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Section 4: Operation
Tilling Tips & Techniques
Clearing the tines
Dry grass, stringy stalks or tough vines
may become tangled in the tines. Follow
these procedures to help avoid tangling
and to clean the tines, if necessary.
• To reduce tangling, set the depth
regulator to maximum depth.
• While tilling, try swaying the handle-
bars from side to side (about 6" to 12").
This “fishtailing” action often clears the
tines of debris.
• If tangling occurs, lift the tines out of
the soil and run the tiller in reverse for
a few feet. This may unwind a good
deal of debris.
• It may be necessary to remove the
debris by hand (a pocket knife will help
you to cut away the material).
Tilling on slopes
If you must garden on a moderate slope,
please follow two very important guide-
lines:
1. Till only on moderate slopes, never on
steep ground where footing is difficult
(review safety rules in the “Safety”
section of this manual).
2. We recommend tilling up and down
slopes rather than terracing. Tilling
vertically on a slope allows maximum
planting area and also leaves room for
cultivating.
IMPORTANT: When tilling on slopes, be
sure the correct oil level is maintained in
the engine (check every one-half hour of
operation). The incline of the slope will
cause the oil to slant away from its
normal level and this can starve engine
parts of required lubrication. Keep the
engine oil level at the full point at all
times!
A. Tilling up and down slopes:
• To keep soil erosion to a minimum, be
sure to add enough organic matter to
the soil so that it has good moisture-
holding texture and try to avoid leaving
footprints or wheel marks.
• When tilling vertically, try to make the
first pass uphill as the tiller digs more
deeply going uphill than it does
downhill. In soft soil or weeds, you
may have to lift handlebars slightly
while going uphill.
B. Tilling across slopes without
using terraces:
If previously described tilling methods
aren’t practical for you, then you can till
laterally across a slope. However, we
don’t really recommend this method as
it can create unsure footing and invites
soil erosion.
WARNING
Before clearing the tines by
hand, stop the engine, allow
all moving parts to stop and
disconnect the spark plug
wire.
Failure to follow this warning
could result in personal
injury.