Troy-Bilt 8 HP - Manual (Page 13)

CONTROLS
mo
FUUCTIONS
3. Wheel Speed Lever
This lever allows you to choose
between two different wheel
ground speeds: “SLOW” or
“FAST”. It also has a “FREE
WHEEL” position, in which the
wheels are free to turn without the
engine running. See Photo 2-5.
When the lever is engaged in
either “SLOW” or “FAST” and the
Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever
is in either “FORWARD” or
“REVERSE”, the wheels will turn
under engine power.
When the lever is in the “FREE
WHEEL” position and the Wheels/
Tines/PTO Drive Lever is in “NEU­
TRAL”, the machine can be moved
(on level ground) by pushing or
pulling on the handlebars. The
“FREE WHEEL” position is also
used when you are operating a
PTO driven stationary attachment,
in which case you would not want
the wheels to move when the
Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive Lever is
engaged in “FORWARD”.
IMPORTANT
By moving the forward drive belt
(see “Changing Belt Speeds” in
Section 3) into one of two different
belt ranges, you can obtain a total
of fod-' different forward wheel
ground speeds. There are, however,
only two reverse wheel ground
speeds (“SLOW” or "FAST”), be­
cause the rubber reverse disc, not
the drive belt, drives the wheels in
the reverse direction.
When you shift the lever into
“SLOW” or “FAST”, it moves a slid­
ing clutch inside the transmission
to the left or right to engage the
slow speed wheel gear or the fast
speed wheel gear. When engag­
ing the clutch, you should roll the
wheels forward or backward a few
inches to help align the clutch with
the selected wheel gear. When the
clutch goes into gear, you will no
longer be able to roll the wheels.
When you shift the lever into
“FREE WHEEL”, the sliding clutch
is disengaged from both wheel
gears and the wheels will roll freely.
Note that there should not be any
“clicking” noise when you’re in
“FREE WHEEL”. If there is, shift the
lever a little more (either up or
down) to eliminate the noise—and
the rubbing of the clutch and gear
that causes it.
To operate the Wheel Speed
Lever:
A. With the Wheels/Tines/PTO
Drive Lever in “NEUTRAL”, roll the
wheels a few inches in either di­
rection while you push the Wheel
A
WARNING
Never put revolving tines in the soil
when the Wheel Speed Lever is in
“FREE WHEEL”. Doing so can
cause the tiller to be propelled rap­
idly by the tines, possibly causing
loss of control and serious per­
sonal injury. Always engage the
Wheel Speed Lever in either
“SLOW” or “FAST” wheel speed
before putting the tines in the soil.
Speed Lever down to the “SLOW”
position, or up to the “FAST” posi­
tion. See Photo 2-5. When the lever
is in gear, you will no longer be
able to roll the wheels.
B. With the Wheels/Tines/PTO
Drive Lever in “NEUTRAL”, move
the Wheel Speed Lever in between
the “SLOW” and “FAST” wheel
speed positions to place the wheels
in “FREE WHEEL”.
A
CAUTION
TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY OR
DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT:
• Use the “SLOW” wheel speed
position when first learning to op­
erate the machine and whenever
you operate in “REVERSE”.
• Do not shift the Wheel Speed
Lever when heading up or down a
slope. If the lever is accidentally
placed in “FREE WHEEL”, the ma­
chine could roll out of control.
• Place the Wheels/Tines/PTO
Drive Lever in “NEUTRAL” before
shifting into “SLOW” or “FAST”.
This will prevent damage to the
clutch or wheel speed gears.
• Do not attempt to stop the
wheels by shifting the Wheel Speed
Lever. Always put the Wheels/
Tines/PTO Drive Lever in “NEU­
TRAL” to stop the wheels.
FREE WHEEL
SLOW /s
2-5: The Wheel Speed Lever.
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