Poulan HDF550M - Manual (Page 9)

OPERATION
NOTE: If at a high altitude (3000 feet) or in cold
temperatures (below 32°F), the carburetor fuel mixture
may need to be adjusted for best engine performance.
See "TO ADJUST CARBURETOR" in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual.
NOTE: If engine does not start, see troubleshooting
points.
SPARK PLUG
CHOKE
CONTROL
RECOIL STARTER
HANDLE ---------------
. . THROTTLE
) CONTROL
FIG. 8
BREAKING IN YOUR TILLER
Break-in your belt(s), pulleys and tine control before you
actually begin tilling.
•
Start engine, tip tines off ground by pressing handles
down and engage tine control to start tine rotation.
Allow tines to rotate for five minutes.
• Check tine operation and adjust if necessary. See “TINE
OPERATION CHECK” in the Service and Adjustments
section of this manual.
TILLING HINTS
A
CAUTION: Until you are accustomed
to handling your tiller, start actual field
use with throttle in slow position.
To help tiller move forward, lift up the handles slightly (thus
lifting depth stake out of ground). To slow down the tiller,
press down on handles.
If you are straining or tiller is shaking, the wheels and depth
stake are not set properly in the soil being tilled.The proper
setting of the wheels and depth stake is through trial and
error and depends upon the soil condition. (The harder or
wetter the ground, the slower the engine and tine speed
needed. Under these poor conditions, at fast speed the
tiller will run and jump over the ground).
A properly adjusted tiller will dig with little effort from the
operator.
• Tilling is digging into, turning over, and breaking up
packed soil before planting. Loose, unpacked soil helps
root growth. Best tilling depth is 4"-6". A tiller will also
clearthe soil of unwanted vegetation.The decomposition
of this vegetable matter enriches the soil. Depending
on the climate (rainfall and wind), it may be advisable
to till the soil at the end of the growing season to further
condition the soil.
Soil conditions are important for propertilling.Tines will
not readily penetrate dry, hard soil which may contribute
to excessive bounce and difficult handling of your tiller.
Hard soil should be moistened before tilling; however,
extremely wet soil will “ball-up” or clump during tilling.
Wait until the soil is less wet in order to achieve the
best results. When tilling in the fall, remove vines and
long grass to prevent them from wrapping around the
tine shaft and slowing your tilling operation.
You will find tilling much easier if you leave a row un­
filled between passes. Then go back between tilled
rows. (See Fig. 9) There are two reasons for doing
this. First, wide turns are much easier to negotiate than
about-faces. Second, the tiller won’t be pulling itself,
and you, toward the row next to it.
Set depth stake and wheel height for shallow tilling
when working extremely hard soil or sod. Then work
across the first cuts at normal depth.
CULTIVATING
Cultivating is destroying the weeds between rows to pre­
vent them from robbing nourishment and moisture from the
plants. At the same time, breaking up the upper layer of
soil crust will help retain moisture in the soil. Best digging
depth is T'-3".
•
You will probably not need to use the depth stake. Begin
by tipping the depth stake forward until it is held by the
stake spring.
• Cultivate up and down the rows at a speed which will
allow tines to uproot weeds and leave the ground in
rough condition, promoting no further growth of weeds
and grass (See Fig. 10).