MTD 215-386-000 - Manual (Page 9)

HOW TO USE YOUR
TILLER
The gear shift lever is located on the top left hand
side of handle panel. There are four (4) forward
speeds, Neutral (N) and Reverse (R). Your tiller has
a variable speed pulley, which allows you to
change gears First (1) through Fourth (4) without
stopping.
A. Forward Speeds; First and second speeds are
generally used for tilling sod or soil which has
not been tilled before. Third and fourth speeds
are usually used for fine tilling or cultivating.
The soil conditions in your area will determine
the speed you will want to use. If you stop your
tiller or stall the engine while in a forward
speed, you
must proceed as follows:
1. ) Remove the spark plug wire and ground on
engine block.
2. ) Pull the recoil starter rope, and at the same
time pull back on gear shift lever. Pull the
rope out as many times as it takes to move
the gear shift lever into neutral (N) position.
Do Not force shift lever back into neutral at
any time.
3. ) Place the spark plug wire back on the spark
N plug. Start your tiller.
4. ) Push down the handle so that the tines do
not touch the ground.
5. ) Move the gear shift lever through the for­
ward speeds, neutral and reverse. Readjust
control rod if necessary.
B. Neutral (N); The neutral detent on the handle
panel is used when starting, stopping the tiiler
and going from a forward speed to reverse.
C. Reverse (R) Gear; The reverse gear is deadman
type. If you put the tiller into reverse to back
up, or to unclog the tines and you let go of gear
shift lever, the reverse motion will
stop.
Reverse will only work when you pull the gear
shift lever back and hold it in that position.
WHEEL POSITION
The tiller is shipped with the wheels adjusted
such that the unit sits level. During digging as the
tines enter the ground and the front of the tiller
lowers, the wheels must be raised to ievel the
unit. This is essential for proper engine operation.
This adjustment is made by removing the cievis
pin and hairpin cotter from wheel yoke, raising the
wheels to the desired height, and replacing the
clevis pin and hairpin cotter. See figure 15.
/
^Hairpin
Cotter
Clevis Pin
Depth Bar
Wheel Yoke
FIGURE 15.
CONTROLLING SPEED AND TILLING DEPTH
Wheel Yoke in
this position
for deep dig.
FIGURE 16.
Wheel Yoke in this
position for shallow
dig, cultivating and
transport.
1. Wheel Yoke Adjustment: Place wheel yoke so
that the wheels are forward (nearest point be­
tween wheels and tines) for shallow tilling,
cultivating and transport. This will increase
the forward speed. See figure 15. Turn yoke
around (farthest point between wheels and
tines) for deep tilling. Forward speed will
decrease. See figure 16.
2. Depth Bar Adjustment: The depth bar acts as
a brake for the tiller and controls the depth
and speed at which the machine will operate.
See figure 17. Remove the clevis pin and
spring pin to raise or lower depth bar.