How to Maintain Your Garden Rototiller

I could not have received a better birthday gift than when my husband surprised me with a Craftsman 5.0 horsepower front tine rototiller. To an avid gardener this is by far one of the greatest gifts to receive. When he gave it to me, he told me it was all mine, mine to use and mine to take care of (he is not a gardener). He had nothing to worry about, as this was my new baby and I would treat it with special care.

I studied the manual that came with the rototiller, learning about the different parts, what type and weight of oil to use. I read about when to change the oil, how to clean the air cartridge and about replacing the spark plug. I knew all of these things were important, and as I continued to read the manual, I began to recall childhood memories of my father's rototiller and the special attention he gave it. I looked through my manual for those things he did, but I could only find a few general references.

What most manuals will tell you about your rototiller:

-The different parts of the rototiller and where they are located.
-How to operate the rototiller.
-When and how to change the oil, the spark plug and the air cartridge.
-How to remove specific covers.
-A list of the different parts and their corresponding numbers.
-Basic safety instructions.

What most manuals will not tell you about your rototiller:

-Clean your rototiller before putting it away.
-Let the rototiller cool completely before cleaning.
-Remove the tines and clean separately, being sure to remove all dirt and debris.
-After tines have dried, inspect them for needed repair. Tines can be sharp, so wear gloves when handling. When tines become dull, you will need to have them sharpened.
-When putting tines back on the rototiller, check shear pins and hairpin clips, making sure they are secure. Over time, hairpin clips can become lose and slip out of the shear pins. It would be a good idea to have a couple extra shear pins, hairpin clips and belts in your toolbox.
-Open side covers, such as the belt guard, and clean and inspect all belts (replace as needed).
-Clean all dirt and debris from the wheels.
-Clean all surface areas and apply wax as needed.

If you have a small garden, as I do, you will only use your garden rototiller one to three times a year. I use mine in the spring to break the ground, maybe once during the summer to loosen the soil, and again in the fall when I put my garden to bed for the winter. After each use, I clean it thoroughly and store it in a garden shed, out of harsh weather.

Source: Craftsman