Ryobi RYAC701 Operation Manual - Page 16

OPERATION  Place your thumb on the lock-out button.  Pull the switch trigger toward the handle.  Release the lock-out button. To stop the motor:  Release the switch trigger. PREPARING THE SEED BED See Figure 17. WARNING: Do not allow hands, feet, or any other part of the body or clothing near the rotating tines or any other moving part. The tines begin to rotate once the lock-out button is depressed and switch trigger is pulled. The tines continue to rotate until the switch trigger is released. Failure to avoid contact could cause serious personal injury. WARNING: To avoid personal injury, never carry the cultivator while the motor is running. Move the cultivator to the work area before starting the motor. WARNING: After extended periods of use, the cultivator gearbox may become hot. To avoid burns, do not touch the gearbox until it has had time to cool down. WARNING: Always hold the cultivator away from the body keeping clearance between the body and the cultivator. Any contact with the tines while operating can result in serious personal injury. The cultivator can be used to break up garden soil and prepare a seedbed for planting. Plan ahead to leave enough room between the seed rows to allow for machine cultivating after the plants have grown.  With the wheel assembly installed in position A as described earlier, roll the machine to the work area.  Adjust the position of the wheel assembly for shallow, moderate, or deep cultivation (refer to Changing Wheel Positions). NOTE: Based on the type of soil being cultivated and soil conditions at the time, the appropriate position of the wheel assembly will vary.  Plug the unit into an approved outdoor extension cord.  Route the extension cord through the cord retainer.  Stand behind the unit with the tines on the ground and the work area clean and free of obstructions.  Depress the lock-out button.  Pull the switch trigger toward the handle to begin tine rotation. NOTE: The rotating tines help to pull the machine forward, so use slower speeds and a shallow depth setting when learning to use the unit and when cultivating on rough or uneven ground. NOTE: Several passes over the same path may be required to reach the desired depth. Do not try to dig too deeply in the first pass. If the machine jumps or bucks, allow the unit to move forward at a slightly faster rate or adjust the position of the wheel assembly. To dig more deeply, tilt the handle bar upward (lowering the tines). Apply downward pressure on the handle for more shallow cultivating (raising the tines). If the machine stays and digs in one spot, try rocking the unit from side to side to start it moving forward again. If the soil is very hard, water a few days before cultivating. Avoid working the soil when soggy or wet. Wait a day or two after heavy rain for the ground to dry. TINE PATTERNS See Figures 18 - 20. For most applications, the regular tine pattern will work best. This is the pattern set by the factory. When tilling in confined areas or rows, remove the outer tines to create a narrow tine pattern. NOTE: Do not force the tines on or off the shaft. If you experience difficulties when removing the tines, apply some penetrating lubricant on the shaft. When reinstalling the tines, make sure to clean and lubricate the shaft and the tine hubs. 10 - English