MTD 215-386-000 - Manual (Page 11)

The tiller has many uses other than tilling and
cultivating a garden. One of these is the prepara­
tion of lawn area for seeding. The tiller will pre­
pare a deep seed bed which will be free of hard un­
filled spots, allowing a better stand of grass to
grow. The tiller is very useful for loosening hard
soil for excavation with a shovel. No tedious hand
pick work 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 working
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 mix­
ing separate passes across its width. The addition
of decayed organic matter will substantially in­
crease 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 consulted regarding soil informa­
tion, planting dates, and the most satisfactory
varieties of crop for your particular area.
ADJUSTMENTS
Ac
WARNING )
Do not at any time make any adjust­
ment to the tiller without first
stopping engine and disconnecting
spark plug wire.
ENGINE ADJUSTMENT
When engaging the clutch rod, you may encounter
difficulty in putting the unit in reverse. This may
arise when the friction disc on the variable speed
does not make contact with the engine disc. To
remedy this problem, loosen the four hex screws
securing the engine to the tine shield and the
frame until you are able to slide the engine back a
little in the slots in the frame. Then tighten the hex
screws, start the engine and put unit in reverse, if
you cannot obtain neutral, the engine is too far
back and should be moved forward (not more than
1/4"). Check again to be certain you still have
reverse. Refer to Control Rod Installation on page
8 .
CONTROL ROD ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the clutch control rod, refer to step num­
ber 5 under assembly instruction.
WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS
To adjust the wheel yoke and wheel position, refer
to “How To Use Your Tiller,” on page 9.
DEPTH BAR ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the depth bar, refer to “How To Use Your
Tiller” on pages 9 and 10.
TINE WIDTH ADJUSTMENT
To adjust the tine width, refer to “Cultivating” on
page 10 .
CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT
AC
WARNING ^
If any adjustments are made to the
engine while the engine is running
(e.g.
carburetor), disengage all
clutches and tines. Keep clear of
all moving parts and be careful of
heated surfaces and muffler.
Do not make unnecessary adjustments. Factory
settings are correct for most application. If ad­
justments are needed, refer to the separate engine
manual packed with your tiller.
LUBRICATION
AC
WARNING
Always stop engine and disconnect
spark plug wire before cleaning,
lubricating or doing any kind of
work on lawn mower.
CHAIN CASE
The chain case is pre-lubricated and sealed at the
factory. It requires no checking unless the chain
case is disassembled. To fill with grease, lay the
left half of the chain case on its side, add 14
ounces of Plastilube #0 grease and assemble the
right half to it. This grease can be obtained at your
nearest authorized dealer.
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