Troy-Bilt 12214-5.5HP - Manual (Page 17)

Section 4: Operation
Tilling Tips & Techniques
Figure A-l
If the garden size will not permit
lengthwise and then crosswise tilling,
then overlap the first passes by one-
half a tiller width, followed by succes­
sive passes at one-quarter width (see
Figure 4-8).
Figure 4-8
'With planning, you can allow enough
room between rows to cultivate (see
Figure 4-9). : Leave room for the hood
width, plus enough extra room for
future plant growth.
Figure 4-9
CLEARING THE TINES
Dry grass, stringy stalks or tough vines
may become tangled in the tines. Follow
these procedures to help avoid tangling
and to clean the tines, if necessary.
•To reduce tangling, set the depth
regulator to its maximum depth.
• While tilling, try swaying the handle­
bars from side to side (about 6" to 12").
This “fishtailing” action often clears the
tines of debris,
• If tangling occurs, lift the tines out of
the sol! and run the tiller in reverse tor
a few feet. This may unwind a good
deal of debris.
• It may be necessary to remove the
debris by hand (a pocket knife will help
you to cut away the material).
A
WARNING
Before clearing the tines by hand, stop
the engine, allow all moving parts to
stop and disconnect the spark plug
wire.
Failure to follow this warning could
result in personal injury.
TILLING ON SLOPES
If you must garden on a moderate slope,
please follow two very important guide­
lines:
1, Till only on moderate slopes, never on
steep ground where footing is difficult
(review safety rules in the “Safety”
Section of this Manual).
2. We recommend tilling up and down
slopes, rather than terracing. Tilling
vertically on a slope allows maximum
planting area and also leaves room for
cultivating.
IMPORTANT: When tilling on slopes, be
sure the correct oil level is maintained in
the engine (check every one-half hour of
operation). The incline of the slope will
cause the oil to slant away from its
normal level and this can starve engine
parts of required lubrication. Keep the
engine oil level at the full point at alt
times!
A. Tilling up and down slopes:
* To keep soil erosion to a minimum, be
sure to add enough organic matter to
the soil so that it has good 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 handlebars slightly
while going uphill.
B. Tilling across slopes without
using terraces:
if the previously described tilling
methods aren’t practical for you, then
you can til! laterally across a slope.
However, we don’t really recommend
this method as it can create unsure
footing and invites soil erosion.
17