Tillin Time

Down here, I pulled the #2 washtub off my tiller and cleaned the dirt daubers out of the air filter months ago, but as summer moves north a refresher course is due for those who have yet to begin the summer rituals of gardening.

First off, you need to fill your tank with gas.  I know y’all emptied your gas tanks for winter as recommended by the engine manufacturer.  If you didn’t, you may have a gummed up carburator, but we’ll get to that later.  Fill your gas tank.

Second.  Check your oil and add as needed.  Better yet, take this opportunity to do your engine a favor and change the oil as recommended by your engine manufacturer*.  

Third.  Seriously, check for dirt daubers, spiders, and other warmth seeking creature in your air filter casing.  Remove them.  Clean your filter.

Fourth.  Check the transmission fluid.  This is important.  This is where a lot of people make big mistakes.  The tiller in the picture is my well used Maxim Compact, M30B.  I would have cleaned it for you, but then we wouldn’t be keeping it real.  The check plug on this model is behind the tines right above the tine shaft**.  You may have to remove your tines to get to it by removing the cotter pin and tine pin from the tine closest to the transmission and slipping them off.

Before you start to check the fluid, clean the area around the check plug.  You don’t want dirt in there.  Remove the plug.  You should be able to see oil right below the opening.  If you don’t you need to add some, but don’t get carried away unless you want pressure to build up in the transmission and blow your gasket so you have a greasy puddle in your shed.  

Refit the check plug.  Open the Oil Fill Plug and pour just a little 90 weight gear oil into the transmission.  Recheck at the check plug.  Oil should just ooze from the check opening.  DO NOT OVER FILL.  If you happen to put a little too much then let it run out of the check opening until the gear oil is just at the bottom of the opening.  I know this is messy, but it is better than the alternative of major repairs.  Use a cup to catch it.

Fifth.  Tighten all bolts.  The cold of winter and the warm of spring can loosen those things for you.  Make sure you have all tine pins and cotter pins in place.

Lastly.  Check your belt for wear.  Replace if necessary.  I’ll show you this later.

You should be ready to break ground.  Remember if you properly maintain your equipment, you will get many years of service.

CRANK HER UP!

*You can get copies of your owner’s manuals for both tiller and engine here, if you need a refresher.

**If you have another tiller model your check and fill valves will be in the same areas, but not in exactly the same place.  The larger transmissions have the check plug on front of the transmission rather than the side.