MTD 216-320-000 - Manual (Page 11)

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 and increase 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 actual setting of the depth bar and the
handle pressure required.
4. Throttle Control: The throttle control lever is
located on the right side of handle panel.
NOTE
Right hand side is determined from
the operator’s position standing
behind the tiller.
The throttle control lever adjusts the engine speed. It
also gives finger tip control of the carburetor and
magneto stop switch. With the throttle control knob
pushed completely forward, the carburetor is in START
position. Pulling the throttle control back slightly adjusts
the engine speed to FAST. Pulling the throttle back fur­
ther reduces the engine speed to SLOW. When the
throttle is pulled completely back, the magneto stop
switch grounds out the spark and stops the engine. Use
maximum engine speed for deep tilling.
Move the throttle control to slow when transporting the
tiller. When the tiller is being moved to or from the
garden, the depth bar should be pivoted forward until
it engages the depth bar spring pin. The machine may
be moved under its own power, without damaging grass
areas as long as it is allowed to move freely. If the
operator holds back, it will start to dig.
CULTIVATING
For cultivating, a two to three inch depth is desirable.
Setting the wheels and depth bar so that the wheels
are about two inches above the ground while the tiller
is resting on the tines and depth bar will allow the
machine to work at cultivating depth. The throttle
should be set to control forward movement to a slow
walking speed. With standard tines, the maximum
working width of the tiller is 26 inches. This width may
be reduced to 24" by moving the clevis pins and hair­
pin cotters to the inner holes on the tine shaft. For
cultivation, remove the outer tines to obtain a tilling
width of 13 inches.
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 wiil 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 mixing 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.
ADJUSTMENTS
▲c 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 pages 10 and 11.
DEPTH BAR ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the depth bar, refer to “How To Use Your
Tiller” on pages 10 and 11.
TINE CLUTCH CONTROL ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the tine clutch control, refer to “attaching
clutch cable,” step numbers 4 and 5 under Assembly
Instructions.
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