Page 3
Operation Safety
OPERATION
•
Never operate the tiller without guards, covers, and
hoods in place.
•
Never start the engine or operate the tiller with
the wheels in the free-wheel position. Make sure
the wheel lockouts are engaged through wheel hubs
and wheel axle. The wheels act as a brake to keep
the tiller at a controlled speed. Disengage wheel
lockouts to permit free-wheeling only when engine is
stopped.
•
Keep hands, feet, and clothing away from rotating
parts. Keep clear of tiller tines at all times.
•
Tines and wheels rotate when tiller is engaged in
forward or reverse-- in forward, tines and wheels
rotate when the drive control levers are pulled down;
in
reverse, wheels and tines rotate when the
reverse handle is pulled back towards the operator.
Releasing the drive control levers to
neutral stops
the wheels and tines.
•
Be extremely cautious when operating in
reverse.
Take extra care to avoid slipping or falling, and to
keep feet clear of tines.
•
Exercise extreme caution when operating on or
crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for
hidden hazards or traffic.
•
After striking a foreign object, stop the engine,
remove the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly
inspect the tiller for any damage, and repair the
damage before restarting and operating the tiller.
•
If vegetation clogs the tines, raise the handlebars to
elevate the tines, and run the tiller in
reverse. If this
does not clean clogged vegetation from the tines,
STOP THE ENGINE AND DISCONNECT THE
SPARK PLUG WIRE before removing vegetation by
hand.
•
Engine muffler will be hot from operation. Do not
touch it with bare skin or a severe burn may result.
•
If the unit should start to vibrate abnormally, stop
the engine and check immediately for the cause.
Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
•
Do not run the engine indoors; exhaust fumes are
dangerous.
•
Do not overload the machine capacity by attempting
to till too deep at too fast a rate.
•
Never operate the machine at high transport speeds
on slippery surfaces. Look behind and use care
when backing.
•
Never allow bystanders near the unit.
•
Use only attachments and accessories approved by
the manufacturer of the tiller.
•
Never operate the tiller without good visibility or light.
•
Be careful when tilling in hard ground. The tines may
catch in the ground and propel the tiller forward. If
this occurs, let go of the handlebars and do not
restrain the machine.
•
Take all possible precautions when leaving the
machine unattended. Disengage all controls levers,
stop the engine, wail for all moving parts to stop, and
make certain guards and shields are in place.
•
When leaving the operating position for any reason:
- shut off the engine.
- wait for all moving parts to stop.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
•
Keep machine, attachments, and accessories in safe
working condition.
•
Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, and other
bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be
sure the equipment is in safe working condition.
•
To prevent accidental starting, always disconnect the
spark plug wire from the spark plug before
performing tiller maintenance.
•
Never run the engine indoors. Exhaust fumes are
deadly.
•
Always allow muffler to cool before filling fuel tank.
•
Never store equipment with gasoline in the tank
inside a closed building where fumes may reach an
open flame or spark. Allow the engine to cool before
storing in any building.
•
Always refer to the operator's guide instructions for
important details if the tiller is to be stored for an
extended period.
