Ask the Mechanic

Steve Thompson, Contributing Columnist

I decided I would grow another garden, even though it's more work than it used to be. I told myself that I would not try another garden with our old tiller. It's a front-tine tiller, and it shakes me all over when I use it. It's old, smokes and the tines are dull.

When we came home with the new tiller, it looked wonderful. It was a rear-tine design, and the dealer assured me that it was easier to operate and would not drag me through the garden like the front tine would do in hard ground.

I cranked it up and headed down the first row. Almost immediately the tiller began coming backward after me. It pinned me to the shed, and the handle bars were pushing against me. Somehow, I got away from the tiller before I was seriously hurt. I had no idea a rear-tine tiller could go backward like that.

My garden is on hold for now. Be careful! Even small equipment can be dangerous.

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-- Write Steve Thompson at Ask The Mechanic, 2204 Lakeshore Dr., Suite 415, Birmingham, AL 35209, or email mechanic@progressivefarmer.com, and be sure to include your phone number.

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