Summary of the content on the page No. 1
Safety • Assembly • Operation • Tips & Techniques • Maintenance • Troubleshooting • Parts Lists • Warranty
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
Front Tine Tiller — Model Series 390
IMPORTANT
READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION
Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-
covered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or s
Summary of the content on the page No. 2
This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new tiller. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says. Table of Contents Safety Labels ...................................................... 3 Maintaining Your Tiller ...................................... 1 Safe Operation Practices ................................... 4 Trouble Shooting .............................................. 15 Assembly ...................
Summary of the content on the page No. 3
Safety Labels Found On Your Tiller 1 Safety Labels WARNING DO NOT remove safety (or any) labels from tiller for any reason. 3
Summary of the content on the page No. 4
WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can result in serious injury. This machine is capable of amputating hands and Safe feet and throwing
Summary of the content on the page No. 5
• After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, Maintenance & Storage disconnect the spark plug wire and ground against • Never tamper with safety devices. Check their the engine Thoroughly inspect the machine for any proper operation regularly. damage. Repair the damage before starting and • Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at operating. frequent intervals to keep the machine in safe • Disengage all clutch levers (if fitted) and stop engine working condition. Also, visu
Summary of the content on the page No. 6
Tiller Setup References to right and left side of tiller are determined from behind the unit in the operating position. 3 Handle Attachment Assembly 1. Identify forward clutch cable (A) and reverse clutch cables (B). Figure 3–1. NOTE: Stand behind Figure 3–1: Identify Cables. the tiller as if you were going to operate it. Your right hand corresponds Be sure not to kink cables while attaching. to right side of 2. Hook the “Z” end of the forward clutch cable tiller; your left hand (A) in
Summary of the content on the page No. 7
7. Locate the carriage bolt, bell washer and hand knob packed with your unit. 8. Insert the carriage bolt through the welded bracket on the handle, bell washer, handle 3 brace and into the hand knob. See Figure 3–4. Assembly 9. Select one of the three handle height positions (three notches in welded handle bracket) and tighten the hand knob to secure the handle in the desired position. Figure 3–4: Remove hardware from lower handle. Figure 3–4. Return to lower handle and tighten the hex
Summary of the content on the page No. 8
Reverse Tine Your Tiller Engagement Lever 4 Handle Operating Your Tiller Forward Tine Engagement Lever Throttle Control Handle Knob Depth Stake WARNING The tine clutch control End Cap is a safety device. Never Tiller Tines attempt to bypass its operation. Use extreme care when handling gasoline. Figure 4–1: The major parts of the tiller Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors WARNING: Read, understand, and Tines and End Caps are explosive. Never fuel follow all instructions a
Summary of the content on the page No. 9
Operating Your Tiller WARNING: Read, understand, and Refer to the engine manual for instructions. 4 follow all instructions and warnings 1. Attach spark plug wire to spark plug. Make sure the posted on the machine and in this metal cap on the end of the spark plug is fastened manual before operating. securely over the metal tip on the spark plug. Operating 2. Make sure that the tine clutch control is disengaged. Your Tiller 3. Place the engine speed control in the START Before Starting pos
Summary of the content on the page No. 10
Using Your Tiller Your tiller is designed for seed bed preparation, cultivat- ing, furrowing, and mulching. 4 Wheel Position The tiller is shipped with the wheels adjusted so that the Operating unit sits level. The wheels need to be adjusted to meet your tilling needs before operation. This adjustment is Your Tiller made by removing the clevis pin from the wheel yoke and raising the wheels to the desired height. See Figure 4–3. Figure 4–3: Wheel and depth stake positioning. Tilling Dept
Summary of the content on the page No. 11
Tilling Procedure When tilling, leave approximately eight inches of untilled soil between the first and second tilling paths, then make 4 the third path between the first and second, Figure 4–7. In some soils, the desired depth is obtained the first 4 5 2 3 1 time over the garden. In other soils, the desired depth is obtained by going over the garden two or three times. Operating Passes should be made across the length and width of the garden alternately. Rocks which are turned up should
Summary of the content on the page No. 12
WARNING: Disconnect the spark plug Lubrication wire and ground it against the engine Pivot Points before performing any repairs. Remove the belt cover and lubricate all pivot points and linkages at least once a season with light oil. Keep belts Engine 5 free of lubrication. Refer to the separate engine manual for engine maintenance instructions. Tine Shafts Maintaining Maintain engine oil as instructed in the separate Remove tine assemblies and lubricate the tine shafts at engine manual
Summary of the content on the page No. 13
Belt Replacement Forward Drive Belt 1. Remove reverse drive belt as instructed in the previous section. 5 2. Remove the return spring. See Figure 5–3. 3. Remove idler pulley bolt and move belt from under Maintaining idler pulley keeper. See Figure 5–4. 4. The forward idler belt will not clear the belt keepers Your Tiller near the engine pulley. You must remove the reverse idler bracket to allow the belt to move off of the engine pulley. Remove the two securing screws and move the bracket
Summary of the content on the page No. 14
Cable Adjustment From time to time you may need to adjust the tension on the forward and reverse tine engagement cables. 1. Disconnect and ground the spark plug wire against 5 Reverse Tine the engine. Engagement Cable 2. Adjust either the forward or reverse clutch cable by Maintaining loosening the hex nut. See Figure 5–8. 3. Turn the cable collar section one or two turns to add or Your Tiller lesson tension on the cable. See Figure 5–9. 4. Retighten the lock nut against the cable collar.
Summary of the content on the page No. 15
3. Refer to the engine manual for correct engine Off-Season Storage storage instructions. If the tiller will not be used for a period longer than 30 days, the 4. Wipe tines with oiled rag to prevent rust. following steps should be taken to prepare the tiller for storage. 5. Store tiller in a clean, dry area. Do not store next to 1. Clean the exterior of engine and the entire tiller 6 corrosive materials, such as fertilizer. thoroughly. Lubricate the tiller as described in the lubrication in
Summary of the content on the page No. 16
10 6 9 4 1 11 2 12 13 5 7 3 2 ††Standard Briggs & Stratton 8 Tecumseh Engines 50 14 51†† 52†† 50 16 15 54 54 53†† 55 55 19 22 49 21 29 26 30 28 27 20 31 32 23 35 36 37 38 42 56 34 37 25 24 33 30 40 39 41 56 23 30 43 47 46 27 48 16
Summary of the content on the page No. 17
9 Illustrated Ref. Part No. Part Description Ref. Part No. Part Description Parts List 1 712-0442 Acorn Lock Nut 1/4-20 28 710-0805 Hex Bolt 5/16-18 x 1.5” Lg. 2 736-3020 Flat Washer.271” I.D. x.630” O.D. 29 710-0189 Hex Bolt 5/16-18 x 3” Lg. Model 390 3 720-0270A Reverse Handle Grip 30 736-0242 Wash. Bell.340” I.D. x.872” O.D. Series 4 731-1600 Handle Cover w/o throttle 31 711-1036A Spec. Hex Nut 5 710-0779A Truss Mach. Scr. #10 x 1/2” Lg. 32 736-0119 L-Wash. 5/16” I.D. 6 720-0274 Handle Grip
Summary of the content on the page No. 18
26 25 24 24 23 48 13 30 29 31 49 3 27 28 32 34 35 36 10 42 33 6 10 †††Honda Engine 45 22 38 14 50 7 5 53 9 51 52 10 8 54 44 6 43 7 11 4 47 5 46 1 19 16 2 20 3 21 17 18 18
Summary of the content on the page No. 19
9 Illustrated Parts List Ref. Part No. Part Description Ref. Part No. Part Description 1 712-0392 Hex L-Stop nut 1/4-28 26 748-0350 Pulley Mounting Adapter Model 390 2 736-3020 Flat Wash.266” I.D. x.625” O.D. 27 736-0112 Bell-Wash.525” I.D. x 1.5” O.D. Series 3 710-0599 Hex Washer TT-Tap Scr. 1/4-20 x.5” 28 712-3029 Hex Jam Nut 1/2-20 Thd. 4 711-0920 Belt Cover Bolt 29 732-0697 Return Spring 5 712-04063 Hex Flange Top L-Nut 5/16-18 30 786-0040B Reverse Bracket 6 710-0723 Hex Hd. Scr. 3/8-16 x
Summary of the content on the page No. 20
MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD LLC with respect e. MTD does not extend any warranty for products sold or exported to new merchandise purchased and used in the United States, its outside of the United States, its possessions and territories, except possessions and territories. those sold through MTD’s authorized channels of export distribution. “MTD” warrants this product against defects in material and workman- f. Replacement parts tha
