16
TILLING/CULTIVATING
WARNING • DANGER
IF YOUR TINES GET JAMMED OR
ENTANGLED, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AT
ONCE. REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE
THEN REMOVE THE OBSTRUCTION
WHILE THE ENGINE IS OFF. NEVER TRY
TO REMOVE AN OBSTRUCTION
WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.
SERIOUS INJURY CAN RESULT.
!
!
How about a family-size
vegetable garden?
Nowadays many gardeners prefer
small gardens — especially in the
suburbs, where space is at a
premium. But, if you’re fortunate
enough to own a large lot, you can
create a bigger garden — a half acre
or more. Here’s how:
1. First, rent a large tiller or hire
someone with a large tiller to
break ground for you. This is a
one-time-only investment that’s
well worth the small cost.
2. Then, use your Tiller to break up
any remaining clumps of soil or
sod. Unlike a tractor or big tiller,
your MANTIS Tiller is a precision
tool. It will pulverize your soil
into a smooth seed bed.
Now You’re Ready to
Cultivate or Weed.
Guide your Tiller where you
want to weed and start it up.
Pull your Tiller backward
slowly, then let it move forward
a bit, in a gentle rocking
motion. Watch it slice, shred,
and bury those weeds!
Got tough weeds? Lighten
your pressure on the throttle to
slow your Tiller down. Then
work back and forth until your
Tiller chops up the weeds. It’s
easy and effective!
Remember, any tiller will
tangle in tall grass, stringy
vines, or super-big weeds. So, if
you have a “backyard jungle,”
first use a knife, pruner, or
brush cutter to chop up the
overgrowth. If the tines become
tangled anyway,
push the
switch to the “
o
” position to
turn the engine off completely
before trying to clear them.
The optional Tine Detangler
(Item #1322) will clear tines in
a jiffy. Call 1-800-366-6268 for
details. (Ask for the Sales
Department.)
Your MANTIS Tiller
Will Weed Between
Narrow Rows!
Your MANTIS Tiller is a
precision weeder that easily fits in
tight places. So don’t be afraid to
weed anywhere: between plants
and shrubs; in corners; against
fences; on raised beds; in wide
rows; even in very narrow rows.
So you can run it in a tightly
planted garden without
damaging your delicate plants.
That’s good news for suburban
gardeners, who often have to
plant rows close together!
Your MANTIS Tiller Makes
Weeding a Pleasure!
As a tiller, your MANTIS Tiller
works the soil down to 10” (25.4 cm)
deep. But, as a cultivator, it gently
cultivates the surface, only 2” to 3”
(5.09 cm to 7.62 cm) deep.
First, you must change the tines to
the weeding position. This takes less
than a minute.
Then, your MANTIS Tiller’s sharp
“tine teeth” will slice up those pesky
weeds, burying them as you go along.
And, since the tines in this position
won’t dig too deep, they won’t hurt
your plants’ precious root systems.
The result? Your Tiller will cut your
weeding time in half, and turn a
tiresome chore into a pleasure.
How to Switch From Tilling to
Cultivating Position
1. Make sure your Tiller is off.
2. Remove the retaining pins from the
tines.
3. Remove the tines from the axle.
4. Place the right-side tine onto the left-
side axle. Place the left side tine onto
the right-side axle. The “D” hole
should be to the outside.
5. Here is how to make sure you’ve
installed the tines properly. Stand
behind the Tiller
and hold your hand, palm up, next
to the tines. Do the tine points curl
up, as your fingers do? If so, they are
in the correct cultivating position.
6. Reinsert the pins.
Picture 1
Picture 2
CULTIVATING
Tilling Position
Tine teeth point in the
same direction as the
rotation of the tine; or
toward the front of the
Tiller, away from the
operator.
Cultivating
Position
Tine teeth point in the
opposite direction as the
rotation of the tine. Tines
point toward the back of
the tiller, or toward the
operator.
401775 Deluxe 2C Tiller-Cult Manual_Tiller Manual 8/8/11 8:08 AM Page 16
