If you love gardening, you probably know that preparing the soil is an important step before planting seeds or growing plants. One helpful machine that can make this job easier is called a rotary tiller. But do you know how to adjust your rototiller to get the best out of it?
Many push rotary tillers can be adjusted in various ways including tilling depth and the speed at which the tines are spinning. Not all tillers are made to be adjusted however and some have no way to change the way features work at all.
Don’t worry though, it’s not as complicated as it sounds! In this article, I’ll cover what adjustments you can typically make on a rototiller that you push by hand (rather than one you pull behind a tractor). Find out things like what the drag bar is used for and how on some models you can even change the tilling width. Let’s go!
Different Types Of Adjustments On A Rotary Tiller
Many rotary tillers have various adjustments you can make that affect how well they work in different situations and make them easier to use. Not all models are the same however and some cannot be adjusted at all.
There are four main areas where you can make changes on most machines:
Tilling Depth: This is the depth at which the tines are able to dig into the soil. Determining the ideal depth for your tiller can be a bit tricky at first, so I wrote an article about the most important factors you need to consider. Make sure to check it out if you aren’t sure where to start.
Tine Speed: The speed at which the tines spin makes a difference in how well they’re able to churn up the dirt.
Tilling Width: On some models, you can adjust the width of the tilling blades so that it fits in between rows of vegetables or down narrow areas.
Handle Height: The last change you can make to many tillers is to alter the length of the handle to allow for different heights of the operator.
It’s always best to consult your owner’s manual to see what you can do with your own machine.
Let’s take a look at these in more detail.
Adjusting The Tilling Depth
The most common thing many gardeners want to adjust when using a rotary tiller is to alter the depth that the tines dig into the soil.
This is usually done by changing the position of the drag bar or rear wheels if these are present on the machine you own.
Drag or Depth Bar
On many models of push tiller, you can adjust the depth that the metal blades go down into the ground by altering the height of something known as the depth or drag bar.
This is a metal bar that you can adjust up and down at the rear of the machine which drags in the soil, slowing the tiller down so that the tines dig deeper.
By lowering the bar you will increase the depth and raising it makes the digging action shallower.
For the best results adjust the bar so that the tiller is tilted slightly backwards when you’re using it.
This process can be a bit different between various models, but as an example, here is how to do it on a Honda tiller:
Rear Wheel Height
Some models also have wheels at the back that are used to make it easy to transport the machine.
In some cases, these may also be used to limit the depth to which the tines penetrate by setting them at different heights. Usually, the lowest height is used for transporting, and raising them in stages allows the depth of digging to increase.
Changing The Speed Of The Tines
Changing the speed of the tines on a rotary tiller is important because different soil conditions and gardening tasks require different levels of tilling intensity.
Sometimes, you may need to till the soil more aggressively to break up tough clumps or remove weeds, and in such cases, increasing the tine speed can help.
On the other hand, if you need to till around delicate plants or soil that is already loose, you might want to decrease the tine speed to avoid damaging the plants or over-tilling the soil.
By adjusting the speed, it’s possible to customize the tiller’s performance to suit the specific needs of your garden and achieve the best results.
This is done using the throttle if your machine has one or by selecting a specific speed setting or gear on some other models.
Note that not all tillers have the means to set different speeds.
Altering The Tilling Width
Different gardening tasks and garden sizes require varying widths of tilling and this is when being able to alter this is really handy.
For example, when working on a smaller garden bed, you might want a narrower tilling width to ensure precision and avoid damaging neighboring plants. On the other hand, when preparing a larger area for planting, setting your tines up so they are wider can help cover more ground efficiently.
So by adjusting the tilling width, you can adapt the tiller to the specific size of your garden and ensure that the soil is thoroughly and evenly prepared for planting or cultivation.
If your model allows for this, it’s typically done by adding or removing pairs of tiller blades.
Many manufacturers make this a simple task of removing a cotter or R-type pin and sliding the set of tines off or on the drive shaft.
This video from BSC is a good example of how simple this process can be:
Adjusting The Handle Height
For ergonomic reasons and user comfort, it’s very useful if your rotary tiller has the ability to alter the height of the handle.
By setting the handles up correctly, you maintain a proper posture, reduce the strain on your back and arms, and allow better control over the tiller.
To adjust the handle height, many rotary tillers have adjustable knobs or levers near the handle connection points, similar to a lawnmower.
Simply loosen the knobs or levers, adjust the handle height to your desired position, and tighten them back securely.
Final Thoughts
Adjusting the tilling depth, speed, width, and handle height of any rotary tiller makes it far more efficient to use.
Not all models allow you to change each of these options and on some machines, you can’t make any changes at all. If you’re in the market for a new rototiller then it’s a good idea to choose a model that allows you to adjust at least some of these functions.