MTD 213-380 User Manual

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Model Nos.

213-380

ROTARY TILLER

For one year from date of purchase, MTD Products Inc.
will replace for the original purchaser, free of charge,

F.O.B. factory or authorized service firm, any part or
parts found to be defective in material or workman
ship. All transportation charges on parts submitted
for replacement under this warranty must be paid by
the purchaser. This warranty does not include replace
ment of parts which become inoperative through mis

use, excessive use, accident, neglect, improper main
tenance or alterations by unauthorized persons. This
warranty does not include the engine, motor, battery,
battery charger or any component parts thereof. For
service on these units refer to the applicable manu

facturer's warranty.

The above warranty will apply only to the original
owner and will be effective only if the warranty card

has been properly processed. It will not apply where

the unit has been used commercially.

Warranty service is available through your local au

thorized service dealer or distributor. UNDER NO CIR

CUMSTANCES WILL THE RETURN OF A COMPLETE
UNIT BE ACCEPTED BY THE FACTORY UNLESS PRIOR
WRITTEN PERMISSION HAS BEEN EXTENDED.

213-385 «HI?

1. Your tiller is a precision piece of power equipment.
Exercise extreme caution at all times.

2. Do not attempt to start engine with the clutch con
trol in the engaged or FORWARD position.

3. Stand clear of tines when starting engine. Never
stand in front of, or work on tines while the en
gine is running.

4. NEVER place hands or feet in the vicinity of the
tines while the engine is running.

5. Always stop engine when tiller is not in actual use.

6. Always disconnect spark plug wire during repairs
or refueling operations.

7. Do not fill gas tank while engine is running. Do not
spill gasoline on hot engine.

Your rotary tiller is a precision built machine designed
to take the work out of gardening and other related
chores. It can be used for seed bed preparation, tilling,
cultivating, furrowing, composting and mulching. Like
any other piece of power equipment, it requires a cer
tain amount of care and maintenance. In return for
this, it will give a maximum of service and efficiency.
Read these instructions carefully before assembling or
operating your tiller. Through proper care and opera
tion, you will obtain long, efficient service and trouble
free operation.

MTD PRODUCTS INC

5389 WEST 130th STREET • P. 0. BOX 2741 CLEVELAND OHIO 44111

FORM NO. 770-4121

ASSEMBLY

HANDLE ASSEMBLY

Your rotary tiller is shipped complete in a single car
ton. The wheels, handle, controls and depth bar are

to be assembled. This is done in the manner described

below.

WHEELS

Assemble the axle to the wheel hanger. Place the

spacer over the axle and assemble the wheel, with a
washer on both sides of the wheel, to the axle. See

figure 1. Secure each wheel with a cotter pin.

Place the wheel hanger inside the tailpiece and secure
with the long clevis pin and lock pin. See figure 1.

DEPTH BAR

Assemble the depth bar to the tail piece using the
short clevis pin and lock pin. See figure 1.

Lock Pin

Assemble the handle to the handle brackets with four
cap screws, lockwashers and hex nuts as shown in
figure 2.

FIGURE 2. HANDLE ASSEMBLY
CONTROL LEVER

Place clutch control lever through handle panel. Se
cure in place with hex bolt, flat washers, rubber wash
er and hex nut. See figure 3.

CONTROL ROD

Screw the control rod into the ferrule until it extends
through the ferrule % of an inch. See figure 4.

THROTTLE-Assemble as shown in figure 6.

Engiiis|T»uHey

«a. '

VanSBle Speed Pulley

Control

FIGURE 4. FERRULE ADJUSTMENT

Place the bent end into the control handle as shown
in figure 5 and fasten with a cotter hairpin.

j-J"- ■ Chain Case'^Ej^HI

Pulley

Knob

Handle Panel

Spring Lockwasher

ex Nut

Conduit

©

FIGURE 6. THROTTLE CONTROL

CHECK LIST BEFORE OPERATION

1. Check tiller tines for proper installation. With throt
tle control lever set on STOP position and the con

trol lever set in No. 1 position, slowly crank engine

to determine direction of tine rotation. Be sure all
tines are mounted so the sharpened edges enter
the soil first.

FIGURE 5. CONTROL ROD

CAUTION

With the spark plug wire disconnected
and grounded, place the control lever in

NEUTRAL and pull the recoil starter sev
eral times. THE TINES SHOULD NOT
TURN. If they do, screw the control rod
into the ferrule several more turns as
shown in figure 4.

2. Check all nuts and bolts for proper tightness. This
is especially important during the initial operation
period. Make the same check periodically there
after.

3. Check throttle control for proper setting. Move
throttle control knob to STOP position. Move lever,
to which control wire is fastened at engine, to
CLOSE position and retighten screw to secure throt
tle control wire assembly.

4. Check fuel tank. Clean, fresh, regular gasoline
should be used at all times.

5. Check engine crankcase for proper oil level. The

engine is shipped without oil in the crankcase. Be
sure crankcase is FULL.

STARTING YOUR TILLER

1. Be sure clutch control handle is in NEUTRAL posi
tion.

2. Move throttle control lever to STOP position.

3. Move choke lever, located at the engine, to CHOKE
position. Refer to your engine manual.

4. After cranking the engine several times, or as the
engine fires, move the throttle control lever to RUN
position.

5. Use CHOKE as needed to keep engine operating
during warm-up period.

6. Set the throttle control in the FAST position.

7. Move the control lever into the number one posi
tion and the tines will begin rotating. Number four

position will give the maximum tine speed. Tilling
the ground for the first time should be done in the
number one or two position. To pulverize the soil
after it has been tilled, move the control lever to the
number three or four position.

NOTE

The engine must be running to move
the control lever into the faster speeds.

8. To stop engine, move throttle control lever to STOP
position. Keep throttle control lever in STOP posi
tion at all times when tiller is not in use.

FIGURE 7. DEPTH BAR

11. The wheel height can be adjusted by removing
the long clevis pin for the wheel hanger and rais
ing or lowering the setting. See figure 1.

NOTE

A brief break-in period is essential to

insure maximum engine life. This con
sists of running the engine at half speed
for a period of time required to use one
tank of gasoline. This is necessary on
the initial run only. It is also recom
mended that the oil be changed after
five (5) hours of operation. This allows
for the removal of impurities which
may have accumulated during the break­in period. Subsequent oil changes
should be made as stated in the engine

manual. Always check oil before using

your tiller. Be sure crankcase is full.

9. To reverse the tine rotation to back up or release
an object jamming the tines, pull the control lever
into the REVERSE position.

NOTE

The control lever must be held in the
REVERSE position. When you release the
lever it will go into the NEUTRAL posi
tion.

NOTE

Pick a height that places the handles in
a comfortable position for the operator.
The higher the setting, the deeper you
till.

MAINTENANCE AND lUBRICATION

ENGINE—Service engine in accordance with the en

gine manufacturer's owner's guide. Note: To drain oil
remove oil drain plug and tip tiller forward. Drain oil
while the engine is warm. See engine manual for fil
ling instructions.

1,0. The depth bar acts as a brake for the tiller and con

trols the tilling depth and ground speed. By low

ering the setting of the depth bar, the forward
speed of the tiller is reduced and the tilling depth

of the tines is increased. Raising the settings of

the depth bar increases the forward speed and
reduces the working depth. See figure 7.

THROTTLE—Periodically lubricate throttle control lever

and throttle control wire assembly with a few drops
of light oil (SAE 10 or 20) for ease of operation.