Introduction
Safety Signs
Controls
Operating
Rotating Tines Are Dangerous - Protect Children And Prevent Accidents
Replacement Parts
Service Machine Safely
Service
Troubleshooting
Storing Machine
Assembly
Specifications
Warranty
John Deere Quality Statement
CopyrightŠ Deere & Company
Operating
Operate Safely
ˇ Inspect machine before you operate. Be sure hardware is tight. Repair or replace damaged, badly worn, or missing parts. Be sure all safety protective devices are in good condition and fastened in place. Make any necessary adjustments before you operate.
ˇ Clear work area of objects that might be thrown. Keep people and pets out of the work area. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.
ˇ If you hit an object, stop the machine and inspect it. Make repairs before you operate. Keep machine properly maintained and in good working order.
ˇ DO NOT leave machine unattended when it is running.
ˇ Only operate during daylight or with good artificial light.
ˇ Be sure of footing. Be especially careful when you pull machine backwards with the engine running.
ˇ Stay behind the barrier on the handlebar when operating on the side of the machine.
ˇ DO NOT attempt to force the tines down by hanging on the handlebar.
ˇ Till across a hill - not up and down. Be careful when you change direction on a slope. DO NOT till excessively steep slopes.
ˇ Keep a firm hold on the machine handle.
ˇ Do not wear radio or music headphones while operating the machine. Safe operation requires your full attention.
Rotating Tines Are Dangerous - Protect Children And Prevent Accidents
ˇ Never assume that children will remain where you last saw them. Stay alert to the presence of children.
ˇ Keep children in the house when you are operating the machine.
ˇ Turn machine off if a child enters the area.
ˇ Use extra care when you come to blind corners, or other objects that may block your vision.
ˇ DO NOT let children or an untrained person operate the machine.
ˇ HELP PREVENT SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENTS:
ˇ Be alert at all times, people especially children can move quickly into the area before you know it.
ˇ Stop the tines when crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads.
ˇ Shut off tiller when you are not tilling.
ˇ Keep hands, feet, and clothing away from rotating tines.
Wear Appropriate Clothing
ˇ Wear close fitting clothing and safety equipment appropriate for the job.
ˇ Loud noise can cause impairment or loss of hearing, wear a suitable protective device such as earplugs.
ˇ DO NOT operate the equipment when barefoot or wearing open sandals. Always wear substantial footwear.
Adjust Handlebar Height
ˇ Adjust handlebar height by using three holes at bottom of handlebar legs.
ˇ Remove cap screws, locknuts and washers (A) and position handlebars at a safe comfortable tilling height.
ˇ Align holes and secure with cap screws, locknuts, and washers.
Adjust Tilling Depth
c CAUTION: Avoid injury!
ˇ DO NOT adjust tilling depth with tines rotating. Place Main Clutch in "NEUTRAL" before changing tilling depth. |
Tilling depth is controlled by changing the depth control stick position.
NOTE: Tilling depth will vary with ground conditions. Depth stick increases drag when point is installed forward.
Raise the depth stick (A) to increase the tilling depth. The depth stick is retained at the chosen position by a clevis pin and hairpin (B).
Adjust Ground and Tine Speed
NOTE: Tiller comes with Drive Belt in low speed groove of pulley. Low speed is best for heavy tilling. Moving belt to high speed groove allows faster tine and wheel speed for shallow cultivating or breaking up last bits of soil in final pass.
To change speeds, drive belts are shifted from one sheave groove to the other groove.
2. Release levers to "NEUTRAL" position.
3. Remove nuts on belt guard and take guard off unit.
4. To INCREASE ground and tine speed: Begin movement of belt onto TOP of FRONT sheave (A) and pull starter rope. Continuous short pulls will work belt onto upper and lower sheaves.
5. To DECREASE ground and tine speed: Manually move belt to REAR sheave (B) on TOP and then on BOTTOM.
Using Wheel Drive
NOTE: Wheels hold tiller back while tines are digging.
ˇ Push wheel in and install drive pin (A) into hole in axle shaft.
ˇ Lock drive pin by putting locking ring over axle shaft.
ˇ Drive wheels are now disengaged from axles and tiller may be moved by hand without engine power.
ˇ Align hole in wheel hub with hole in axle shaft.
ˇ Install drive pin (B), through wheel hub and axle shaft.
ˇ Lock drive pin by putting locking ring over wheel hub and axle shaft.
If drive wheels are squeaking or difficult to move on the drive axles, see Lubricating Drive Wheels in the Service section.
Using Main Clutch
ˇ Pull "F" Top Levers (A) down to the handlebars. In this position, when the engine is running, the tiller tines will start spinning and the drive wheels will turn.
ˇ The "F" Top Levers are one piece and can be operated with one hand.It is advised to operate this unit with both hands whenever possible.
ˇ If forward drive is sluggish or will not fully engage. See Adjusting "Forward" Drive Belt Tension in the Service section.
ˇ Both "F" Top Levers (A) and "R" Bottom Lever (B) are spring loaded to the "N" neutral position. The tiller will STOP.
ˇ Use this "N" position when starting the engine.
ˇ Release "F" Top Lever (A) before engaging "R" Bottom
Lever (B).
ˇ Pull "R" Bottom Lever (B) up to the handlebars. In this position, when the engine is running, the tiller tines and the drive wheels will start spinning in reverse.
ˇ If reverse drive is sluggish or will not fully engage. See Adjusting "Reverse" Drive Belt Tension in the Service section.
Pre-Starting Engine
1. Check that engine crankcase oil is full using oil fill plug (A). If necessary, see Checking Engine Oil in the Service section.
2. Check air filter and pre-cleaner for dirt. Clean as required. If necessary, see Checking Air Filter in the Service section.
3. Check fuel supply. If necessary, see Filling Fuel Tank in the Service section.
4. Make sure axle drive pins (B) are engaged in wheel hubs.
5. Make sure Main Clutch (C) is in the "N" neutral position.
Starting Engine
1. Set throttle lever (A) at "FAST" position.
2. Put engine choke in "CHOKE" position (B).
NOTE: When engine has started, move choke to 1/2 choke until engine runs smoothly, then to "NO CHOKE" position.
3. Grasp starter handle (C) and pull rope out slowly until it pulls harder. This is the compression stroke. Let rope rewind slowly. Then pull rope with a rapid continuous full arm stroke. Let rope rewind slowly. Repeat until engine starts.
Stopping Engine
1. Release Main Clutch (A) or (B). Clutch is spring loaded and will return to "N" neutral position.
ˇ Forward or reverse motion will STOP.
ˇ Tiller tine motion will STOP.
ˇ Engine will continue to run.
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c CAUTION: Avoid injury!
ˇ DO NOT touch engine or tiller drive parts which are hot from operation. |
2. Move throttle lever (C) toward the "IDLE" position.
ˇ Allow engine to run for a minute or so that it can cool down.
ˇ Move throttle lever to the "OFF" position, engine will stop.
Emergency Stopping
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c CAUTION: Avoid injury!
ˇ BE ALERT to possible emergencies when operating. BE READY to STOP the tiller quickly. |
To stop tiller in an emergency:
ˇ RELEASE ALL LEVERS, this will stop tiller forward or reverse motion and the tine motion.
ˇ Move throttle lever (A) to the "OFF" position, engine will stop.
DAILY OPERATING CHECKLIST
Operate Tiller
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c CAUTION: Avoid injury!
ˇ Grip handlebar securely with both hands to control tiller in case it strikes a rock, large stone, root or other obstruction while tilling. |
Follow tiller operating sequence as follows:
1. Engage both wheel hub drive pins.
2. Select proper ground / tine speed.
3. Main clutch levers in "N" neutral position.
Adjust Tilling Width
To till the minimum width, remove the outer tines by removing the four nuts and bolts (A) that hold them on each side.
If tines are difficult to remove, see Lubricating Tine Shafts in the Service section.
Transporting Tiller
TRANSPORTING A SHORT DISTANCE:
ˇ When transporting unit to and from area to be tilled.
ˇ If desired, adjust ground / tine speed belt to fast position.
ˇ Lower depth control to lowest notch to raise tines off ground.
ˇ Lift up on handlebars enough to raise tines slightly off surface.
ˇ Engage main clutch "F" top levers to propel unit.
ˇ When transporting this tiller on a trailer or in a truck, make sure unit is secured to prevent it from sliding or tipping over.
Tilling Tips
Practice operating controls and running tiller (with tines out of the ground) before starting to till.
When tilling for the first time, set depth control in second notch to a tilling depth of 12 - 25 mm (1/2 - 1 in.), just enough to break hard soil crust or sod.
NOTE: Tilling depth will vary with ground conditions. Using the depth control will help maintain a constant tilling depth.
Prior to engaging the Main Clutch, hold handlebars up to keep tines out of the soil. Slowly lower tines into soil and begin tilling operations.
You don't need to exert pressure or weight on handlebars while you are tilling. Heavy pressure on handlebars will cause tines to try to propel tiller instead of digging. Keep both hands on handle grips when tilling to maintain balance and direction of tiller.
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c CAUTION: Avoid injury!
ˇ Grip handlebar securely with both hands to control tiller in case it strikes a rock, large stone, root or other obstruction while tilling. |
When reaching the end of a row, lift handlebars to raise tines out of the ground. Push handlebars to right or left so tiller turns in desired direction.
If loss of control occurs because of the tines impacting hard ground or hidden objects DO NOT attempt to force the tines down by hanging on the handlebar. Let go of the handlebars and do not restrain machine. Stand clear of the rotating tines until tines stop. Re-establish control by lifting upward on the handles to remove tines from the soil.
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c CAUTION: Avoid injury!
ˇ Release all levers, stop engine and remove spark plug wire before removing debris by hand. |
Don't let crop residue, rye grass, stringy stalks, vines, etc., build up to a point where it chokes off action of tines. Reverse the tiller to unwind and reduce amount of tangle.
NOTE: DO NOT till wet soil, it produces hard lumps. Tilling soil that is too dry results in powdered soil.
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c CAUTION: Avoid injury!
ˇ Avoid injury to feet. Keep feet away from around tine guard when the tiller is traveling in REVERSE. |
When engaging the Main Clutch - "R" Bottom Lever (Reverse), be careful because the tiller tines and drive wheels will start spinning in reverse.