Troy-Bilt 128T User manual

TRO BILT'__
Operator's Manual
Tiller/Edger Model
128T
IMPORTANT:READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-cov-
ered or grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any). If a
spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator. In the State of California the above is required by law (Sec-
tion 4442 of the California Public Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the
muffler is available by contacting the service department at Troy-Bilt LLC. P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.
TROY-BILT LLC, P.O. BOX 361131, CLEVELAND, OH 44136-0019
PRINTED IN USA FROM NO. 769-00155
(03/2002)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Content Page
Calling Customer Support .................................................... 2
Safety ................................................................... 3
Assembly ................................................................. 5
Features and Controls ....................................................... 7
Operation ................................................................ 8
Maintenance .............................................................. 11
Storage .................................................................. 13
Troubleshooting ............................................................ 14
Parts List ................................................................. 15
Warrany Information ........................................................ Back Cover
FINDINGMODELNUMBER
This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new Tiller/Edger. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain
the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.
Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the model plate on the equipment and copy the infor-
mation from it in the space provided below. This information is very important if you need help from our Customer
Support Department or an authorized dealer.
You can locate the model number by looking at the rear surface of the tine shield. A sample model plate is ex-
plained below. For future reference, please copy the model number and the serial number of the equipment in
the space below
O BILT. TROY-BILT LLI
P. 0. BOX 361131
www.troybilt.com CLEVELAND,OH44136
330-558-7220
•866-840-648_
Copy Model Number Here
Copy Serial Number Here
ENGINEINFORMATION
The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues with regards to performance, power-rating, speci-
fications, warranty and service. Please refer to the engine manufacturer's Owner's/Operator's Manual packed sepa-
rately with your unit for more information.
CALLING CUSTOMER SUPPORT
If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or maintenance
of this unit, please call the Customer Support Department.
Call 1- [phone] or 1- [phone] to reach a Customer Support representative. Please have
your unit's model number and serial number ready when you call. See previous section to locate this in-
formation. You will be asked to enter the serial number in order to process your call ..

Safety
SPARKARRESTERWARNINGTO RESIDENTSOFCALIFORNIAANDSEVERALOTHERSTATES
UnderCalifornialaw,and underthe laws of severalother states,you are not permittedto operatean internal combustion engine
using hydrocarbon fuels on anyforest, brush, hay,grain, or grass covered land; or land covered byany flammable agricultural crop
without an engine spark arrester in continuous effectiveworking order.
Theengine on the unit isan internalcombustion enginewhich burns gasoline, a hydrocarbon fuel, and must beequipped with a
spark arrester muffler in continuous effectiveworking order. The sparkarrester must be attachedto the engine exhaustsystem in
such a mannerthat flames or heatfrom the system will not igniteflammable material. Failureof the owner/operator of the unit to
comply with this regulation is a misdemeanor underCalifornia law (and other states) and mayalso be a violation of other state
and/or federal regulations, laws,ordinances or codes. Contactyour localfire marshal or forest servicefor specific information
about which regulations apply in your area.
TRAINING
•Readthis Owner's Manualand the sep-
arate EngineOwner's Manualvery care-
fully beforeoperatingthis equipment. Be
completely familiar with the controls and
the proper useof the equipment. Know
howto stop the unit and disengagethe
controls quickly. A replacementManual
isavailableby contacting your authorized
dealer or the Factory.
• Neverallow children or untrained
adults to usethis equipment. Letadults
operatethe unit only if instructed
properly.
• Keepthe area of operationclear of all
persons,particularly small children and
pets. Keepbystandersat least 25 feet
from thearea of operation.
• Keepin mind that the operator or user
is responsiblefor accidents or hazards
occurring to other people,their property
and themselves.
• Familiarizeyourself with all of the
safety and operating decals onthis equip-
ment and on any of its attachments or
accessories.
• Donot run engine in an enclosed area.
Engineexhaustcontains carbon
monoxide gas,a deadly poisonthat is
odorless, colorless, andtasteless. Donot
operatethis equipment nearbuildings,
windows, or air conditioning equipment.
• Donot allow handsor any other part of
the body or clothing nearthe rotating
tines or nearany other moving part. The
tines begin to rotateforward oncethe
engine is started and theThrottle/Tines
Leverissqueezed. Thetines continue to
rotate until the operator releasesthe
Throttle/Tines Lever.
• Beforeinspecting or servicing any part
of the equipment, shut off engine,make
sure all moving parts havecome to a
complete stop, then disconnect spark
plug wire from spark plug and movewire
away from the plug.
• Donot operatethis equipment if you are
underthe influence ofalcohol, medication,
or whenyou aretired or ill.
PREPARATION
• Thoroughly inspectthe area wherethe
equipment isto be usedand remove all
foreign objects.
• Makesurethat the Throttle/Tines Lever
is releasedand is in the neutralposition
beforeyou begin to start the engine.
• Do notoperatethe machinewithout
wearing adequateouter garments. Avoid
loosegarments or jewelry that could get
caught in moving parts of the machine or
its engine.
• Do notoperatethe equipment when
barefoot or when wearing sandals,
sneakers, or similar lightweight footwear.
Wear protectivefootwear that will protect
your feet and improve footing on all
surfaces.
• Wearapprovedsafety glasseswhen op-
erating this equipment. Theoperation of
any poweredmachine can result in for-
eign objects beingthrown by high-speed
rotating parts.
• Do nottill nearunderground electric
cables,telephonelines, pipes, or hoses.
If in doubt, contact your utility or tele-
phonecompanyto locateunderground
services.
• Handlefuel with care. It is highly
flammable and hasexplosivevapors.
Takethese precautions:
a. Usean approvedfuel container.
b. Add fuel before starting the engine.
Never removethe cap ofthe fuel tank
or add fuel whilethe engine is running
or whenthe engine is hot. Operators
shall not smoke.
c. Keepmatches,cigarettes,cigars,
pipes, openflames, and sparksaway
from thefuel tank and fuel container.
d. Fillfueltank outdoors and with ex-
treme caution. Neverfill fueltank
when indoors. Usea funnel or spout
to preventspillage.
e. Replaceall fueltank and fuel container
caps securely.
f. If fuel is spilled, do not attempt to start
the engine, but move the machineaway
from the areaof spillage and avoidcre-
ating anysource of ignition until fuel
vapors havedissipated.
• Nevermakeadjustments to your equip-
ment whenthe engine is running or spark
plug wire isconnected (unless specifically
recommendedin Owner's Manual).
OPERATION
Operator'sPosition
RIGHTSIDE
LEFTSIDE
LEFTandRIGHTsidesofthetillerare
fromtheoperator'spositionbehindthe
handlebars(unlessnotedotherwise).
• Thecorrect operator's position is when
you are standing behindand gripping
handlebar,facing forward toward the
engine. Do not leavethis position while
usingthe Throttle/Tines Lever.
•Donot put handsor feet near or under
rotating parts.
3

Section1: Safety
• Exerciseextremecaution when on or
crossing graveldrives, walks or roads.
Stay alert for hidden hazardsor traffic.
Donot carry passengers.
• After striking aforeign object, stop the
engine, letall moving parts come to a
complete stop, disconnect the spark plug
wire and prevent it from touching the
spark plug,then carefully inspectthe ma-
chine for damage. Repairthe damage
beforerestarting and operating the
machine.
• Exercisecaution to avoid slipping or
falling.
• If the machineshould start to vibrate
abnormally, stop the engine. Disconnect
the spark plug wire and prevent it from
touching the plug. Checkimmediately for
the cause. Vibration is generallya
warning oftrouble. Fixthe problem
beforeusing the equipment again.
• Stopthe engine,disconnect the spark
plug wire and preventit from touching the
spark plug wheneveryou leavethe equip-
ment, beforeunclogging the tines, or
when making any repairs, adjustments or
inspections.
• Takeall possible precautionswhen
leavingthe machineunattended. Always
stop the engine. Disconnectthe spark
plug wire and preventit from touching the
plug.
• Beforecleaning, repairing, or in-
specting, stop the engine and makecer-
tain all moving parts havestopped. Dis-
connect the spark plug wire and prevent it
from touching the spark plug to avoid ac-
cidental starting.
• Neveroperateequipment without
proper guards, plates,or other protective
safety devicesin place.
• Donot run the engine in an enclosed
area. Theexhaustfumes from the engine
contain extremelydangerous carbon
monoxide gas. This gas is colorless,
• Beawarethat the equipment may unex-
pectedlybounceupward or jump forward
if thetines should strike extremely hard
packedsoil, frozen ground, or buried ob-
stacles such as large stones, roots or
stumps. If you are in doubt aboutthe
tilling conditions, always usethe fol-
lowing operating precautionsto assist
you in maintaining control of the
equipment:
a. Stand behind theequipment, using
both handson the handlebars. Relax
your arms, but usea secure hand
grip.
b. Start tilling at shallow depths,working
gradually deeperwith eachpass.
c. Clearthetilling areaof all largestones,
roots, and other debris.
d. in an emergency,stop thetines by re-
leasingthe Throttle/Tines Leveron the
handlebar. Tostop the engine,move
the engine On/Offswitch to OFE
• Do notoverloadthe machine'scapacity
byattempting to till too deeplyat too fast
a rate.
• Neveroperatethe equipment on slip-
perysurfaces. Look behind and use care
when backing up.
• Do notoperatethe equipment on a
slope that istoo steepfor safety. When
on slopes,slow down and makesure you
havegood footing.
• Neverallow bystanders nearthe unit.
• Onlyuseattachments and accessories
that are factory-approved.
• Neveroperatethe equipment without
good visibility or good light.
• Neveroperatethe unit if you are tired,
or under the influence of alcohol, drugs,
or medication.
• Do nottamper with the engine gov-
ernor settings on the machine;the gov-
ernor controls the maximum safe oper-
,, . ating speedand protects theengine and
odorless, tastelessand oeaey po sonous; all other moving parts from damage
• Keepchildren and pets away. caused byengine overspeed. Authorized
• Donot touch engine parts which may
be hotfrom operation. Allow parts to
cool beforeinspecting, cleaningor
repairing.
• Remember:you canstop thetines by
releasingthe Throttle/Tines Lever. Move
the engine On/Offswitch to OFFto shut
the engine off.
• Nevertransport this machinewhenthe
engine is running.
• Terminalsand non-insulated electrical
parts shall be protectedagainst shorting
during normal servicing, refuelingor
lubrication.
• Useextremecaution when reversing or
pulling the machinetoward you.
• Start the enginecarefully according to
instructions and with feet well away from
the tines.
MAINTENANCE/STORAGE
• Keepthe tiller, attachments and acces-
sories in safe working condition.
• Checkall nuts, bolts, and screws at fre-
quent intervals for proper tightness to be
sure equipment is in safe working
condition.
• Neverstore equipment with fuel in fuel
tank insidea building wherefumes may
reachan open flame or spark (hot water
and space heaters,furnaces, clothes
dryers, stoves, electric motors, etc.).
• Allow the engine to cool beforestoring
the equipment.
•Keep the enginefree of grass, leaves,
or greaseto reducethe chanceof a fire
hazard.
• Storegasoline in a cool, well-ventilated
area,safelyaway from anyspark- or
flame-producing equipment. Storegaso-
line in an approvedcontainer,safelyaway
from the reachof children.
• Neverperform maintenancewhen
engine is running or spark plug wire is
connected unless instructed to do so.
service shall be sought if a problem • If fuel tank must be drained,do so
exists, outdoors.
• Follow manufacturer's recommenda-
tions for safe loading, unloading,trans-
port and storage of machine.
4

To prevent personal injury or property
damage, donotstartthe engineuntil aii
assembly steps are complete and you
havereadand understandthe safetyand
operatinginstructionsinthis manual.
INTRODUCTION
Readthese instructions in their entirety
beforeyou attempt to assembleor op-
erateyour newequipment.
The Border/EdgerAttachment (H, Figure
5) does not needto be installed until you
are readyto do edging projects (referto
instructions in this Section).
IMPORTANT:Thecorrect mixture of un-
leadedautomotive gasolineandtwo-cycle
motor oil (a 24:1 ratio of gasolineto two-
cycle oil) must beaddedto thefuel tank
beforestarting the engine. Seeinstruc-
tions in this Section.
UNPACKINGINSTRUCTIONS
Figure1: Loosenhandlebarknobsand
unfoldhandlebars.Slideplastictiestothe
locationsshown,
1. Inspectyour machine immediately. If
you find or suspect damageto the carton
or contents, contact your localauthorized
dealer or the Factoryfor assistance.
2. Removeany packingmaterial. Check
for small parts beforediscarding the
packing material. Looseparts includethe mounting screws and washersin the
following: otherset of holes.
2. Thereare two height settings holes in
the upper handlebar.The unit is shipped
with the handlebar knobs in the lowest
heightsetting holes. If this height is cor-
rectfor you, simply tighten the two han-
dlebar knobs. If a higher setting is de-
sired, reposition the handlebarknobs,
3. Checkthe locations ofthe three plastic
ties (C, Figure1). Theties must be posi-
tioned as shown.
NOTE:Thereis just one handlebarstorage
position - folded overthe engine asorigi-
nallyshipped.
STEP2: Inspect
andTightenHardware
Checkall nuts, bolts and screws on your
unitand tighten as needed. NOTE:Usea
7/16" socket with an extensionto check
hardwareat ends of handlebar.
(1) Bottle of 2-CycleOil
(1) Wheel (for edging)
(1) EdgerTine
(2) *Long Bushings
(1) *Short Bushing
* Packedin a separateplastic bag.
3. Perform theassembly on a clean, level
surface. Becareful not to severelybend
any of the control cables on the unit.
4. Beforestartinganyassemblysteps,
disconnectthe enginesparkplugwire
from thesparkplug.
ASSEMBLYSTEPS
STEP1: Unfoldand
AdjustHandlebars
IMPORTANT: Be careful not to pinchany
wires or cableswhile unfolding and ad-
justing the handlebars.
ToolsNeededtoCheckfor Loose
Hardware:
•Adjustablewrench
• Slotted-head screwdriver
• Phillips-headscrewdriver
• 7/16" socketand extension
1. Loosenthe two handlebarknobs (A,
Figure1) and unfold the handlebarsinto
the operating position. Do not useforce
-- if there is binding, continue to loosen
the knobs.
IMPORTANT:Donot tighten enginegov-
ernor screw (D, Figure2). it is factory-
adjusted for proper engine operation.
Gasoline and its vapors are highly
flammable and explosive.Keep gaso-
line away from possible ignition
sources.
• Do not smokewhile mixing the gaso-
line and two-cycle oil together or
when filling thefuel tank.
•Neverfill fuel tankwhenengineis run-
ningor hot.
Failuretofollow theseprecautionscould
result in the fuel igniting, causingper-
sonalinjuryor propertydamage.
STEP3: Adda MixtureofGasoline
andTwo-CycleOilto the FuelTank
IMPORTANT:Readthe separateEngine
Owner's Manualbeforestarting the
engine.
1. Useclean, high quality2-cycleoil,
NMMATC-WII orTC-W3. DONOTUSE
MULTI-VISCOSITYOIL!
2. Usefresh, clean, unleadedregular,
unleadedpremiumor reformulatedau-
tomotivegasolineonly. DONOTUSE
LEADEDGASOLINE.
NOTE:Donot usegasolinecontaining
methanol (wood alcohol). Fuelcontaining
upto 10% ethanol (gasohol) or up to
15% MTBE(Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
may be used,but requiresspecial care
when the engine is not usedfor extended
periods. See"STORAGE"instructions in
EngineOwner'sManualfor additional in-
formation.
3. Thefuel/oil mix ratiois 24:1 withthe
useofa NMMA classifiedoil. Fornew
engines,use twice thenormal oil quantity
for the first gallon of fuel. NOTE:Dueto
differences in fuel and oil availability
worldwide, Tecumsehrecommendsa
16:1 mix ratio if NMMA oil is not
available.
Figure2: Donotadjustortightentheengine
governorscrew,

Section2: Assembly
Chart 1: FUEL MIXTURE
(Mixture Ratio is24 partsgasolineto
1 parttwo-cycle oil)
U.S. Gas U.S. Oil
1 Gal. 5 oz.
2 Gal. 11 oz.
MetricPetrol MetricOil
4 liters 167 ml
8 liters 333 ml
4. Donotmixfuel directlyin enginefuel
tank. Always usea clean,safety-ap-
provedfuel container.
• ToMix:
A. Filla clean,approved container one
quarterfull with recommended
gasoline.
B.Add recommendedamount of oil per
Chart1: FUELMIXTURE.
C, Screwcap on container and shake
vigorously. Then unscrewcapand
fill container with gasolineper
Chart1: FUELMIXTURE. Screw on
cap and shakeagain. Oncemixed,
oil and gasolinewill not separate.
Fill FuelTank:
1. Enginemustbe cool. Cleanarea
around fuel tank capand remove cap.
Inserta cleanfunnel intothefuel tank.
2. Slowly pourgasoline/oil mixture into
fuel tank. Filltank no higher than 1/2"
from top of tank to allow for gasoline ex-
pansion. Install fuel capand cleanup any
fuel spills.
Contact with rotating tines or other
moving parts can cause serious per-
sonalinjury.
Before installing or removing attach-
ments, or adjustingor servicingthema-
chine, stop the engine, let all moving
parts cometo a completestop, discon-
nect the spark plug wire and move the
wire awayfrom thesparkplug.
STEP4: To Make Borders and Edges,
Install the Edger Attachment
Tocreate bordersor edges nearwalks,
driveways,flower beds, etc.,you must
removethe four tine sections and install
the EdgerAttachment (this attachment
was supplied with the unit - seePage5).
ToInstall the EdgerAttachment:
1. Gathertogether thefollowing parts
(seeFigure4): (A) Border/EdgerTine; (B)
Long Bushing; (C) Border/EdgerWheel
and (D) Short Bushing.
2. Propthe machinecarefully on the front
ofthe tubular carrying handle. Thework
surface should be firm and flat. NOTE:
Usuallythe Border/EdgerTineis mounted
onthe right-side of the unit for right-
handedpersons,and onthe left-side of
the unit for left-handed persons.
3. Removethe hitch pinon eachtine
shaft (E,Figures3 and 4).
4. It is important for proper tilling perfor-
mancethat the tine sections belater rein-
stalled in their original patterns. Markthe
position ofeachtinesection (Left-Outer,
Left-inner,etc.) beforeremovingthem.
Referto Figures3 and 9 for tine pattern
information. Seealso TineRemovaland
Installation in Section 5.
5. Installthe short bushing (D, Figure4)
onthe right-hand or left-hand tine shaft.
Then placethe Border/Edgerwheel (C) on
C
D
/
E
E
Figure3: Removehitchpinsandtinesfrom
bothsidesofthetineshaft, Keepleftand
right-sidetinesseparatedandmarkedfor
easierreinstallation,
the same shaft-the wheel hub should
facetoward the tiller. Insertthe hitch pin
through the rounded side ofthe tine
shaft.
6. Slide the long bushing (B) on the op-
posite sideshaft. Theninstall the
Border/Edgertine (A) and secure itwith
the hitch pin.
SeeSection 4 for instructions on using
the Border/EdgerAttachment.
See TineRemovaland Installation in Sec-
tion 5 for information on howto reinstall
the tines.
Figure4: TheBorder/Edgertine(,4)canbemountedonleftorright
sidesofmachine(withlongbushingB). TheBorder/Edgerwheel
(C)mountsontheotherside(withshortbushingD).
6

FeaturesandControls
KNOWYOUREQUIPMENT
READ THIS OWNER'S MANUALAND ALL SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR EQUIPMENT. Know the
location and function of all features and controls on the equipment. Save this manual for future reference.
Beforeoperatingyour machine, carefully read and under-
standaii safety,controls,and operatinginstructionsin this
Manual, the separate Engine Owner's Manual and on the
decalsonthe machine.
Failure to follow these instructionscan result in serious
personalinjury.
D
Figure5: Featuresandcontrols. ENGINEDETAIL
HandlebarHeightAdjustmentKnob(B, Figure5)
Two height settings, plus a storage positionareavailable.
Referto Assembly Steps,STEP1 in Section 2 for adjustment
instructions.
Tilling DepthAdjustmentKnob(C, Figure5)
Looseningthe knob enablesyou to move the wheel bracket
(K)up or down on the heightadjustment bar (L). This con-
trois the tilling depth.
IMPORTANT:Do not move the wheel bracketany higher than
the top ofthe adjustment bar.
AdjustableTinePatterns(D, Figure5)
Thefour tine sections are assembledat the factory for max-
_murrperformanceunderawide varietyof conditions. If
needed,the tines canbe arrangedfor narrower tilling or close
cultivating. Thetines canalso bearranged to till very stony
soil. SeeAdjusting TinePatternsin Section4 for details.
CarryingHandle (E, Figure5)
Whenthe handlebarisfolded inthe storage positionthe unit
can becarried bythe carrying handle. Thecarrying handle
also servesasa tie-down anchor point.
EdgerAttachment(H, Figure5)
Usethis separateattachment to create borders or edges
along walks, driveways, flower beds, etc. SeeSection4 for
details on installing and using this attachment.
EngineControls
Engine On/0ff Switch(A, Figure5)
Usetheengine 0n/0ff Switch to start or stop the engine. See
Starting and Stopping the Enginein Section4 andthe Engine
Owner's Manualfor details.
Throttle/TinesLever (G, Figure5)
Squeezethis leverto start tine rotation and to vary thetine
speed. Releasethe leverto stop all tine motion. SeeStarting
and Stopping the Enginein Section 4 for details.
IMPORTANT:Do notsqueezethis leverwhenstarting the
engine.
EngineRecoilStartRope(F, Figure5)
Usethe recoil start rope to start the engine. SeeStarting and
Stopping the Enginein Section 4 and the EngineOwner's
Manualfor details.
FuelPrimerBulb(M, Figure5)
Usethe fuel primer bulb to help start the engine under certain
conditions. SeeStarting and Stopping the Enginein Section
4 andthe EngineOwner'sManualfor details.
7

Operation
Beforeoperatingthe unit carefully read
and understandall safety, controland
operating instructions in this Manual,
the separate Engine Owner's Manual
and thedecalson themachine.
Failure to follow these instructionscan
resultin seriouspersonalinjury.
PRE-STARTPREPARATION
Beforestarting the engine,perform the
following checksand services:
1. Disconnectthe spark plug wire from
the spark plug.
2. Movethe engine On/Offswitch to the
OFFposition.
3. Checkthe three plastic cableties (J,
Figure5). Besure that cablesand ties are
positioned asshown. Do not kink or
pinchthe control cables in the handlebar.
4. Adjust handlebarheight to desired po-
sition (seeAssembly Steps,STEP1:in
Section 2).
5. Checkhardwarefor tightness.
GASOLINEIS HIGHLYFLAMMABLEAND
ITSVAPORSAREEXPLOSIVE.
Followthe gasoline safety rules in this
Manual (Section1) and in the separate
EngineOwner'sManual.
Failuretofollow gasolinesafetyinstruc-
tions can result in serious personal
injuryandpropertydamage.
6. Add the correct fuel mixture (seeAs-
sembly Steps,STEP3: in Section 2).
7. Adjust thetilling depth asfollows:
B
C
Figure6
a. Loosentilling depth adjustment
knob (A, Figure6).
b. Movewheel bracket(B, Figure6)
up in relationto the heightad-
justment bar (C). Moving the
bracketupward results in shal-
lowertilling, which is recom-
mendedfor initial use.
IMPORTANT:Do not move the
wheel bracketanyhigher than the
top of theadjustment bar.
c. Retightenthe depthadjustment
knob.
8. Reconnectthe spark plug wire.
STOPPINGAND
STARTINGTHEENGINE
Stepping the Engine
Tostop the engine,movethe engine
On/OffSwitch (A, Figure5) to the OFF
position.
Startingthe Engine
Do not squeezetheThrottle/TinesLever
while startingengine.
Tinesmay propelthe machineforwardif
the engine speedis advancedfrom idle.
Failureto complycanresult in personal
injuryor propertydamage.
1. Move engine On/OffSwitch to ON.
2. Determinewhich of the next three
starting conditions to use:
FirstTime Starting:
Usethis starting method to start a new
engine for the first time, or after run-
ning out of gas, or after extended
storage. Usethumb andforefinger to
squeezethe side of the primer bulb that
is in linewith the light colored rib on
the primer body,as shown in Figure7
(High-Volume Priming Position).
Squeezethe primer bulb six (6) times.
This processremovesair from the
priming system. As fuel enters the
priming system, the priming action will
feel morefirm.
Figure7
High-Volume
PrimingPosition
Standard-Volume
PrimingPosition
ColdStarting:
Usethis starting method after theunit
hasbeen sitting or has beenin brief
storage,and has fuelin the tank. Use
the Standard-Volume Priming Position
(Figure7) and push in top of primer
bulbtwo (2) times for above55OF,or
three (3) times if below55%
Warm Starting:
Donot usethe primer to restart the
engine after it has beenstopped after
running and hasnot cooled completely.
3. Standwith your feet posi-
tioned safelyaway from the
tines (Figure8). Holdthe
upper handlebarwith one
hand. Use theother hand
to pull the recoilstart rope
out slowly until you feel
resistance. Let rope
rewind slowly. Then,
quickly pull the ropeall
the way out. Dothis
upto ten (10) times.
Letthe start rope
rewind slowly and
completely eachtime.
Figure8
8

Section4: Operation
A
Figure9: "A"-all fourfinegangsinstandardpattern;"B" - twooutergangsremovedfornarrowtil/ing;"C" - thetwoinnergangshave
beenswappedforstonytillingconditions.
Allow the engineto warm up for several
seconds. If engineeither fails to start or
to continue running, push in primer bulb
two (2) times. Graspstarter ropeand
pull with a rapid,full stroke, up to ten
(10) times.
TROUBLESHOOTING:Pushthe primer
bulb in two (2) more times. Using a rapid
full stroke, pull outthe starting rope up to
ten (10) times. If engine still does not
start, wait 15 minutes. Donot prime
engine further. Graspstart rope and pull
with a rapid,full stroke up to ten (10)
times.
TILLINGANDCULTIVATING
Keepawayfrom rotatingtines. Rotating
tines will causeseriouspersonalinjury.
Useyour machineto breakup sod, pre-
pareseedbedsand for cultivating in gar-
dens and flower beds. It is easyto op-
erate, but it is important that you start out
slowly and readthis Section thoroughly
beforeputting itto use. Letthe machine
do most of the work. Thetines will pull
the machine forward, letting you adjust
forward speed by pressing down or lifting
the handlebars.
1. Rollthe machine to thework area.
2. Adjust the tilling depth to the desired
position (seePre-Start Preparation, pre-
vious page).
3. Start the engine (seeStopping and
Starting theEngine,previous page).
Standbehind the handlebarand push
down on the bar to raisethe tines off the
ground. Squeezethe Throttle/Tines
Lever- the engine should speedup and
the tines start rotating. Releasethe
Throttle/Tines Leverto return to idle,the
tines should stop rotating or they may
rotatevery slowly. Lowering them back
to theground should stop any rotation.
NOTE: If tines continue to rotatewhen
engineis idling, eitherthe idle speedis
too high or the centrifugal clutch is mal-
functioning. If this occurs, contact the
Factoryor your localauthorized dealer.
4. Squeezethe Throttle/Tines Leverto
start thetines rotating. Lower thetines to
begintilling. Firmly hold the handlebarto
preventthe machine from moving for-
ward too quickly andto allow enough
time for the tines to dig deeplyenough.
Adjust engine speedto suit the tilling
conditions. Rememberthat the rotating
tines help to pull the machine forward.
Useslower speedsanda shallow depth
settingwhen learning to usethe unit and
whenever youare tilling on hard, rough or
unevenground.
5. Donot try to till too deeplyin the first
passthrough sod or very hard ground. If
the machinejumps or bucks, usea shal-
lower depth settingand reducethe engine
speed. With eachsuccessive pass,till
more deeply.
6. Apply downward pressure on the han-
dlebarsfor shallower tilling. Liftthe han-
dlebarsto dig more deeply. If the ma-
chinestays and tills in one spot, try
swinging the handlebarsfrom side to side
to start moving forward again.
7. Foreasiertilling, water very hard soil a
few days beforetilling. Avoid working
soggy or wet soil. Wait a day or two after
heavyrain for the ground to dry.
Cultivating
1. Cultivating is shallow tilling that dis-
rupts weeds and aeratesthe upper crust
of soil.
2. Do nottill deeperthan 1"-2"to avoid
injuring nearbyplant roots. Cultivate
often, sothat weedsdo not grow large
and causeneedlesstangling in the tines.
3. With careful planning,you can space
the seedrows far enough apartto allow
sufficient room for the machine to culti-
vate after the plants havegrown.
AdjustingTine Patterns
Dependingupon thetilling project, you
havea choice of threetine patterns:
Wide (Standard)TinePattern- As
shippedfrom the factory, the unit is set
up for generaltilling and cultivating. This
10" widefine pattern (the maximum tilling
width) uses all four fine sections
(A, Figure9). See TineRemovalandln-
stallation in Section5 for detailedinforma-
tion on howto set upthis fine pattern.
NarrowTine Pattern- Fora narrow,
4-1/2"tilling width, removethe outside
tine section on the left- and right-sides
(B, Figure9). See TineRemovalandln-
stallation in Section5 for detailedinforma-
tion on howto set upthis tine pattern.
StonySoilTine Pattern- When tilling
deeplyin stony soil, stones may become
jammed betweenthe inner tines andthe
machine hood. This patternswaps the
two inner tines to minimize jamming (C,
Figure9). See TineRemovaland Installa-
tion in Section5 for detailedinformation
on how to set upthis tine pattern.

Section4: Operation
Tilling Patterns
1. When preparinga seedbed,go overthe same pathtwice in
the first row, then overlapone-halfthe machine width on each
successive pass (Figure10).
2. After going upand down the rows inone direction, make
second passesat a right angle acrossthe original passes
(Figure11). Again, overlapeachpassto thoroughly pulverize
the entire seedbedarea. in very hard ground, it maytake three
or four passesbeforethe desireddepth is achieved.
3. If your garden is not wide enough to till lengthwiseand then
crosswise, then first overlap by one-halfthe machinewidth,
followed by successive passesat one-quartermachine width.
This overlapping method assuresthorough tilling.
Figure10:Useanoverlap
techniqueoneverypass. Figure11:Makea secondset
ofpassesat a rigMangleover
thefirstsetofpasses.
USINGTHEEDGERATTACHMENT
The EdgerAttachment makesclean, sharpedgesnext to walkways, driveways, paths, plantedareas,
patios,etc. SeeAssembly Steps,STEP4: in Section 2 for instructions on attachingthis attachment.
Takeyour time when edging. Decidehowfar away the edgeis to befrom thewalk or drive, then
slowly proceedusing thewalk or drive asyour szghtline.
Otherattachments are can bepurchased separately. SeeAttachments belowfor more details.
ATTACHMENTS
Thefollowing Tiller/Edgerattachments areavailablewherethe Tiller/Edgerwas purchased. Seeyour authorized dealeror contact the
Factoryfor details.
PowerLawnRakeAttachment-
0EM-290-263/290-263-081
The PowerLawn Rakewill help
keepyour lawn healthyand
vigorous. Mattedgrass and
debris notonly looks
unattractive, but stifles
lawngrowth and overall
health. This attachment
mounts without tools and
features dozensof tem-
peredsteel "fingers" that
spring off thesurface to pene-
trate and loosen mattedgrass
without disturbing root growth. An 18"-
wide swath coversa large lawnareaquickly.
10
LawnAeratorAttachment-
0EM-290-264/290-264-081
Helpspromote healthy,dense
lawns byaeratingand loos-
ening the soil to contribute
to better root growth. Four
tempered steeltines punc-
ture the surface of the
lawn, letting nutrients
moreeasily reachthe
roots. Assembles
without tools. When
mounted, it takesthe placeof
the standard tine sections.