Agri-Fab 45-03085 - Manual (Page 7)

7
OPERATION
TRANSPORTING yOUR TILLER
AROUND ThE YARD
Pull forward on lift handle until it locks in the up, •
transport position.
AROUND TOWN
Disconnect spark plug wire. •
Drain fuel tank. •
Transport in upright position to prevent oil leakage. •
TO ADJUST DEPTH STAkE
Depth stake has five position holes to select tilling •
depth from 1 to 5 inches.
The top stake hole selects the shallowest tilling
•
depth and the bottom stake hole selects the deepest
position.
To change depth remove the hair cotter pin from the
•
clevis pin which is connecting the depth stake to the
stake support bracket.
Grasp the top of the depth stake, remove the clevis
•
pin and reposition the depth stake. Insert clevis pin
and hair cotter pin.
IMPORTANT: The depth stake should never be removed
from the tiller. It is designed to protect the tractor
transaxle from thrusting action of the tiller.
TiLLiNG
The most efficient tillage is obtained when tiller •
engine is operated at full throttle. The sound of the
tiller engine will tell you. When tiller engine is lightly
loaded, raise gauge wheels to increase tilling depth.
If engine seems to be overloaded or stalls out, lower
gauge wheels for shallower tilling.
Operate tiller engine at full throttle and operate
•
tractor in slowest forward speed, with tractor engine
at idle speed or just above idle. You will soon learn
the proper combination of tilling depth and speed for
good tillage.
Soil conditions will determine how deep tiller can
•
penetrate on the first pass. In extremely hard ground,
several passes may be necessary to till to a depth of
6 inches. While in soft ground, tiller may penetrate to
a depth of 6 inches in the first pass.
TiLLiNG hiNTS
Important operating hints
NOTE: The following is a general guideline of tilling, but
may vary depending upon soil conditions.
In virgin soil, the tiller should be started in the •
shallowest depth position and lowered one position at
a time after each pass in each position.
If the soil is extremely hard and dry, it may be •
desirable to cross till an area at shallow depth first,
then till in the direction of planting rows on the second
pass at the final depth.
Where possible, we recommend tilling in a pattern
•
similar to that shown in Figure 7. Make the first pass,
then skip a space equal to the width of the tiller, and
make the return pass. Then till the skipped area.
Tilling in this pattern will enable you to maintain better
control. If the passes were made side-by-side, the
tractor and tiller would tend to pull toward the tilled
(soft) side.
Check ground moisture: If you can make a ball in your
•
hand out of the ground to be tilled, do not till soil as
it is too wet. This causes lumps which are difficult to
work up.
When operating for the first time, proceed slowly and
•
carefully until you become familiar with the proper
method of operating the tiller.
In soil that was tilled the year before, select the tilling
•
depth at which the tiller engine runs comfortable and
does not stall or pull down. Lower depth for additional
passes if greater depth is desired.
Whenever working multiple passes, go perpendicular
•
to the previous tilling direction.
In cases where the soil is too hard to get proper
•
penetration or if the tilling action causes tiller to hop
or bounce, it will be necessary to purchase a set of
tiller (wheel) weights.
CULTIVATING
Your tiller may be used for cultivating which requires a •
minimum of two (2) inches of soil penetration.
Set depth stake so the tiller will penetrate soil to a
•
depth of 2 to 3 inches. The tiller engine should be run
at full throttle except when cultivating small plants.
A slower engine is necessary to prevent burying the
plants. See Figure 8.
FiGURE 7 FiGURE 8