Mtd OEM-290-266 owners guide

Horse Model Tiller

Ref. Part No. Description ...........................Qty.

1 GW-2382 Wheel weight shell .......................... 2

2 1186411 Bolt, Hex Hd., 3/8" 16 x 6" ............... 4

3 GW-9904 Flat washer, 3/8".............................. 4

4 736-0169 Lockwasher, 3/8"............................. 4

5 1186531 Hex nut, 3/8" -16 ............................. 4

Introduction

Wheel weights increase traction and reduce slippage by concen­trating extra weight directly on the wheels. As an added benefit,
they also help stabilize the tiller in rough terrain or hard tilling
conditions.

Carefully read the step-by-step instructions before starting any
work. Gather the tools and materials necessary to complete the
installation. If you have any questions concerning use or
installation, please contact your local dealer or the factory.

Parts List

Please check the contents of the service kit with the parts list
below and as shown in Figure 3. If any parts are missing or
damaged, contact your local service dealer or the factory.

Wheel Weight Kit

OEM-290-266

WARNING

Before installing this accessory, stop the engine, wait
for all moving parts to stop, and allow the engine to
cool. Disconnect the spark plug wire and move it away
from the spark plug. Remove the ignition key on
electric start models.

Tools and Materials Required:

Fill material for weight shells; (See Step 2)
Flat-blade screwdriver
Scissors*
Masking tape*
Center punch*
Hammer*
Electric power drill with 1/4" and 7/16" or
(1/4" and 3/8") high-speed drill bits.*
Two 9/16" wrenches

*NOTE: For 11 HP “Big Red” model the wheels are pre-drilled.

These items are not needed.

Instructions

Fill the Wheel Weights

To greatly reduce shipping costs and provide application flexibil­ity, the wheel weight shells are sent empty. Before installation,
they should be filled as described below.

1. Use a screwdriver to gently pry off the fill cap located in the
center of each wheel weight shell, see Figure 1. Do not re­move the post in the center of the cap as it is used for an­choring the cap to concrete or similar hard-drying
fill material.

2. Because of widely varying soil, moisture and terrain condi­tions, a specific load for the wheel weights cannot be recom­mended. Generally, the more weight that is used the better
the traction.

A suggested filling material is a pre-packaged concrete mix
which is available at most building supply outlets or hardware
stores. A 40-pound bag should just about fill two wheel
weight shells (stones or gravel can be added to complete the
fill). After the concrete hardens, the weight per shell will be
approximately 21 to 23 pounds. NOTE: In order to firmly an­chor the fill cap to the concrete within, the cap must be re­placed before the filling material begins to harden.

The wheel weight shells can also be filled with various
loose–fill materials including: sand, gravel, marble chips,
crushed stone, iron scrap, old nuts and bolts, etc. A shell
filled with sand, for instance, will weigh approximately 14 to
16 pounds. Any sort of iron added to the sand will add a few
extra pounds. Although loose–fill material will not provide as
much load per volume as concrete, the advantage is that it
can be removed easily if it needs to be changed.

3. The wheel weights should both weigh approximately the
same. If they differ by more than a few pounds, the tiller may
tend to pull to one side.

4. Replace the fill caps by pressing down firmly until the cap
“snaps” into place.

Fig. 1

POST

Drill Mounting Holes

To mount the wheel weights, two 7/16 inch holes need to be
drilled in each wheel. This drilling can be done without removing
the wheels from the tiller.

1. Carefully cut the template (see attached sheet) along the inside
and outside dotted lines.

2. Place the template in the center of the wheel well, making sure
that the arrow on the template is aligned with the air valve
stem, as shown in Figure 2. Secure the template to the wheel
with several strips of masking tape.

3. Using a center punch and hammer, punch two drill guide
marks exactly through the center of each (+) sign on the tem­plate. Remove the template and punch these marks again for
easier drilling. The guide marks are 5 inches apart, which is the
correct center-to-center distance for mounting the wheel
weights.

4. Drill a 1/4 inch “pilot hole” through the wall of the wheel.
Repeat with the 7/16 inch drill bit, or use a 3/8 inch drill bit and
ream the edges of the hole to 7/16 inch. At all times, keep the
drill centered to ensure that the correct distance between the
mounting holes is maintained.

5. Repeat steps 2 through 4 for the second wheel.

Mount the Wheel Weights

1. Place a wheel weight inside the wheel well, making sure that
the notch in the back of the wheel weight (look for the words
“Valve Stem”) is aligned with the air valve stem.

2. Place a flat washer on the bolt and insert the bolt through the
wheel weight and the wheel. Add a lockwasher and nut as
shown in Figure 3.

3. Use two 9/16 inch wrenches to tighten each bolt and nut. Do
not over tighten, as damage to the wheel weight shell could
occur. Compressing the lockwasher is sufficient.

Wheel Weight Notes:

• If you use the tiller for cultivating, allow an extra 3 inches of
width on either side of the tires when you plant your rows.

• When making turns on lawns, use caution to avoid the heavy
wheels digging up the turf. Follow turning instructions in your
Owner’s manual and try lightly “hopping” the inside wheel
while turning.

• If you have a 1978 or newer 6 HP Model, you may notice a de­crease in engine RPM when tilling deeply with wheel weights.
This is normal and is caused by the improved traction of the
tiller, allowing the tines to dig deeper. To take full advantage of
this feature, move the drive belt to its low speed range.

CAUTION

Read instructions provided with the power drill
before using. Follow all safety instructions.

CAUTION

Do not drill outside the flat area in the center of the
wheel well. Doing so will puncture the air-tight seal
between the tire and the wheel rim and cause the
tire to go flat.

Fig. 2

For customer assistance, contact your nearest authorized dealer or:

TROY-BILT LLC, P.O. BOX 361131, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019, 1-866-840-6483

Printed in U.S.A. Form 769-00028 (11/01)

Fig. 3

1

2

3

4

5

VALVE

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