Poulan VF550, 96082001500, 433552 User Manual

IMPORTANT MANUAL DO NOT THROW AWAY

OPERATOR'S MANUAL

WARNING:

MODEL:

Read this Man u al and follow all Warnings
and Safety Instructions. Fail ure to do so
can re sult in serious in ju ry.

VF550

FRONT TINE TILLER

ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION DURING OPERATION
Visit our website: www.poulan.com

02.23.10 AP/TH

433552 Rev. 2 Printed in the U.S.A.

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 ensure
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.

2

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Gasoline Capacity: 0.9 Quarts (0,85 L)
Unleaded Regular

Oil (API-SG-SL): SAE 10w-30(Above 32°F/0°C)
(Capacity: 20 oz./0.6L) SAE 5w-30(Below 32°F/0°C)

Spark Plug: Champion RJ19LM or J19LM
(Gap: .030"/0.76mm)

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 ................................. 13-14

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

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

PARTS .....................................................................17-21

3

ASSEMBLY

LOWER HANDLE
COLUMN

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 ensure proper tightness.

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY

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

(1) Utility Knife

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).

FRONT

RIGHTLEFT

OPERATOR'S POSITION

Fig. 1

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

(1) Washer

Manual

(3) Handle Knobs

UNPACK CARTON & INSTALL HANDLE
(See Fig. 2 and 3)

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

IMPORTANT: WHEN UNPACKING AND AS SEM BLING TILLER,

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

• Cut cable ties securing handle column.

• Remove all packing from carton.

• Remove lower handle column from carton.

• Position lower handle column between bent tubes,
lining up holes as shown.

• Secure lower handle column using two (2) 4-1/2" car­riage bolts, two (2) washers and two (2) handle knobs.
Tighten securely.

LOWER HANDLE
COLUMN

BOLTS

Fig. 2

• Remove upper handle column from carton.

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

• Secure upper handle column using two (2) 2-1/2" car­riage bolts and two (2) handle knobs. Tighten se cure ly.

• Cut away carton.

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

UPPER
HANDLE
COLUMN

BENT
TUBES

KNOBS

WASHERS

(1) Carriage Bolt

5/16”-18 unc x 4-1/2”

(2) Carriage Bolts

5/16”-18 unc x 2-1/2”

(1) Clevis Pin

(1) Hairpin Clip

TINE
CONTROL
CABLE

Fig. 3

BOLTS

KNOBS

4

ASSEMBLY

TO INSTALL DEPTH STAKE (See Fig. 4)

• Remove screw(s) securing depth stake to skid and
discard the screw(s).

• Slide depth stake down into transport arm track, lin­ing up a hole in the depth stake with hole in transport
arm.

• Install clevis pin and hairpin clip.

DEPTH
STAKE

CLEVIS PIN

HAIRPIN CLIP

Fig. 4

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.)

5

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

PRIMER

RECOIL
STARTER
HANDLE

DEPTH STAKE

Fig. 5

THROTTLE
CONTROL

MEETS ANSI SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

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

DEPTH STAKE - Controls forward speed and the depth at
which the tiller will dig.

FORWARD TINE CONTROL - Engages tines in forward
direction.

RECOIL STARTER HANDLE - Used to start the engine.
direction.

THROTTLE CONTROL - Controls engine speed.
PRIMER - pumps additional fuel from the carburetor to the

cylinder for use when starting a cold engine.

6