Troy-Bilt 654J - Manual (Page 12)

12
Stopping Engine
• Move throttle control lever to STOP position. See
Figure 1.
Figure 1
CAUTION: Never stop the engine by moving
the choke lever into the CHOKE position.
Backfire, fire or engine damage could result.
Operating the Tiller
WARNING: Before tilling new ground,
contact your telephone and utilities company to
inquire if underground lines are on the property.
The following pages provide guidelines to using your tiller
effectively and safely in various gardening applications.
Be sure to read Tilling Tips & Techniques in this Section
before you actually put the tines into the soil.
1. Follow the Pre-Start Checklist on page 11. Be sure that
the wheel shift lever is in the NEUTRAL position.
2. Start the engine and allow it to warm up for a few
minutes. Move the throttle control into the FAST
speed setting.
IMPORTANT: Always operate the tiller with the throttle in
the FAST (rabbit) position.
3. For forward or reverse motion of the wheels and no
power to the tines:
a. Place the tine engagement lever in the OFF
position.
b. Place the wheel shift lever in either the
FORWARD position or REVERSE position.
NOTE: If you encounter difficulty repositioning the
wheel shift lever from FORWARD or REVERSE into
NEUTRAL or vice-versa, gently rock the tiller (slightly
push-and-pull the handlebar forward and backward) prior
to moving the wheel shift lever. Doing so will help fully
disengage the transmission’s internal drive clutch.
c. Close the wheel engagement handle against
the handlebar to cause the wheels to drive. To
stop the wheels, release the wheel
engagement handle.
4. For forward motion of the wheels and power to the
tines:
a. Place the tine direction selector in either the
CRT position or FRT position.
NOTE: Operate the tiller in CRT mode when tilling virgin
ground, sod or hard soil. Operate the tiller in FRT mode
when cultivating or tilling soft ground or previously tilled
soil.
b. Place the wheel shift lever in the FORWARD
position.
c. Close the wheel engagement handle against
the handlebar to cause the wheels to drive.
d. Place the tine engagement lever in the ON
position to begin tilling.
IMPORTANT: To stop the wheels and tines, release the
wheel engagement handle.
WARNING: Do not push down on the
handlebar to try to make the tiller till more
deeply. Doing so prevents the wheels from
holding the tiller back and can allow the tines (in
CRT mode) to rapidly propel the tiller backward
toward the operator, which could result in loss of
control, property damage, or personal injury.
• As the tiller moves forward, relax and let the wheels
pull the unit along while the tines dig.
• Walk behind, and a little to one side of the tiller.
• Use a light but secure grip with one hand on the
handlebars, but keep your arm loose.
• Let the tiller move ahead at its own pace. Do not push
down on the handlebar in an attempt to force the tiller
to dig deeper. If necessary, stop the tiller, turn off the
engine and reposition the depth regulator lever to
adjust tilling depth before restarting and operating the
tiller.
5. To turn the tiller around:
a. Practice turning in a level, open area with the
tines not engaged .
b. To start a turn, carefully raise the handlebar
until the engine and tines are balanced over the
wheels.
c. With the tiller balanced, push sideways on the
handlebar to move the tiller in the direction of
the turn. After completing the turn, slowly lower
the tines into the soil.
Stopping the Tiller and Engine
1. To stop the wheels and tines, release /open the wheel
engagement handle.
2. To stop the engine, move the engine throttle lever to
STOP. Refer to Figure 1.