Earthquake, a division of the Ardisam company, kindly sent us their freshly created 29702 Victory CRT Kohler 196CC Solid Wheels Rototiller. Ardisam has actually been around considering that 1960, and, at their head office in my home state of Wisconsin, they have maintained that small business quality while becoming an international brand name. Earthquake reports that they design and develop tools for those who prefer to do the outside jobs themselves.
PREPARING YOURSELF
As we prepped our very first garden on our new farm last year, we might have gotten simply a wee bit carried away. We marked, tilled, and pulled cornstalks for days. With blistered hands and filthy knees, we stood back and appreciated our work. We had actually just converted a big plot of cornfield into our garden site. Feeling so accomplished, I had no concept that the work was truly just starting. Prepping a one-acre garden is something, however handling a one-acre garden is even more exhausting.
That very first spring my husband, boys and anyone else I might encourage made pass after pass with our tiller. Which is why I leapt at the opportunity to review another rear-tine tiller, knowing that we might knock out spring tilling this year in half the time if we ran them all at once.
ITEM SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Brand: Kohler ®.
Engine Type: 4-cycle.
Fuel Type: 87+ octane unleaded gas.
Starting System: Recoil pull cord.
Fuel Capacity (GAL): 0.73.
Displacement (CC): 196.
Throttle Control: On the engine.
Compression Relief Valve: No.
Advised Oil/ Capacity (fl oz.): SAE 10w 30/ 20 OZ.
Low Oil Shutdown: No.
Handlebar Style: Loop.
Numerous Height Positions: 3.
Operation: One- or two-handed.
Self-Propelled: Yes.
Tilling Depth (inch): 10.
Tilling Width (inch): 16.
Branch Material: Welded forged steel.
Tine Speed: (RPM) 216.
Number of Speeds: 2, Forward/Reverse.
Tine Rotation: CRT (Counter Rotating Tines).
Transmission Style: Bronze equipment drive.
Wheel Diameter (inch): 13.5.
Wheel Width (inch): 5.38.
Wheel Material: Metal hub/rubber tire.
Put together Dimensions (inch): 57.2 X 20.9 X 43.7.
Net Weight (pound.): 153.
Gross Weight (pound.): 163.
PACKAGING.
The tiller showed up partly assembled in a heavy-duty cardboard box. My hubby and a truck driver quickly moved the box from the back of the semi into the back of our pickup truck.
The tiller was well-packed using foam blocks and bubble wrap to protect it throughout shipping. We sliced the box down the sides so that it laid flat. The box worked well as an assembly pad, so my other half didn’t have to crawl around in the mud.
PRIOR TO WE STARTED THE ASSEMBLY.
Prior to we began putting together the tiller, we inventoried the parts and verified that we received an assembly/instruction handbook. We also looked for smaller sized add-on components. All seemed in order, so we began.
ASSEMBLY.
The straightforward assembly took my fairly convenient husband less than an hour. Assembly included connecting the manage, side shields, depth regulator, and wheels to the body. The only tools we utilized were a ratchet and a 16mm and 17mm socket. The well-written assembly guidelines consist of many images.
I really like how the business packaged the parts. Bubble wrap protected parts that might rub together in transit. The tiller’s paint job got here in pristine shape.
My spouse declares that the assembly of a tiller is intuitive and needs no written directions. Being the useful other half that I am, I sat in my yard chair reading the instructions aloud simply in case he might soak up something useful. I really captured him dipping into my shoulder before setting up the linchpins for the wheels.
The side shields were simple to install utilizing the provided bolts and a socket wrench.
The engine oil is consisted of in the box. In reading the owner’s manual, I saw the company includes templates that can be copied onto cardboard to use as oil dipsticks. Notable is that this is a 4-cycle engine and doesn’t need adding oil to the fuel.
FIRING UP THE ROTOTILLER.
We backed off on the choke and let it warm up on slower engine speed. (After the preliminary use, it always begins on the first pull).
THE TEST.
The tiller tore right through the debris without slowing down. Like it was on an objective, the tiller simply downed ahead with my spouse trailing behind.
DEPTH ADJUSTMENT.
Tilling depth modification is easy and instinctive. You can till to a maximum depth of 10 inches. We picked a minimal depth, as the ground was well-worked in 2015 and didn’t require extreme tilling like virgin land requires.
With the bar in the totally pulled back position, the rototiller will till to a depth of 10 inches. With the depth regulator completely placed to the leading hole, the tilling depth is just a few inches. Changing the depth regulator is a trial-and-error experience, but once called in, the Victory rototiller produced an incredibly soft, fluffy, oxygenated soil.