Loading ...
Loading ...
Loading ...
TILLING TIPS & TECHNIQUES (cont.)
TerraceGardening(continued)
•To createa terrace,start at the top of the slopeandworkdown. Go backand forth O_!'_
acrossthefirst row asshownin Fig.4-10. _,I_0
• Each succeeding lower terrace is started by walking below the terrace you're _]_l'll,
preparing. Foradded stability of the tiller, alwayskeepthe uphillwheel in the soft, __iL_
newlytilled soil. Donot till the last 12"or more of the downhilloutsideedgeof each _]_ II_"EPEAT
terrace. This untilled strip helps prevents the terraces from breaking apart and
washingdownhill. It alsoprovidesawalkingpathbetweenrows. Fig.4.10
Thetines havea self-clearingaction which eliminatesmost tanglingof debrisin
the tines. However,occasionallydry grass,stringy stalks or tough vines may
becometangled. Followthese proceduresto help avoid tanglingand to clean
thetines, if necessary.
•To reducetangling, set the depth regulator deep enough to get maximum
"chopping" action asthe tines chopthe materialagainsttheground. Also, try
to till under crop residues or cover crops while they are green, moist and
tender.
•Whilepowercomposting,try swayingthehandlebarsfrom sideto side (about
6"to 12"). This"fishtailing" actionoftenclearsthetinesof debris.
• If tanglingoccurs, lift the tines out of the soil and runthe tiller in reverse(if
unit is equippedwith poweredreverse)for a few feet. This reversingaction
shouldunwindagood dealof debris.
•It may be necessaryto remove the debris by
hand (a pocketknife will help you to cut away
the material). Be sure to stop the engineand
disconnectthe spark plug wire beforeclearing
thetinesbyhand.
Beforeclearingthetines by hand, stop the
engine, allow all movingpartsto stop and
disconnectthe spark plugwire. Removethe
ignitionkeyonelectricstart models.
Failureto follow thiswarningcouldresultin
_ersonalinjury.
LOADINGANDUNLOADING
THETILLER
Loading and unloading the tiller into a
vehicle is potentially hazardousand we
don't recommenddoing so unless abso-
lutely necessary,as this could result in
personalinjuryor propertydamage.
However, if you must load or unloadthe
tiller, follow the guidelinesgivennext.
• Beforeloading or unloading, stop the
engine,wait for all parts to stop moving,
disconnect thespark plug wire and let
the engine and muffler cool.
•Thetiller istoo heavyand bulky to lift
safelyby one person. Two or more
peopleshould sharethe load.
• Usesturdy ramps and manually (engine
shut off) roll the tiller into and out of the
vehicle. Two or more people areneeded
to do this.
•Theramps must be strong enough to
support the combined weight of the tiller
and any handlers.The ramps should pro-
vide good traction to prevent slipping;
they should haveside rails to guide the
tiller along the ramps; andthey should
havea locking deviceto securethem to
the vehicle.
•Thehandlersshould wearsturdyfootwear
that will helpto preventslipping.
• Positionthe loading vehicle sothat the
ramp angle is asflat as possible (the less
inclineto the ramp, the better). Turn the
vehicle's engineoff and apply its parking
brake.
•Whengoing up ramps, stand in the
normal operatingposition and pushthe
tiller aheadof you. Havea personat
eachsideto turn the wheels.
•Whengoing down ramps, walk backward
with the tiller following you. Keepalert
for anyobstacles behind you. Position a
person ateachwheelto control the
speedof the tiller. Nevergo down ramps
tiller-first, asthe tiller could tip forward.
•Placewooden blocks on thedownhill
side of the wheels if you needto stop the
tiller from rolling down the ramp. Also,
usethe blocks to temporarily keepthe
tiller in placeon the ramps (if neces-
sary), and to chock the wheels in place
after the tiller is in the vehicle.
•After loading thetiller, prevent it from
rolling byengaging the wheels in the
WHEELDRIVEposition. Chockthe
wheels with blocks and securelytie the
tiller down.
Loading ...
Loading ...
Loading ...