McCulloch MC900, 96083000400, 532 43 21-09 User Manual

MC900

Operator's Manual / 96083000400 / 2009-11

532 43 21-09

SAFETY RULES

Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Powered Ro ta ry Tillers

TRAINING

• Read the Owner’s Manual care ful ly. Be thor ough ly
fa mil iar with the controls and the proper use of the
equip ment. Know how to stop the unit and disengage
the controls quickly.

• Never allow children to operate the equipment. Never
allow adults to op er ate the equipment without proper
instruction.

• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, par­ tic u lar ly small children, and pets.

PREPARATION

• Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is
to be used and remove all foreign objects.

• Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before
starting the engine (mo tor).

• Do not operate the equipment with out wearing ad e ­quate outer gar ments. Wear footwear that will im prove
footing on slippery surfaces.

• Handle fuel with care; it is highly flammable.

• Use an approved fuel container.

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

• Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never fill fuel
tank indoors.

• Replace gasoline cap securely and clean up spilled
fuel before restarting.

• Use extension cords and receptacles as specified by
the manufacturer for all units with electric drive motors
or electric starting motors.

• Never attempt to make any adjustments while the
engine (motor) is running (except where specifically
rec om mend ed by manufacturer).

OPERATION

• Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts.

• Exercise extreme caution when op er at ing on or cross­ ing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden
hazards or traffic. Do not carry pas sen gers.

• After striking a foreign object, stop the engine (motor),
remove the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly in spect
the tiller for any damage, and repair the damage before
restarting and op er at ing the tiller.

• Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.

• If the unit should start to vibrate ab nor mal ly, stop the
engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause.
Vi bra tion is generally a warning of trouble.

• Stop the engine (motor) when leaving the operating
position.

• Take all possible precautions when leav ing the ma chine
unattended. Disengage the tines, shift into neutral, and
stop the engine.

• Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, shut off the
engine and make certain all moving parts have stopped.
Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep the wire away
from the plug to prevent accidental starting. Disconnect
the cord on electric motors.

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

• Never operate the tiller without proper guards, plates,
or other safety protective devices in place.

• Keep children and pets away.

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

• Never operate the machine at high speeds on slippery
surfaces. Look behind and use care when backing.

• Never allow bystanders near the unit.

• Use only attachments and accessories approved by
the manufacturer of the tiller.

• Never operate the tiller without good visibility or light.

• Be careful when tilling in hard ground. The tines may
catch in the ground and propel the tiller forward. If this
occurs, let go of the handlebars and do not restrain the
machine.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

• Keep machine, attachments, and accessories in safe
work ing condition.

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

• Never store the machine with fuel in the fuel tank inside
a building where ignition sources are present, such
as hot water and space heaters, clothes dryers, and
the like. Allow the engine to cool before storing in any
enclosure.

• Always refer to the operator’s guide instructions for
im por tant details if the tiller is to be stored for an ex­tended period.

- IMPORTANT -

CAUTIONS, IMPORTANTS, AND NOTES ARE A MEANS OF
ATTRACTING ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT OR CRIT I CAL
IN FOR MA TION IN THIS MANUAL.

IMPORTANT: USED TO ALERT YOU THAT THERE IS A
POS SI BIL I TY OF DAM AG ING THIS EQUIP MENT.

NOTE: Gives essential information that will aid you to
better un der stand, incorporate, or execute a particular set
of instructions.

Look for this symbol to point out im­ por tant safety precautions. It means
CAUTION!!! BE COME ALERT!!! YOUR
SAFE TY IS INVOLVED.

CAUTION: Always disconnect spark
plug wire and place wire where it can­ not contact spark plug in order to pre­ vent ac ci den tal starting when setting
up, trans port ing, adjusting or making
re pairs.

WARNING

The engine exhaust from this product con­ tains chem i cals known to the State of Cal i ­for nia to cause cancer, birth defects, or other
reproductive harm.

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PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Gasoline Capacity: 3 Quarts (2.8L)
Unleaded Reg u lar

Oil (API-SG-SL): SAE 30 (Above 32°F)
(Capacity: 16 oz./0.47 L) SAE 5W-30 (Below 32°F)

Spark Plug : NGK-BPR6ES
(Gap: .030"/0.76mm) TORCH-F6RTC

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a new tiller. It
has been designed, en gi neered and manu fac tured to give
you the best pos sible de penda bil ity and per form ance.

Should you experience any prob lems you can not easily
remedy, please contact your nearest authorized service
center. We have com pe tent, well-trained tech ni cians and
the proper tools to service or repair this unit.

Please read and retain this manual. The in struc tions will
enable you to assemble and main tain your tiller prop erly.
Always observe the “SAFETY RULES”.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Read and observe the safety rules.

• Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for
and using your tiller.

• Follow instructions under “Maintenance” and “Stor age”
sections of this Manual.

IMPORTANT: THIS UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERNAL
COMBUSTION ENGINE AND SHOULD NOT BE USED ON
OR NEAR ANY UNIMPROVED FOREST-COVERED, BRUSH­COVERED OR GRASS COVERED LAND UNLESS THE
ENGINE'S EXHAUST SYSTEM IS EQUIPPED WITH A SPARK
ARRESTER MEETING APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS (IF ANY).
IF A SPARK ARRESTER IS USED, IT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED
IN EFFECTIVE WORK ING ORDER BY THE OPERATOR.

IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, A SPARK ARRESTER IS
REQUIRED BY LAW (SECTION 4442 OF THE CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE). OTHER STATES MAY HAVE
SIMILAR LAWS. FEDERAL L AWS APPLY ON FEDERAL LANDS.
SEE YOUR AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER/DEPARTMENT
FOR SPARK ARRESTER.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SAFETY RULES ............................................................ 2

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS ....................................... 3

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ................................. 3

ASSEMBLY ................................................................. 4-5

OPERATION ...............................................................6-9

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ...................................... 10

MAINTENANCE ..................................................... 10-12

SERVICE & ADJUSTMENTS ................................. 12-14

STORAGE .................................................................... 15

TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................. 16

WARRANTY ................................................BACK PAGE

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ASSEMBLY

overhead_views_7

(2) Flange

Locknuts

5/16-18 UNC

(2) Lock
Washer
5/16

(2) Hex Nut
5/16-18

(2) Hex Bolt
5/16-18 x 1-1/4

(2) Carriage Bolts
5/16-18 UNC x 2-1/2

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

(1) Manual

(1) Bottle
Engine Oil

Your new tiller has been assembled at the factory with exception of those parts left unassembled for shipping purposes.
To ensure safe and proper operation of your tiller all parts and hardware you assemble must be tightened securely. Use
the correct tools as necessary to insure proper tightness.

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY

A socket wrench set will make assembly easier. Standard
wrench sizes are listed.

(1) Utility knife

(2) 1/2" wrenches

OPERATOR’S POSITION (See Fig. 1)

When right or left hand is mentioned in this manual, it
means when you are in the operating position (standing
behind tiller handles).

LEFT

FRONT

RIGHT

OPERATOR'S POSITION

Fig. 1

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depth_stake_4

ASSEMBLY

UNPACK CARTON & INSTALL HANDLE
(See Fig. 2)

CAUTION: Be careful of exposed
sta ples when handling or disposing
of cartoning material.

IMPORTANT: WHEN UNPACKING AND AS SEM BLING

TILLER, BE CAREFUL NOT TO STRETCH OR KINK
CABLE(S).

• Cut cable ties securing handle column.

•. Route cable(s) as shown and slide handle column onto
handle mount.

• Remove all packing from carton.

• Secure handle column using two (2) carriage bolts and
two (2) flange locknuts. Tighten se cure ly.

• Cut away carton.

• Route tine control cable(s) through plas tic cable clip
on handle mount.

NOTE: Cables must not touch the muffler.

• Cut cable ties securing tiller to skid. Re move tiller from
skid by pulling backwards.

• Remove screws securing depth stake to skid and
discard the screws.

HANDLE
PANEL
BOLTS

INSTALL DEPTH STAKE AS SEM BLY
(See Fig. 3)

• Loosen nut “A”.

• Insert stake support between engine brack et halves
with stake spring down.

• Bolt stake support to engine brackets with bolts, lock
washers and nuts. Tight en se curely. Tighten nut “A”.

• Depth stake must move freely. If it does not, loosen
support bolt.

ENGINE BRACK ET
HALVES

NUT “A”

DEPTH STAKE
SUPPORT

HEX BOLTS,
LOCK WASH ERS,
AND HEX NUTS

DEPTH
STAKE

SUPPORT
BOLT

STAKE
SPRING

CABLE(S)

TILLER
HANDLES

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

HANDLE HEIGHT

• Handle height may be adjusted to better suit operator.
(See “HANDLE HEIGHT” in the Service and Ad just ­ments section of this manual).

TILLING WIDTH

• Tilling width may be adjusted to better handle your
tilling con di tions (See “TINE ARRANGEMENT” in the
Service and Adjustments section of this manual).

TINE OPERATION

• Check tine operation before first use. (See “TINE OP­ERATION CHECK” in the Service and Adjustments
section of this manual).

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OPERATION

KNOW YOUR TILLER

READ THIS MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR TILLER.

Compare the illustrations with your tiller to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save
this manual for future reference.

These symbols may appear on your Tiller or in literature supplied with the product. Learn and understand their mean­ing.

Forward Tine
Control

Throttle Control

Choke Control

Depth
Stake

Recoil Starter
Handle

Fuel Fill Port

Fuel Valve

On/Off Switch

Tines

Fig. 4

MEETS ANSI SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Our tillers conform to the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute.

CHOKE CONTROL - Used when start ing a cold engine.
DEPTH STAKE - Controls forward speed and the depth

at which tiller will dig.
ENGINE ON/OFF SWITCH - The engine switch enables
and disables the ignition system.
FORWARD TINE CONTROL - En gag es tines in forward
direction.

FUEL VALVE - The fuel valve opens and closes the pas­sage between the fuel tank and the carburetor.

RECOIL STARTER HANDLE - Used to start the engine.
THROTTLE CONTROL - Used to con trol en gine speed.

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