background image

Operation

5

14

Starting the Engine

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

NOTE: 

Do not attempt to engage the tines, wheels, or any PTO 

attachment until you have read all of the operating instructions 

in this section. 

Pre-Start Checklist

Make the following checks and perform the following services 

before starting the engine.
1. 

Read the Safe Operation Practices and Features & Controls 

sections in this Manual. Read the separate Engine 

Operator’s Manual.

2. 

Check the tiller for loose or missing hardware. Service as 

required. 

3. 

Check the engine oil level. See Engine Operator’s Manual.

4. 

Shift the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive lever into NEUTRAL 

position. See the Controls and Features section for more 

information on this lever.

5. 

Check the safety guards. All guards and covers must be 

securely in place.

6. 

Check the air cleaner. See the Engine Operator’s Manual.

7. 

Attach the spark plug wire to the spark plug.

8. 

Check Engine Cooling System. Clear cooling fins and air 

intake screen of debris. See the Engine Operator’s Manual.

9. 

Select High/Low Belt Speed range.

10.  Adjust the Handlebar Height.
11.  Fill the fuel tank with gasoline in accordance with the 

directions in the separate Engine Operator’s Manual. 

Follow all instructions and safety rules carefully.

WARNING! 

Never run the engine indoors or in an 

enclosed, poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust 

contains carbon monoxide, an odorless and deadly 

gas. Avoid engine muffler and nearby areas. 

Temperatures in these areas may exceed 150° F.

NOTE: 

After the first two hours of operation, perform the 

maintenance procedures shown in the Maintenance Schedule in 

the Maintenance & Adjustments Section of this manual.

Starting the Engine

1. 

With the engine off, place the Wheels/Tines/PTO Drive 

Lever in the NEUTRAL position. If in the FORWARD position, 

tap the lever sharply upward, it should automatically move 

into NEUTRAL position.

2. 

Put the Depth Regulator Lever in the Travel position (lever 

all the way down) so that the tines are off the ground. To do 

this, lift up on the handlebars, pull the lever back, and push 

it down all the way to the top detent (notched) position.

3. 

Move the Wheel Speed Lever to either the SLOW or FAST 

position. Be sure to roll the wheels while shifting the lever 

until the wheels engage. 

NOTE: 

If using a PTO stationary attachment, move the 

Wheel Speed Lever into FREEWHEEL and block the wheels  

to prevent the equipment from moving. See Figure 5-1.

Blocks

Blocks

Figure 5-1

4. 

Move the Tines/PTO Clutch Lever into DISENGAGE position. 

NOTE: 

Use the ENGAGE position if you want the tines 

to revolve or to apply power to a PTO-driven stationary 

attachment.

5. 

If the engine is equipped with a fuel valve, turn the valve 

to the OPEN position as instructed in the separate Engine 

Operator’s Manual.

6. 

If the engine is equipped with an ON/OFF switch, move the 

switch to ON. Move engine throttle lever away from STOP. 

Choke or prime the engine as instructed in the separate 

Engine Operator’s Manual. 

7. 

If not equipped with an electric start system, place one 

hand on the fuel tank to stabilize the tiller when you pull 

the recoil starter rope. 

8. 

If equipped with an electric start system, turn the key to 

START position to crank the engine then release when the 

engine starts. If the engine does not start right away, do 

not hold the key at START for more than a few seconds. 

Release then try again after a short pause. Damage to 

the starter motor can occur if it is cranked more than 15 

seconds per minute.

9. 

If the engine does not start after a number of tries, refer to 

the Engine Operator’s Manual for specific instructions.

10.  When the engine starts, move the Throttle Lever to the 

SLOW position and then gradually move the choke lever 

(on engines so equipped) to OFF or RUN position.

11.  Move the throttle speed control to FAST setting when 

tilling.

Summary of Contents for Big Red

Page 1: ...et Up Operation Maintenance 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 T...

Page 2: ...peration 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...

Page 3: ...e 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...

Page 4: ...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...

Page 5: ...ad 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 T...

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...

Page 7: ...ems listed above contact your local dealer or the Troy Bilt Technical Service Department if any items are missing or damaged Handle NOTE When disassembling the handlebar assembly keep the left side cl...

Page 8: ...ever approximately halfway between the Fast and Slow settings while you rock the tiller forward and backward until the wheels move freely See Figure 3 2 3 Lift the Handlebars high enough to clear the...

Page 9: ...Wheel Speed Lever Forward Hole Wheels Tines PTO Drive Lever Figure 3 7 4 Align the rear most holes of the yoke plates and the Wheels Tines PTO Lever Use long nose pliers to hold the bushing in place...

Page 10: ...ar Clutch Pawl Spring Figure 3 10 7 Test the operation of the Wheels Tines PTO Lever Push the lever down until it engages in the Forward position The clutch roller must rest beneath the adjustment blo...

Page 11: ...l and charge the battery on electric start tillers For your safety follow all steps and observe all accompanying safety messages The Maintenance Adjustments section contains other general battery main...

Page 12: ...to the negative battery post and secure with screw and nut See Figure 3 14 6 Slide the black rubber boot completely over the battery post and cable connector See Figure 3 14 Set Up Tires For shipping...

Page 13: ...terlock Levers are attached under the handlebar grip and will stop the engine if both levers are released Wheel Speed Lever The Wheel Speed Lever controls the speed at which the wheels spin Tines PTO...

Page 14: ...the lever sharply upward it should automatically move into NEUTRAL position 2 Put the Depth Regulator Lever in the Travel position lever all the way down so that the tines are off the ground To do thi...

Page 15: ...To stop the wheels and tines move the Wheels Tines PTO Drive Lever into NEUTRAL position and then release both Forward Interlock Levers 2 Move the engine Throttle Lever to the STOP position Then on el...

Page 16: ...off the ground then shift the Wheels Tines PTO Drive Lever all the way up and hold You do not need to squeeze the Forward Interlock Levers to use reverse 5 The tiller immediately engages in reverse Pe...

Page 17: ...ws engine RPM to be reduced handlebars don t have to be raised 4 Keeping large areas tilled and cultivated in the summer 5 Tilling organic matter under 6 Moving tiller quickly 7 Cultivating between ra...

Page 18: ...Rear Groove Lower Front Groove Belt Figure 5 7 4 Go to the other side of the tiller to finish seating the belt onto the pulley groove 5 Working from the left side of the tiller work the belt as much...

Page 19: ...to stop and disconnect the spark plug wire Failure to follow this warning could result in personal injury Tilling Tips Techniques Let the Tiller Do the Work While tilling relax and let the wheels pul...

Page 20: ...oot penetration and contribute to soil erosion They can also plant unwanted weed seeds back into the newly tilled soil Suggested Tilling Patterns When preparing a seedbed go over the same path twice i...

Page 21: ...2 the width of the tiller NOTE For the best results use the HIGH belt range and SLOW wheel speed lever position See Changing Speed Belts in this section for more information on changing to high range...

Page 22: ...after you prepare the seedbed and mark off the rows with string hand broadcast the seeds as if seeding a lawn not quite as much as lawn seed Cover with soil and tamp the area firmly with a hoe Move t...

Page 23: ...d and replaced with other optional attachments See Figure 5 18 The following instructions will familiarize you with your PTO Power machine Please read these pages carefully The following steps explain...

Page 24: ...lowly roll the power unit back next to the tine attachment Place the support block back under the engine 3 Remove the dust cap or protective wrapping from the dog clutch coupling on the tine attachmen...

Page 25: ...king brake Position the loading vehicle so that the ramp angle is as flat as possible the less incline to the ramp the better Loading the Tiller 1 Use loading ramps that are strong and wide enough to...

Page 26: ...ours 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 tiller will tend to pull to one side Maintenance Schedule Aft...

Page 27: ...s that has accumulated on the wheel shaft Please follow this maintenance recommendation as debris can cause premature wear to the wheel shaft and its oil seals 1 Prop the transmission up with a sturdy...

Page 28: ...olts to 70 to 80 ft lbs Lock Nut on the Shifting Linkage Check the locknut that fastens the shifting linkage to the eccentric shifting lever See Figure 6 3 Do not tighten the locknut against the eccen...

Page 29: ...ith the markings on the dipstick facing to the rear Gear Oil Dipstick Back of Tine Shield Figure 6 7 If tilling during very hot weather the gear oil may heat up and expand inside the transmissions To...

Page 30: ...see Adding or Changing Gear Oil Adding or Changing Gear Oil For partial fill ups just a few ounces or less use SAE 140 SAE 85W 140 or SAE 80W 90 weight gear oil with an API rating of GL 4 or GL 5 For...

Page 31: ...is no need to install a replacement washer 3 Once all the gear oil has drained reinstall the housing cover screw securely first coat its threads with non hardening gasket sealant 4 Be certain to refi...

Page 32: ...ssembly apply 2 to 3 strokes of multipurpose grease at beginning and end of tilling season 8 Keep the PTO access area well greased See Figure 6 11 If the Tines PTO Clutch Lever becomes hard to move sq...

Page 33: ...erting the 1 4 thick slotted end of the belt adjustment tool in between the roller and the upright bracket The flat edge of the tool must be facing the roller See Figure 6 14 Slotted End Figure 6 14 b...

Page 34: ...Let go of the drive lever and remove the belt adjustment tool from the hole in the adjustment block 8 Check the tension on the belt by following the previous instructions How to Measure Belt Tension N...

Page 35: ...in REVERSE When you release the lever the spring automatically pushes the lever back into NEUTRAL position The spring and plunger assembly is designed to prevent the reverse disc from making contact w...

Page 36: ...go The lever should return to NEUTRAL If not the reverse adjustment bolt will have to be adjusted upward Adjusting the Reverse Drive 1 Place the Wheels Tines PTO Drive Lever in FORWARD position 2 On...

Page 37: ...does not have a condenser or points so there is no need to perform any regular tune up maintenance on this system other than adjusting or replacing the spark plug Spark Plug 1 The spark plug must be i...

Page 38: ...elt upward to create slack in the belt See Figure 7 2 Push Belt Up Figure 7 2 5 Lift the top half of the belt up and over the upper pulley and the rubber reverse disc moving it in front of the reverse...

Page 39: ...e Disc Follow these steps to replace the reverse disc If your tiller has a Bumper Attachment mounted it must be removed first 1 Move Wheels Tines PTO Drive Lever in NEUTRAL position 2 Wedge a 5 16 thi...

Page 40: ...te See Figure 7 9 Use penetrating oil on the hardware if it is rusted or hard to remove Tine Shaft Left Side Tine Holder Right Side Tine Holder Nut Bolt Figure 7 9 6 Mount the new tine exactly the way...

Page 41: ...not stay in forward 1 Drive belt too tight 2 Clutch Pawl spring overstretched 1 See Maintenance Adjustments Section 2 Replace spring Wheels Tines PTO Lever hard to shift into reverse 1 Worn reverse d...

Page 42: ...2 04224 Bolo Tine RH 12 934 04231 Wheel 16 x 4 6 x 8 756 04171 Reverse Disc 1909286P Throttle Cable Phone 800 800 7310 to order replacement parts or a complete Parts Manual have your full model number...

Page 43: ...Notes 10 43...

Page 44: ...items may carry a separate manufacturer s warranty Refer to applicable manufacturer s warranty for terms and conditions b Log splitter pumps valves and cylinders have a separate one year warranty c Ro...

Reviews: