Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Equipment Shed => Topic started by: aliandna on April 13, 2011, 10:23

Title: Merry Tiller Rotovator
Post by: aliandna on April 13, 2011, 10:23
Hi there

I am a novice gardener with little or no knowledge.  I've been gardening a plot about 20m by 20m for a year and have just bought the following Rotavator off of ebay.  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110670838963&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_500wt_949

I know nothing at all about it and was just after some advice.  As you can see it comes with 4 attachments.  I'm guessing the plough attachment is for ridging up for potatoes and creating seed rows and that the normal Rotavator blades are for a general digging over of the soil but what are the other two attachments for?  In what order are they meant to be used in order to get the best effect?

Also it is a four-stroke engine - what fuel do I need to use.  Do I need to use a mixture?

As you can see I'm a complete novice and any help will be much appreciated.

Kindest regards

aliandna
Title: Re: Merry Tiller Rotovator
Post by: Ice on April 13, 2011, 10:36
Isn't all this advice in the handbook?
Title: Re: Merry Tiller Rotovator
Post by: arugula on April 13, 2011, 13:28
4 stroke means no mixture - that would be 2 stroke. :)
Title: Re: Merry Tiller Rotovator
Post by: aliandna on April 13, 2011, 19:03
Isn't all this advice in the handbook?

Unfortunately although it said it came with a handbook it didn't.
Title: Re: Merry Tiller Rotovator
Post by: Ice on April 13, 2011, 19:05
That's a shame.  Be patient, the petrol heads will be around at some point. :)
Title: Re: Merry Tiller Rotovator
Post by: aliandna on April 13, 2011, 21:20
4 stroke means no mixture - that would be 2 stroke. :)

thanks - as you can see "I know nothin"!!
Title: Re: Merry Tiller Rotovator
Post by: Gwiz on April 14, 2011, 05:36
You use ordinary petrol in the fuel tank, however, the engine will have an oil sump (the same as a car) you should get the engine level, and check the oil level each time you use it, you may well find that the engine has a dipstick to help you do this.
If you need to top up the oil level, use SAE30 oil. You can get this from your local garden machinery dealer. ( I've even seen it at our local Focus DIY store)
As for the attachments, you're right about the plough (ridger) attachment, you also have a pair of discs, these are put on the outside of the rotovator blades to protect plants if you are using the machine between rows of produce. You also have some finger tines, I've never used these, but I think they are for creating a finer tilth to the soil once it's been rotovated.
Title: Re: Merry Tiller Rotovator
Post by: aliandna on April 14, 2011, 08:43
You use ordinary petrol in the fuel tank, however, the engine will have an oil sump (the same as a car) you should get the engine level, and check the oil level each time you use it, you may well find that the engine has a dipstick to help you do this.
If you need to top up the oil level, use SAE30 oil. You can get this from your local garden machinery dealer. ( I've even seen it at our local Focus DIY store)
As for the attachments, you're right about the plough (ridger) attachment, you also have a pair of discs, these are put on the outside of the rotovator blades to protect plants if you are using the machine between rows of produce. You also have some finger tines, I've never used these, but I think they are for creating a finer tilth to the soil once it's been rotovated.


Thank you so much that is absolutely brilliant - now the hard work begins!!!