Troy-Bilt 12208 - Manual (Page 14)

Section 4: Operation
Starting the Engine
The following steps describe how to start
and stop the engine.
Do not attempt to
engage the tines or wheeis untii you
have read all of the operating instruc­
tions in this Section. Also review
the safety rules in Section 1: “Safety”
and the tiller and engine controls
information in Section 3: “Features and
Controls.”
A
CAUTION
To help prevent serious
personal injury or damage to
equipment:
• Before starting engine, put both
wheeis 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
Clutch Bail (all Models) and Reverse
Clutch Control (Models 12209/12210
only)
in neutral (disengaged)
positions by releasing levers.
• Never run engine indoors or in
enclosed, poorly ventilated areas.
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide, an odorless and deadly
gas.
• Avoid engine muffler and nearby
areas. Temperatures in these areas
may exceed150°F.
1. Complete the “Pre-Start Checklist” on
the previous page.
2. Put the wheels in the WHEEL DRIVE
position (see “Wheel Drive Pins” in
Section 3).
3. Put the Depth Regulator Lever in the
“travel” position (lever all the way down)
so that the tines are clear of the ground.
4. Release all controls on the tiller.
5. If engine is equipped with a fuel valve,
turn valve to open position as instructed
in the separate Engine Owner’s Manual.
6. Put ignition switch and/or throttle
control lever on engine in “ON”, “RUN”,
“FAST” or “START” position as instructed
in the separate Engine Owner’s Manual.
7. Choke or prime engine as instructed in
the separate Engine Owner’s Manual.
8. Place one hand on the fuel tank to
stabilize the unit when you pull the starter
handle. Use the recoil starter rope to start
the engine as instructed in the separate
Engine Owner’s Manual. When engine
starts, gradually move choke lever (on
engines so equipped) to “NO CHOKE”,
“CHOKE OFF” or “RUN” position.
9. Use the “FAST” throttle speed setting
when tilling.
A WARNING
i
2. Put the Depth Regulator Lever in the
“travel” position (lever all the way down)
so that the tines are clear of the ground.
Use this position when practicing with
your tiller or when moving to or from the
garden. When you are ready to begin
tilling, you must move the Depth
Regulator Lever to the desired depth
setting (see “Tilling Tips & Techniques”).
3. Start the engine and allow it to warm
up. When warm, put throttle control in
fast speed setting.
Keep away from rotating tines. Rotating
tines will cause injury.
Stopping the Engine and Tiller
1. To stop the wheels and tines, release
the Forward Clutch Bail or the Reverse
Clutch Control (on Models 12209/12210)
-whichevercontrol is in use.
2. To stop the engine, put the ignition
switch and/or the throttle control lever on
the engine in the “OFF” or “STOP”
position.
OPERATING THE TILLER
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.
This is a traditional “standard-rotating-
tine” (SRT) tiller with forward rotating
tines. It operates completely differently
from “counter-rotating-tine” (CRT) tillers
or from front-tine tillers.
1. Follow the “Pre-Start Checklist” on the
previous page. Be sure that the wheels
are in the WHEEL DRIVE position.
Figure 4-2: Use one hand to guide tilier
when moving forward.
4. For forward motion of the wheels and
tines:
(a) Pull the Forward Clutch Bail up and
hold it against the handlebar. Release
the bail to stop forward motion of the
wheels and tines.
(b) 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.
See Figure 4-2. Let the tiller move
ahead at its own pace and do not push
down on the handlebars to try and
force the tiller to dig deeper - this
takes weight off the wheels, reduces
traction, and causes the tines to try
and propel the tiller.
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