MTD 390 Series Operator'S Manual Download Page 2

Customer Support

Please do NOT return the machine to the retailer or dealer without first contacting the Customer Support Department.

If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation, or maintenance of 

this machine, you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the options below:
◊  Visit us on the web at www.mtdproducts.com

  See How-to Maintenance and Parts Installation Videos at 

www.mtdparts.com/KnowledgeCenter

◊  Call a Customer Support Representative at (800) 800-7310 or (330) 220-4683
◊ 

Write to MTD LLC • P.O. Box 361131 • Cleveland, OH • 44136-0019

Thank you for purchasing a Garden Tiller manufactured by 

MTD LLC.  It was carefully engineered to provide excellent 

performance when properly operated and maintained. 
Please read this entire manual prior to operating the equipment.  

It instructs you how to safely and easily set up, operate and 

maintain your machine.  Please be sure that you, and any other 

persons who will operate the machine, carefully follow the 

recommended safety practices at all times.  Failure to do so could 

result in personal injury or property damage. 
All information in this manual is relative to the most recent 

product information available at the time of printing.  Review 

this manual frequently to familiarize yourself with the machine, 

its features and operation.  Please be aware that this Operator’s 

Manual may cover a range of product specifications for various 

models. Characteristics and features discussed and/or illustrated 

in this manual may not be applicable to all models. MTD LLC 

reserves the right to change product specifications, designs and 

equipment without notice and without incurring obligation.

If applicable, the power testing information used to establish 

the power rating of the engine equipped on this machine can be 

found at www.opei.org or the engine manufacturer’s web site.

If you have any problems or questions concerning the machine, 

phone your local authorized MTD service dealer or contact us 

directly.  MTD’s Customer Support telephone numbers, website 

address and mailing address can be found on this page. We want 

to ensure your complete satisfaction at all times.
Throughout this manual, all references to 

right

 and 

left

 side of the 

machine are observed from the operating position
The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related 

issues with regards to performance, power-rating, specifications, 

warranty and service. Please refer to the engine manufacturer’s 

Owner’s/Operator’s Manual, packed separately with your 

machine, for more information.

Thank You

Record Product Information

Before setting up and operating your new equipment, please 

locate the model plate on the equipment and record the 

information in the provided area to the right. You can locate the 

model plate by standing at the operator’s position and looking 

down at the front right corner of the tine shield. This information 

will be necessary, should you seek technical support via our web 

site, Customer Support Department, or with a local authorized 

service dealer.

M

odel

 N

uMber

S

erial

 N

uMber

To The Owner

1

2

Safe Operation Practices ........................................ 3

Assembly & Set-Up .................................................. 7

Operation ................................................................10

Maintenance  & Adjustment .................................13

Service .....................................................................15

Troubleshooting .....................................................17

Replacement Parts .................................................18

Warranty ..................................................Back Cover

Table of Contents

Summary of Contents for 390 Series

Page 1: ...enance Service Troubleshooting Warranty WARNING READ AND FOLLOW ALL SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS MANUAL BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS MACHINE FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY Operator s Manual Front Tine Tiller Model Series 390 Form No 769 09650 January 9 2014 ...

Page 2: ...licable to all models MTD LLC reserves the right to change product specifications designs and equipment without notice and without incurring obligation If applicable the power testing information used to establish the power rating of the engine equipped on this machine can be found at www opei org or the engine manufacturer s web site If you have any problems or questions concerning the machine ph...

Page 3: ...fe Handling of Gasoline To avoid personal injury or property damage use extreme care in handling gasoline Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite Wash your skin and change clothes immediately a Use only an approved gasoline container b Never fill containers inside a vehicle ...

Page 4: ...s as necessary 7 Follow this manual for safe loading unloading transporting and storage of this machine 8 Always refer to the operator s manual for important details if the machine is to be stored for an extended period c When practical remove gas powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the ground If this is not possible then refuel such equipment on a trailer with a portable ...

Page 5: ...oad Equipment are certified to operate on regular unleaded gasoline and may include the following emission control systems Engine Modification EM Oxidizing Catalyst OC Secondary Air Injection SAI and Three Way Catalyst TWC if so equipped Spark Arrestor WARNING This machine is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest covered brushcovered or...

Page 6: ... feet WARNING ROTATING TINES Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts Contact with the rotating parts can amputate hands and feet WARNING GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE Allow the engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling WARNING CARBON MONOXIDE Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide an odorless and deadly gas WARNING HOT SURFACE Eng...

Page 7: ... into the reverse tine engagement lever Figure 3 2 4 Remove the hex bolt and cupped washer from the right side of the frame Hold the cable guide bracket on the left side of the frame as it will fall when the bolt is removed Step 1 in Figure 3 3 1 2 3 Figure 3 3 5 Insert the handle into the tiller frame as shown Step 2 in Figure 3 3 6 Insert the bolt through the cupped washer frame handle and into ...

Page 8: ... 3 5 Depth Stake Assembly Screws Figure 3 5 2 Insert the depth stake assembly into the frame and reinstall the two screws removed earlier Tighten the hex bolts securely See Figure 3 6 Screws Depth Stake Assembly Figure 3 6 3 Secure the pin with the clip removed earlier The depth stake can be placed at various positions For setup purposes it is suggested that the depth stake be assembled with the s...

Page 9: ...eleased position pull the starter rope several times The tines should not turn 6 If they turn forward adjust the forward tine engagement cable to release tension using the previous steps in this section If the tines turn toward the rear adjust the reverse tine engagement cable to lesson the tension as with previous steps 7 Check again for correct tension on the cables 8 After tilling if the tines ...

Page 10: ...ver is located on top of the upper section of the handle Pulling the lever toward the operator engages the tines in reverse Release the lever to stop the tines NOTE Never engage both the forward and reverse tine drives at the same time Engaging both forward and reverse tine drives at the same time could damage the belt drives and cause the engine to stall Depth Gauge The depth gauge controls the t...

Page 11: ...stopping instructions NOTE Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it to prevent accidentally starting the tiller while it is unattended Setting the Depth Yoke Forward Place the wheel yoke so that the wheels are forward nearest to the tines for shallow tilling cultivating and transport See Figure 5 1 Figure 5 1 Yoke Back Place the wheel yoke so that the wheels are toward the rear closest to dept...

Page 12: ...rtility of your garden For proper decaying action fertilizer should be applied and worked in with the mulch materials Breaking up leaves and straw and mixing it with several inches of soil allows proper aeration of the plant root system and retards the growth of weeds Handle Pressure Further control of the tilling depth and travel speed can be obtained by variation of pressure on the handles A dow...

Page 13: ... cap which is used to prevent tilled soil from overflowing onto unwanted areas are removable from the axle Remove the hairpin clip and clevis pin that secure each end cap and slide the end caps off the axle See Figure 6 1 Clevis Pin End Cap Cotter Pin Figure 6 1 Tines With the outer tines installed the working width of the machine is 24 This width may be expanded to 26 by removing the clevis and c...

Page 14: ...t in the fuel tank deteriorates and will cause serious starting problems b Using a fuel stabilizer such as STA BIL for storage between 30 and 90 days Read the product manufacturer s instructions and recommendations Add to clean fresh gasoline the correct amount of stabilizer for the capacity approximately 3 gallons of the fuel system Fill the fuel tank with treated fuel and run the engine for 2 3 ...

Page 15: ...en from around the reverse idler pulley See Figure 7 2 Transmission Pulley Reverse Idler Pulley Engine Pulley Figure 7 2 4 To reassemble the new belt follow the instructions in reverse order Be sure to place the wider side of the belt against the transmission and the idler pulley while the slimmer side goes over the engine pulley See Figure 7 2 NOTE Upon reassembly make certain the belt is routed ...

Page 16: ...re 7 5 Screws Figure 7 5 5 Remove the belt from the reverse idler pulley and then from around the transmission pulley See Figure 7 6 Engine Pulley Figure 7 6 6 To reassemble the new belt follow the instructions in reverse order Be sure to place the wider side of the belt away from the engine and transmission pulleys NOTE Upon reassembly make certain that the idler pulley keeper is as shown in Figu...

Page 17: ...ed service dealer 4 Refer to the Controls Features Section for proper shifting procedures 5 Adjust control cable 6 Replace belt Tines skip over ground 1 Improper rotation 1 Forward rotation should only be used on soil that has already been tilled not on virgin soil Wheels do not engage 1 Clevis pin missing 2 Tiller is not being shifted properly 3 Control cable not adjusted properly 4 Belt worn and...

Page 18: ... Hand Tine 714 04043 Cotter Pin 911 0415 Clevis Pin 954 0428 Forward V Belt 954 0429 Reverse V Belt 946 0918 Forward Cable 946 0953 Reverse Cable 734 1268 Wheels 8 x 1 75 Phone 800 800 7310 to order replacement parts or a complete Parts Manual have your full model number and serial number ready Parts Manual downloads are also available free of charge at www mtdproducts com ...

Page 19: ...Notes 10 19 ...

Page 20: ...imited warranty does not provide coverage in the following cases a Log splitter pumps valves and cylinders have a separate one year warranty b Routine maintenance items such as lubricants filters blade sharpening tune ups brake adjustments clutch adjustments deck adjustments and normal deterioration of the exterior finish due to use or exposure c Service completed by someone other than an authoriz...

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