Turning; Outer Side Shields; Transporting; Before Starting Engine - Craftsman 917.299691 Owner's Manual

OPE ATION
TURNING
* Release the drive control bar.
o Move throttle control to "SLOW" position.
, Place shift lever indicator in 'F" forward position. Tines
wil( not turn.
. Lift handle to raise tines out of ground.
° Engage control bar and swing the handle in the opposite
direction you wish to turn, being careful to keep feet and
legs away from tine&
, When you have completed your turn-around, release !he
drive control bar and lower handle. Place shift lever in T
position and move throttle control to desired speed. To
begin tilling, hold drive control bar against the handle.
OUTER SiDE SHIELDS (See Fig. 13)
The front edges of the outer side shields are slotted so that
the shields can be raised for deep tilling and lowered for
shatiow titling to protect small plants from being buried.
Loosen nut "A" in slot and nut "B". Move shield to desired
position (both sides). Retighten nuts.
TRANSPORTING
• Release the depth stake pin. Move the depth stake down
to the top hole for transporting the tiller. Place depth
stake pin in hole of depth stake to lock in position. This
prevents tines from scuffing the ground.
• Place shift lever indicator in "F" forward position for
transporting.
• Hold the drive control bar against the handle to start tiller
movement. Tines will not turn.
o Move throttle control to desired speed.
IMPORTANT: PRACTICE THE ABOVE PROCEDURES
SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE FILUNG ENGINE WITH FUEL
AND OIL.
CAUTION; Before operating your tiller
for the first time, study tht[s section and
the "SAFETY RULES" on page 2.
Always release drive eontrot bar before
moving shift lever into another pos|=
tion.
Don't back yourself into a solid ob-
struction such as a tree, fence, ere.
BEFORE STARTING ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE OiL LEVEL (See Fig. 14)
• The engine in your unit has been shipped, from the
factory, already filled with summer weight oil.
, With engine level, remove engine oil filler plug.
o Engine oil should be to point of overflowing. For approxi-
mate capacity see "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS" on
page 3 of this manual.
• For cold weather ope,,ration you should change oil for
easier starting (See O1L VISCOSITY CHART in the
Maintenance section of this manual).
• Tochangeengineoil, seetheMaintenancesectioninthis
manual.
11
OIL
FILLER
OIL DRAIN PLUG
PLUG
FRG,14
ADD GASOUNE
* Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded gaso-
line. (Use of leaded gasoline will increase carbon and
lead oxide deposits and reduce valve life.)
iMPORTANT: WHEN OPERATING {N TEMPERATURES
BELOW 32°F (0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN, WINTER
GRADE GASOLINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD COLD
WEATHER STARTING.
WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended
fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can
attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of
acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel
system of an engine whife in storage. To avoid engine
problems, the fuel system should be emptied before stor-
age of 30 days or longer. Drain the gas tank, start the
engine and let it run until the rue1 lines and carburetor are
empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage instruc-
tions for additional information. Never use engine or
carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.
CAUTION: Fill to within1/2 inch of fuel
tank to prevent _piils and to allow for
fuel expansion,
{fgasoline
is aceiden=
tally spilted, move machine away from
area of spil!, Avoid creating any source
of ignition until gasoline vapors have
disappeared.
Do not overfill Wipe off any spi_led oil
or rue!. Do not store, split or use gaso-
Sine near an open flame°