- 1). Read the instruction manual to familiarize yourself with all safety precautions and warnings. A tiller has rotating blades that can injure limbs if you accidentally roll it over your hands and feet. Additionally, a tiller may also damage buried cables and pipes. Always be familiar with the area you are working in as well as wear protective clothing, including sturdy work boots, long pants and gloves, before operating your tiller.
- 2). Check all fluids, including motor and transmission oils and gasoline, before operating the rototiller. Top off all fluids before starting the motor.
- 3). Engage the choke lever halfway. Adjust the depth lever for the tines to control how deeply you cultivate the garden. Set the tines to turn forward. Set the speed dial to slow.
- 4). Move your tiller to the starting location of the area you plan to cultivate.
- 5). Prime the starter by pumping the starter bulb three times. Pull the rope starter until it is taut. Then yank the rope starter to engage the engine.
- 6). Disengage the choke lever. Adjust the speed lever until you're comfortable with the speed that the tiller breaks up the ground.
- 7). Push the tiller in front of you to move it forward. To move the tiller in reverse, move the tine direction lever so the tines turn in the opposite direction. Push the tiller in a grid pattern to break up a large section of property. You can also cultivate soil in between garden rows.
- 8). Engage the choke lever and turn off the tiller’s engine when you're finished using the rototiller. Retract the tines by adjusting the depth lever and set the speed dial back to slow before moving your tiller.