Troy-Bilt 12097 - ADVANCED OPERATION AND EDGING; Tilling Tips and Techniques; Optional Tine Positions; Making Border Edges

OPERATION
TIPS & TECHNIQUES
• Adjust engine speed to the tilling
conditions. The rotating tines help
to pull the machine forward. Use
slower engine speeds and a
shallow tine depth setting when
first learning to use the equip¬
ment and whenever you are till¬
ing on hard, rough or uneven
ground.
• Regulating the amount of pres¬
sure applied to the handlebars
helps to control tilling depth. De¬
pending upon soil firmness and tex¬
ture, you may have to push down
or lift up on the handlebars to
achieve the correct tilling depth.
• Set the handlebars at a height
which gives you maximum control
at all times. Set your adjustment
so the machine feels comfortable
and well-balanced.
• If the machine stays and tills in
one spot, try swinging the handle¬
bars from side to side to start the
machine moving forward again.
Optional Tine Positions
Depending upon the tilling or culti¬
vating project to be done, you have a
choice of three tine patterns:
Wide Tine Pattern- Your unit, as
shipped from the factory, is set up for
general tilling and cultivating. This
tine pattern employs all four tine sec¬
tions arranged as shown in Figure
15, “A”. This pattern provides the
widest possible tilling width - 9".
Narrow Tine Pattern- To obtain a
narrower tilling width (6"), remove
the outside tine section on the left-
and right-sides of the unit. This pat¬
tern is shown below in Figure 15,
“B”. It’s great for flower beds. The
tine removal procedure is explained
in the ’’Maintenance/Repairs”
section.
WARNING
Contact with rotating tines will
cause serious personal injury.
Before attempting to remove or
clean tines, stop the engine,
let all moving parts stop com¬
pletely, then disconnect spark
plug wire and move wire away
from plug.
Stony Soil Tine Pattern- When
tilling deeply in stony soil, stones
may jam frequently between the in¬
ner tines and the machine hood. To
minimize this, swap the positions of
the two inner tine sections. Refer to
Figure 15, “C”. The procedure for
swapping the tine positions is ex¬
plained in the “Maintenance/Repairs”
section.
Figure 15: “A” shows all four tine gangs in standard position; “B” shows two outer gangs removed for narrow tilling; “C”
shows the two inner gangs have been swapped for stony tilling conditions.
MAKING BORDER EDGES
Making clean, sharp edges next to walkways, driveways,
paths, planted areas, patios, etc., with your Edger At¬
tachment is easily accomplished. Refer to page 10 in
this manual for instructions on attaching this accessory.
Usually the edger blade is mounted on the right side for
a right-handed person and on the left side for a left-
handed person.
Take your time when creating an edge along a walkway
or path or drive. Decide how far away the edge is going
to be from the walk or drive, then slowly proceed using
the walk or drive as your sight line.
The built-in maneuverability of the equipment helps you
create a near-perfect circle, or to negotiate a meander¬
ing or abruptly-changing path.
Figure 15A: Make sharp, clean edges with the
Border/Edger Attachment.
15