The Garden Cultivator: No plow horse? No problem.

Ready to aerate and enrich your sod or light to medium soil with ease? A garden cultivator is ideal for tilling garden plots, around trees, and other desirable growing spots in your yard. First, let’s get to know the basic parts of your equipment.

Cultivator Parts:

1. On/Off Switch: Press the “Off” so stop the engine.
2. Starter Rope Grip: Pull to start the engine.
3. Choke Lever: Controls the airflow to the engine.
4. Primer Bulb*: Sends fuel to the carburetor to make starting the engine easier.
5. Throttle Control: Engages the engine and tines.
6. Handlebar: Place both hands here.
7. Handlebar knobs: To adjust position of handlebar for transporting and storage.
8. Tines: Sharp tools that dig into the ground.
9. Tine Guard: Protects you from churned up debris.
10. Gearbox: Houses the gears that rotate the tines.
11. Spark Plug: Ignites the fuel/air mixture needed to run the engine
12. Muffler: Helps reduce noise.
13. Air Filter Cover: Houses the air filter.
14. Fuel Cap: How to access the fuel tank.
15. Wheel Assembly*: Used to adjust the digging depth of the tines and for transportation of the unit

*item not shown in image

Starting instructions:

1. Fill the tank with fresh, properly mixed fuel. See operator’s manual for details.
2. Slowly press and release the primer bulb 10 times to get fuel into the carburetor.
   
3. Next, move the choke lever to Position 1.
   
4. Squeeze the throttle control to the handlebar with one hand – hold it there through step 10.
5. Grab the starter rope with the other hand.
6. Stabilize the unit by pressing your foot down on top of the wheel assembly.
7. Tilt the cultivator back slightly, so the tines are just clear of the ground.
8. Pull the rope 5 times in a steady motion.
   
9. Move the choke lever to Position 2.
   
10. Now pull the rope 3 to 5 more times until engine starts.
11. Let the engine to warm up for 30 to 60 seconds.
12.  Finally, move the choke lever to Position 3 and allow the engine to warm up for an additional 60 seconds. You’ll know the engine is good to go when it accelerates without hesitation.
    

Stopping the Cultivator

Just release the throttle control and allow the engine to idle. Then, press and hold the On/Off switch in the OFF position until the engine comes to a complete stop.

Operating Instructions

Before getting to work, move your garden cultivator to the work area by either pulling it backwards or carrying it. This will prevent the tines from scraping against the ground.

NOTE: NEVER pick up or move the cultivator while the engine is running. This tip brought to you by Common Sense 101.  

• First, start the cultivator.
• With the tines off the ground, squeeze the throttle control to engage the engine.
• Then, holding the handlebar firmly with both hands, slowly lower the cultivator down until the tines contact the ground.
• As the tines dig in, pull back on the cultivator to penetrate the ground. Use extreme caution when reversing or pulling the unit towards you.
• After breaking ground, continue cultivating at a slow and steady pace.
• If the tines are digging too deep, or not deep enough, turn off the unit and adjust them according. For adjustment instructions, see below.

Adjusting the Depth of the Tines

The tines are pre-set to penetrate approximately 4 to 5 inches into the ground. Here’s how to set them deeper, or more shallow:

• Stop the engine and allow it to cool down.
• Firmly grasp the spark plug wire and pull the cap from the spark plug.
• Raise the wheel height for shallower penetration. Lower it for deeper penetration.
• Once set to your desired height, reconnect spark plug and restart the cultivator. 

Important Safety Tips to Remember

• ALWAYS wear safety glasses, ear protection, long pants, boots, gloves and a long sleeve shirt while working.
• ALWAYS ensure all bystanders (pets, children, etc.) are at a safe distance.
• ALWAYS carefully inspect your work area before starting. Remove rocks, broken glass, nails and anything else that could damage the unit, or you. If there are items that can’t be cleared, such as vines, chain link fences, etc., avoid using your cultivator in those areas.
• NEVER allow children to operate the cultivator. (Let them plant the seeds.)
• ALWAYS turn off the garden tiller before moving it to a different location.