Stihl BF - Using the Unit; General Use; Breaking Up Soil; Loosening Soil Around Plants

BF
English
9
Preparations
N Start the engine.
N Put on the shoulder strap.
Working Technique
You can work with your cultivator in the
forward (1) and backward (2) directions,
from left to right or vice versa (3) or in a
circular motion.
Choose the best method to suit your
purpose, i.e. this depends on the shape
and size of the area and soil conditions.
Working in an alternating backwards
and forwards motion is particularly
suitable for loosening packed soil.
The rotor blades may only be mounted
and operated in one position. Arrows on
the blades show the required direction of
rotation.
Typical Applications
N Breaking up soil
A few preparations are necessary before
you begin to break up soil which has
been previously tilled (e.g. last year's
vegetable or flower garden). First clear
away surface weeds and remains of
other plants as well as hard objects like
rocks, stones, bottles, pieces of wood
etc.
Hold the cultivator firmly with both hands
and till only a small area at a time to the
required depth.
Finish tilling the area by guiding the
cultivator in such a way that you leave
no footprints. Use a rake to level off the
entire area.
N Loosening soil around plants
Only loosen the surface soil around
plants. Avoid going too deep as this
could damage the shallow roots of some
plants.
To avoid any damage to the cultivator or
trees, be wary not to catch the blades on
the large roots of trees.
N Working in soil improvers
The cultivator can be used for mulching
with loam, compost, leaves, other
organic material or fertilizers.
Prepare the area by removing all old
roots, the remains of large plants and
hard objects (stones etc.). Spread the
mulch evenly on the ground.
Work in the mulch with a circular or back
and forth motion.
Finish off by leveling the area with a
rake.
N Trenching or furrowing
Walk slowly backward and pull the
cultivator to create the furrow required.
Repeat as necessary to obtain deeper
furrows.
Cleaning the rotor blades
Parts of plants, e.g. roots, can become
tightly wrapped around or between the
rotor blades during operation. To clean
the rotor blades:
– Wear work gloves.
– Pull the hitch pins out of the axle.
– Pull the rotor blades off the shaft.
– Remove pieces of roots, plants and
soil.