Troy-Bilt Bronco 12180, Owner'S Manual

Page 1: ...Model 12180 Owner s Manual BRONCOTM 5 HP Model Tiller Safety Assembly Controls Operation Maintenance BRONCO GARDEN WAY INCORPORATED ...

Page 2: ...as well Your tiller is famous for its ruggedness performance and high quality engineering We know you ll enjoy using it Please carefully read this Manual It tells you how to safely and easily assemble operate and maintain your machine Be sure that you and any other operators carefully follow the recommended safety practices at all times Failure to do so could result in personal injury or property ...

Page 3: ...reating any source of ignition until fuel vapors have dissipated 7 Never make adjustments when engine is running unless recommended by manufacturer Operation 1 Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts 2 Exercise extreme caution when on or crossing gravel drives walks or roads Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic Do not carry passengers 3 After striking a foreign object stop the en...

Page 4: ... care when backing up 17 Do not operate the tiller on a slope that is too steep for safety When on slopes slow down and make sure you have good footing Never permit the tiller to freewheel down slopes 18 Never allow bystanders near the unit 19 Only use attachments and acces sories that are approved by the manufac turer of the tiller 20 Use tiller attachments and acces sories when recommended 21 Ne...

Page 5: ...er Starting Stabilization Message on engine Figure 1 Location of Safety and Operating Decals TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY READ THE OWNER S MANUAL KNOW LOCATIONS AND FUNCTIONS OF ALL CONTROLS KEEP ALL SAFETY DEVICES AND SHIELDS IN PLACE AND WORKING NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN OR UNINSTRUCTED ADULTS TO OPERATE TILLER SHUT OFF ENGINE AND DISCONNECT SPARK PLUG WIRE BEFORE MANUALLY UNCLOG GING TINES OR MAKING REPA...

Page 6: ...ted below contact your local dealer or the factory if any items are missing or damaged NOTE Use the screw length template Fig 2 1 to identify screws Loose Parts List Qty Description 1 Handlebar Support see A Fig 2 2 page 7 1 Handlebar Assembly see K Fig 2 2 The following items are in the hardware bag 1 Slotted hd screw 10 24 x 2 1 Hex hd screw 1 4 20 x 1 1 4 6 Curved hd screw 5 16 18 x 1 1 2 2 Hex...

Page 7: ... screws securely 4 Tighten all handlebar mounting hardware securely STEP 3 Move Tiller Off Shipping Platform To move the tiller without the engine running put the wheels in their FREEWHEEL position as described below 1 Use a sturdy block to raise one wheel off the ground 2 Remove the hairpin cotter L Fig 2 3 and wheel drive pin M Slide the wheel inward on the wheel shaft N Reinstall the wheel driv...

Page 8: ...ter X 6 Hook the cable spring W Fig 2 6 into the V shaped bend in the forward clutch bail Y 7 Lift and hold the Forward Clutch bail against the handlebar See Fig 2 7 8 Measure the length of the cable spring between the ends of the coils Fig 2 7 The length should be approximately 1 7 8 If the length is correct turn the hex nut Z Fig 2 7 tightly against the cable adjuster X while holding the adjuste...

Page 9: ...ion housing and look into the oil fill hole You will see the main drive shaft on one side of the hole 3 The gear oil level is correct if the gear oil is approximately halfway up the side of the drive shaft 4 If the gear oil level is low add gear oil by referring to A To Check the Transmis sion Gear Oil Level in Section 5 STEP 7 Add Motor Oil to Engine The tiller is shipped without oil in the engin...

Page 10: ... when the engine is running Always put both wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE position before starting the engine Failure to comply could cause loss of tiller control property damage or personal injury WARNING Do not place the tiller on its side when changing the wheel drive positions as doing so could result in gasoline leaking from the fuel tank Failure to follow this instruc tion could result in person...

Page 11: ...s the engagement of reverse drive to the wheels and tines This reversing feature is used for maneuvering the tiller only never engage the tines in the ground while going in the reverse direction To Operate the Reverse Clutch Control 1 Put the wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE position see the WARNING statement at the left 2 Stop all tiller motion by releasing the Forward Clutch Bail 3 Lift up the handleba...

Page 12: ...just the handlebars so they are at waist level when the tines are 3 4 into the soil To Adjust the Handlebars 1 Stop the engine disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug and allow the engine to cool 2 Remove the screws lockwashers and nuts reposition the handlebars and reinstall the hardware ENGINE CONTROLS Refer to the engine manufacturer s Engine Owner s Manual included in the tiller lit...

Page 13: ...ours of operation 4 Check transmission gear oil level after first 2 hours of operation STARTING AND STOPPING THE ENGINE Pre Start Checklist Make the following checks and perform the following services before starting the engine 1 Read the Safety and Controls sections in this manual Read the separate Engine Owner s Manual provided by the engine manufacturer 2 Check that the wheels are in the WHEEL ...

Page 14: ...fferently from CAUTION To help prevent serious personal injury or damage to equipment Before starting engine put both wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE position Never have the wheels in the FREEWHEEL position when the engine is running When the wheels are in FREEWHEEL they do not hold back the tiller and the tines could propel the tiller rapidly forward or backward Before starting engine put Forward Clutc...

Page 15: ...the tiller in the direction of the turn Figure 4 5 After completing the turn slowly lower the tines into the soil to resume tilling Stopping the Tiller and Engine 1 To stop the wheels and tines release the Forward Clutch Bail or the Reverse Clutch Control whichever is engaged 2 To stop the engine move the ignition switch and or throttle control lever on the engine to the OFF or STOP position Turni...

Page 16: ... Avoid tilling soggy wet soil Tilling wet soil often results in large hard clumps of soil that can interfere with planting If time permits wait a day or two after heavy rains to allow the soil to dry before tilling Test soil by squeezing it into a ball If it compresses too easily it is too wet to till Avoid making footprints Whenever possible walk on the untilled side of the unit to avoid making f...

Page 17: ...d moisture holding texture and try to avoid leaving footprints or wheel marks When tilling vertically try to make the first pass uphill as the tiller digs more deeply going uphill than it does downhill In soft soil or weeds you may have to lift the handlebars slightly while going uphill When going downhill overlap the first pass by about one half the width of the tiller B Terrace Gardening When a ...

Page 18: ...blocks and securely tie the tiller down Standing cornstalks of reasonable height can be power composted Pushing over but not uprooting cornstalks will often make it easier for your tiller to chop up the stalks Keep the tines clear of excessive tangling by fishtailing or fre quently using reverse Make several passes then return a few days later to finish off any remaining stubble After tilling unde...

Page 19: ...re in tires Service spark plug Change more frequently in dusty or dirty conditions Change after first 2 hours of break in operation Check after first 2 hours of break in operation See Engine Owner s Manual for service intervals and instructions WARNING 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...

Page 20: ... 6 If adding only a few ounces of gear oil use API rated GL 4 or GL 5 gear oil having a viscosity of SAE 140 SAE 85W 140 or SAE 80W 90 If refilling an empty transmission use only GL 4 gear oil having a viscosity of SAE 85W 140 or SAE 140 7 While checking frequently to avoid overfilling slowly add gear oil into the oil fill hole until it reaches the halfway point on the drive shaft 8 Securely repla...

Page 21: ...s cutting edge will enter the soil first as the tiller moves forward C Removing a Tine Assembly 1 A tine assembly consists of eight tines mounted on a tine holder 2 If removing both tine assemblies mark them left and right before removal Remove the screw C Figure 5 3 and locknut D that secure the tine assembly to the tine shaft If necessary use a rubber mallet to tap the tine assembly outward off ...

Page 22: ...th of the coiled portion of the clutch bail spring A Figure 5 4 with a ruler If the belt tension is correct the length of the coiled portion should be approximately 1 7 8 4 If the spring is too short the belt tension will be too loose If the spring is too long the belt tension will be too tight 5 To adjust the length of the spring release the Forward Clutch Bail Unthread the hex nut C Figure 5 4 t...

Page 23: ...ension is too loose When checking belt tension also check the belt for cracks cuts or frayed edges and replace it as soon as possible Check belt tension after the first two hours of break in operation new belt Check belt tension after every 10 operating hours To Check Reverse Belt Tension 1 Be sure that the engine is stopped and the spark plug wire is disconnected and moved away from the spark plu...

Page 24: ...the air cleaner as instructed in the separate Engine Owner s Manual SPARK PLUG SERVICE Inspect and clean or replace the spark plug after every 100 operating hours or annually Clean the plug and set the gap as described in the separate Engine Owner s Manual In some areas local law requires using resistor spark plugs to suppress ignition signals If the engine was originally equipped with a resistor ...

Page 25: ...soline 5 Dirt or water in fuel tank 5 See Engine Service Dealer 6 Engine cooling system clogged 6 Clean air cooling system see Engine Owner s Manual Engine overheats 1 Engine cooling system clogged 1 Clean air cooling area see Engine Owner s Manual 2 Carburetor out of adjustment 2 See Engine Service Dealer 3 Oil level is low 3 Check oil level see Engine Owner s Manual Engine does not shut off 1 Mi...

Page 26: ...or SAE 80W 90 gear oil with an API rating of either GL 4 or GL 5 For Full Replacement Use SAE 140 or SAE 85W 140 gear oil with API rating of GL 4 do not use GL 5 TILLER ATTACHMENTS The attachments listed below are available for your tiller The information is the most current at the time this manual was printed Contact your authorized dealer or the factory for current information BUMPER A tubular s...

Page 27: ...ized dealer or directly from the factory For parts ordering information refer to the parts catalog Engine Service and Repair For engine service or repair contact your nearest authorized engine dealer look in the Yellow Pages under Engines Gasoline The engine is warranted by the engine manufacturer Any unauthorized work performed on the engine during the warranty period may void this warranty For c...

Page 28: ...1905237 1 99 Printed in U S A 1999 Garden Way Incorporated ...