Craftsman C459.62103-1 Operator's Manual page 16

Suggested Tilling Patterns
• When preparing a seedbed, go over the same path twice in the
first row, then overlap one-half the tiller width on the rest of the
passes. See Figure 16.
• When finished in one direction, make a second pass at a right
angle, See Figure 17. Overlap each pass for the best results (in
very hard ground, it may take three or four passes to thoroughly
pulverize the soil.)
OPERATION
Figure 16
Figure 17
• If the garden size will not permit lengthwise and then crosswise
tilling, then overlap the first passes by one-half a tiller width, fol-
lowed by successive passes at one-quarter width. See Figure 18.
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Tilling on a Slope
Do not operate the tiller on a slope too steep for safe operation. Till
slowly and be sure you have good footing. Never permit the tiller to
freewheel down slopes. Failure to follow this warning could result in
personal injury.
1. Till only on moderate slopes, never on steep ground where the
footing is difficult.
2. Tilling up and down slopes is recommended over terracing. Tilling
vertically on a slope allows maximum planting area and also
leaves room for cultivating.
NOTE: When tilling on slopes, be sure the correct oil level is main-
tained in the engine (check every one-half hour of operation). The
incline of the slope will cause the oil to slant away from its normal
level and this can starve engine parts of required lubrication. Keep the
motor oil level at the full point at all times.
Tilling Up and Down a Slope
1. To keep soil erosion to a minimum, be sure to add enough organic
matter to the soil so that it has good moisture-holding texture and
try to avoid leaving footprints or wheel marks.
2. When tilling vertically, try to make the first pass uphill as the tiller
digs more deeply going uphill than it does downhill. In soft soil or
weeds, you may have to lift the handlebars slightly while going up-
hill. When going downhill, overlap the first pass by about one-half
the width of the tiller.
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Figure 18
WARNING
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