User manual MTD 1010-4

[. . . ] • Keep away from rotating parts. Tools/Supplies Needed • No tools are needed. • Fine-grade sandpaper (to remove rust from tine shaft). • General purpose oil (to lubricate tine shafts). B G D E A F F C G Figures 3 and 4: Depending upon your tiller/edger model, the tines may be secured with two hairpin cotters (A), two ring lock pins (B) or two threaded knobs (C). The plain washer (D) and star washer (E) are used only with the threaded knob. CAUTION TO AVOID INJURY: • Before installing or removing any attachment, shut the engine off, allow it to cool, and disconnect the spark plug wire and prevent it from touching the spark plug. [. . . ] • The tines may have sharp edges – wear heavy work gloves when handling the tines. • The four aerator tines are identical. Place one aerator tine on either the right-side or left-side tine shaft. The hub (see “F”, Figures 3 and 4) on the tine must face to the outside. The hub (“G”, Figures 3 and 4) on this tine must face to the inside. If installed correctly, the tine hubs will be facing each other. • Reinstall the tine mounting hardware (refer to Figures 3 and 4). • Repeat this procedure on the other side. After all four aerator tines are installed (refer to Figures 6 and 7), return the machine to its normal operating position. • FOR MODELS WITH A DEPTH ADJUSTMENT KNOB (G, FIGURE 5): Loosen the depth adjustment knob (G) and move the wheel bracket (H) up to its highest position in relation to the height adjustment bar (J). (See the “OPERATION” section in your Owner’s Manual for detailed instructions on how to adjust the wheel bracket. ) Retighten the depth adjustment knob securely. IMPORTANT: DO NOT MOVE THE WHEEL BRACKET ANY HIGHER THAN THE TOP OF THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT BAR. Installation Instructions NOTE: References to Left and Right sides are from the operator’s position behind the handlebars. • Hold the handlebar firmly with both hands and squeeze the engine throttle lever. When the tines begin turning, slowly lift up on the handlebars until the tines enter the soil. • Allow the machine to move forward while the aerator tines slice into the lawn. Hold the handlebars firmly to prevent the unit from moving forward too quickly and to allow enough time for the tines to dig deeply enough. If the unit moves across the lawn too fast, press down on the handlebars to raise the tines out of the soil. • Aerate the lawn by making side-by-side passes (see Figure 8). For more thorough aeration, make a second series of passes at a right angle to the first series (see Figure 9). • After aerating the lawn, rake up any residue. • A newly aerated lawn may benefit from an application of fertilizer (follow recommendations and instructions provided with fertilizer). Or, if you have particularly troublesome spots, you may wish to reseed these areas after aeration. Operation Tips • The aerator attachment helps develop healthy, dense lawns by loosening the soil to contribute to better root growth. The typical lawn should be aerated once or twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. [. . . ] The typical lawn should be aerated once or twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. Lawns with heavily compacted soil, or lawns with very hard soil may benefit from additional aeration during the year. • For best results: - Mow and rake the lawn before aeration. - The soil should be somewhat moist, rather than very dry and hard. [. . . ]