MTD 250, 21A-250H765 Owner’s Manual

Safetyo Assembly o Operation oTips &Techniques oMaintenance *Troubleshooting o Parts Lists oWarranty

Front Tine Titter -- Model 250

READ SAFETY RULES AND mNSTRUCTmONS CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATmON

Warning: This unitis equippedwithan internalcombustionengineandshouldnotbeusedonornearanyunimprovedforest-covered,brush=
coveredor grass=coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwithasparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalorstatelaws(ifany),

If a sparkarresterisused,it shouldbemaintainedineffectiveworkingorderbytheoperator,Inthe StateofCaliforniatheaboveis requiredbylaw
(Section4442ofthe CaliforniaPublicResourcesCode),Otherstatesmayhavesimilarlaws,Federallawsapplyonfederallands,A sparkarrester

forthe mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestengineauthorizedservicedealerorcontacttheservicedepartment,RO,Box361131Cleveland,
Ohio44136=0019,

FORMNO,769=01660C

PRINTEDIN U,S,A, MTD LLC, P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHiO 44136-0019 10/06/2005

This Operator's Manua_ is an important part of your new tiller, mtwH_ he_p you assemble,

prepare, and maintain the unit for best performance. P_ease read and understand what it says.

Table of Contents

Safety Labels ...................................................... 3 Maintenance ...................................................... 13

Off-Season Storage .......................................... 15

Parts List ........................................................... 16

Warranty ............................................ Back Cover

Finding and Recording Model Number

BEFOREYOU BEGINASSEMBLINGYOUR NEW

f

EQUIPMENT,please locatethe modelplateonthe equipment
and copy the informationto the samplemodel plateprovided

to the righLYoucan locatethe model plate by looking at

Model Number

Serial Number

the rearof the tine shield. This information is importantfor
usewhen visitingthe manufacturer'sweb site,obtaining

assistancefromthe CustomerSupport Department,or when
communicatingwith anauthorizedservice dealer.

®

_www.mtdproducts.com

MTD LLC

P.O. BOX 361131
CLEVELAND, ON 44136

330-220-4683

800-800-731 0

Customer Support

Phase do NOTreturn the unit to the retaibr from which it was

purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.

ifyou havedifficulty assemblingthis productor have any questions regardingthe controls,operation,or maintenanceof this
unit,youcan seekhelpfromthe expert& Choose from the options below:

o Visit mtdproducts.com. Click on the Service & Support menu option.
, Phonea Customer Support Representative at 1=800=800=731&

. The engine manufacturer is responsbb for all engine=relatedissues with regardsto performance, power=rating,specifica-

tions,warrantyand service. Pleasereferto the engine manufacturer'sOwner's/Operator's Manual,packedseparatelywith
your unit, for more information.

Produc_ R.e gistr._t[or_

2

TO AVOID SERIOUS mNJURY

1.READTHEOPERATOR'SMANUAL.

2.KNOWLOCATIONANDFUNCTIONSOFALL
CONTROLS.

3,KEEPALL SAFETYDEVmCESAND SHIELDS

mNPLACEANDWORKING,

4.NEVERALLOW CHILDRENOR
UNINSTRUCTEDADULTSTO OPERATE

TILLER,

5, SHUT OFF ENGmNEBEFOREUNCLOGGING

TINES OR MAKmNGREPNRS.

& KEEPBYSTANDERSAWAYFROMMACHINE.

7. KEEP AWAY FROMROTATINGPARTS.

8, USE EXTREMECAUTION WREN

REVERSINGOR PULUNG TRE MACHNE

TOWARDS YOU,

WARNmNG

DO NOT remove safety I

3

Z_I_

,a_'_ WARN NG Engne Exhaust someof tsconsttuents andcertanvehcecompo _

Lr ._......,Anentscontainoremitchem ca,sknowntoStateofCa,forn atocausecancerand

birth defects or other reproductiveharm.

DANGER: This machine was builtto be operatedaccordingto the rulesfor safeoperationin this

manual As with any type of powerequipment,carelessnessor error onthe partof the operatorcan

resultin seriousinjury.This machineis capable of amputatinghandsand feet and throwing objects.
Failureto observethe following safetyinstructionscould resultin seriousinjuryordeath.

WARNING

This symbol points

instructionswhich, if
notfollowed, could

endangerthe personal
safetyand/or property

ofyourself and others.

ualbefore attemptingto
operatethis machine.

these instructions

mayresultin personal

njury.When you see

this symbol. HEED ITS
WARNING!

Training

1. Read,understand,and fellowall instructionsonthe machine
andin the manual(s)beforeattemptingtoassembleand
operate.Keepthismanualin asafeplaceforfutureand

regularreferenceandfororderingreplacementparts.

2. Befamiliarwithall controlsandtheir properoperation.Know
howtostop themachine.

3. Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsoldto operatethis
machine.Children14yearsoldand overshouldreadand
understandthe operationinstructionsandsafetyrules in

this manualandshouldbetrainedandsupervisedbya

parent.

4. Neverallowadultsto operatethismachinewithout proper
instruction.

5. Keepbystanders,helpers,petsandchildrenat least75feet

fromthe machinewhileit isin operation.Stopmachineif
anyoneentersthearea.

Preparation

1. Thoroughlyinspectthe areawheretheequipmentistobe
used.Removeallstones,sticks,wire, andotherforeign

objectswhich couldbetripped overandcausepersonal

injury.

2 Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesandclosefitting

slacks andshirt. Loosefittingclothesor jewelrycan be
caughtin movableparts.Neveroperatethismachinein bare

feetor sandals.

3. Disengageclutch leversand shift(ifprovided)intoneutral
("N")beforestartingthe engine.

4. Neverleavethismachineunattendedwiththe engine
running.

5. Neverattemptto makeanyadjustmentswhileengineis
running,exceptwherespecificallyrecommendedin the

operator'smanual.

6. To avoidpersonalinjuryor propertydamageuseextreme
carein handlinggasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammable
andthevaporsare explosive.Seriouspersonalinjurycan
occurwhengasolineis spilledonyourselforyourclothes
whichcanignite.Washyourskinandchangeclothes

immediately.

7. Useonly anapprovedgasolinecontainer.

8. Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipesand othersourcesof

ignition.

9. Neverfuelmachineindoors.

10.Neverremovegascapor addfuel whiletheengineis hotor

running.

11.Allow enginetocoolat leasttwominutesbeforerefueling

12.Neveroverfill fueltank. Filltankto nomorethan_J2inch

belowbottomof filler neckto providespacefor fuel

expansion.

13. Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.

14. Ifgasolineisspilled,wipeit offthe engineand
equipment.Movemachinetoanotherarea.Wait5
minutesbeforestartingthe engine.

15. Neverstorethe machineorfuelcontainerinsidenearan
openflame,spark or pilotlight(e.g.furnace,wateror

spaceheater,clothesdryer,etc.).

16. Allowmachineto cool 5minutesbeforestoring.

Operation

1. Donotput handsor feet nearrotatingparts.Contactwith

the rotatingpartscanamputatehandsandfeet.

2. Donotoperatemachinewhileunderthe influenceofalcohol
or drugs.

3. Neveroperatethismachinewithoutgoodvisibility orlight.
Alwaysbe sureofyourfootingandkeepafirmhold onthe

handles.

4. Keepbystanders,helpers,pets,andchildrenatleast75 feet
fromthe machinewhileit is inoperation.Stopthe machineif
anyoneentersthearea.

5. Becarefulwhentillingin hardground.Thetines maycatch

inthegroundandpropelthe tillerforward.Ifthisoccurs, let

go ofthe handlebars anddo notrestrainthemachine.

6. Exerciseextremecautionwhen operatingonor crossing
gravelsurfaces.Stayalertfor hiddenhazardsortraffic.

7. Neveroperatethe machineat hightransportspeedson hard
or slipperysurfaces.

8. Exercisecautionto avoidslippingorfalling.

9. Lookdownandbehindandusecare wheninreverseor

pullingmachinetowardsyou.

10.Startthe engineaccordingtothe instructionsfoundinthis
manualandkeepfeet wellawayfromthetinesat alltimes.

11.Afterstrikinga foreignobject,stoptheengine,disconnect

the sparkplugwireand groundagainstthe engine
Thoroughlyinspectthe machineforany damage.Repairthe

damagebeforestartingandoperating.

12.Disengageall clutch levers(if fitted)andstopenginebefore

youleavetheoperatingposition(behindthe handles).Wait

untilthetines cometoacompletestopbeforeunclogging

the tines,makinganyadjustments,orinspections.

13.Neverrunanengineindoorsorina poorlyventilatedarea.
Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,an odorlessand

deadlygas.

14.Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancausea burn.Do
nottouch.

15.Usecautionwhentillingnearfences,buildingsand
undergroundutilities. Rotatingtinescancause property

damageor personalinjury.

4

16.Donotoverloadmachinecapacityby attemptingtotill soilto
deepattoofast of a rate.

17.Ifthe machineshouldstart makinganunusualnoiseor
vibration,stopthe engine,disconnectthe sparkplugwire
andgroundit againstthe engine.Inspectthoroughlyfor
damage.Repairanydamagebeforestartingandoperating.

18.Keepallshields,guards,andsafetydevicesinplaceand
operatingproperly.

19.Neverpickuporcarry machinewhilethe engineis running.

20. Useonlyattachmentsandaccessoriesapprovedbythe
manufacturer.Failuretodo socan resultinpersonalinjury.

21. Ifsituationsoccurwhichare notcoveredinthis manual,use

careandgoodjudgment.Contactyourdealerortelephone

1-800-800-7310for assistanceandthe nameof your
nearestservicingdealer.

Maintenance & Storage

1. Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheirproper
operationregularly.

2. Checkboltsandscrewsforpropertightnessat frequent
intervalsto keepthe machineinsafeworkingcondition.

Also,visuallyinspectmachinefor anydamage.

3. Beforecleaning,repairing,orinspecting,stopthe engine

andmakecertainthetinesandall movingpartshave
stopped.Disconnectthespark plugwireandgroundit

againstthe engineto preventunintendedstarting.

4. Donotchangethe enginegovernorsettingsorover-speed

the engine.Thegovernorcontrolsthe maximumsafe
operatingspeedofthe engine.

5. Maintainor replacesafetyandinstructionlabels,as
necessary.

6. Followthismanualforsafeloading,unloading,transporting,

andstorageofthis machine.

7. Neverstorethemachineorfuelcontainerinsidewhere

there isanopenflame,spark or pilotlightsuchas awater

heater,furnace,clothesdryer,etc.

8. Alwaysrefertothe operator'smanualfor properinstructions

on off-seasonstorage.

9. Ifthe fueltank hasto bedrained,do thisoutdoors.

10.Observeproperdisposallawsand regulationsforgas,oil,
etc.to protectthe environment.

Your Responsibility

1. Restricttheuseofthispower machinetopersonswho read,
understand,andfollowthe warningsandinstructionsinthis

manualandonthe machine.

2. Thesafetylabelsonthetiller areshowninthe "Safety
Labels"section.Toensuresafeoperationofthe tiller,follow
the instructionsonall labelsclosely.

notfollowed,could
endangerthe personal

safetyand/or property
of yourselfand others.

Readand followall

these instructions
may result in personal

injury, When you see
this symbol, HEED ITS

WARNmNG!

\

5

NOTE:Standbehind

thetillerasifyouwere

goingtooperateit,Your

righthandcorresponds
totherightsideofthe
tiller;yourlefthand

correspondstotheIdt
sideofthetiller.

NOTE:Thisoperator's

manualmaycover
variousmodelsoftillers.

Theunitsillustrated

mayvaryslightlyfrom

/_ -._ Figure3o3,

f- --_

Figure3-1:Removehardwarefromlowerhandle.

2. Positionthe upper handle ontothe lower
handle,Step A Figure3-2. Align the hobs

on lower handlewith the hobs on the upper

handle(choosethe upperor lower hobs

depending on the desired handle height).

3. insertcarriage bolts through the hobs and se_

cure with star knobs, Step B Figure3_2.Make
certain carriageboltsare seated securely into
one of the two positionsprovided.

'_. __ J

Figure3-3: Installleftsideof thefineclutchcontrol.

5. insert the Z-fitting on the clutch cable into
thehob on thefine clutchcontrol. Hook the

"Z"end into the opening from the insideto
theoutsideas shown in Figure34.

f

/

thoseinstructionswhich
pertaintoyourmodel

number.

IMPORTANT

withoutgasolineoroil

instructedintheaccom-
panyingenginemanual

Figure3-4: Hookcableintotineclutchcontrol.

Figure3-2: Attach andsecureupperhandle.

6