Simplicity 1003 - Tiller Operation; Tilling Hints

Operation ■ ____
TILLER OPERATION
To transport the tiller to the work site or from one
work site to another without tilling, slow engine
speed, raise depth bar to highest position, and en¬
gage the forward clutch. The tiller will move across
the ground without tilling.
WARNING
For your personal safety, always stop the en¬
gine before attempting to adjust, service, or
maintain your rotary tiller.
For tilling, adjust the depth bar for the desired till¬
ing depth (see figure 4). The depth bar is adjusted
by removing the spring clip and pin, selecting the
desired height, and then reinstalling the pin and
spring clip. To till 4 to 6 inches (100 to 150 mm)
deep, install the pin in the second or third hole
from the top.
Figure 4. Depth Bar
NOTE
For model 1005, NEVER engage both forward
and reverse clutch levers at the same time.
Doing so can damage your machine.
Adjust the engine speed to fit the soil conditions,
usually from three-quarters to full speed. Then en¬
gage the forward clutch by squeezing the lever on
right handle. The tines will rotate to till the soil
and also to pull the tiller forward.
Forward speed of the tiller and the tilling depth are
closely related. When the forward speed is too fast,
the tilling depth is shallow. The depth bar controls
the tilling depth by creating a drag that slows the
forward motion of the tiller. You can vary the drag
created by the depth bar with slight upward or
downward pressure on the handles. Downward
pressure increases the drag to reduce forward speed.
Upward pressure - p roduces the opposite results.
Note that only slight pressures are required.
Do not attempt to slow the forward speed by pull¬
ing back on the handles. Doing so will create up¬
ward pressure on the handles, reducing depth bar
drag and adding to the original problem. Let the
depth bar do its job. If it is properly adjusted and
used, you need do little more than guide the ma¬
chine.
Experience will help you learn the correct use of
the depth bar. When you begin, proceed slowly and
carefully to get the feel of the machine. Remember
that the desired depth will not be reached until
the tiller moves forward and the depth bar enters
a previously tilled area. As you proceed, experi¬
ment with the clutch lever so you learn to gauge
the responses needed in close areas.
£k
MM WARNING
For your personal safety, release the clutch
lever immediately when striking a foreign ob¬
ject. Stop the engine and thoroughly inspect
the tiller before restarting and operating again.
Operating on Slopes
The chances of an operator slipping towards the
tiller are greatest when tilling up and down the face
of slopes, especially downhill in freshly churned
soil. For your personal safety, always till across the
face of slopes, and never up and down the face. Do
not attempt to till steep slopes, and always use ex¬
treme caution when changing direction on any
slope.
Never attempt to operate your tiller on slopes
greater than 20 percent (11.3 degrees) — which is
a rise of 2 feet in 10 feet forward — and always
operate across the slope.
TILLING HINTS
One of many tilling considerations is to adjust en¬
gine speed to fit both the soil condition and the
job. When doing seedbed preparation, you will
normally want to use full or nearly full engine
power. When cultivating between rows of plants,
control is most important and a much slower speed
is desired.