Troy-Bilt 683-Horse Benutzerhandbuch

Section 4: Operation

SLOW GEAR, LOW BELT RANGE

For:

• Tilling in sod.
• Tilling in hard clay.
• Tilling under standing corn-

stalks in tough soil conditions.

• Tilling under cover crops.
• Preparing a deep seedbed.
• Tilling in stony soil.
• Tilling under residues and

organic matter.

• Mixing in fertilizers, manure.

SLOW GEAR, HIGH BELT RANGE

For:

• Tilling in sod or hard clay.
• Tilling under standing corn-

stalks (slow, steady speed

allows time to shred stalks).

• Tilling under cover crops

(best wheel speed and belt

speed range in most soils).

• Preparing seedbeds (best

speed choice in most soils).

• Tilling in stony ground.
• Building raised garden beds.
• Mixing in fertilizer.
• Using hiller wings in hard

soil.

• Mixing fertilizer and manure.
• Tilling residues and organics.

FAST GEAR, LOW BELT RANGE

For:

• Going over seedbed for the

last time before planting crops.

• Covering over seeds in wide

row or plot planting (lift

handlebars to avoid going too

deep).

• Hilling and furrowing.
• Making raised beds.
• Cultivating (lift handlebars to

avoid going too deep).

• Tilling large areas.
• Tilling organic matter in.
• Cultivating between raised

beds with optional hiller/

furrower attachment.

FAST GEAR, HIGH BELT RANGE

For:

• Preparing seedbeds for

planting.

• Covering seeds with less need

to hold up the handlebars.

• Cultivating (tiller travels faster,

rides higher on the soil; allows

engine RPM to be reduced;

handlebars don’t have to be

raised).

• Keeping large areas tilled and

cultivated in the summer.

• Tilling organic matter under.
• Moving tiller quickly.
• Cultivating between raised

beds using the optional hiller/

furrower.

TABLE 2-4: WHEEL SPEED AND BELT RANGE SELECTION GUIDE

IMPORTANT — For correct wheel speed and belt range choices when using attachments or accessories

other than tines, read the Owner/Operator Manual provided with the attachment or accessory.

Let the tiller do the work

• While tilling, relax and let the wheels

pull the tiller along while the tines do

the digging. Walk on the side that is not

yet finished (to avoid making footprints

in the freshly tilled soil) and lightly, but

securely grip the handlebar with just

one hand (Figure 4-4).

• Avoid pushing 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

helping to hold the tiller back, the

tines will attempt to propel the tiller

– often causing the tiller to skip rapidly

across the ground. (Sometimes, slight

downward pressure on the handlebars

will help get through a particularly

tough section of sod or unbroken

ground, but in most cases this won’t be

necessary.)

Tilling depths

• Avoid trying to dig too deeply too

quickly, especially when busting sod

or tilling soil that hasn’t been tilled for

some time. Use shallow depth settings

(only an inch or two deep) for the first

passes through the garden area.

With each succeeding pass, adjust the

depth regulator to dig another inch or

two deeper. (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.)

• When cultivating (breaking up the

surface soil around plants to help

destroy weeds), use very shallow depth

settings to prevent injury to 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.

Avoid tilling wet, soggy soil

Tilling 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 the soil by

squeezing it into a ball. If it compresses

too easily, it is too wet to till.

Tilling Tips

Techniques

To help avoid personal injury, be aware

that the tiller can unexpectedly bounce

up or jump ahead and propel away from

you if the tines strike hard or frozen

ground, or buried obstacles like large

stones, roots or stumps. Always use the

following precautions to help maintain

control of the tiller:
• Walk behind and to the side of the

tiller. Use one hand on the handlebars,

relaxing your arm but with a secure

hand grip.
• Use shallow depth regulator settings.

Till gradually deeper.
• Use slower wheel, tine and engine

speeds.
• Clear the tilling area of all large

stones, roots and other debris.
• Do not put downward pressure on the

handlebars. If needed, apply slight

upward handlebar pressure to keep the

tines from digging too deeply.
• Avoid contacting hard soil or sod at

the end of a row – reduce engine speed

and lift handlebars to raise tines out of

the soil.
• In An Emergency, stop tines and

wheels by moving Wheels/Tines/ PTO

Drive Lever to NEUTRAL. If you cannot

reach the lever or have lost control, Let

Go Of The Handlebars and All Controls.

WARNING