MTD 216-100A User Manual

Owner's Operating

Service Instruction

lOct

Manual

• ASSEMBLY

• OPERATION

• REPAIR PARTS

Model No.

216-100A

MTD PRODUCTS INC

PRINTED INU.S.A.

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

FORM NO. 770-6038

1. Your tiller is a precision piece of power equipment.

Exercise extreme CAUTION at all times.

Wheels — Insert axle bolts (23) into wheel hubs. Place

washers (26) between wheel and leg. Attach wheel
and axle assemblies to outside of tiller legs (27) and
(30). Secure with nuts (29) and lockwashers (28). Tight
en securely. See page 6 for correct sequence of parts.

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 fuel 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.

^ NOTE

Handle — Assemble the handle brackets (8) to the

handle (2) With hex head screw (11), lockwashers (9)
and hex nuts (10). DO NOT tighten. Place the han
dle brackets (8) in the tailpiece slots. Line up lower
holes in handle brackets with mounting holes in tail
piece assembly. Secure with carriage bolt 5/16-18 x
%" Lg. (20), lockwasher (13) and hex nut (12). Line
up upper holes in handle brackets with mounting holes
in mounting plate assemblies (19) and secure with car
riage bolt (20), lockwasher (13) and hex nut (12). See
page 6 for correct sequence. Tighten all nuts and bolts
securely.

CLUTCH CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY

Clutch Lever—Assemble in this order: rubber wash
er (42), steel washer (41), clutch lever assembly (43),

(rod bracket to the front), steel washer (41) and lock
nut (40). Tighten until rubber washer compresses
slightly. (See page 6.)

Clutch Control Assembly — Screw the ferrule (37) on

the threaded end of the control rod (38) until about

Vi" of the threads show above the ferrule. Insert the

ferrule through the control pivot lever (36), fasten with
flat washer (35) and cotter hairpin (34). Put the clutch
handle in the neutral position. Insert the control rod
in the bracket on the clutch lever and secure with a cot
ter hairpin (34) through the center of the bracket. Ad

just the ferrule so the belt is slack when the clutch

lever is in the neutral position. (See page 6.)

Depth Bar —Attach depth bar (18) in desired position
with clevis pin (17) and locking pin (15). (See page 6.)

Your tiller is shipped without oil in the
engine crankcase. See engine manual
for correct type and amount.

ASSEMBLY - ONE PIECE HANDLE

Your rotary tiller is shipped complete in a single car
ton. The tines, wheels, handle and depth bar are to be

assembled. This is done in the manner described be
low.

Tines—Mount tines on tine shaft as shown. (See page

8.) Tines must be mounted with the cutting edges fac
ing the correct direction. The tiller will not operate
properly unless the sharpened surface of the tines enter
the soil first. Secure tines in position on tine shaft with
cap screws (35), and nuts (24).

NOTE

Oust pads (21 and 22) are provided in
screw pack. Install dust pads as shown
on page 8.

Grips — Slip hand grips on the upper end of each

handle. They will slip on more easily if you first soak
them in warm soapy water.

CHECK LIST BEFORE OPERATION

1. Remove spark plug wire from spark plug and
ground. Check tiller tines for proper installation.
With throttle control lever set on STOP position and
the clutch control handle set in FORWARD position,
slowly crank engine to determine direction of tine
rotation. Be sure all tines are mounted so the sharp
ened edges enter the soil first.

2. Now place the clutch control handle in NEUTRAL
position. Slowly crank engine . The tines should not

rotate.

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

4. Check gear case for proper lubricant level. With
tiller on a level surface, lubricant level should be
up to the front pipe plug opening. This can be
checked by removing front pipe plug. Maintain cor
rect lubricant level with Mobilube SAE 140 Gear Oil
or equivalent. The gear case holds five (5) ounces
of lubricant.

5. Fill fuel tank with clean, fresh, regular grade gas

oline. This should be used at all times.

6. Check engine crankcase for proper oil level. The
engine is shipped without oil in the crankcase. Be
sure to fill crankcase before starting engine. Be
sure crankcase is FULL. See engine manual for cor
rect type and amount.

NOTE

The engine is warranted separately by the engine

manufacturer. For warranty service contact the engine

manufacturer or their local authorized service station.
All important information pertaining to care and oper

ation is included in the engine manual.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

For your own convenience and safety, observe all safe
ty suggestions shown in this manual. Your tiller is
not a toy, it is a precision piece of power equipment.
Treat it as such.

It is important to recognize the fact that the forward
and penetrating action of the rotary tiller is obtained
from the rotating action of the tines in the soil. The

depth bar acts as a brake for the tiller and controls the
depth and speed at which the machine will operaie. By
lowering the setting of the depth bar, the forward
speed of the machine is reduced and the working depth
of the tines is increased. Raising the setting of the depth
bar increases the forward speed and reduces the work

ing depth. When soil conditions are severe and sev

eral passes must be made over a certain area, the
depth bar setting should be lowered each time a pass
is made. Further control of tilling depth and travel speed
can be obtained by variation of pressure on the han

dles or the throttle setting. A downward pressure on
the handles will increase the working depth and reduce
the forward speed. An upward pressure on the han
dles will reduce the working depth and increase the
forward speed. The type of soil and working conditions
will determine the actual setting of the depth bar and
the handle pressure required.

STARTING YOUR TILLER

1. Be sure clutch control handle is in NEUTRAL po
sition.

2. Move throttle lever to START position on engine.

3. After cranking the engine several times or as the

engine fires, move the throttle lever to RUN posi

tion.

4. Adjust throttle lever for desired operating speed.

5. To stop engine, move throttle lever to STOP posi

tion. Keep throttle lever in STOP position at all
times when tiller is not in use.

NOTE

A brief break-in period is essential to insure
maximum engine life. This consists of running the en

gine at half speed for a period of time required to
use one tank of gasoline. This is necessary on the ini
tial run only. It is also recommended that the oil be
changed after five (5) hours of operation. This allows
for the removal of impurities which may have accumu
lated during the break-in period. Subsequent oil
changes should be made as stated in the engine man
ual. Always check oil before using your tiller. Be sure
oil level is adequate.

1. Tine engagement and forward travel is achieved by

moving the clutch lever to FORWARD po
sition. Tine rotation and forward motion are stopped

by moving the clutch lever to NEUTRAL

position.

2. The throttle lever adjusts the engine speed. It also

gives fingertip control of the carburetor and mag

neto stop switch. When the throttle lever is pushed
completely to the right from behind the tiller, the
carburetor is in START position. Pulling the lever
to the left reduces the engine speed to SLOW. When
the lever is pulled completely to the left from be

hind the tiller, the magneto stop switch grounds

out the spark and stops the engine.

When the depth bar is positioned out of ground en
gagement, self-propelled transporting of the tiller
is easily achieved. With no pressure on the handles
and the throttle lever set for SLOW engine speed,
move the clutch control handle to the FORWARD
position and let the tiller gently propel itself.

ADJUSTMENTS

Belts—Belt slack is taken up by a spring loaded idler

pulley. Because of this, belt adjustment is not required.

Clutch—No adjustment of the lower clutch rod is re
quired. This is done automatically by the spring loaded
idler.

NOTE

Belt and clutch adjustments can be made by moving
the engine bed. Loosen the four bolts which secure it
and move the engine bed forward or backward as re
quired. Adjusting the control rod will also effect the
belt and clutch adjustment. These adjustments may be
necessary if handle position is changed.

Handle—The position of the handle may be adjusted by
removing and moving carriage bolts to the desired
mounting holes. Adjustment should be made for the

most convenient operating height.

Wheels—Wheel positions may be varied to give fur

ther adjustment of handle height. Various wheel po

sitions also give variations of the leverage and weight
distribution over the tines. Wheels should be set to
suit the local soil conditions and the operator's con

venience.

Tines—The standard width of cut is 26". Because of the

various types of work to which the tiller may be put,

variation in the tilling widths may be necessary. This

can be accomplished in a number of ways.

1. Remove four cap screws which secure engine bed
to mounting plate assembly. Remove engine bed
with engine attached.

2. Remove hex screw, lockwasher and flatwasher in

4V4" pulley. Remove pulley and "V" belt. The belt
clip on idler must be loosened to remove belt, mark

correct location of belt clip in relation to idler before

loosening. This can be done by scribing the belt
clip and the end of the weld bolt in idler with a

file. It is most important that this clip be reassem

bled in the right position.

3. Position new belt on 4V2" pulley and reinstall on

gear case shaft. Pulley must be mounted in position
so that it will line up with engine pulley when as

sembly is completed. The correct position is that
point at which the center of the pulley is 114" above

the mounting plate assembly. Tighten hex screw,
lockwasher and flat washer securely.

4. Line up the belt clip in original position and tighten

securely. Make sure belt is inside belt guards. While
holding the belt taut (grasp at extreme rear posi

tion), move clutch belt lever to FORWARD and NEU

TRAL position. If belt clip touches belt with lever in

either position, readjust position of clip.

1. Standard tine arrangement

2. Remove tines that point outward from

outer tine assemblies. Tines may be
interchanged with opposite sides

3. Add tine extensions to standard
arrangement (See page 5.)

________________

---------------------

_______________

__

26"

20"

40"

NOTE

When adjusting tines, be sure the cut
ting edges enter the soil first.

MAINTENANCE AND LUBRICATION

Engine—Service engine in accordance with the engine

manufacturer's owner's guide.

NOTE

To drain oil, remove oil filler plug and
tip tiller on its side. Drain oil while the
engine is warm. See engine manual for
filling instructions.

Geaf Case— Proper lubricant level should be up to the

front pipe plug. Check with tiller on a level surface.

Add enough to bring level up to front pipe plug hole.

Use Mobilube SAE 140 Gear Oil or equivalent. Gear
case should be maintained with five (5) ounces of lu
bricant.

5. Move clutch lever to NEUTRAL position. Remove

inspection plate from engine bed.

6. Replace engine bed on mounting plate assembly.

Move engine bed and engine as far forward as pos
sible.

7. Remove inspection plate (See page 8.) from engine
bed and reach through inspection hole and guide
belt into position on engine pulley.

8. Check visually through inspection hole to make sure

belt is inside all belt guards and that pulleys are in
proper alignment. A flashlight will help you make

this check quickly and easily.

9. Line up mounting ho'es of engine bed and mount

ing plate then replace cap screws.-' Do not tighten

cap screws until all four screws are in place. Re
place inspection plate.

REPLACING TILLER GEAR CASE OIL SEALS

1. Drain lubricant.

2. Remove tine assemblies.

3. Remove bearing cap. (See reference 16 on page

10.)

4. Remove bearings, worm wheel and tine shaft. Do

not remove bearing races.

Beh — Access to V belt and pulley assemblies is accom

plished by removing the engine and engine bed as

described below.

5. Remove oil seals from gear case and bearing cap.

6. Remove all burrs from holes in tine shaft.