MTD 217-310-000 - Manual (Page 12)

In some soils, the desired depth is obtained tt e first
time over the garden. In other soils, the d(!sired
depth is obtained by going over the garden l wo or
three times. In the latter case, the depth bar s hould
be lowered before each succeeding pass ovar the
garden, and passes should be made acro.'is the
length and width of the garden alternately. Mocks
which are turned up should be removed fro Ti the
garden area.
3. Handle Pressure: Further control of tilling depth
and travel speed can be obtained by variation of
pressure on the handles. A downward pressure on
the handles will reduce the working depth end in­
crease the forward speed. An upward pressure on
the handles will increase the working depth and
reduce the forward speed. The type of soil and
working conditions will determine the actuul set­
ting of the depth bar and the handle pressure re­
quired.
4. Throttle Control: The throttle control lever adjusts
the engine speed and stops the engine. W th the
throttle control knob pushed completely fo ward,
the carburetor is in START position. Pulling the
throttle control back slightly adjusts the engine
speed to FAST. Pulling the throttle back lurther
reduces the engine speed to SLOW. Pull the throt­
tle completely back to stop the engine. See figure
20
.
Use maximum engine speed for deep tilling, Move
the throttle control to SLOW when transport! ng the
tiller.
When laying out plant rows, be sure to allow enough
width to permit cultivation between the rows. In grow­
ing corn or similar crops, check-row planting will per­
mit cross cultivation and practically eliminate hand
hoeing.
The tiller has many uses other than tilling and
cultivating a garden. One of these is the preparation
of lawn area for seeding. The tiller will prepare a deep
seed bed which will be free of hard unfilled spots, allow­
ing a better stand of grass to grow. The tiller is very
useful for loosening hard soil for excavation with a
shovel. No tedious hand pickwork will be necessary.
Your tiller may be used for mixing compost in the pile,
or for mixing it with the soil in your garden. This should
be done after the soil has been broken to the full work­
ing depth. The compost should be worked in to a depth
of six to eight inches. This may be done by working the
length of the garden, and then by making separate
passes across its width. The addition of decayed
organic matter will substantially increase the fertility of
your garden. For proper decaying action, fertilizer
should be applied and worked in with the mulch
materials. Breaking up leaves and straw and mixing it
with several inches of soil causes the soil to hold
moisture longer and allows proper aeration of the plant
root system. It also retards the growth of weeds.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and various state
and local agencies offer published booklets and expert
advice on all phases of gardening. They should be con­
sulted regarding soil information, planting dates, and
the most satisfactory varieties of crop for your particular
area.
TRANSPORTING THE TILLER
To transport the tiller to or from the garden, raise the
depth bar to the highest position. See figure 2A. With
the throttle control in SLOW position, the unit wil move
under its own power, without damaging grass ar sas as
long as it is allowed to move freely. If the operate holds
back, it will start to dig.
CULTIVATING
For cultivating, a two to three inch depth is des irable.
Setting the wheels and depth bar so that the > vheels
are about two inches above the ground while tf e tiller
is resting on the tines and depth bar will allow the
machine to work at cultivating depth. The ihrottle
should be set to control forward movement to a slow
walking speed. With outer tines installed, the maximum
working width of the tiller is 26 inches. This wid :h may
be reduced to 24 inches by moving the clevis pins and
hairpin cotters to the inner holes on the tine shiift. For
cultivation, remove the outer tines to obtain £. tilling
width of 13 inches.
ADJUSTMENTS
A
I WARNING )
Disconnect the spark plug wire and
ground against the engine before
performing any adjustments, repairs
or maintenance.
WHEEL ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the wheel yoke and wheel position, refer to
“How To Use Your Tiller” on page 11.
DEPTH BAR ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the depth bar, refer to “How To Use Your
Tiller” on page 11.
TINE CLUTCH CONTROL ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the tine clutch control, refer to step numbers
19 and 20 under assembly instructions.
12