EarthQuake 3200 User Manual

Front Tine Rototiller

Operator’s Manual

Transport Position

Operating Position

Includes Models

3100, 3200, 3365

Badger Series

OM3100

Rev. 01/28/04

ARDISAM

MODEL IDENTIFICATION

MODEL IDENTIFICATION ............................................. 3

WARRANTY................................................................... 4

SAFETY RULES ............................................................ 5

Owner's Responsibility ................................................ 5

General ....................................................................... 5

Preparation .................................................................. 5

Operation .................................................................... 6

Maintenance and Storage ........................................... 6

Safety Decals .............................................................. 7

FEATURES .................................................................... 8

UNPACKING AND ASSEMBLY ..................................... 9

Unpack Tiller ............................................................... 9

Install the Depth Regulator Lever .............................. 10

Fill Engine Crankcase ............................................... 10

CONTROLS ................................................................. 11

Drive Safety Control Lever ......................................... 11

ADJUSTMENTS .......................................................... 12

Belt Tension Adjustment ............................................ 12

Depth Regulator Lever ............................................... 12

OPERATION ................................................................. 13

Pre-Start Inspection ................................................... 13

Start-up ..................................................................... 13

Shutting Down ........................................................... 14

Tilling ......................................................................... 14

NORMAL CARE ........................................................... 15

Schedule ................................................................... 15

Servicing The Rototiller .............................................. 17

STORAGE ..................................................................... 18

Prepare For Storage ................................................... 18

TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR ............................ 19

Troubleshooting Guide ................................................ 19

Parts Listings ............................................................ 20

Notes ......................................................................... 23

MODEL IDENTIFICATION

Record your model number, manufacturer number and serial number in the space provided for easy reference. The model and manufacturer numbers can be found on the unit I.D. plate located on the unit’s left engine mount. Refer to the Engine Owner’s Manual for location of engine serial number.

WARNING

You must read, understand and comply with all safety and operating instructions in this manual before attempting to setup and operate your rototiller.

Failure to comply with all safety and operating instructions can result in loss of machine control, serious personal injury to you and/or bystanders, and risk of equipment and property damage. The triangle in the text signifies important cautions or warnings which must be followed.

ROTOTILLER REFERENCE DATA

Model Description/Number

M/N (Manufacturer's Number) S/N (Serial Number)

Dealer Name Date Purchased

ENGINE REFERENCE DATA

Engine Make/Model Engine ID/Serial Number

WARNING

Engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known, in certain quantities, to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

ARDISAM

WARRANTY

Thank Y ou . . .

for purchasing an Earthquake® Badger™ front tine rototiller. We guarantee that this front tine rototiller conforms to applicable North American safety standards, and have worked to ensure that it will meet your exacting standards for usability and durability. With proper care, your rototiller will provide many years of service.

Please take time to read this manual carefully to learn how to operate and service your rototiller correctly. Failure to do so could result in personal injury or equipment damage. This manual should be considered a permanent part of your rototiller. Congratulations on your investment in quality.

ONE YEAR

LIMITED WARRANTY

The Ardisam, Inc., Manufacturing Company warrants this rototiller to be free from defects in material or workmanship. Conditions of this warranty include:

What is covered under warranty:

For the first year from the date of purchase, Ardisam will furnish 100% parts and labor to correct any defect caused by faulty material or workmanship. All repairs made under warranty must have prior approval from Ardisam, Inc. Items subject to normal wear and tear, such as belts, batteries, tines, shear bolts and tires, due to the nature of their function are not covered under this warranty. Any unit used in a commercial application is covered for a period of 90 days after purchase. The engine is covered under a separate warranty issued by the engine manufacturer as stated in the engine manual.

What is not covered under warranty:

This warranty applies only to products which have not been repaired or altered outside our factory. It covers only defects resulting from normal use, and does not cover defects arising from misuse, alteration, negligence, or accident. This warranty applies only to the original purchaser, and is not transferrable.

This warranty supersedes all other warranties either expressed or implied and all other obligations or liabilities on our part. Ardisam, Inc., does not assume, and does not authorize any other person to assume for us, any liability in connection with the sale of our products. This guarantee is void unless the warranty card is properly filled out and returned to Ardisam, Inc., Cumberland, Wisconsin, within two weeks of the purchase date.

ARDISAM, INC.

ARDISAM

1690 Elm Street; P.O. Box 666

Cumberland, Wisconsin 54829

Phone (715) 822-2415 Fax (715) 822-4180

1-800-345-6007

www.ardisam.com

ARDISAM

SAFETY RULES

OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY

Safe and effective use of the rototiller is the owner's responsibility.

1. Read and follow all safety instructions.

2. Maintain the tiller according to directions and schedule included.

3. Ensure that anyone who uses the tiller is familiar with all controls and safety precautions.

GENERAL

The Safety Alert symbol shown here is used to alert you to important safety information that must

be read, fully understood, and followed at all times when

handling, transporting, operating, servicing, or storing your rototiller unit.

Each safety alert symbol is followed by a "signal word" that advised you of the relative intensity, or level, of the hazard the safety alert instructions pertain to.

The following list of signal words is being provided to help you understand the intensity levels associated with each signal word used in this manual.

DANGER

The signal word "DANGER" is used when a serious injury or fatality will result if the safety instructions that follow this signal word are not obeyed.

WARNING

The signal word "WARNING" is used when a serious injury or fatality could result if the safety instructions that follow this signal word are not obeyed.

CAUTION

• CAREFULLY READ THIS MANUAL AND FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS.

• Be familiar with all controls before operating the tiller. Your tiller is equipped with a safety device that enables you to stop the tines quickly in an emergency. Learn how the drive safety control lever works and how to control the tiller at all times.

• Never allow children to operate the tiller. Keep small children away from the area being tilled. Do not allow adults to operate the tiller without proper instruction.

• Do not operate the tiller under the influence of alchohol or drugs.

PREPARATION

• Dress appropriately when operating the tiller. Always wear sturdy footwear. Never wear sandals, sneakers, or open shoes, and never operate the tiller with bare feet. Do not wear loose clothing that might get caught in moving parts.

• Carefully inspect the area to be tilled, and remove all foreign objects. Do not till above underground water lines, gas lines, electric cables, or pipes. Do not operate the tiller in soil with large rocks and foreign objects which can damage the equipment.

• Disengage drive safety control lever before starting the engine.

• Handle fuel with care; it is highly flammable. a. Use an approved fuel container.

b. Never add fuel to a running engine or hot engine.

c. Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never fill

fuel tank indoors.

d. Replace gasoline cap securely and clean up spilled

fuel before restarting.

• Never attempt to make any adjustments while the engine is running.

The signal word "CAUTION" is used when personal injury, or property or equipment damage could result if the safety instructions that follow this signal word are not obeyed.

Provides helpful information for proper assembly, operation, or maintenance of your rototiller.

Engine is shipped from factory without oil. You must add engine oil before starting engine.

ARDISAM

SAFETY RULES

OPERATION

• Never operate the tiller without guards, covers, and hoods in place.

• Keep hands, feet, and clothing away from rotating parts. Keep clear of tiller tines at all times.

• Tines rotate when tiller is engaged in forward-- in forward, tines rotate when the drive safety control

lever is pulled down. Releasing the drive safety

control lever to neutral stops the tines.

• Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic.

• After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, remove the wire from the spark plug and secure, thoroughly inspect the tiller for any damage, and repair the damage before restarting and operating the tiller.

• If vegetation clogs the tines, STOP THE ENGINE

AND DISCONNECT THE SPARK PLUG WIRE

before removing vegetation by hand.

• Engine muffler will be hot from operation. Do not touch it with bare skin or a severe burn may result.

• If the unit should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.

• Do not run the engine indoors; exhaust fumes are dangerous.

• Do not overload the machine capacity by attempting to till too deep at too fast a rate.

• Never allow bystanders near the unit.

• Never operate the tiller without good visibility or light.

• Take all possible precautions when leaving the machine unattended. Disengage drive control lever, stop the engine, wait for all moving parts to stop, and make certain guards and shields are in place.

• When leaving the operating position for any reason:

- shut off the engine.

- wait for all moving parts to stop.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

• Keep machine, attachments, and accessories in safe working condition.

• Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, and other bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure the equipment is in safe working condition.

• To prevent accidental starting, always disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug before performing tiller maintenance.

• Never run the engine indoors. Exhaust fumes are deadly.

• Always allow muffler to cool before filling fuel tank.

• Never store equipment with gasoline in the tank inside a closed building where fumes may reach an open flame or spark. Allow the engine to cool before storing in any building.

• Always refer to the operator's guide instructions for important details if the tiller is to be stored for an extended period.

ARDISAM

SAFETY RULES

SAFETY DECALS

This rototiller unit has been designed and manufactured to provide you with the safety and reliability you would expect from an industry leader in outdoor power equipment manufacturing.

Although reading this manual and the safety instructions it contains will provide you with the necessary basic knowledge to operated this equipment safely and effectively, we have placed several safety labels on the tiller to remind you of this important information while you are operating the unit.

These important safety labels are illustrated below, and are shown here to help familiarize you with the location and content of the safety messages you will see as you perform normal tilling operations. Please review these labels now, and if you have any questions regarding their meaning or how to comply with these instructions, reread the complete safety instruction text on the preceding pages, or contact your local dealer.

Should any of these labels become unreadable because of being worn, faded, or otherwise damaged during the use of your tiller, please use the part number information provided to order a replacement label from your local authorized dealer.

These labels are easily applied, and will act as a constant visual reminder to you, and others who may use the equipment, to follow the safety instructions necessary for safe, effective operation of your rototiller.

Part No. LBL3100C

TINES DANGER/OPERATION

Hood Decal

Part #: LBL3100H Size: 2.50 w x 1.23 h .0625 Corner Radius 1000 decals per roll Colors: ANSI Oran

e, Black, White

Part No. LBL821B

HOOD WARNING

Hood Decal

Part No. LBL3100D

Part No. LBL516C

Part No. LBL3100H

WARNING

Pivot Mount Decal

CLUTCH ENGAGE

Handlebar Decal

WARNING

Belt Cover Decal

ARDISAM

drive safety control lever

forward cable

FEATURES

hand knob

belt guard

3-way adjustable tine widths

The advantage of the EARTHQUAKE

tillers, is the exclusive unfolding and flexible drag bar. This gives the Earthquakeâ Badger

BADGERä gear drive rototiller over other front tine

gear drive tiller its stability and its versatility. For easy transport, fold the wheels under the

engine. During operation, the wheels unfold back and the drag bar folds down. The long length between the tines and the drag bar make this the most comfortable front tine tiller on the market.

Transport Position Operating Position

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