Adjusting The Handle Height - Cub Cadet RT 45 Manual Del Operador

Adjusting the Handle Height

The handle should be adjusted
so that when the tiller is digging
3-4" into the soil, the handle falls
to about waist-high. To adjust the
handle, simply loosen the handle
adjustment crank, move the
handle to the desired height and
retighten the adjustment crank.
See Figure 13.
Tilling Tips &
Techniques
Tilling Depth
Before tilling, contact your telephone or utilities company and inquire if
underground equipment/lines are used on your property. Do not till near buried
electric cables, telephone lines, pipes or hoses.
• This is a CRT (counter-rotating tine) tiller. As the wheels pull forward, the tines
rotate backward. This creates an "uppercut" tine action which digs deeply,
uprooting soil and weeds. Don't overload the engine, but dig as deeply as
possible on each pass. On later passes, the wheels may tend to spin in the soft
dirt. Help them along by lifting up slightly on the handlebar (one hand, palm
up, works most easily).
• Avoid the temptation to push down on the handlebars in an attempt to force the
tiller to dig deeper. Doing so takes the weight off the powered wheels, causing
them to lose traction. Without the wheels to hold the tiller back, the tines will
attempt to propel the tiller backward, towards the operator.
• When cultivating (breaking
up the surface soil around
the plants to destroy weeds,
see Figure 14), adjust the
tines to dig only 1" to 2"
deep. Using the shallow
tilling depth helps prevent
injury to the plants whose
roots often grow close
to the surface. If needed,
lift up on the handlebars
slightly to prevent the tines
from digging too deeply.
(Cultivating on a regular
basis not only eliminates weeds, it also loosens and aerates the soil for better
moisture absorption and faster plant growth.) Watering the garden area a few
days prior to tilling will make tilling easier, as will letting the newly worked soil set
for a day or two before making a final, deep tilling pass.
Choosing Correct Wheel & Tine Speeds
With experience, you will find the tilling depth and tilling speed combination that
is best for your garden. Set the engine throttle lever at a speed to give the engine
adequate power and yet allow it to operate at the slowest possible speed until you
have achieved the maximum tilling depth you desire. Faster engine speeds may
be desirable when making final passes through the seedbed or when cultivating.
Selection of the correct engine speed, in relation to the tilling depth, will ensure a
sufficient power level to do the job without causing the engine to labor.
CONTROLS & OPERATION
Figure 13
WARNING
Figure 14
Clearing the Tines
• The tines have a self-clearing action which eliminates most of the tangling
of debris. However, occasionally dry grass, stringy stalks or tough vines may
become tangled. Follow these procedures to help avoid tangling and to clear
the tines, if necessary.
• To reduce tangling, set the depth regulator deep enough to get maximum
"chopping" action as the tines chop the material against the ground. Also, try
to till under crop residues or cover crops while they are green, moist and tender.
• While tilling, try swaying the handlebars from side to side (about 6" to 12").
This "fishtailing" action often clears the tines of debris.
Before clearing the tines by hand, stop the engine, allow all moving parts to stop
and disconnect the spark plug wire. Failure to follow this warning could result in
personal injury.
Loading & Unloading the Tiller
Loading and unloading the tiller into a vehicle is potentially hazardous and
doing so is not recommended unless absolutely necessary, as this could result in
personal injury or property damage.
However, if you must load or unload the tiller, follow the guidelines below.
• Before loading or unloading the tiller, stop the engine, wait for all parts to stop
moving, disconnect the spark plug wire and let the engine and muffler cool.
• The tiller is too heavy and bulky to be safely lifted by one person. Two or
more people should share the load.
• Use sturdy ramps and manually — with the engine shut off — roll the tiller
into and out of the vehicle. Two or more people are needed to do this.
• The ramps must be strong enough to support the combined weight of the
tiller and any handlers. The ramps should provide good traction to prevent
slipping; they should also have side rails to guide the tiller along the ramps;
and they should have a locking device to secure them to the vehicle.
• The handlers should wear sturdy footwear that will help to prevent slipping.
• Position the loading vehicle so that the ramp angle is as flat as possible (the
less incline to the ramp, the better). Turn the vehicle's engine off and apply
the parking brake.
• When going up the ramps, stand in the normal operating position and push
the tiller ahead of you. Have a person at each side to turn the wheels.
• When going down the ramps, walk backward with the tiller following you.
Keep alert for any obstacles behind you. Position a person at each wheel to
control the speed of the tiller. Never go down the ramps tiller-first, as the
tiller could tip forward.
• Place wooden blocks on the downhill side of the wheels if you need to stop
the tiller from rolling down the ramp. Also, use the blocks to temporarily
keep the tiller in place on the ramps (if necessary), and to chock the wheels
in place after the tiller is in the vehicle.
• After loading the tiller, prevent it from rolling by engaging the wheels in the
WHEEL DRIVE position. Chock the wheels with blocks and securely tie the
tiller down.
9
WARNING
WARNING