background image

12

Section 4: Operation

STARTING THE ENGINE

The following steps describe how to start
and stop the engine.  

Do not attempt to

engage the tines or wheels until you
have read all of the operating instruc-
tions in this Section.  Also review 
the safety rules in Section 1: “Safety”
and the tiller and engine controls 
information in Section 3: “Features and
Controls.”

1.  

Complete the “Pre-Start Checklist” on

the previous page.  

2. 

Put the Wheel Gear Lever (Figure 4-1)

in the ENGAGE position. 

3.  

Put the Depth Regulator Lever in the

“travel” position (lever all the way down)
so that the tines are clear of the ground.

4.  

Release all controls on the tiller.

5.  

Put the Engine Throttle Control Lever

(Figure 4-1) in the “FAST” setting.

6. 

On engines equipped with a fuel valve,

turn valve to open position as instructed
in the separate engine manual.

7. 

Choke or prime engine as instructed in

the separate Engine Owner’s Manual.

8.  

For recoil (non-electric) starting

models:

(a) Place one hand on fuel tank to stabi-

lize unit when you pull the starter
handle.

(b) Use the recoil starter rope to start

the engine as instructed in the sepa-
rate Engine Owner’s Manual.  When
the engine starts, gradually move
the choke lever (on engines so
equipped) to the “NO CHOKE”,
“CHOKE OFF” or “RUN” position.  

(c) Leave the Engine Throttle Control

Lever in the “FAST” setting.

9.  

For electric starting models (E666M):

(a) Turn the engine ignition key to the

“START” setting and allow the
starter motor to crank the engine for
several seconds.  Avoid cranking the
engine longer than 15 seconds at a
time as doing so could damage the
starter motor.  NOTE:  Refer to the
Engine Owner’s Manual for detailed
starting instructions.

(b) When the engine starts, release the

key and it will return to the “RUN”
setting. 

(c) Gradually move choke lever (on

engines so equipped) to “NO
CHOKE”, “CHOKE OFF” or “RUN”
position.  

(d) Leave the Engine Throttle Control

Lever in the “FAST” setting.

To Start the Electric Start Engine With
the Recoil Starter Rope

If necessary, the electric start engine can
be started with the recoil starter rope by
following the steps below:

1.  

If the battery is not “dead” or

damaged, leave it connected to the tiller
so it will be recharged during engine
operation. Make sure the battery cells are
filled to the UPPER LEVEL line with elec-
trolyte.

2.  

If the battery is “dead” or damaged,

remove it (refer to “Battery Removal and
Installation” in Section 5) and have it
tested.  Before starting engine, cover the
terminal on the loose end of the positive
(+) cable with the insulated boot and
secure it in place with electrical tape to
prevent electrical sparks.

3.  

Put the ignition key in the “RUN”

position and then follow Steps 1-8 of
“Starting the Engine.”

STOPPING THE ENGINE

1.  

To stop the wheels and tines, release

the Forward Clutch Control levers or the
Reverse Clutch Control knob (whichever
control is  engaged).

2.  

To stop the engine on the recoil start

model, move the Engine Throttle Control
Lever to the “STOP” position.

3.  

To stop the engine on an electric start

model, move the ignition key to “OFF”.

IMPORTANT: 

After stopping an electric

start engine, remove the ignition key from
the switch to reduce the possibility of
unauthorized starting of the engine.

OPERATING THE TILLER

The following pages provide guidelines to
using your tiller effectively and safely in
various gardening applications.  Be sure
to read “Tilling Tips & Techniques” in this
Section before you actually put the tines
into the soil.

This is a traditional “standard rotating
tine” tiller with forward rotating tines.  It
operates completely differently from CRT
(Counter Rotating Tines) tillers or from
low-cost front tine tillers.

1.  

Follow the “Pre-Start Checklist” on the

previous page.  Be sure that the Wheel
Gear Lever is in the ENGAGE position.

2.  

Put the Depth Regulator Lever in the

“travel” position (lever all the way down)
so that the tines are clear of the ground.
Use this position when practicing with
your tiller or when moving to or from the
garden.  When you are ready to begin
tilling, you must move the Depth Regula-
tor Lever to the desired depth setting (see
“Tilling Tips & Techniques”).

3.  

Start the engine and allow it to warm

up.  When warm, put Engine Throttle
Control Lever in “FAST” speed setting.

4.  

For 

forward

motion of the wheels and

tines:

(a) Pull one or both of the Forward

Clutch Control Levers up and hold
them against the handlebars.  To
stop forward motion of the wheels
and tines, release the levers.

Keep away from rotating tines. Rotating

tines will cause injury.

WARNING

Summary of Contents for 663B-Pony

Page 1: ... arrester is used it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator In the State of California the above is required by law Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code Other states may have similar laws Federal laws apply on federal lands A spark arrester for the muffler is available by contacting the service department at Troy Bilt LLC P O Box 361131 Cleveland Ohio 44136...

Page 2: ...ntenance of this unit you can seek help from the experts Choose from the options below Visit troy bilt com for many useful suggestions Click on Customer Support button and you will get the four options reproduced here Click on the appropriate button and help is immediately available If you prefer to reach a Customer Support Representative please call 1 800 520 5520 The engine manufacturer is respo...

Page 3: ...hoses If in doubt contact your telephone or utility company 6 Warning Handle fuel with care it is highly flammable and its vapors are explo sive Take the following precautions a Store fuel in containers specifically designed for this purpose b The gas cap shall never be removed or fuel added while the engine is running Allow the engine to cool for several minutes before adding fuel c Keep matches ...

Page 4: ...n hard or slippery surfaces Look behind and use care when backing up 17 Do not operate the tiller on a slope that is too steep for safety When on slopes slow down and make sure you have good footing Never permit the tiller to freewheel down slopes 18 Never allow bystanders near the unit 19 Only use attachments and acces sories that are approved by the tiller manufacturer 20 Use tiller attachments ...

Page 5: ... for replacements if any decals are damaged or missing Refer to the Parts List pages for decal locations and part numbers Figure 1 Location of Safety and Operating Decals TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY READ THE OWNER S MANUAL KNOW LOCATIONS AND FUNCTIONS OF ALL CONTROLS KEEP ALL SAFETY DEVICES AND SHIELDS IN PLACE AND WORKING NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN OR UNINSTRUCTED ADULTS TO OPERATE TILLER SHUT OFF ENGINE A...

Page 6: ...ck Nut 8 2 10 32 x 1 2 Round Hd Screw 9 2 10 32 Nut 10 1 Cotter Pin not used 11 4 Plastic Tie Strap 2 not used Tools Materials Needed for Assembly 1 3 8 open end wrench 1 7 16 open end wrench electric start unit only 2 9 16 open end wrench 1 7 8 open end wrench or 8 long adjustable wrench 1 Scissors to trim plastic ties 1 Ruler 1 Small board to tap plastic knob on lever 1 Tire pressure gauge 1 Cle...

Page 7: ... engine is not running Before starting the engine the Wheel Gear Lever must be placed in the ENGAGE position see Section 3 for details STEP 3 ATTACH REVERSE CLUTCH CONTROL CABLE 1 Carefully unwrap the reverse clutch control cable H Figure 2 6 from its shipping position and route it up along the inside edge of the left side handlebar A knob and large hex nut I is installed on the cable 2 Insert the...

Page 8: ...head screws down through the marks on the control panel decal and securely attach the wheel gear mounting bracket using two 10 lockwashers and 10 32 nuts 3 Use a small board to tap the Wheel Gear Lever knob securely onto the lever 4 Secure the wheel gear cable and the reverse clutch control cable to the left side handlebar with two plastic ties S Figure 2 13 located about two feet apart Snip off a...

Page 9: ...helps to align the shift mechanism with the transmission wheel drive gears To shift to DISENGAGE freewheel move the lever rearward without rolling the tiller The wheels will roll freely when the lever is properly set in the DISENGAGE position FORWARD CLUTCH CONTROL The two interconnected levers B Figure 3 1 control the engagement of forward drive to the wheels and tines To Operate the Forward Clut...

Page 10: ...F free of the slots in the curved height adjustment bracket 4 Move the handlebars to the new slot setting and insert the raised keys on the keyed washer into the slot Tighten the height adjustment screw securely 5 Retighten the two screws at the ends of the handlebar ENGINE CONTROLS Refer to the engine manufacturer s Engine Owner s Manual included in the tiller lit erature package to identify the ...

Page 11: ... See Engine Owner s Manual 4 Check that all safety guards and covers are in place 5 Check air cleaner and engine cooling system See Engine Owner s Manual 6 Attach spark plug wire to spark plug 7 Fill the fuel tank with gasoline accord ing to the directions in the separate Engine Owner s Manual Follow all instructions and safety rules carefully Before operating your machine care fully read and unde...

Page 12: ...e tiller so it will be recharged during engine operation Make sure the battery cells are filled to the UPPER LEVEL line with elec trolyte 2 If the battery is dead or damaged remove it refer to Battery Removal and Installation in Section 5 and have it tested Before starting engine cover the terminal on the loose end of the positive cable with the insulated boot and secure it in place with electrica...

Page 13: ...e handlebar to move the tiller in the direction of the turn Figure 4 5 After completing the turn slowly lower the tines into the soil and increase the engine speed Stopping the Tiller and Engine 1 To stop the wheels and tines release the Forward Clutch Control levers or the Reverse Clutch Control knob whichever is engaged 2 To stop the recoil start engine move the Engine Throttle Control Lever to ...

Page 14: ...illing wet soil often results in large hard clumps of soil that can interfere with planting If time permits wait a day or two after heavy rains to allow the soil to dry before tilling Test soil by squeez ing it into a ball If it compresses too easily it is too wet to till Avoid making footprints When possible walk on the untilled side of the unit to avoid making footprints in the freshly tilled so...

Page 15: ...and try to avoid leaving footprints or wheel marks When tilling vertically try to make the first pass uphill as the tiller digs more deeply going uphill than it does down hill In soft soil or weeds you may have to lift the handlebars slightly while going uphill When going downhill overlap the first pass by about one half the width of the tiller B Terrace Gardening When a slope is too steep or too ...

Page 16: ... off roll the tiller into and out of the vehicle Two or more people are needed to do this Ramps must be strong enough to support the combined weight of the tiller and any handlers The ramps should provide good traction to prevent slip ping they should 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 stu...

Page 17: ...e transmission Figure 5 2 Lift the tine flap to service those screws CHECK TIRE PRESSURE Check the air pressure in both tires Deflate or inflate both tires evenly to 15 to 20 PSI pounds per square inch Be sure that both tires have the same air pressure or the unit will tend to pull to one side Figure 5 1 Lubrication points Before inspecting cleaning or servicing the machine shut off engine wait fo...

Page 18: ...temperatures and this expansion will provide an incorrect oil level reading 2 To check the gear oil level and to add oil if necessary refer to STEP 5 Check Gear Oil Level in Transmission in Section 2 of this manual B To Drain and Refill the Transmission The transmission gear oil does not need to be changed unless it has been contami nated with dirt sand or metal particles 1 Prop up the left side o...

Page 19: ...f operating in very dusty or dirty conditions Service the air cleaner as instructed in the separate Engine Owner s Manual SPARK PLUG SERVICE Inspect and clean or replace the spark plug after every 100 operating hours or annually Clean the plug and set the gap as described in the separate Engine Owner s Manual In some areas local law requires using resistor spark plugs to suppress ignition signals ...

Page 20: ...ollow Battery Storage instructions in this Section 5 Store unit in a clean dry area 6 Never store the tiller with fuel in the fuel tank in an enclosed area where gas fumes could reach an open flame or spark or where ignition sources are present space heaters hot water heaters furnaces etc BOLO TINES The tines will wear with use and should be inspected at the beginning of each tilling season and af...

Page 21: ...has passed A tension adjustment is required only if there is little or no reverse move ment when the Reverse Clutch Control knob is pulled out Checking and Adjusting Forward Clutch Belt Tension It is important to maintain correct tension on the forward clutch belt A loose belt will cause the tines and wheels to slow down or stop completely even though the engine is running at full speed A loose be...

Page 22: ...xtended spring length is correct 5 Tighten both jam nuts securely Checking and Adjusting Reverse Clutch Belt Tension Checking Reverse Clutch Belt Tension The reverse clutch belt D Figure 5 9 needs adjustment if the belt slips in reverse or if there is no reverse See Adjusting Reverse Clutch Belt below Adjusting Reverse Clutch Belt 1 Before adjusting the belt shut off engine allow the engine and mu...

Page 23: ...elt off the front of the trans mission pulley F Figure 5 19 7 Work the belt out from between the pulley and the frame around the trans mission cover spring then up and out of the machine Installing Forward Clutch Belt 1 Stop engine allow it to cool and dis connect spark plug wire before working near belts Also remove ignition key on electric start models 2 Remove the old forward clutch belt as des...

Page 24: ...ing near belts Also remove ignition key on electric start models IMPORTANT The forward clutch belt must be installed before the reverse clutch belt 2 Install the forward clutch belt see Installing Forward Clutch Belt in this section before installing reverse belt IMPORTANT The reverse belt has a V shape When installing the belt make sure that the widest flat side of the belt rides against the reve...

Page 25: ... the battery terminals with a wire brush to remove deposits Coat terminals and exposed wiring with grease or petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion Battery Failures Some common causes for battery failure are incorrect initial activation undercharging overcharging corroded connections freezing IMPORTANT These failures are NOT covered by your tractor s warranty Battery Removal and Installation When re...

Page 26: ... overheats 1 Engine cooling system clogged 1 Clean air cooling area see Engine Owner s Manual 2 Carburetor out of adjustment 2 See Engine Service Dealer 3 Oil level is low 3 Check oil level see Engine Owner s Manual Engine does not 1 Misadjusted throttle control cable recoil start model 1 See Engine Owner s Manual or Engine Service Dealer shut off Wheels and Tines 1 Improper use of controls 1 Revi...

Page 27: ...cratch lines in the seedbed for laying out furrows trenches raised beds etc eliminates the need for stakes string and measuring tape The row marker is adjustable in length from 28 to 49 3 4 allowing you to vary the width of the marked rows as required TILLER ATTACHMENTS The attachments listed below are available for your tille Contact your authorized dealer or the factory for current information M...

Page 28: ...r commercial institutional industrial rental or demonstrator purposes the COMMERCIAL warranty on the tiller is limited in duration to 90 days from the date of purchase USE WARRANTY This warranty does not apply to parts that have been damaged by accident alteration misuse abuse neglect improper maintenance vandalism theft fire water or damage because of peril or other natural disaster HOW TO OBTAIN...

Reviews: