For advice on the safety and suitability of this
equipment contact your local HSS Hire.
There is a serious risk of personal injury if you do not
follow all instructions laid down in this guide.
The hirer has a responsibility to ensure that all
necessary risk assessments have been completed prior
to the use of this equipment.
This equipment should only be used by an operator
who has been deemed competent to do so by his/her
employer.
This equipment should be used by an able bodied,
competent adult
who has read and understood these
instructions. Anyone with either a temporary or permanent
disability, should seek expert advice before using it.
Keep children, animals and bystanders away from the
work area. Cordon off a NO GO area using cones and
either barriers or tape, available for hire from your local
HSS Hire.
Never use this equipment if you are ill, feeling
tired, or under the influence of alcohol or
drugs.
This equipment generates potentially harmful
noise levels.
To comply with health and safety at
work regulations, ear defenders must be worn by everyone
in the vicinity.
Wear practical, protective clothing, gloves
and footwear.
Avoid loose garments and
jewellery that could catch in moving parts, tie back long
hair.
Ensure the work area is well lit and ventilated,
if in
doubt, ask about lighting and ventilation equipment at
your local HSS Hire.
Make sure you know how to switch this machine OFF
before you switch it ON
in case you get into difficulty.
Always switch the engine off and wait for moving parts to
come to rest before making adjustments to it.
Engines, especially the exhausts, get very hot so switch
OFF and allow to cool before touching them.
Keep flammable materials well away from engine and
exhaust.
Survey the area to be dug and ensure that there are NO
hidden services (electric cables, soil pipes etc) below
the work area.
If in doubt, use a cable-avoiding tool
available from your local HSS Hire.
Be careful if your view is obstructed, avoid using the
machine under low branches where you are forced to
Exhaust Danger
NEVER operate petrol engines indoors or in a
confined space.
The exhaust contains gases that can kill.
GENERAL SAFETY
crouch to pass under.
The digging tines can cause serious injury. Always keep
feet and hands well away from the tines taking special
care when starting.
Make sure that anyone in the immediate work area is
warned of what you are doing.
Check the condition of the equipment before use.
If it
shows signs of damage or excessive wear, return it to your
local HSS Hire.
Ensure the guard is correctly fitted and secure
before
starting work.
Clear the area to be cultivated of everything that could
get in the machines way – sticks, stones, washing lines
etc.
Any long grass should be cut and cleared,
as this will
clog the tines and reduce the depth of the dig.
Ensure the soil is in a suitable condition to be dug,
soil
should be neither too wet nor too dry.
Adjust the rear depth bar to suite the depth you
require,
this is held in position with an ‘R’ clip & pin. The
higher the bar the deeper the dig.
I
t is essential to familiarise yourself with all the controls
before starting.
With the machine on firm level ground, check fuel and
oil levels
(see EQUIPMENT CARE).
Set the ON/OFF switch, located on the right hand
control handle, to the ‘I’ (ON) position. If at any time you
get into difficulty, move the switch to the ‘0’ (OFF)
position to stop the engine.
Open the breather valve (fitted to the fuel cap) three
full turns anticlockwise. If the breather valve is not
opened, the engine will be starved of fuel. However,
the valve must always be closed when the machine is
not in use. Open the fuel tap by turning quarter turn
anticlockwise and set the choke
– fully closed if starting
from cold, half closed if the engine is warm.
The engine is fitted with an automatic clutch, which
engages the tines as the engine speed increases. It is
possible that the tines may turn when starting the
GETTING STARTED
engine, so make sure you grip the control handle firmly
when starting the engine.
Two or three brisk pulls on the starter cord should now
start the engine.
Once the engine has warmed up, fully open the choke
and switch the engine OFF.
To engage the tines, squeeze the throttle lever on the
right hand control handle. To stop the tines rotating
and set the engine to idle, simply release the throttle.
When digging a strip of earth, tilt the machine forward
while holding it back (it will try to run over the surface)
until it begins to cut into the soil, then allow it to
progress at its own rate until the strip is complete.
If the unit becomes stuck in one position, tilt it back to
allow it to progress.
At the end of the strip release the throttle and turn the
machine round ready for the next run.
Repeat the process until the entire area has been dug.
To stop in an emergency simply release the throttle
lever.
Stone Alert
Keep a lookout for bricks, large stones, bits of wood,
wire etc.
Running into debris could cause serious damage to
the digger.
BASIC TECHNIQUES
Fuel Safety
NEVER refuel while the engine is hot or running.
Never smoke or allow naked lights into the area
while refuelling.
Never inhale fuel vapour.
ALWAYS mop up any spillage as quickly as possible,
and change your clothes if you get fuel on yourself.
ALWAYS store fuel in a purpose-made sealed
container, in a cool, safe place well away from the
work area.
Tines
Throttle
Lever
ON/OFF
Switch
'R' Clip
Depth
Bar
Pin
Light Duty Tiller
