Troy-Bilt PONY 664DM User manual

'0 TRO BI£T°----
Operator's Manual
Rear-tine Tiller Model
664DmPony_
E666MmPony _
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-
covered or grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark attester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any).
If a spark attester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator. In the State of California the above is required by law
(Section 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. 770-10597A
(11/2002)

TABLEOFCONTENTS
Content Page
Calling Customer Support .................................................... 2
Safety ................................................................... 3
Assembly ................................................................. 6
Features and Controls ....................................................... 11
Operation ................................................................ 14
Maintenance .............................................................. 20
Tiller Attachments .......................................................... 28
Troubleshooting ........................................................... 29
Parts List ................................................................. 30
Warrany Information ........................................................ Back Cover
FINDINGMODELNUMBER
This Operator's Manual is an important part of your new Rear-tine Tiller. It will help you assemble, prepare and main-
tain 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
explained below. For future reference, please copy the model number and the serial number of the equipment
in the space below
O]_II__IpD,m...]_. TROY-BILT LLC
P. O. BOX 361131
www.troybilt.com CLEVELAND, OH 44136
330-558-7220
866-840-6483
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.
CALLINGCUSTOMERSUPPORT
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
information. You will be asked to enter the serial number in order to process your call.

safety
This machine meets voluntary safety standard B71.8
- 1996, which is sponsored by the Outdoor Power
Equipment Institute, Inc., and is published by the
American National Standards Institute.
SafetyAlert Symbol
_ his isa safety alert symbol. It is usedin this
manualandon the unit to alertyou to potential
hazards. Whenyou seethis symbol, readand
obeythe messagethat follows it. Failureto
obeysafety messagescould result in personal
injury or property damage.
WARNING
The engine exhaust from this product contains
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
TRAINING
1. Carefullyreadthis
Owner's Manual,the sepa-
rateEngineOwner's
Manual,and anyother literatureyou may
receive.Bethoroughly familiar with the
controls andthe proper useofthe tiller
and its engine. Knowhow to stop the unit
and disengagethe controls quickly.
2. Neverallow children to operatethe
tiller. Neverallow adults to operatethe
tiller without proper instruction.
3. Keepthe areaof operation clear ofall
persons,particularly children and pets.
4. Keepin mind that the operator or user
is responsiblefor accidents or hazards
occurring to other people,their property
and themselves.
PREPARATION
1. Thoroughly inspectthe areawherethe
tiller is to be usedand removeall foreign
objects.
2. Besure all controls are releasedand
the WheelGearLeveris in ENGAGE
beforestarting the engine.
3. Do not operatethetiller without
wearing adequateouter garments. Avoid
loosegarments or jewelry that could get
caught in moving parts.
4. Donotoperatethetiller whenbarefoot
or wearingsandals,sneakers,or light
footwear.Wearprotectivefootwearthat will
improvefooting on slipperysurfaces.
e.
f.
5. Donottill nearundergroundelectric
cables,telephonelines, pipesor hoses.If in
doubt, contactyourtelephoneor utility
company.
6. Warning: Handlefuel with care; it is
highlyflammableand itsvaporsareexplo-
sive. Takethefollowing precautions:
a. Storefuel in containersspecifically
designedfor this purpose.
b. Thegascap shall neverbe removed
or fuel added while the engine is
running. Allow the engineto cool
for several minutes beforeadding
fuel.
c. Keepmatches,cigarettes,cigars,
pipes, open flames, and sparks
awayfrom the fuel tank and fuel
container.
d. Fillfuel tank outdoors with extreme
care. Neverfill fuel tank indoors.
Usea funnel or spout to prevent
spillage.
Replaceall fuel tank and container
caps securely.
If fuel is spilled, do not attempt to
start the engine,but move the
machine awayfrom the area of
spillageand avoid creating any
source of ignition until fuel vapors
havedissipated.
OPERATION
1. Donot put handsor feet near or under
rotating parts.
2. Exerciseextremecaution when on or
crossing graveldrives, walks, or roads.
Stayalert for hidden hazardsor traffic. Do
not carry passengers.
3. After striking aforeign object, stop the
engine (and removethe ignition key on
electric start models), disconnect the
spark plug wire and prevent it from
touching the spark plug,carefully inspect
the tiller for any damage,and repair the
damagebeforerestarting and operating
the tiller.
4. Exercisecaution to avoid slipping or
falling.
5. Ifthe unitshould startto vibrateabnor-
mally,stop the engine(andremovethe
ignition keyon electricstartmodels).Dis-
connectthespark plugwire andpreventit
from touchingthe spark plug,and check
immediatelyfor thecause.Vibration is
generallya warning of trouble.
6. Stopthe engine (and removethe igni-
tion key on electric start models), discon-
nectthe spark plug wire and prevent it
from touching thespark plug whenever
you leavethe operating position, before
7. Nevermakeadjustments when engine unclogging thetines, or when makingany
is running (unless recommendedby repairs, adjustments or inspections.
manufacturer).

7. Takeall possible precautionswhen
leavingthe machineunattended.Stopthe
engine. Removeignition key on electric
start models. Disconnectspark plug wire
and move it awayfrom the spark plug.
MoveWheelGear Leverto ENGAGE.
8. Beforecleaning, repairing, or inspect-
ing,stop the engine,remove the ignition
keyon electric start models,and make
certain all moving parts havestopped.
Disconnectthe spark plug wire and
preventit from touching the spark plug to
preventaccidentalstarting. Onelectric
start models,always removethe cable
from the negativeside (-) of the battery.
9. Always keepthetiller tine hood flap
down, unless using the hiller/furrower
attachment.
10. Never usethe tiller unless proper
guards, plates,or othersafetyprotective
devicesarein place.
11. Do not run engine in an enclosed
area.Engineexhaustcontains carbon
monoxide gas,a deadly poisonthat is
odorless, colorless, and tasteless.
12. Keepchildren and pets away.
13. Never operatethetiller under
engine powerif theWheel GearLeveris
in DISENGAGE(FREEWHEEL).In this
position,the wheelswill notholdthe
tiller backand therevolvingtines could
propelthe tiller rapidly, possibly
causinglossofcontrol.Always movethe
WheelGearLeverto ENGAGEbefore
starting the engine or engagingthe
tines/wheelswith the ForwardClutch
Control or the ReverseClutch Control.
14. Beawarethatthe tiller may unex-
pectedlybounceupwardorjump
forwardif thetinesshouldstrike
extremelyhardpackedsoil, frozen
ground,or buriedobstacleslike large
stones,roots,or stumps.If in doubt
aboutthetilling conditions,alwaysuse
thefollowingoperatingprecautionsto
assistyou in maintainingcontrolofthe
tiller:
a. Walk behindandto oneside ofthe
tiller, usingone handonthe han-
dlebars. Relaxyourarm, butusea
securehandgrip.
b. Useshallowerdepthregulatorset-
tings, workinggraduallydeeper
with eachpass.
c. Useslowerenginespeeds.
d. Clearthe tilling area ofall large
stones,rootsand otherdebris.
e. Avoidusingdownwardpressure
on handlebars.If needbe, use
slightupwardpressureto keepthe
tines from diggingtoo deeply.
f. Beforecontactinghardpackedsoil
at the endofa row, reduceengine
speedand lift handlebarsto raise
tines out ofthesoil.
g. In an emergency,stoptinesand
wheels byreleasingwhichever
ClutchLever isengaged.Donot
attemptto restrainthetiller.
15. Do not overloadthetiller's capacity
by attempting to till too deeplyattoo fast
a rate.
16. Neveroperatethetiller at high trans-
port speeds on hard or slippery surfaces.
Look behind and usecare when backing
up.
17. Do not operatethe tiller on a slope
that istoo steepfor safety.When on
slopes,slow down and makesureyou
havegood footing. Never permit the tiller
to freewheel down slopes.
18. Neverallow bystanders nearthe unit.
19. Onlyuseattachments and acces-
sories that areapproved bythe tiller
manufacturer.
20. Usetiller attachments and acces-
sories when recommended.
21. Neveroperatethetiller without good
visibility or light.
22. Neveroperatethetiller ifyouaretired,
or undertheinfluenceof alcohol,drugsor
medication.
23. Operatorsshallnottamperwith the
engine-governorsettingsonthe machine;
the governorcontrolsthemaximumsafe
operatingspeedto protecttheengineand
all movingpartsfrom damagecausedby
overspeed.Authorizedserviceshallbe
soughtif a problemexists.
24. Donottouch enginepartswhich may
be hotfrom operation.Letpartscool down
sufficiently.
25. Thebatteryon electricstartmodeltillers
containssulfuricacid.Avoidcontactwith
skin,eyes,or clothing.Keepoutof the
reachofchildren.
Antidote-External Contact:Flushimme-
diatelywith lotsof water.
Antidote-Internal: Drinklargequantities
ofwateror milk.Followwith milk of
magnesia,beateneggs or vegetableoil.
Calla doctor immediately.
Antidote-EyeContact:Flushwith water
for 15 minutes.Getpromptmedical
attention.
26. Batteriesproduceexplosivegases.Keep
sparks,flame,andsmoking materialsaway.
Ventilatewhenchargingbatteriesor when
usinga batteryinanenclosedspace.
ALWAYSwearsafetygoggleswhen
working nearbatteries.
27. Pleaseremember:Youcanalwaysstop
thetines andwheelsby releasingthe
ForwardClutchControlLeverorthe
ReverseClutchControlknob(whichever
control you haveengaged),or by moving
the EngineThrottleControlLever(located
onengine)to STOPon recoilstartmodels
or byturningthe ignitionkeyto OFFon
electricstartmodels.
28. To loador unloadthetiller, seethe
instructionsinSection4 ofthis Manual.
29. Useextremecautionwhenreversingor
pullingthemachinetowardsyou.
30. Starttheenginecarefullyaccordingto
instructionsandwith feetwellawayfrom
thetines.
31. Neverpick up or carrya machinewhile
theengineis running.
MAINTENANCEANDSTORAGE
1. Keepthe tiller, attachments and acces-
sories in safe working condition.
2. Checkall nuts, bolts, and screws at
frequent intervalsfor proper tightness to
besure the equipment is in safeworking
condition.
3. Neverstorethetillerwith fuel inthefuel
tank insidea buildingwhereignition
sourcesare presentsuchashotwaterand
spaceheaters,furnaces,clothesdryers,
stoves,electricmotors,etc. Allowengineto
cool beforestoring in anyenclosure.

4. To reducethe chancesof a fire
hazard,keeptheenginefree ofgrass,
leaves,or excessivegrease.
5. Storegasolinein acool, well-venti-
latedarea,safelyawayfrom anyspark-
or flame-producingequipment. Store
gasolinein an approvedcontainer,
safelyawayfrom the reachof children.
6. Referto the Maintenancesectionof
this Manualand in the separateEngine
Owner's Manualfor instructions ifthe
tiller isto bestored for an extended
period.
7. Neverperform maintenancewhile
the engineis running or the spark plug
wire is connected,exceptwhenspecifi-
cally instructed to do so.
8. If thefuel tank hasto bedrained,do
this outdoors.
DECALS
Foryour safetyand the safety of others, replacementsif any decalsare damagedor
various safety messagedecalsare on your missing.
unit (seeFigurebelow). Keepthe decals Referto the Parts List pagesfor decal
cleanand legibleat all times. Contactyour locations and partnumbers.
localservicedealer or the factory for
ControlDescri
TineWarning (on right
side ofhoodflap)
StartingStabilization (on
top of engineor fuel tank)
OperatingInstructionsand
WarningMessages
OperatingSymbols
Various symbols (shown here, with
word descriptions)maybe usedon the
tillerandengine.
FAST SLOW STOP
6 I-'-I
CHOKE
STOP START ON
I÷1
CHOKE ROTATING
OFF TINES
R
REVERSE
o--.>
LEVERDIRECTION
<--
TILLERDIRECTION
ENGAGED DISENGAGED
/MovingBelts
(ontopofbeltcover)
Figure 1:Locationof SafetyandOperatingDecals
TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY:
• READTHEOWNER'SMANUAL.
•KNOWLOCATIONSAND FUNCTIONSOFALLCONTROLS.
•KEEPALLSAFETYDEVICESANDSHIELDSIN PLACEAND WORKING.
•NEVERALLOWCHILDRENORUNINSTRUCTEDADULTSTO OPERATETILLER.
•SHUTOFFENGINEAND DISCONNECTSPARKPLUGWIREBEFOREMANUALLYUNCLOG-
GINGTINESOR MAKINGREPAIRS.
•KEEPBYSTANDERSAWAYFROMMACHINE.
•KEEPAWAYFROMROTATINGPARTS.
•USEEXTREMECAUTIONWHEN REVERSINGORPULLINGTHEMACHINETOWARDSYOU.

2Assembly
To prevent personal injury or property
damage,do notstartthe engine until all
assembly steps are complete and you
havereadand understandthesafetyand
operatinginstructionsin this Manual.
INTRODUCTION
Carefullyfollow these assembly stepsto
correctly prepareyour tiller for use. It is
recommendedthat you readthis Section
in its entirety before beginningassembly.
INSPECTUNIT
Inspectthe unit andcarton for damage
immediatelyafter delivery. Contactthe
carrier (trucking company) ifyou find or
suspect damage. Inform them ofthe
damageand request instructions for filing
a claim. To protectyour rights, putyour
claim in writing and mail a copy to the
carrier within 15 days after the unit has
beendelivered.Contact usat the factory if
you needassistancein this matter.
UNPACKINGANDASSEMBLY
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Removeanycardboard insertsand
packagingmaterialfrom the carton.
Removeanystaplesfrom the bottom of
the carton and removethe carton.
2. Cutthe large,plastictie strap that
securesthe transmission tubeto the ship-
ping pallet. Leavethe handlebarson top
of the tiller to avoid damaginganycables.
3. A bag with loose hardwareis inside
the literature envelope. Checkthe con-
tents against thefollowing list and Figure
2-1. Contactyour local dealeror the
factory if any items are missing or
damaged.
NOTE:Forelectric start units, a second
hardwarebag is located nearthe battery.
4. Thetiller is heavy. You should not
attempt to remove it from theshipping
platform until instructed to do so inthese
"Assembly" steps.
HARDWARE BAG PARTSLIST
Fig.
Ref. Qty. Description
12 3/8-16 x 1" HexHd. Screw
21 KeyedWasher
3 1 WheelGearLeverKnob
4 1 Height Adjustment Flange
Screw (SeeFigure2-1A)
5 2 3/8" FlatWasher
6 2 #10 Lockwasher
7 2 3/8"-16 Nylock Lock Nut
8 2 #10-32 x 1/2" RoundHd.
Screw
92#10-32 Nut
10 1 Cotter Pin(not used)
11 4 PlasticTie Strap (2 not used)
Tools/Materials Needed
for Assembly
(1) 3/8" open-endwrench*
(1) 7/16" open-endwrench* (electric
start unit only)
(2) 9/16" open-endwrench*
(1) 7/8" open-endwrench or 8" long
adjustable wrench
(1) Scissors (to trim plasticties)
(1) Ruler
(1) Small board (to tap plastic knob on
lever)
(1) Tire pressuregauge
(1) Cleanoilfunnel
(1) Clean,high-quality motor oil. Refer
to the separateEngineOwner's
Manualfor motor oil specifications
and quantity required.
* Adjustablewrenches may be used.
IMPORTANT:Motor oil must beaddedto
the enginecrankcasebeforethe engine is
started. Followthe instructions in this
"Assembly" Sectionand in the separate
EngineOwner's Manual.
NOTE:LEFTand RIGHTsides of thetiller
are asviewedfrom the operator's posi-
tion behindthe handlebars.
STEP 2: ATTACHHANDLEBARS
1. On electric start units, removeone
screw and Iockwasherfrom thecurved
5@_, 60 o
8_ @©9
7_ 10_
11
Figure2-1:Loosehardware(shownin
reducedsize).
Figure2-1A Handlebarheightadjustment
usestheflangeheadscrew.
Figure2-2: Onelectric start units, move
heightadjustmentbracket aside.
heightadjustment bracket (A, Figure2-2),
loosenthe secondscrew, and swing the
bracketto one side.
2. Cutthe large,plastic cableties that
securethe handlebarendsto the handle-
bar mounting tabs on the transmission
top cover.
3. Gently lift handlebar (do not over-
stretch attachedcable)and placehandle-
bar cross-brace (B, Figure2-3) in front of
curved heightadjustment bracket (C).
Figure2-3: Forwardclutchcontrolcablenot
shownforclarity.

4. Withtheforwardclutchcable (N,
Figure2-4) onthe inside ofhandlebar,
position the handlebarendson the
outside of thetwo mounting tabs (IVI,
Figure2-3) on the transmission top
cover.
NOTE:Thecurved handlebarheight
adjustment bracketappearsasshown in
C,Figure2-3 for non-electricstart units.
Forelectricstart units, the bracket is loos-
ened and moved to one side.
5. Loosely attachthe handlebarsto the
mounting tabs with two 3/8-16 x 1"
screws (headsof screws go to insideof
tabs), 3/8" flat washersand 3/8"-16 lock
nuts (0, Figure2-4).
Figure 2-4: Attachhandlebars.
6. Onelectric start units, reattachthe
heightadjustment bracket(A, Figure2-2).
Tighten both screws securely. Makesure
the handlebarcross-brace (B, Figure2-3)
is under the bracket.
7. Move the handlebarsup or down to
align the threaded holein the cross-brace
with one of thefour slots in the curved
heightadjustment bracket. Placethe
keyedwasher (E,Figure2-3) on the
flange head heightadjustment screw (F)
with the raisedkeys(edges) ofthe
washer facing down.
8. Threadthe heightadjustment screw
(F, Figure2-3) intothe hole in the handle-
bar cross-brace, making surethat the
raisedkeyson the washer fit into theslot
on the height adjustment bracket.
Tighten the heightadjustment screw
securely. Next,securelytighten the two
screws and nuts in the endsof the han-
dlebar (M, Figure2-3).
9. To removethe tiller from its shipping
platform, first carefully unwrapthe wheel
gear cable (with attachedlever- see
Figure2-5) from around the chassis.
Movethe WheelGearLever (G)to the
DISENGAGEposition--this allows the
wheels to rotatefreely. Usethe handle-
STEP 4: ATTACHFORWARD
CLUTCH CONTROL CABLE
1. Removeanyfasteners (rubber bands,
tape, etc.) that may securethe Forward
Clutch Control levers(J, Figure2-7) to the
handlebar.
Figure2-5: CarefullyunwrapWheelGear
LeverandmovelevertoDISENGAGE.
barsto roll thetiller off the platform.
NOTE:TheWheelGearLeverwill be
installed later in this procedure.
IMPORTANT: Usethe DISENGAGEposi-
tion only whenthe engine is not running.
Beforestarting the engine,the Wheel Gear
Levermust be placed inthe ENGAGE
position (seeSection 3 for details).
STEP3: ATTACH REVERSE
CLUTCH CONTROL CABLE
1. Carefullyunwrapthe reverseclutch
control cable(H, Figure2-6) from its
shipping position and route it up along
the insideedge ofthe left side handlebar.
A knoband large hexnut (I) is installed
on the cable.
ILeftSide ReverseClutch]
Handlebar ControlKnob I
Figure2-7: ForwardClutchControllevers
(J). Forwardclutchcontrollinkage(K).
2. Theforward clutch control cable(with
attachedspring) is hanging loosely near
the right-side wheel. Being careful not to
kink or stretch the cable, insert thez-con-
nector (L, Figure2-8 - end of the spring)
into the hole at the endofthe forward
clutch control linkage(K, Figure2-7).
Figure2-6: Attachreverseclutchcontrol
assemblytoslottedhole in handlebarpanel.
2. Insertthe cableinto the slot in the
control paneland fit the threadedassem-
bly into the hole in theslot (seeFigure2-
6). Besurethat theflat side of the
threadedassembly is aligned with the flat
side of the hole. Slide the hex nut (I) up
the cableand tighten it securely.
3. Testthefunction of the reverseclutch
control cableby pulling the knob out and
releasingit. Theknob should return to its
neutral position against the tapered
bushing. If it doesn't, contact your local
dealeror the factory for technical
assistance.
Figure2-8
3. Attachthe cableadjuster (A, Figure
2-9) to the bracket on the right-side han-
dlebar. Usetwo 1/2"wrenchesto loosen
the two jam nuts (B) just enoughto slide
the cableadjuster onto the bracket. Then
hand tighten the jam nuts.
Figure2-9

Incorrectcable adjustment could cause
the wheels andtines to rotate unexpect-
edly. Follow adjustment procedures
carefully. Failure to do so could result
in personalinjuryorpropertydamage.
4. Checkfor correct spring/cable tension
as instructed in Section5, Checkingand
Adjusting ForwardClutch Belt Tension.
5. Whentension is correct, tighten the
two jam nuts (B) securely.
STEP5: CHECKTRANSMISSION
GEAROIL LEVEL
Thetransmission was filled with gear oil
at the factory. However,be sureto check
the oil levelat this time to makecertain it
iscorrect.
IMPORTANT:Do not operatethe tiller if
the gear oil level is low. Doingso will
result in severedamageto the transmis-
sion components.
1. With the tiller on levelground, pull the
Depth Regulator Lever(R, Figure2-13)
backand then slide it to the second notch
from the top. NOTE:If the leverdoes not
move,lift the tine hoodflap and look for a
plastictie securing the leverin place. Cut
and removethe tie.
2. Removethe oil levelcheck plug (M,
Figure2-10) on the left-side of the trans-
mission. (Dueto dried painton the plug
threads, it may require some force to
removethe plug thefirst time.) The gear
oil levelis correct if oil starts to flow out
ofthe hole as the plug is removed. If so,
securely reinstall the plug.
Figure2-10: Gearoil level checkplug.
3. If oil does notflow from the check
hole,add oil asfollows:
NOTE:Donot useautomatic transmission
fluid or motor oil in the transmission.
(a) Cleanareaaround the fill hole (N,
Figure2-11) and unscrewgear oil fill
plug.
Figure2-11: Addinggearoil.
(b) If adding only afew ouncesof gear
oil, useAPI ratedGL-4 or GL-5 gear oil
havinga viscosity of SAE140, SAE85W-
140 or SAE80W-90. If refilling an empty
transmission, useonly GL-4 gear oil
havinga viscosity of SAE85W-140 or
SAE140.
(c) Usinga cleanfunnel, slowly add gear
oil until itflows from the gear oil level
check hole (N, Figure2-11).
(d) Reinstalland tighten securelythe gear
oil fill plug (M, Figure2-10).
STEP 6: ATTACHWHEEL GEAR
LEVER
1. Insert the WheelGearLever(P, Figure
2-12) up through theslot in the control
panelthat is labeled"WHEELGEAR."
2. Insert two #10-32 x 1/2" round head
screws down through the "+" marks on
the control paneldecaland securely
attach thewheel gear mounting bracket
usingtwo #10 Iockwashersand #10-32
nuts.
3. Usea small board to tap the Wheel
GearLeverknobsecurely onto the lever.
4. Securethe wheelgear cableand the
reverseclutch control cableto the left-
side handlebarwith two plasticties (S,
Figure2-13) locatedabout two feet apart.
Snip off anyexcesstie lengthwith
scissors.
STEP7 ATTACHINGTHE BATTERY
CABLES(MODEL E666M)
The positive batteryterminal is marked
Pos. (+). Thenegative batteryterminal is
marked Neg.(-).
1. Removethe hex bolt and hex nut from
the positive cable(heavy red wire).
2. Removethe plasticcover from the
positive batteryterminal and attachthe
positive cableto the positive batteryter-
minal (+) with the bolt and hex nut. Make
certain that the rubber boot coversthe
Figure2-12: AttachWheel GearLever.
Figure 2-13: Attachwheel gear cable and
reverseclutchcable with cableties(S).
positive terminal to help protect itfrom
corrosion.
3. Removethe hexbolt and hexnut from
the negativecable(heavy blackwire).
4. Removethe black plastic cover from
the negativebatteryterminal and attach
the negativecableto the negativebattery
terminal (-) with the bolt and hex nut.
IMPORTANT:
•If the battery is put into serviceafter the
dateshown on top of battery, chargethe
batteryas instructed in the Maintenence
sectionof this manualprior to operating
the tiller.
STEP 8: CHECKAIR
PRESSURE IN TIRES
Usea tire pressuregaugeto checkthe air
pressure in bothtires. Deflateor inflate
both tires equallyto between15 PSIand
20 PSI). Besure that both tires are
inflated equally or the unit will pull to one
side.
STEP 9: CHECK HARDWARE
FOR TIGHTNESS
Inspect the hardwareon the unit and
tighten anyloosescrews, bolts and nuts.

3 Featuresand Controls
Before operating your machine, care-
fully read and understand all safety,
controls and operating instructions in
this Manual, the separate Engine
Owner's Manual, and on the decals on
the machine.
Failure to follow these instructionscan
resultin seriouspersonalinjury.
INTRODUCTION
This Sectiondescribesthe location and
function of the controls on your tiller.
Referto thefollowing section "Operation"
for detailedoperating instructions.
Practiceusingthese controls, with the
engine shut off, until you understandthe
operation of the controls and feel confi-
dent with them.
IMPORTANT:Referto the separateengine
manufacturer'sEngineOwner's Manual
for information aboutthe controls on the
engine.
WHEEL GEAR LEVER
This lever(A, Figure3-1) hastwo posi-
tions: ENGAGEand DISENGAGE.
Inthe ENGAGEposition, the wheels will
start turning when eitherthe Forward
Clutch Control or the ReverseClutch
Control is engaged(thetines will also
start turning when eitherclutch is
engaged).
Figure3-1: Controlslocatedonhandlebar.
The DISENGAGEposition placesthe
wheels in thefreewheeling modeto allow
the unitto be moved without the engine
running. Usethe DISENGAGEposition
only whenthe engine is not running. See
"DANGER"statementthat follows.
To shift to ENGAGE,gently (do not force)
movethe leverforward while also rolling
the tiller afew inchesforward or back-
ward. Moving the tiller helpsto align the
shift mechanismwith the transmission
wheel drive gears.
To shift to DISENGAGE(freewheel),
movethe leverrearward, without rolling
the tiller. Thewheels will roll freely
when the lever is properly set inthe
DISENGAGEposition.
FORWARD CLUTCH CONTROL
The two interconnected levers (B, Figure
3-1) control the engagementof forward
drive to the wheelsand tines.
To Operatethe ForwardClutchControl:
1. Beforeengagingthe ForwardClutch
Control, put the WheelGearLeverin the
ENGAGEposition (see"WARNING"
below).
2. Pull up and hold one or both of the
levers againstthe handlebar grips to
engagethe wheels and tines.
3. ReleaseBOTHleversto disengage
(stop) the wheels andtines. All forward
motion will stop (the enginewill continue
to run).
Never place the Wheel Gear Lever in
DISENGAGE (Freewheel) when the
engine isrunning.
Having the Wheel Gear Lever in
DISENGAGE and then engaging the
tines/wheels with either the Forward
Clutch Control or the Reverse Clutch
Control could allow the tines to propel
thetiller rapidlyforwardor backward.
Failure to follow this instruction could
result in personal injury or property
damage.
Never engagethe wheels andtines with
the Forward Clutch Control or the
Reverse Clutch Control unless the
Wheel GearLeveris in ENGAGE.
Engagingthe ForwardClutch Controlor
the Reverse Clutch Control when the
wheels are not engagedcouldallow the
tines to rapidlypropelthe tiller forward
or backward.
Failure to follow this warning could
result in personal injury or property
damage.

REVERSE CLUTCH CONTROL
The ReverseClutchControl (C, Figure
3-1) controls the engagementof reverse
driveto thewheels and tines. The revers-
ingfeature isusedfor maneuveringthe
tiller only- neverengagethe tines in
the groundwhile goingin the reverse
direction.
• Use extreme caution when reversing
or pulling the machine towards you.
Lookbehindtoavoidobstacles.
• Neverattempttotill in reverse.
Failure to follow this warning could
result in personal injury or property
damage.
To Operatethe ReverseClutchControl:
1. Putthe WheelGearLeverin the
ENGAGEposition (seethe "WARNING"
statementon previous page).
2. Stopall tiller motion by releasingthe
ForwardClutch Control levers.
3. Lift upthe handlebarsuntil thetines
clearthe ground, look behindyou to avoid
anyobstacles,and then pull the Reverse
ClutchControl knob out. Thetines and
wheelswill rotate in a reverse direction.
4. Releasethe ReverseClutch Control
knobto disengage(stop) the wheels and
tines. All reversemotion will stop (the
enginewill continue to run).
• Do not attempt to till too deeply too
quickly. Gradually work down to
deepertilling depths.
• Placethe DepthRegulatorLever inthe
"travel" position before starting the
engine. This position prevents the
tines from touching the ground until
youare readytobegintilling.
Failure to follow this warning could
result in personal injury or property
damage.
DEPTH REGULATOR
The Depth Regulator lever(D, Figure3-2)
controls the tilling depth of the tines. Pull
the leverstraight backand slide it up or
downto engagethe notched height set-
tings.
Figure3-2: DepthRegulatorLever.
The highest notch (leverall the way
down) raisesthe tines approximately
1-1/2 inches off the ground. This "travel"
position allows thetiller to be moved
without the tines digging into theground.
Moving the lever upincreasesthe tilling
depth. Thelowest notch allows a tilling
depth of approximately six to eight
inches,depending on soil conditions.
Forbestresults,always begintilling at
a very shallowdepthsettingand gradu-
ally increasethetilling depth. Complete
details on using the Depth Regulatorare
found in the "Operation" Section of this
manual.
HANDLEBAR HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
The handlebarheight is adjustableto four
different settings. Setthe handlebar
heightto a comfortable setting, but keep
in mindthat the handlebarswill be lower
when thetines are engagedinthe soil.
ToAdjusttheHandlebarHeight:
F
Figure3-3: Handlebarheightadjustment.
1. Stopthe engine,wait for all parts to
stop moving and then disconnect the
spark plug wire. Removethe ignition key
on electric start models.
2. Loosenthetwo screws atthe lower
ends of the handlebar.
3. Loosenthe height adjustment screw
(E,Figure3-3) and pull the keyedwasher
(F)free ofthe slots in the curved height
adjustment bracket.
4. Movethe handlebarsto the newslot
setting and insert the raisedkeyson the
keyedwasher into the slot. Tighten the
height adjustment screw securely.
5. Retightenthe two screws at the ends
of the handlebar.
ENGINECONTROLS
Referto theengine manufacturer'sEngine
Owner's Manual(included in thetiller lit-
erature package)to identify the controls
on your engine. Thefollowing two con-
trols are usedwhen stopping or starting
the engine.
IMPORTANT:The control for stopping
the recoil start engine is located on the
engine.
ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROLLEVER
TheEngineThrottleControlLever(located
on engine--seeFigure4-1) is usedto reg-
ulatethe engine speed. Onthe recoil start
model only, it is also usedto stop the
engine (on the electric start model,the
electric start keyswitch is usedto stop the
engine). Thethrottle settings are shown
below.
IMPORTANT:See"Starting and Stopping
the Engine"in the "Operation" Sectionfor
detailedenginestarting and stopping
instructions.
FAST- Usefor mosttilling and
cultivating projects.
-l_ SLOW- Usewhen idling engine or
when slower tilling and cultivating
speeds are needed.
_) TOP- Stops the engine (on
recoil start models only).
ELECTRIC START KEYSWITCH
(MODEL E666M)
Theignition keyswitch on the electric start
model is usedto start and stop the
engine. The keyswitch settings are
described below.
IMPORTANT:See"Starting and Stopping
the Engine"in the "Operation" Sectionfor
detailedinstructions.
OFF- Stops engine.
RUN- After starting, keyreturns to run
position.
START- Startsengine. Releasekeywhen
engine starts (avoidcranking engine for
longer than 15 secondsfor eachattempt)

Operation
ReverseClutch
ForwardClutch
ControlLever Wheel GearLever
Before operating your machine, care-
fully read and understand all safety
(Section 1), controls (Section 3) and
operating instructions (Section 4) in
this Manual, in the separate Engine
Owner's Manual, and on the decals on
the machine.
Failureto follow these instructionscan
resultin seriouspersonalinjury.
INTRODUCTION
Readthis Section ofthe manualthor-
oughly beforeyou start the engine. Then,
takethe time to familiarize yourself with
the basic operation of thetiller before
using it in the garden.
Findan open,levelareaand practice
usingthe tiller controls without the tines
engagingthe soil (put tines in "travel"
setting). Onlyafter you've becomecom-
pletelyfamiliar with the tiller should you
begin using it inthe garden.
BREAK-IN OPERATION
Perform thefollowing maintenanceafter
thefirst two hours of newoperation (see
"Maintenance" in this manualand the
EngineOwner's Manual).
1. Changeengine oil.
2. Checkfor looseor missing hardware
on unit. Tighten or replaceas needed.
3. Checktransmission gear oil level.
4. Checktension on forward clutch belt.
HandlebarHeight
AdjustmentScrew
,ill!iih,
\ForwardClutch
ControlLever
DepthRegulatorLever
EngineThrottle
ControlLever
Figure4-1: Locationof main tiller controls.
STARTINGANDSTOPPING
THE ENGINE
To help preventserious personal injury
or damageto equipment:
*Before starting engine, put Wheel
GearLever in ENGAGEposition.
*Before starting engine, put Forward
Clutch Control levers and Reverse
ClutchControl in neutral (disengaged)
positionsbyreleasingcontrols.
*Never run engine indoors or in
enclosed, poorly ventilated areas.
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide, an odorless and deadly
gas.
*Avoid engine muffler and nearby
areas. Temperatures in these areas
may exceed150OF.
PRE-START CHECKLIST:
Makethe following checksand perform
the following services beforestarting the
engine.
1. ReadSections1 and 3 in this Manual.
Readthe separateEngineOwner's
Manual.
2. Checkunit for looseor missing hard-
ware. Serviceas required.
3. Checkengine oil level. SeeEngine
Owner's Manual.
4. Checkthat all safety guards and
coversare in place.
5. Checkair cleanerand enginecooling
system. SeeEngineOwner's Manual.
8. Attachspark plug wire to spark plug.
GASOLINEIS HIGHLY FLAMMABLEAND
ITSVAPORSAREEXPLOSIVE.
Follow gasoline safety rules in this
manual(see Section1) and in the sepa-
rateEngineOwner'sManual.
Failureto follow gasolinesafety instruc-
tions can result in serious personal
injuryand propertydamage.
7. Fillthe fueltank with gasolineaccord-
ing to the directions in the separate
EngineOwner's Manual. Follow all
instructions and safety rules carefully.

STARTINGTHE ENGINE
Thefollowing steps describe howto start
and stop the engine, go notattempt to
engagethetines orwheels untilyou
haveread all ofthe operatinginstruc-
tionsin this Section. Alsoreview
the safetyrulesin Section1: "Safety"
and thetiller and enginecontrols
informationin Section3: "Features and
Controls."
1. Completethe "Pre-Start Checklist" on
the previous page.
2. Putthe WheelGearLever(Figure4-1)
in the ENGAGEposition.
3. Putthe DepthRegulator Lever inthe
"travel" position (leverall the way down)
so that the tines are clearof the ground.
4. Releaseall controls on the tiller.
5. Putthe EngineThrottle Control Lever
(Figure4-1) in the "FAST" setting.
6. On enginesequippedwith afuel valve,
turn valveto open position as instructed
in the separateengine manual.
7. Chokeor prime engine as instructed in
the separateEngineOwner's Manual.
8. Forrecoil (non-electric) starting
models:
(a) Placeone hand on fuel tank to stabi-
lizeunit whenyou pull the starter
handle.
(b) Usethe recoilstarter ropeto start
the engineas instructed in the sepa-
rate EngineOwner's Manual. When
the enginestarts, graduallymove
the choke lever(on enginesso
equipped) to the "NO CHOKE",
"CHOKEOFF"or "RUN" position.
(c) Leavethe EngineThrottle Control
Leverinthe "FAST"setting.
9. Forelectric starting models (E666M):
(a) Turn the engine ignition keyto the
"START"setting and allow the
starter motor to crank the enginefor
several seconds. Avoid cranking the
engine longer than 15 secondsata
time as doing so could damagethe
starter motor. NOTE: Referto the
EngineOwner's Manualfor detailed
starting instructions.
(b) Whenthe engine starts, releasethe
keyand it will returnto the "RUN"
setting.
(c) Graduallymovechoke lever(on
enginesso equipped)to "NO
CHOKE","CHOKEOFF"or "RUN"
position.
(d) Leavethe EngineThrottle Control
Leverinthe "FAST"setting.
To Startthe ElectricStartEngineWith
the Recoil StarterRope
If necessary,the electric start engine can
be startedwith the recoilstarter rope by
following the steps below:
1. If the battery is not "dead" or
damaged,leaveit connectedto thetiller
so it will be rechargedduring engine
operation. Makesure the battery cells are
filled to the UPPERLEVELline with elec-
trolyte.
2. If the battery is "dead" or damaged,
remove it (referto "Battery Removaland
Installation" in Section 5) and haveit
tested. Beforestarting engine,cover the
terminal on the looseend of the positive
(+) cablewith the insulated boot and
secure it in placewith electricaltapeto
prevent electricalsparks.
3. Put the ignition key in the "RUN"
position and thenfollow Steps 1-8 of
"Starting the Engine."
STOPPING THE ENGINE
1. Tostop the wheels andtines, release
the ForwardClutch Control levers or the
ReverseClutch Control knob (whichever
control is engaged).
2. Tostop the engine on the recoil start
model, move the EngineThrottle Control
Leverto the "STOP" position.
3. Tostop theengine on an electricstart
model, move the ignition keyto "OFF".
IMPORTANT:After stopping an electric
start engine, removethe ignition keyfrom
the switch to reducethe possibility of
unauthorizedstarting of the engine.
OPERATINGTHETILLER
Thefollowing pagesprovideguidelines to
usingyour tiller effectively and safely in
various gardening applications. Besure
to read"Tilling Tips & Techniques" in this
Section beforeyou actually put the tines
intothe soil.
This isa traditional "standard rotating
tine" tiller with forward rotating tines. It
operatescompletely differently from CRT
(CounterRotating Tines)tillers or from
low-cost front tinetillers.
1. Followthe "Pre-Start Checklist" on the
previous page. Besure that the Wheel
GearLeveris in the ENGAGEposition.
2. Putthe Depth Regulator Leverin the
"travel" position (leverall the way down)
so that the tines areclear of the ground.
Usethis position when practicingwith
your tiller or when moving to or from the
garden. Whenyou are readyto begin
tilling, you must movethe Depth Regula-
tor Leverto the desireddepth setting (see
"Tilling Tips & Techniques").
3. Start theengine and allow itto warm
up. Whenwarm, put EngineThrottle
Control Leverin "FAST"speedsetting.
Keepawayfrom rotatingtines. Rotating
tines will causeinjury.
4. For forward motion of the wheels and
tines:
(a) Pull one or both of the Forward
Clutch Control Levers up and hold
them against the handlebars. To
stop forward motion of the wheels
and tines, releasethe levers.

Figure 4-2: Useone handto guide tiller
whenmovingforward.
(b) Asthe tiller movesforward, relax
and let the wheels pull the unit along
while the tines dig. Walk behind and
a little to oneside of the tiller. Usea
light but secure grip with one hand
on the handlebars,but keepyour
arm loose. SeeFigure4-2. Letthe
tiller move aheadat its own pace
and do not push down on the han-
dlebarsto try andforce the tiller to
dig deeper- this takesweight off the
wheels, reducestraction, and causes
the tines to try and propel thetiller.
Do not push down on the
handlebars to try to make the tiller till
more deeply. This preventsthe wheels
from holding the tiller back and can
allow the tines to rapidly propel the
tiller forward,whichcould resultin loss
of control,propertydamage, or personal
injury.
5. Forreverse motion of the wheelsand
tines:
(a) Look behind andexercisecaution
when operating in reverse. Do not
till while in reverse.
(b) Stop all forward motion before
reversing. Lift the handlebarswith
one hand until the tines are off the
ground andthen pull the Reverse
Clutch Control knob out to engage
reverse motion (seeFigure4-3). To
stop reverse motion, let go ofthe
ReverseClutch Control knob.
Figure4-3: Raise tinesoffgroundand look
behindwhen movingin reverse.
6. To Turn theTiller Around:
(a) Practiceturning the tiller in a level,
open area. Bevery careful to keep
your feet and legsawayfrom the
tines.
(b) To makea turn, reducethe engine
speedandthen lift the handlebars
until the engine and tines are bal-
ancedoverthe wheels (Figure4-4).
(c) With the tiller balanced,pushside-
ways on the handlebarto move the
tiller in the direction ofthe turn
(Figure4-5). After completing the
turn, slowly lower thetines into the
soil and increasethe enginespeed.
StoppingtheTiller and Engine
1. To stop the wheels andtines, release
the Forward ClutchControl levers or the
ReverseClutchControl knob whichever
isengaged).
2. To stop the recoil start engine, move
the EngineThrottle Control Leverto
"STOP". Onelectric start models,turn the
ignition keyswitchto "OFF"to stop the
engine.
Beforetilling, contactyourtelephoneor
utilities company and inquire if
underground equipment or lines are
used in your area. Their representative
will be glad to answer your questions
and tell you if any oftheir equipmentor
lines are buried underground on your
property.
Turningthe Tiller Around
Figure 4-4: Tobegin turn,reduce engine
speedand lift handlebarsuntil engine
and tinesare balancedover wheels.
Figure4-5: Withtiller balancedover
wheels(andtines outof theground),
pushhandlebarssidewaysto turn tiller.

TillingTips& Techniques
Letthetiller dothe work
• While tilling, relaxand let the wheels
pull the tiller along while thetines do
the digging. Walk onthe sidethat is
notyet finished (to avoid making foot-
prints in the freshly tilled soil) and
lightly, butsecurely grip the handlebar
with just one hand.
• Avoid pushing down on the handlebars
in anattemptto force the tiller to dig
deeper. Doingso takesthe weight off
the poweredwheels,causing them to
losetraction. Without the wheels
helpingto hold the tiller back,the tines
will attempt to propel the tiller - often
causing the tiller to skip rapidly across
the ground. (Sometimes, slight down-
ward pressureon the handlebarswill
helpget through a particularly tough
section of sod or unbrokenground, but
in mostcasesthis won't be necessary
at all.)
Tilling depths
• Avoid trying to dig too deeplytoo
quickly, especiallywhen busting sod or
when tilling soil that hasn't beentilled
for some time. Useshallow depth reg-
ulator settings (only an inch or two
deep) for the first passesthrough the
garden area. With eachsucceeding
pass,adjust the depth regulatorto dig
another inch or two deeper. (Watering
the garden areaa few days prior to
tilling will maketilling easier,as will
letting the newly worked soil set for a
day or two beforemaking a final, deep
tilling pass.)
• Whencultivating (breakingup the
surfacesoil around plantsto help
destroyweeds),usevery shallow depth
settingsto preventinjuryto plantswhose
rootsoftengrow closetothesurface. If
needed,lift up onthe handlebarsslightly
to preventthetinesfrom diggingtoo
deeply. (Cultivatingona regularbasis
notonlyeliminatesweeds,it alsoloosens
andaeratesthesoil for bettermoisture
absorptionandfasterplantgrowth.)
Avoidtilling soggy,wetsoil
Tilling wet soil often results in large,
hardclumps of soil that can interfere
with planting. If time permits, wait a day
or two after heavyrainsto allowthe soil
to dry beforetilling. Testsoil by squeez-
ing it into a ball. If it compressestoo
easily, it is too wet to till.
Avoid making footprints
When possible,walk on the untilledside
of the unit to avoid makingfootprints in
thefreshly tilled soil. Footprintscause
soil compaction that canhamperroot
penetrationandcontribute to soil
erosion. They canalso"plant" unwanted
weedseedsback intothe freshly tilled
ground.
Choosing correct wheel
and tine speeds
With experience,you will find the "just
right" tilling depth andtilling speedcom-
binationthat is best for your garden.
Setthe EngineThrottle Control Leverto
a speedto give the engineadequate
powerand yet allow it to operateatthe
slowest possible speed...atleast until
you haveachievedthe maximum tilling
depth you desire. Fasterengine speeds
may bedesirablewhen making final
passesthrough the seedbedor when
cultivating. Selectionof the correct
engine speed, in relationto thetilling
depth, will ensurea sufficient power
levelto do the job without causingthe
engine to labor.
Suggestedtilling patterns
• When preparinga seedbed,go overthe
same pathtwice in thefirst row, then
overlapone-half thetiller width on the
rest ofthe passes(see Figure4-6).
Whenfinished in one direction, make a
second pass ata right angle asshown
in Figure4-7. Overlapeachpassfor
best results (in very hard ground it may
takethree or four passesto thoroughly
pulverizethe soil).
• If the garden sizewill not permit
lengthwiseand then crosswisetilling,
then overlapthe first passesby one-
halfa tiller width, followed bysucces-
sive passesat one-quarterwidth (see
Figure4-8).
• With planning,you canallow enough
room between rows to cultivate (see
Figure4-9). Leaveroom for the hood
width, plusenough extra room for
future plantgrowth.
Figure4-6
r y V
Figure4-7
Figure4-8
Figure4-9

TillingTips& Techniques
Clearingthetines
Thetines havea self-clearingaction
which eliminates most tangling of debris
in the tines. However,occasionally dry
grass, stringy stalks or tough vines may
becometangled. Followthese proce-
duresto help avoidtangling and to clean
the tines, if necessary.
•To reducetangling, set the depth regu-
lator deepenough to get maximum
"chopping" action asthe tines chop the
materialagainst the ground. Also, try
to till under crop residuesor cover
crops while they are green, moist and
tender.
• While power composting, try swaying
the handlebarsfrom sideto side (about
6" to 12"). This "fishtailing" action
often clearsthe tines of debris.
• If tangling occurs, lift the tines out of
the soil and run the tiller in reversefor
a few feet. This reversing action
should unwind a good deal of debris.
• If reversingthe tiller doesn't clearthe
debris, it may be necessaryto remove
the debris by hand (a pocketknife will
helpyou to cut away the material).
Beforeclearingthetines byhand, stop
the engine, allow all moving parts to
stop and disconnect the spark plug
wire. Removethe ignition keyon elec-
tric start models.
Failure to follow this warning could
resultin personalinjury.
Tillingonslopes
If you must garden on a moderate
slope, pleasefollow two very important
guidelines:
1.Till only on moderate slopes, neveron
steep ground where footing isdifficult
(reviewsafety rules in the "Safety"
Section of this Manual).
2. We recommendtilling up and down
slopes ratherthanterracing. Tilling
vertically on a slope allows maximum
plantingarea andalso leavesroom for
cultivating.
IMPORTANT:Whentilling on slopes, be
sure thecorrect oil levelis maintained in
the engine (checkevery one-half hour of
operation). The inclineof the slope will
causethe oil to slant awayfrom its
normal levelandthis canstarveengine
parts of required lubrication. Keepthe
engine oil levelatthe full point atall
times!
A. Tilling up anddownslopes:
• To keepsoil erosionto a minimum, be
sureto add enough organic matterto
the soil so that it hasgood moisture-
holding texture andtry to avoid leaving
footprints or wheelmarks.
• Whentilling vertically, try to makethe
first pass uphill asthe tiller digs more
deeplygoing uphill than it does down-
hill. Insoft soil or weeds,you may
haveto lift the handlebarsslightly while
going uphill. Whengoing downhill,
overlapthe first pass by about one-half
the width of the tiller.
B. TerraceGardening:
• Whena slope is too steep or too short
for vertical tilling, it may be necessary
to till across theslope and createter-
racedrows. Terracesare rows that are
cut into the side of a slope,creating a
narrow, but flat areaon which to plant.
• Ona long slope, you can makeseveral
terraces, one below the other.
Terracesshould be only 2-to-3 feet
wide. Digging too far intothe side of
the slope will expose poorsubsoil that
is unproductivefor plants.
To createa terrace,start atthe top of
the slope and work down. Goback and
forth acrossthe first row asshown in
Figure4-10.
Eachsucceedinglower terrace is
started bywalking belowthe terrace
you're preparing. Foraddedstability of
the tiller, always keepthe uphill wheel
in the soft, newly tilled soil. Donot till
the last 12"or more ofthe downhill
outside edgeof eachterrace. This
untilled strip helps preventstheter-
racesfrom breakingapartand washing
downhill. It also provides a walking
path betweenrows.
, ll::e
o3mmr,
O_l_' REPEAT
Figure4-10
C. Tilling acrossslopeswithout
usingterraces:
• If vertical or terracing gardening aren't
practicalfor you, then you cantill later-
ally across a slope. We don't really
recommendthis methodas it can
create unsurefooting and invites soil
erosion.
As in terracegardening,start at thetop
ofthe slopeand overlapthefirst pass
by halfthe width of the tiller. Foradded
stability of thetiller, always keepthe
uphill wheel inthe soft, newlytilled soil.

POWERCOMPOSTING
Powercomposting simply meanstilling
under and burying in the soil all manner
of organic mattersuch ascrop residues,
leaves,grass clippings and cover crops.
This material will decomposeduring the
non-growing season andadd important
naturalnutrients to the soil.
When power composting, do not keep
the Depth Regulator Lever at a deep
settingifthetiller jumpsor bucks.
If jumping or buckingoccurs, movethe
Depth Regulator Lever downto one of
the shallower settings and then slowly
increase the tilling depth on later
passes.
Failure to follow this warning could
resultin personalinjury.
Thefirst placeto begin is with crop
residuessuch as leftovervines, stalks,
stems and roots. Powercompost these
crop residues assoon asthey finish
bearing. Thesooner this isdone,the
better,astender green matter is easierto
till under. Usethe deepestdepth regula-
tor setting possiblewithout causing the
engine to labor or the tiller to jump ahead.
Standingcornstalks of reasonableheight
can be power composted. Pushing over
(but not uprooting) cornstalks will often
makeit easierfor your tiller to chop up
the stalks. Keepthe tines clear of exces-
sive tangling by "fishtailing" or frequently
using reverse. Makeseveral passes,then
return afew days laterto finish off any
remainingstubble.
After tilling under crop residues,add
more organic matter such as leaves,
grass clippings and evenkitchenscraps.
Whentilled intothe soil, this organic
matter will decomposeandadd even
more important nutrients to the soil.
After power composting, you may want to
planta "green manure" cover crop to
protect the soil during the off-season.You •The handlersshould wearsturdy
simply grow a crop of clover, alfalfa, footwear that will help to prevent
buckwheat,peas, beans,ryegrass, grain, slipping.
or kaleand then till it into the soil prior to • Position the loadingvehicle so that the
the plantingseason. ramp angle isas flat aspossible (the
less incline to the ramp,the better).
LOADINGAND UNLOADING Turnthe vehicle's engine off and apply
THETILLER its parking brake.
Loading and unloading the tiller into a
vehicle is potentially hazardousand we
don't recommenddoingso unlessabso-
lutely necessary,as this could result in
personalinjuryor propertydamage.
However, if you mustloador unloadthe
tiller, followthe guidelinesgivennext.
• Beforeloading or unloading,stop the
engine,wait for all partsto stop moving,
disconnectthe spark plug wire and let
the engine and muffler cool. Remove
the ignition key on electric start models.
• Thetiller is too heavy(over 170 Ibs.,
dependingon model) and bulky to lift
safely by one person.Two or more
peopleshould sharethe load.
• Usesturdy ramps and manually (engine
shut off) roll thetiller into and out of the
vehicle. Two or more people are needed
• Rampsmust bestrong enough to
support the combined weight ofthe tiller
and any handlers.The ramps should
provide good traction to prevent slip-
ping; they should haveside rails to
guidethe tiller along the ramps; and
they should havea locking deviceto
securethem to the vehicle.
• Whengoing up ramps,stand in the
normal operating position and push the
tiller aheadof you. Havea personat
eachsideto turn the wheels.
• Whengoing down ramps, walk back-
ward with thetiller following you. Keep
alertfor any obstaclesbehind you.
Position a personat eachwheel to
control the speedof thetiller. Nevergo
down ramps tiller-first, as thetiller could
tip forward.
• Usewooden blocksto placeon the
downhill side of the wheels if you need
to stop the tiller from rolling down the
ramp. Also, usethe blocksto temporar-
ily keepthetiller in placeon the ramps
(if necessary),and to chock the wheels
in placeafter thetiller is in the vehicle.
• Whenthetiller is in the vehicle, prevent
it from rolling byengagingthe wheels in
the wheel drive position (put Wheel Gear
Leverin ENGAGE).Chockthe wheels
with blocks and securelytie thetiller
to do this. down.

5 Maintenance
Before inspecting, cleaning or
servicing the machine, shut off engine,
wait for all moving parts to come to a
complete stop, disconnect spark plug
wire and move wire away from spark
plug. Remove ignition key on electric
start models.
Failure to follow these instructionscan
resultin seriouspersonalinjuryor prop-
ertydamage.
MAINTENANCESCHEDULE
PROCEDURE NOTES
Checkmotor oil level 2, 3
Cleanengine 2, 7
Checkdrive belt tension 1, 4
Checknuts and bolts 1, 4
Change motor oil 1, 4, 6
Lubricate tiller 4
Service foam pre-cleaner airfilter 7
(if so equipped)
Service paper air filter (if so equipped) 7
Checkgear oil level in transmission 1, 5
Checktines for wear 5
Checkair pressure in tires 5
Service spark plug 7
NOTES
1-After first 2 hours of break-in operation.
2-Beforeeach use.
3-Every5 operating hours.
4-Every 10operating hours.
5-Every30 operating hours.
6-More frequently in dusty or dirty conditions.
7-SeeEngine Owner's Manual for service
recommendations.
6 - Whichevertime interval occurs first.
TILLERLUBRICATION
D
Figure5-1: Lubricationpoints.
Proper lubrication of thetiller isan essen-
tial part ofyour maintenanceprogram.
After every 10 operating hours, oil or
greasethe lubrication points shown in
Figure5-1 as described below.
Usea good quality lubricating oil (#30
weight engine oil is suitable) anda good
quality general purpose grease(grease
that hasa metal lubricant is preferred, if
available).
•Removewheels,cleanwheel shaft (A,
Figure5-1) andapply thin coating of
greaseto shaft.
•Greaseback,front and sides of depth
regulator lever(B, Figure5-1).
•Removetines, cleantine shafts (C,
Figure5-1) and inspectfor rust, rough
spots or burrs (especiallyaround
holes). Fileor sand smooth and coat
endsof shaft with grease.
•Oilthe threads on the handlebarheight
adjustment screw (D, Figure5-1).
•Oilthe threads on the handlebarattach-
ing screws (E,Figure5-1).
CHECKHARDWARE
At least every 10 operating hours, check
the unit for loose or missing hardware
(screws, bolts, nuts, hairpin cotters, etc.).
Looseor missing hardwarecan leadto
equipment failure, poor performanceor
oil leaks.
Besureto checkthethree end cap
mounting screws locatedat the rear of the
transmission (Figure5-2). Lift the tine
flap to servicethose screws.
Figure5-2
CHECKTIRE PRESSURE
Checkthe air pressure in bothtires.
Deflateor inflate bothtires evenlyto 15-
to-20 PSI (pounds per squareinch). Be
sure that bothtires havethe sameair
pressureor the unit will tendto pull to
one side.

I
Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the machine, shut off engine, wait for all moving parts to
come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug.
Remove the keyfrom the keyswitch on unitsso equipped.
Failure to follow these instructionscan result in serious personal injury or property damage.
CHECKFOROILLEAKS
Beforeeachuse, checkyour tiller for
signs of an oil leak-usually a dirty, oily
accumulation either on the unit or on the
floor where it has beenparked.
A little seepagearound a cover or oil seal
is usually not a causefor alarm. However,
ifthe oil drips overnight then immediate
attention is neededas ignoring a leakcan
result in severetransmission damage.
If a cover is leaking,try tightening any
loosescrews or bolts. Ifthe fasteners are
tight, a newgasket or oil seal may be
required. If the leak isfrom around a
shaft and oil seal,the oil seal probably
needsto be replaced. Seeyour autho-
rizeddealeror contact the factory for
service or advice.
IMPORTANT:Neveroperatethe tiller if
the transmission is low on oil. Checkthe
oil levelafter every 30 hours of operation
and wheneverthere is anyoil leakage.
TRANSMISSIONGEAR01LSERVICE 3. Placea clean pan belowthetransmis-
Checkthetransmission gear oil levelafter sion drain plug (seeFigure5-3) and
every 30 hours of operation or whenever removethe drain plug. The oil will start
you notice anyoil leak. Operatingthe flowing out ofthe drain hole (it may flow
tiller whenthe transmission is low on oil slowly, especiallyin cold temperatures).
can result in severedamage. 4. Removethe transmission gearoil level
A. To CheckTransmissionGearOil
Level:
1. Checkthe gear oil levelwhen thetrans-
mission iscool. Gearoil will expandin
warm operating temperaturesand this
expansion will provide an incorrect oil
levelreading.
2. To checkthe gear oil level(and to add
oil, if necessary),referto "STEP5: Check
GearOil Levelin Transmission" in Section
2 of this manual.
B.To Drainand Refill theTransmission:
Thetransmission gear oil does not need
to be changedunless it hasbeencontami-
natedwith dirt, sand or metal particles.
1. Prop up the left sideof the unit sothat
it will be securelysupported when the left
side wheel is removed. Removethe left
side wheel by removing the wheelmount-
ng hardware.
2. Unscrewthe plastic gear oil fill plug
from thetop of the transmission.
checkplug that is locateda few inches
abovethe left side wheelshaft.
5. Whenthe oil stops flowing, tilt the
transmission forward to drain oil from the
rear of thetransmission.
6. After draining the oil, cleanthethreads
of the drain plug,apply a non-hardening
removablegasketsealantto thethreads,
and securelyreinstall the drain plug.
7. Using a cleanfunnel, slowly add SAE
140 or SAE85W-140 weight gear oil
(with an API rating of GL-4 only) to the
transmission. Thetransmission holds
approximately 3-1/4 pints (52-54
ounces). Tilt the tiller slightly backwards
to makesurethe gear oil reachesthe rear
(tine) end ofthe transmission. Step
adding gear oil when it beginsto flow
from the oil levelcheck hole on the sideof
thetransmission.
8. Securely reinstallthe oil levelcheck
plug.
9. Securely reinstallthe gear oil fill plug
on top of thetransmission
10. Reinstallthe wheeland remove the
prop.

I
Ir!lv_vl._!:t_ll_[fll
t
q
b
Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the machine, shut off engine, wait for all moving parts to
come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug.
Removethe key from the keyswitchon units so equipped.
Failure tofollow these instructionscanresult in serious personal injury or propertydamage.
5. Onengines with a dipstick, remove it,
wipe it clean, and reinstall it finger-tight.
Removethe dipstick and checkthe
reading. Add oil (if required) to bring the
levelto the FULLmark. Do not overfill.
B. To ChangetheEngineOil:
Changethe engine oil as instructed in the
separateEngineOwner's Manual.
ENGINECLEANING
Theengine must be kept cleanto assure
smooth operationand to prevent damage
from overheating. Referto the separate
EngineOwner's Manualfor specific repair
and cleaning instructions. All inspections
and services must be done with the
engine shutoff and cool to the touch.
AIR CLEANERSERVICE
Theengine air cleanerfilters dirt and dust
out ofthe air before it entersthe carbure-
tor. Operatingthe engine with a dirty,
clogged air filter can causepoor perfor-
Figure5-3: Removedrainplugtodrain manceand damageto the engine. Never
transmissiongearoil(alsoremoveoilfill operatethe enginewithout the air cleaner
plugandoillevelcheckplug). installed. Inspect andservicethe air
cleanermore often if operating in very
dusty or dirty conditions.
CARBURETOR/GOVERNOR
CONTROLADJUSTMENTS
Operators shall not tamper with the
engine governor settings on the
machine; the governor controls the
maximum safe operating speed to
protectthe engine and all moving parts
from damage caused by overspeed.
ENGINEOILSERVICE Authorized service shall be sought if a
Checkthe engine oil levelbeforestarting
the engineeachdayand checkit after
each5 hours of continuous operation. SPARKPLUGSERVICE
Runningthe enginewhen it is low on oil
will quickly ruin the engine.
It is recommendedthat you changethe
motor oil after every 10 hours of opera-
tion andevensooner when operating in Owner's Manual.
extremely dirty or dusty conditions. Refer
to the separateEngineOwner's Manual Insome areas, local law requiresusing
for detailedserviceinstructions, resistor spark plugs to suppress ignition
signals. Ifthe enginewas originally
A. To ChecktheEngineOil Level: equipped with a resistor spark plug, use
Servicethe air cleaneras instructed in the problemexists.
separateEngineOwner's Manual.
Inspectand cleanor replacethe spark
plug after every 100 operating hours or
annually. Cleanthe plug and set the gap
as described in theseparate Engine
Thecarburetor was adjusted at the
factory for best operatingspeed. Referto
the separateEngineOwner's Manualfor
anyadjustment information or seeyour
authorizedengine servicedealer.
Thegovernor controls the maximum safe
operating speedand protects the engine
and all moving parts from damagecaused
by overspeeding. Do not tamper with the
engine governorsettings. Seekautho-
rizedservice if a problem exists.
1. Move the tiller to a levelareaand shut
off the engine.
2. Levelthe engine by moving the Depth
RegulatorLever up or downas needed.
3. Cleanthe areaaround the oil dipstick
or oil fill tubeto prevent dirt from falling
intothe crankcase.
4. On engineswith an oil fill tube, remove
thefiller cap, add oil (if required) until it
reachesthe top of the tube and reinstall
thefiller cap.
the sametype for replacement. THROTTLECONTROLADJUSTMENT
SPARKARRESTERSCREEN
SERVICE
If the engine muffler isequipped with a
spark arrester screen, removeand cleanit
according to the time intervalsand
instructions inthe separateEngine
If the enginedoes not respondto various
throttle leversettings, referto the sepa-
rate EngineOwner's Manualfor service
information or contact your local autho-
rizedengine servicedealer.
Owner's Manual.

Before inspecting, cleaning or servicing the machine, shut off engine, wait for all moving parts to
come to a complete stop, disconnect spark plug wire and move wire away from spark plug.
Remove the keyfrom the keyswitch on unitsso equipped.
Failure to follow these instructionscan result in serious personal injury or property damage.
WHEELGEARCABLEADJUSTMENT OFF SEASONSTORAGE
When the WheelGearLeveris in DISEN-
GAGE,the wheels will roll freely (free-
wheel). Thewheels should not roll freely
whenthe lever is in ENGAGE.If the
wheels roll freely whenthe WheelGear
Leveris in ENGAGE,the wheel gearcable
needsto be adjustedas described below.
1. With the engineshut off and the spark
plug wire disconnected,put the Wheel
GearLeverin ENGAGE.
2. Loosenthetop adjustment nut (A,
Figure5-4) on the wheelgear cable
bracketthat is located on the left side rear
of thetransmission.
3. Pushthe wheelgearcable (B) down
and roll thetiller slightly forward or back-
ward until the eccentric lever (C)engages
(locks) the wheels. Holdthe cable in that
position andtighten the top (A) and
bottom (D) adjustment nuts.
4. Movethe WheelGear Leverto
ENGAGEand DISENGAGEseveraltimes
to checkthe adjustment. Thewheels
should not roll when the leveris in
ENGAGE,but they should roll whenthe
leveris in DISENGAGE.Readjustthe
cableasrequired.
C
Figure5-4: Wheelgear cable assembly.
Whenthe tiller won't beusedfor
extended periods, prepare it for storage
asfollows:
1. Cleanthe tiller and engine.
2. Do routine tiller lubrication and check
for loose parts and hardware.
3. Protect the engineand perform recom-
mendedengine maintenancebyfollowing
the engine storage instructions found in
the separateEngineOwner's Manual.
NOTE:Besureto protectthe fuel lines,
carburetor andfuel tank from gum
deposits by removing fuel or bytreating
fuel with a fuel stabilizer (follow engine
manufacturer's recommendations).
4. On electricstart units, follow "Battery
Storage" instructions in this Section.
5. Store unit in a clean, dry area.
6. Neverstore thetiller with fuel in the
fuel tank in an enclosedarea wheregas
fumes could reachan openflame or
spark, or where ignition sources are
present (spaceheaters,hot water heaters,
furnaces, etc.).
BOLOTINES
Thetines will wear with useand should
be inspectedatthe beginning of each
tilling season andafter every30 operating
hours. Tines can be replacedindividually
or as acomplete set. Neverinspector
servicethe tines unlessthe engine is
stopped, the spark plug wire is discon-
nected,and the ignition key is removed
on electric start models.
A. Tine Inspection:
With use,thetines will becomeshorter,
narrowerand pointed (Figure5-5). Badly
worn tines will result in a loss of tilling
depth and reducedeffectivenesswhen
chopping up and turning under organic
matter. UseFigure5-5 asa guide to
when thetines should be replaced.
ModerateWear
Replace
Figure5-5: Checkingtinesforwear.
B. Removinga SingleTine:
1. Removethe two screws and nuts that
attacha single tine to the tine holder
(Figure5-6). If needed,use penetrating
oil to helpfree the nuts.
2. When installing asingle tine, besure
to position it so that its cutting edge will
enterthe soil first as thetiller moves
forward.
C. Removinga TineAssembly:
1. If removing both tine assemblies,mark
them "left" and "right" beforeremoval.
Doingso will help ensurethat the assem-
bliesare reinstalled on the correct sides
of the tiller.
2. Removethe screw and Iocknut that
securethe tine assemblyto the tine shaft
(Photo5-7). Pull thetine assembly off
the shaft (if necessary,usea rubber
malletto tap the tine assemblyoutward).
3. Beforereinstalling the tine assembly,
inspectthetine shaft for rust, rough
spots or burrs andfile or sand as needed.
Apply athin coat of greaseto the shaft.
4. Installeachtine assembly sothat the
cutting edge of the tines will enterthe
soil first when thetiller moves forward.
Securethe tine assembly to the tine shaft
usingthe screw and Iocknut previously
removed. Tighten securely.