of
this manual).
WARNING: To help
prevent serious personal injury
or damage to equipment:
• Before starting engine, put both
wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE position.
Never have wheels in FREEWHEEL po-
sition when engine is running. When
the wheels are in FREEWHEEL, they do
not hold back the tiller and the tines
could propel the tiller rapidly
forward or backward.
• Before starting engine, put Forward
Clutch Bail (all models) and Reverse
Clutch Control (Model 644A only) in
neutral (disengaged) positions by re-
leasing levers.
• Never run engine indoors or in en-
closed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
odorless and deadly gas.
• Avoid engine muffler and nearby areas.
Temperatures in these areas may ex-
ceed 150° F.
3. Move the Depth Regulator Lever all the
way down to the “travel” position, so that
the tines clear the ground.
4. Release all controls on the tiller.
5. On engine’s with a fuel shut-off valve,
turn valve to open position, as instructed
in the separate Engine Owner’s Manual.
6. Put ignition switch and/or throttle con-
trol lever located on engine in the “ON”,
“RUN”, “FAST” or “START” position, as in-
structed in the Engine Owner’s Manual.
7. Choke or prime engine, as instructed in
Engine Owner’s Manual.
8. Put one hand on fuel tank to stabilize
unit when pulling starter rope handle. Then
use recoil starter to start engine, as in-
structed in the Engine Owner’s Manual.
When engine starts, gradually move choke
lever (if so equipped) to “NO CHOKE”,
“CHOKE OFF” or “RUN” position.
9. Use the “FAST” throttle speed setting
when tilling.
Fig. 4-1
Wheel Drive Pin
Depth Regulator
Forward
Clutch Bail
Reverse Clutch Control
(Model 644A)
SECTION 4: OPERATION