I started another project the following day as I waited for my tiller parts. I decided I would wash the windows. One of those necessary chores I despised. However, in the middle of the project, Efiwym, my wife, yelled that I received a package. My daughter wisely had the parts shipped directly to me. Like a kid at Christmas, I ran down the stairs, grabbed the package and opened it up. There were all the items I needed: a gas filter, a primer button, two types of hoses and… no instructions. I was not sure why there were two types of hoses, but I would figure that out later. Efiwym then asked, “Why are you going to work on the tiller now? Aren’t you working on something else?” She then said, “I wasn’t planning on working on the garden today anyways.” Nope, I was all in on this tiller. I was going to get it running TODAY! The windows can wait.
Yesterday, I found a gas line diagram for the tiller. I now had something I could use to make sure I ran the gas lines correctly. It took a little bit to decipher the diagram and match it to the tiller, but I got it figured out. The guy in the video showed me how to get the gas line into the hole in the gas tank. By cutting the hose at an angle to create a point, the line should go in easier. And it did! I put the gas filter into the gas tank and put the stem into the hole to connect the hose. I tried my best, but I could not get the hose tight against the tank. The gas filter was loose inside the tank, and the gas would definitely leak. After multiple attempts, I gave up. I decided to use the suggestion by the guy in the video to run the hose through the hole and attach the gas filter to it inside the gas tank. Regrettably, that would not happen. As I tried to remove the hose from the filter, I broke off the connecting stem of this brand-new gas filter. Well, I guess I will not be using a gas filter. I cut the hose on an angle and pushed it through the hole. I added the gas to the tank. And the gas tank did not leak.
I pushed on the primer button and watched in delight as the gas flowed through the lines. I pressed it several times to clear the air bubbles from the lines. It was ready to run.
First, I put the switch on the handle to run. Then with a bungee cord, I locked the throttle lever, so it was opened all the way. I turned the carburetor switch to “pre-choke.” I pulled the starter rope twice and the tiller tried to run. According to the video, that was exactly what was supposed to happen. I turned the switch to “choke.” I pulled the cord, and the tiller started to run. Because I had locked the throttle wide open, the 2-cycle engine started screaming. I disconnected the bungee cord and controlled the throttle on my own. Efiwym, was standing there and I sensed her relief when she heard it running. Believe me, I was relieved too. And ecstatic! I turn the knob to “run.” I started to squeeze the throttle as the engine would not idle on its own. The engine would bog down as I increased the throttle. Maybe it needed to warm up.
I stood there awhile and kept giving the engine some gas to keep it running. I needed to adjust the idle, but I did not want to shut the tiller off. I walked the tiller over to my toolbox so I could find a screwdriver to adjust the idle. I could not find the right type of screwdriver, so I shut the tiller off. I found the right screwdriver and turn the idle screw one-half turn. The tiller easily started up again, and I tried to adjust the idle, but it would not stay on.
Efiwym suggested I give the tiller a test run on the garden. Even though the idle was not right, I could just keep it running with the throttle. I walked the tiller over to the garden. I was ready. I tried to start the tiller, but it would not start. What was wrong? It was starting without any problems before. I pulled and pulled on the starter cord. I turned the choke from “pre-choke” to “choke” to “run,” but it would not start. Then I realized that I had the switch turned to “stop.” I put the switch to “start.” But it still would not start. I must have flooded the engine, I think. I walked the tiller back to the garage and I told Efiwym, I would try another time. She was fine with that decision.