Troy-Bilt 630C, 634F, 634A User Manual

Rear-tine Tiller Models

630C—Tuffy
634F—Bronco

®

TM

634A—Super Bronco

TM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Customer Support 2
Safety 3
Assembly 6
Features and Controls 10
Operation 12

Content Page

Maintenance 17
Off-season Storage 21
Troubleshooting 22
Parts List 23
Warranty Back Cover

FINDING MODEL NUMBER

This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new lawn tractor. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain the
unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.

Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the mod el plate on th e equipment and
copy the information from it in the space provided below. A sample model plate is also given below. You can
locate the model plate by looking at the rear of the tine shield. This information will be necessary to use the
manufacturer’s web site and/or help from the Customer Suppor t Department or an authorized service deale r.

Copy the model number here:

Copy the serial number here:

www.troybilt.com

TROY-BILT LLC
P. O. BOX
CLEVELAND, OH 44136
330-558-7220
1-800-520-5520

361131

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer without first contacting Customer Support.

If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or maintenance of
this unit, you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the op tions below:

Visit troy-bilt.com for many useful suggestions. Click on Customer Support button and you
will get the four options reproduced here. Click on the appropriate button and help is
immediately available.

The answer you are
looking for could be just
a mouse click away!

If you prefer to reach a Customer Support Representat ive, please call 1( 800) 520-5520.

The answer you are
looking for could be just
a mouse click away!

Engine
Manual

The engine manufa cturer is responsible for all engin e-related issues with regard to
performance, power-rating, specifications, wa rranty and service. Please refer to the engine
manufacturer’s Owner’s/Operator’s Manua l, packed separately with your unit, for more
information.

2

SECTION 1: SAFETY

This machine meets voluntary safety stan­dard B71.8 – 1996, which is sponsored by the
Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Inc.,
and is published by the American National
Standards Institute.

WARNING

The engine exhaust from this product contains
chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer, birth defects or other reproduc-

Safety Alert Symbol

This is a safety alert symbol. It is used
in this manual and on the unit to a lert
you to potential hazards. When you
see this symbol, read and obey the
message that follows it. Failure to obey
safety messages could result in
personal injury or property damage.

Forward Clutch Bail

Depth Regulator

Wheel Drive Pin

Figure 1-1: Tiller features and controls. See separate Engine Owner’s Manual to
identify engine controls.

Reverse Clutch Control

(Models 634F⁄634A)

Tine Hood Flap

Standard-Rotating-Tines

(SRT)

Training

1. Carefully read this Own­er’s Manual, the separate

Engine Owner’s Manual,
and any other literature you may receive.
Be thoroughly familiar with the controls
and the proper use of the tiller and its en­gine. Know how to stop the unit and disen­gage the controls quickly.

2. Never allow children to operate the tiller.
Never allow adults to operate the tiller
without proper instruction.

3. Keep the area of operation clear of all
persons, particularly children and pets.

4. Keep in mind that the operator or user is
responsible for accidents or hazards oc­curring to other people, their property, and
themselves.

Preparation

1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the
tiller is to be used and remove all foreign
objects.

2. Be sure all tiller controls are released
and both wheels are in the Wheel Drive po­sition before starting the engine.

3. Do not operate the tiller without wearing
adequate outer garments. Avoid loose gar­ments or jewelry that could get caught in
moving parts.

4. Do not operate the tiller when barefoot
or wearing sandals, sneakers, or light foot­wear. Wear protective footwear that will
improve footing on slippery surfaces.

5. Do not till near underground electric ca­bles, telephone lines, pipes or hoses. If in
doubt, contact your telephone or utility
company.

6. Warning: Handle fuel with care; it is
highly flammable and its vapors are explo­sive. Take the following precautions:

a. Store fuel in containers specifically

designed for this purpose.

b. The gas cap shall never be removed or

fuel added while the engine is running.
Allow the engine to cool for several
minutes before adding fuel.

c. Keep matches, cigarettes, cigars,

pipes, open flames and sparks away
from the fuel tank and fuel container.

d. Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme

care. Never fill fuel tank indoors. Use
a funnel or spout to prevent spillage.

e. Replace all fuel tank and container

caps securely.

f. If fuel is spilled, do not attempt to

start the engine, but move the ma­chine away from the area of spillage
and avoid creating any source of ig­nition until fuel vapors have dissi­pated.

7. Never make adjustments when engine is
running (unless recommended by manu­facturer).

Operation

1. Do not put hands or feet near or under
rotating parts.

2. Exercise extreme caution when on or
crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads.
Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic. Do
not carry passengers.

3. After striking a foreign object, stop the
engine, remove the wire from the spark
plug wire and prevent it from touching the
spark plug. Thoroughly inspect the ma­chine for any damage and repair the dam­age before restarting and operating the
machine.

3

4. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or fall­ing.

5. If the unit should start to vibrate abnor­mally, stop the engine, disconnect the
spark plug wire and prevent it from touch­ing the spark plug, and check immediately
for the cause. Vibration is generally a
warning of trouble.

6. Stop the engine, disconnect the spark
plug wire and prevent it from touching the
spark plug, whenever you leave the oper­ating position, before unclogging the tines,
or when making any repairs, adjustments
or inspections.

7. Take all possible precautions when leav­ing the machine unattended. Stop the en­gine. Disconnect the spark plug wire and
move it away from the spark plug. Be sure
that both wheels are in the Wheel Drive po­sition.

8. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspect­ing, stop the engine and make certain all
moving parts have stopped. Disconnect
the spark plug wire and prevent it from
touching the spark plug to prevent acci­dental starting.

9. The flap on the tine hood must be down
when operating the tiller.

10. Never use the tiller unless proper
guards, plates, or other safety protective
devices are in place.

11. Do not run the engine in an enclosed
area. Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide gas, a deadly poison that is
odorless, colorless, and tasteless.

12. Keep children and pets away.

13. Never operate the tiller under engine
power if the wheels are in the Freewheel
position. In the Freewheel position, the

wheels will not hold the tiller back and the
revolving tines could propel the tiller rapid­ly, possibly causing loss of control. Always
engage the wheels with the wheel drive
pins in the Wheel Drive position before
starting the engine or engaging the
tines⁄wheels with the Forward Clutch Bail
(all models) or the Reverse Clutch control
(Models 634F⁄634A only).

14. Be aware that the tiller may unex­pectedly bounce upward or jump forward
if the tines should strike extremely hard
packed soil, frozen ground, or buried ob­stacles like large stones, roots, or
stumps.

If in doubt about the tilling conditions, al­ways use the following operating precau­tions to assist you in maintaining control
of the tiller:

a. Walk behind and to one side of the

tiller, using one hand on the handle
bars Relax your arm, but use a
secure hand grip.

b. Use shallower depth regulator

settings, working gradually deeper

with each pass.
c. Use slower engine speeds.
d. Clear the tilling area of all large

stones, roots or other debris.
e. Avoid using downward pressure on

the handlebars. If need be, use

slight upward pressure to keep the

tines from digging too deeply.
f. Before contacting hard packed soil

at the end of a row, reduce engine

speed and lift the handlebars to

raise the tines out of the soil.
g. In an emergency, stop the tines and

wheels by releasing whichever

clutch control is engaged. Do not

attempt to restrain the tiller.

15. Do not overload the tiller’s capacity by

attempting to till too deeply at too fast a
rate.

16. Never operate the tiller at high trans­port speeds on hard or slippery surfaces.
Look behind and use care when backing
up.

17. Do not operate the tiller on a slope that
is too steep for safety. When on slopes,
slow down and make sure you have good
footing. Never permit the tiller to free­wheel down slopes.

18. Never allow bystanders near the unit.

19. Only use attachments and accessories

that are approved by the manufacturer of
the tiller.

20. Use tiller attachments and accessories
when recommended.

21. Never operate the tiller without good
visibility or light.

22. Never operate the tiller if you are tired;
or under the influence of alcohol, drugs or
medication.

23. Operators shall not tamper with the en­gine-governor settings on the machine;
the governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed to protect the engine and
all moving parts from damage caused by
overspeed. Authorized service shall be
sought if a problem exists.

24. Do not touch engine parts which may
be hot from operation. Let parts cool down
sufficiently.

25. Please remember: You can always stop
the tines and wheels by releasing the For­ward Clutch Bail or on Models 634F and
634A the Reverse Clutch control, (which­ever control is engaged), or by moving the
ignition switch and⁄or throttle control lever
on the engine to “OFF” or “STOP”.

26. To load or unload the tiller, see the in­structions in Section 4 of this Manual.

27. Use extreme caution when reversing
or pulling the machine towards you.

28. Start the engine carefully according to
instructions and with feet well away from
the tines.

29. Never pick up or carry a machine while
the engine is running.

Maintenance and Storage

1. Keep the tiller, attachments and acces­sories in safe working condition.

2. Check all nuts, bolts, and screws at
ervals for proper tightness to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.

3. Never store the tiller with fuel in the fuel
tank inside a building where ignition sourc­es are present such as hot water and space
heaters, furnaces, clothes dryers, stoves,
electric motors, etc.). Allow the engine to
cool before storing the unit in any enclo­sure.

4. To reduce the chances of a fire hazard,
keep the engine free of grass, leaves, or ex­cessive grease.

5. Store gasoline in a cool, well-ventilated
area, safely away from any spark- or
flame-producing equipment. Store gaso­line in an approved container, safely away
from the reach of children.

6. Refed to the Maintenance sections of
this Manual and the separate Engine Own­er’s Manual for instructions if the unit is to
be stored for an extended period.

7. Never perform maintenance while the
engine is running or the spark plug wire is
connected, except when specifically in­structed to do so.

8. If the fuel tank has to be drained, do this
outdoors.

4

Decals

For your safety and the safety of others, vari­ous safety and operational decals are located
on your unit (see Figure 1-2).

Keep the decals clean and legible at all times.
Contact your local service dealer or the factory
for replacements if any decals are damaged or
missing.

Refer to the Parts List pages in this Manual for
decal locations, descriptions and part num­bers.

Forward Clutch Bail

Starting Stabilization

Message (on engine)

Figure 1-2: Location of safety and operating decals.

Reverse Clutch Control

Operating Instruction

(Models 634F/634A)

Warning Messages

Hot Surfaces Warning

Operating Symbols

Various symbols (shown here, with word descriptions)
may be used on the tiller and engine.
NOTE: Your unit may not have all of the symbols.

FAST SLOW STOP TILLER DIRECTION LEVER DIRECTION

CHOKE

ON

CHOKE

OFF

R

REVERSE

ROTATING TINES

WARNING

TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURY:

• READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL.

• KNOW LOCATIONS AND FUNCTIONS OF ALL CONTROLS.

• KEEP ALL SAFETY DEVICES AND SHIELDS IN PLACE AND WORKING.

• NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN OR UNINSTRUCTED ADULTS TO OPERATE TILLER.

• SHUT OFF ENGINE AND DISCONNECT SPARK PLUG WIRE BEFORE MANUALLY UN­CLOGGING TINES OR MAKING REPAIRS.

• KEEP BYSTANDERS AWAY FROM MACHINE.

• KEEP AWAY FROM ROTATING PARTS.

• USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN REVERSING OR PULLING THE MACHINE TOWARDS
YOU.

BAIL

ENGAGED

BAIL

DISENGAGED

5

SECTION 2: ASSEMBLY

WARNING: To prevent

personal injury or property
damage, do not start the engine
until all assembly steps are
complete and you have read
and understand the safety and
operating instructions in this
manual.

INTRODUCTION

Carefully follow these assembly steps to
correctly prepare your tiller for use. It is
recommended that you read this Section
in its entirety before beginning assembly.

NOTE: Various tiller models are

presented in this Manual. Use only the
information appropriate for your tiller
model. Engine styles vary by model. Your
engine may appear differently than those
illustrated in this manual.

INSPECT UNIT

Inspect the unit and carton for damage im­mediately after delivery. Contact the carri­er (trucking company) if you find or
suspect damage. Inform them of the dam­age and request instructions for filing a
claim. To protect your rights, put your
claim in writing and mail a copy to the car­rier within 15 days after the unit has been
delivered. Contact Troy-Bilt LLC if you
need assistance in this matter.

TOOLS / MATERIALS NEEDED

(2) 1/2” open-end wrench*
(2) 9/16" open-end wrench*
(1) 3/8" open-end wrench*

(1) Large adjustable wrench

(Models 634F/634A only)
(1) Scissors (to trim plastic ties)
(1) Ruler (for belt tension check)
(1) Block of wood (to support tiller when

removing wheels)
(1) Tire pressure gauge (for models with

pneumatic tires)
(1) Clean oil funnel
(1) Motor oil. Refer to the Engine Owner’s

Manual for oil specifications and

quantity required.
* Adjustable wrenches may be used.

ASSEMBLY STEPS

STEP 1: UNPACKING INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: While unpacking, do not severely
bend any control cables.

1. The tiller weighs approximately 133 lbs.
Do not attempt to remove it from the ship­ping platform until instructed to do so in
these Assembly steps.

2. Remove any packaging material from
the carton. Remove any staples from the
bottom of the carton and remove the car­ton from the shipping platform.

3. Remove all unassembled parts and the
separate hardware bag from the carton.
Check that you have the items listed in the
Loose Parts List (contact your local dealer
or the factory items are missing or dam­aged).

NOTE: Use the screw length template

(Fig. 2-1) to identify screws.

Loose Parts List

Qty. Description
1 Handlebar Support (see A, Fig. 2-2)
1 Handlebar Assembly (see K, Fig. 2-2)

Hardware bag contents:

4 Hex hd. screw, 5/16-18 x 1-1/2"
2 Hex hd. screw, 3/8-16 x 3/4"
2 Flat Washer, 3/8"
4 Split lockwasher, 5/16"
4 Hex nut, 5/16"-18
2 Hex locknut, 3⁄8"-16

*Model 634F & 634A only

IMPORTANT:

the engine crankcase before the engine is
started. Follow the instructions in this
Section and in the separate Engine
Owner’s Manual.

NOTE: LEFT and RIGHT sides of the tiller

are as viewed from the operator’s position
behind the handlebars.

STEP 2: ATTACH HANDLEBAR

1. Loosely attach the legs of the handlebar

support (A, Fig. 2-2) to the inner sides of
the tiller frame using two 3/8"-16 x 3/4" hex
hd. screws (B), 3/8" flat washers (C), and
3/8"-16 hex locknuts (D).

Motor oil must be added to

1

1

2

2

Figure 2-1: To identify length of screws, place
screw on template as shown and measure dis­tance between bottom of screw head and tip of
screw.

2. Using two 5/16"-18 x 1-1/2" screws (G),
5/16" split lockwashers (H) and 5/16"-18
hex nuts (I), loosely attach the handlebar
support (A) using the upper holes. Tighten
the two screws securely.

3. There are three height adjustment holes
in the two handlebar support brackets (E
and F, Fig. 2-2). Use a setting that will po­sition the handlebars at approximately
waist level when the tines are 3"-4" into the
soil. Loosely attach the support brackets
to the outside of the handlebar assembly
(K) using two 5/16"-18 x 1-1/2” screws
(G), 5/16" split lockwashers (H) and 5/16"­18 hex nuts (I). NOTE: If a support bracket
will not move, loosen attaching screw (J)
and nut.

IMPORTANT:

be assembled to the outside of the
handlebar assembly.

4. Tighten all handlebar mounting hard­ware securely.

The support brackets must

STEP 3: MOVE TILLER OFF CRATE

To roll the tiller off the shipping platform,
put the wheels in freewheel, as follows:

1. Place a sturdy block under the transmis­sion to raise one wheel about 1" off the
ground.

2. Remove the hairpin cotter (L, Fig. 2-3)
and wheel drive pin (M) from the wheel
hub (O) and wheel shaft (N).

6

3. Slide the wheel fully inward on the wheel
shaft (N, Fig. 2-3). Reinstall the wheel
drive pin (M) through the wheel shaft only
(not through the wheel hub). Secure the
wheel drive pin with the hairpin cotter (L),
pushing the hairpin cotter in as far as it will
go. The wheel should now spin freely
(freewheel) on the wheel shaft. Repeat
with the other wheel.

4. Use the handlebar to roll the tiller to a
flat area.

IMPORTANT:

the wheels must be placed in the WHEEL
DRIVE position (pins through wheel hubs
and wheel shaft). This procedure is
described in Wheel Drive Pins in Section 3.

Before starting the engine,

STEP 4: INSTALL FORWARD
CLUTCH CABLE

1. Carefully unwrap the forward clutch ca-

ble (cable without an attached knob) from
its shipping position and slide the thin ca­ble wire (T, Fig. 2-4) into the slot in the ca­ble bracket. Push the cable connector (U,
Fig. 2-4) up through the hole in the bracket
until the groove in the connector snaps
into place.

2. Thread the #10-24 hex nut (Z, Fig. 2-5)
halfway onto the screw (V) which runs
through the spring (W, Fig. 2-5).

3. Thread the screw (V) into the cable ad­juster (X).

7