Aardvark TJ599E User manual

© 2015 by Snow Joe®, LLC
All rights reserved. Original instructions.
A Division of Snow Joe®, LLC OPERATOR’S MANUAL
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Model TJ599E Form No. SJ-TJ599E-880E-MR2
6-INCH 2.5-AMP ELECTRIC
GARDEN CULTIVATOR
IMPORTANT!
Safety Instructions
All Operators Must Read These
Instructions Before Use
Always follow these safety guidelines. Failure to do so may
result in serious bodily injury or death.
General Safety WARNINGS!
You and any other operator of this garden cultivator must
read, understand and follow these instructions in their entirety.
Failure to follow these instructions may result in ELECTRIC
SHOCK, FIRE and/or serious PERSONAL INJURY.
Notice the personal safety alert symbol mused in this
manual to draw your attention to a WARNING given along
with the particular operating instruction. This means that
the operation requires special ATTENTION, CAUTION and
AWARENESS.
1. Keep work area clean and well-lit – Cluttered, dark
areas invite accidents.
2. Replacement parts – When servicing this unit, use only
identical replacement parts. Replace or repair damaged
cords immediately.
3. Keep children, bystanders and pets away – All
spectators, including pets, should be kept a safe distance
away from the work area.
4. Know your product – Know how to start and stop the
machine. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls.
5. Use the right tool – Do not use this machine for any job
except that for which it is intended.
6. Dress properly – Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry as
such articles can become caught in moving parts. Wear
a protective covering to contain long hair. Wearing rubber
gloves and substantial non-slip footwear is recommended
when working outdoors.
7. Extension cords – To prevent electric shock, use only
with an extension cord suitable for outdoor use.
8. Avoid accidental starting – Do not carry the garden
cultivator with your nger on the switch. Make sure the
switch is o before plugging in the unit.
mCAUTION! Moving parts will continue to run for several
seconds after turning o the machine.
9. Do not abuse the cord – Never carry the garden
cultivator by the cord or yank the cord to disconnect it
from the receptacle. Keep the cord away from heat, oil
and sharp edges.
10. Moving parts – Keep hands and feet away from moving
parts. Keep guards in place and in proper working order.
11. Do not force the tool – It will perform better with less
likelihood of personal or mechanical injury if it is used at
the rate for which it was designed.
12. Do not overreach – Keep proper footing and balance at
all times.
If the garden cultivator strikes a foreign object, follow
these steps:
• Stop the electric garden cultivator.
• Inspect for damage.
• Repair any damage before restarting and
operating the garden cultivator.
13. Use safety glasses – Also use safety footwear, snug-
tting clothing, protective gloves, hearing and head
protection.
14. Disconnect the tool – Disconnect the garden cultivator
from the power supply when it is not in use, before
servicing it, when changing accessories and when
performing any other maintenance task.
15. Store idle tool indoors – When not in use, the garden
cultivator should be stored indoors in a dry and high or
locked-up place out of the reach of children.
16. Maintain the garden cultivator with care – Keep the
cutting edge sharp and clean for optimal performance
and to reduce the risk of injury. Inspect the extension
cord periodically and immediately replace it if damaged.
Keep the handles dry, clean and free from oil and grease.
Follow the additional recommendations described in the
maintenance section of this manual.
17. Avoid dangerous environments – Do not use the
garden cultivator in rain, damp or wet locations. Do not
operate the garden cultivator in gaseous or explosive
atmospheres or use the garden cultivator near ammable
or combustible liquids. Motors in these tools normally
spark, and the sparks might ignite fumes.
18. Stay alert – Watch what you are doing. Use common
sense. Do not operate the garden cultivator when you
are tired or under the inuence of drugs, alcohol or other
medication.
19. Check for damaged parts – Before further use of the
appliance, a guard or other part that is damaged should
be carefully checked to determine that it will operate
properly and perform its intended function. Check for
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alignment of moving parts, binding of moving parts,
breakage of parts, mounting, and any other condition
that may aect its operation. A guard or other part that
is damaged should be properly repaired or replaced.
Contact the Snow Joe®+ Sun Joe®customer service
center at 1-866-SNOWJOE (1-866-766-9563) for
assistance.
Training
• Read, understand and follow all instructions on the
cultivator and in the manual before operating this unit.
Thoroughly familiarize yourself with the controls and the
proper use of the equipment. Know how to stop the unit
and disengage the controls quickly.
• Children should never be allowed access to the equipment.
Adults should never operate the equipment without
carefully reading and understanding these instructions.
• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, particularly
small children and pets.
• Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.
• Always plan your cultivating pattern to avoid discharge of
material toward people, pets and property. Thrown objects
can cause serious personal injury.
• Keep people, pets and property at least 25 feet from the
cultivator while it is in operation. Stop the cultivator if
people or pets enter the discharge area.
• Always observe the surface conditions in order to avoid
slipping, falling and unexpected objects.
Preparation
• Always inspect the area where the cultivator is to be used.
Remove all objects (e.g., stones, sticks, wires and foreign
objects) that could be thrown by the tines or cause the
operator to trip.
• Thrown objects can cause serious injury to the eyes and
exposed body. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields
during operation and while performing an adjustment or
repair.
• Always operate cultivator wearing adequate garments.
Do not wear jewelry or other loose clothing, which could
become entangled in moving parts. Wear footwear that
provides sure footing.
• Observe any noise-prevention regulations and laws.
• Inspect the cultivator for worn, missing or damaged parts
and safety labels. See maintenance section for detailed
instructions.
Operation
• Do not operate the machine while under the inuence of
alcohol or drugs.
• Keep all safety devices in place and in proper working
order. Do not operate with missing or damaged
components.
• Ensure the controls (start/stop) function properly before
cultivating.
• Hold onto the cultivator with both hands during operation.
Ensure the grips are dry.
• Contact with the rotating parts can amputate hands and
feet. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts.
• Plan your cultivating pattern to avoid discharge towards
people or property (e.g., windows, cars etc.). Do not direct
discharge at children, bystanders and pets or allow anyone
in front of the machine.
• Only operate the cultivator when there is good visibility or
light and dry conditions. Always watch your footing and
keep a rm hold on the grips. Walk don’t run!
• Do not operate the cultivator on slippery surfaces. Check
your footing as you operate the cultivator.
• Exercise caution when changing direction and operating
on slopes. Always keep feet and legs a safe distance away
from the machine. Look for hidden obstacles or hazards.
• Do not overload machine capacity by attempting to
cultivate to deeply. It will cause excessive resistance.
• Stop the cultivator and disconnect the electric cord before
you leave the operating position (behind the handles) to
make any adjustments or inspections. Wait until the tines
have come to a complete stop.
• If the cultivator should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the
machine and inspect thoroughly for damage.
• Turn the machine OFF and disconnect the electrical
power when moving to a new work area. Allow the tines to
completely stop rotating before moving the cultivator.
• Always use care and good judgment when you have a
situation that is not covered in this manual. If unsure,
always contact the distributors where you bought the
cultivator or the nearest service location before proceeding.
• Do not use in rain.
• Do not grasp the exposed cutting blades or cutting edges
when picking up or holding the appliance.
Work Stoppage
• Always turn the cultivator OFF and disconnect the electrical
power when there is a work stoppage or changing work
areas. Never leave the machine running when unattended.
• The tines will continue to rotate for a short period
after turning the cultivator OFF. Wait until the tines
have completely stopped before lifting the machine or
conducting inspection and maintenance.
• The motor housing remains hot for a short period after the
machine is turned OFF. Allow the motor housing to cool o
before touching or storing near combustible material.
Maintenance + Storage
• Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels.
• Disengage all controls, stop the engine and wait until the
tines come to a complete stop before cleaning, repairing or
inspecting the cultivator.

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• Regularly check the following:
i) Accumulation of debris around the tines could cause a
poor performance or damage to the motor. Inspect and
clean before every use.
ii) Safety devices are operating properly. Do not tamper
with or adjust safety devices.
iii) Bolts and screws for proper tightness. Visually inspect
machine for any damage and that the cultivator is in
safe working condition.
iv) Always replace damaged parts with original equipment
manufacturer’s (OEM) parts only. Replacement parts
that do not meet the original equipment specications
may lead to improper performance and compromise
safety.
Double-Insulated Appliances
In a double-insulated appliance, two systems of insulation
are provided instead of grounding. No grounding means is
provided on a double-insulated appliance, nor should a means
for grounding be added to the appliance. Servicing a double-
insulated appliance requires extreme care and knowledge
of the system, and should be performed only by qualied
service personnel at an authorized Snow Joe®+ Sun Joe®
dealer. Replacement parts for a double-insulated appliance
must be identical to the parts they replace. A double-insulated
appliance is marked with the words “Double Insulation” or
“Double Insulated.” The symbol (square within a square)
may also be marked on the appliance.
DOUBLE-INSULATED: GROUNDING NOT
REQUIRED. WHEN SERVICING, USE ONLY
IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS.
This electric garden cultivator is double-insulated, eliminating
the need for a separate grounding system. Use only identical
replacement parts. Read the instructions before servicing
double-insulated appliances. Use this garden cultibator only as
described in this manual.
Electrical Safety
1. Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection should
be provided on the circuit(s) or outlet(s) to be used for
this electric garden cultivator. Receptacles are available
having built-in GFCI protection and may be used for this
measure of safety.
2. To prevent electric shock, use only with an extension cord
suitable for outdoor use, such as SW-A, SOW-A, STW-A,
STOW-A, SJW-A, SJOW-A, SJTW-A, or SJTOW-A.
Before use, check that the extension cord is in good
condition. When using an extension cord, make sure to
use one heavy enough to carry the current your product
will draw. For lengths more than 50 ft (15 m), a No.16
AWG (or greater) extension cord should be used. An
undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting
in loss of power and overheating.
3. To reduce the risk of electric shock, this appliance has
a polarized plug (i.e. one blade is wider than the other).
Use this appliance only with a polarized UL-, CSA- or
ETL-listed extension cord recommended for outdoor, all-
weather use, such as the Snow Joe®+ Sun Joe®Power
Joe SJTW-A 14-gauge 50-foot extension cord with lighted
end (Model PJEXT50-B). Visit snowjoe.com to purchase
this extension cord online or, to order by phone, call
1-866-SNOWJOE (1-866-766-9563).
The appliance plug will t into a polarized extension
cord only one way. If the appliance plug does not t
fully into the extension cord, reverse the plug. If the plug
still does not t, obtain a correct polarized extension
cord. A polarized extension cord will require the use of a
polarized wall outlet. The extension cord plug will t into
the polarized wall outlet only one way. If the plug does
not t fully into the wall outlet, reverse the plug. If the plug
still does not t, contact a qualied electrician to install
the proper wall outlet. Do not modify the appliance plug,
extension cord receptacle or extension cord plug in any
way.
mWARNING m
Electric shock may cause SEVERE INJURY or
DEATH. Heed these warnings:
• Do not allow any part of the electric garden cultivator
to make contact with water while it is in operation. If
the appliance becomes wet while turned o, wipe dry
before starting.
• Use only a UL-, CSA- or ETL-rated extension cord
for outdoor, all-weather use, such as the Snow Joe®+
Sun Joe®Power Joe SJTW-A 14-gauge 50-foot
extension cord with lighted end (Model PJEXT50-B).
Visit snowjoe.com to purchase this extension cord
online or, to order by phone, call 1-866-SNOWJOE
(1-866-766-9563).
• Do not use an extension cord over 100 ft (30 m).
• Do not touch the appliance or its plug with wet hands
or while standing in water. Wearing rubber boots
oers some protection.
EXTENSION CORD CHART
Cord Length:
Min. Wire Gauge (A.W.G.):
50 ft (15 m)
16
100 ft (30 m)
16

4. To prevent the appliance cord from disconnecting from
the extension cord during operation, use the onboard
extension cord restraint hook and/or make a knot with the
two cords as shown in Table 1.
5. Do not abuse the cord. Never pull the garden cultivator
by the cord or yank the cord to disconnect it from the
receptacle. Keep the cord away from heat, oil, and sharp
edges.
(B) Connect plug and receptacle
Cord set Appliance cord
(A) Tie cord as shown
Table 1. Method of Securing Extension Cord
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Safety Symbols
The following table depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read, understand, and follow all
instructions on the machine before attempting to assemble and operate.
READ THE OPERATOR'S
MANUAL(S) – Read,
understand and follow all
instructions in the user
manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate.
SAFETY ALERT – Indicates
a precaution, a warning or
a danger.
DOUBLE INSULATION – When
servicing, use only identical
replacement parts.
WARNING! Do not expose the
unit to rain or wet conditions.
WARNING! Rotating parts may
cause serious injury. Make sure
the tines come to a complete
stop before transporting the
machine or before inspecting,
cleaning or conducting any
other maintenance.
WARNING! Keep electrical
extension cord away from tines.
Wear eye protection, breathing
protection and ear protection
(i.e. safety goggles, dust masks
and ear defenders).
SWITCH OFF! Remove plug
from the outlet immediately if
the cord is damaged or cut.
Symbols SymbolsDescriptions Descriptions
SWITCH OFF! Remove plug
from the outlet before cleaning
or conducting maintenance
checks.
Beware of foreign objects
that could be thrown from the
appliance. Keep bystanders a
safe distance away from the
work area.
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