Maintenance - Sears CRAFTSMAN 944.621574 Owner's Manual

Disconnect spark plug wire before performing any maintenance (except car bu re tor adjustment) to prevent
accidental start ing of engine.
Prevent fi res! Keep the engine free of grass, leaves, spilled oil, or fuel. Re move fuel from tank before tipping
unit for maintenance. Clean muffl er area of all grass, dirt, and debris.
Do not touch hot muffl er or cylinder fi ns as contact may cause burns.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated with API service
classifi cation SG-SL. Select the oil's SAE vis cos i ty grade
according to your expected temperature.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
10W-30 / 5W-30
-20 0 30
F
C -20
-30 -10
TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W-30, 10W-30, etc.)
improve starting in cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils
will result in increased oil consumption when used above
32°F (0°C). Check your engine oil level more frequently to
avoid possible engine damage from running low on oil.
Change the oil after every 50 hours of operation or at
least once a year if the tiller is not used for 50 hours in
one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine
and after each fi ve (5) hours of continuous use. Add SAE
30 motor oil or equivalent. Tighten oil fi ller plug securely
each time you check the oil level.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL (See Figs. 17and 18)
Determine temperature range expected before oil change.
All oil must meet API service classifi cation SG-SL.
• Be sure tiller is on level surface.
• Oil will drain more freely when warm.
• Use a funnel to prevent oil spill on tiller, and catch oil
in a suitable con tain er.
• Remove drain plug. For easier removal of plug use
7/16 12 Pt. socket with extension.
• Tip tiller forward to drain oil.
• After oil has drained completely, replace oil drain plug
and tighten securely.
• Remove oil fi ller plug.
• Refi ll engine with oil. See "CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL"
in the Operation section of this manual.

MAINTENANCE

SAE 30
40 60 80
4 10
20 30
oil_visc_chart5_e(drt)
FIG. 17
OIL
DRAIN
PLUG
100
40
AIR FILTER (See Fig. 19)
Your engine will not run properly using a dirty air fi lter. Clean
the foam pre-cleaner after every 25 hours of op er a tion or
every season. Service paper cartridge every 100 hours of
operation or every season, which ev er occurs fi rst.
Service air cleaner more often under dusty conditions.
• Remove knob and cover. Lift air cleaner assembly off
stud
TO SERVICE PRE-CLEANER
• Remove foam pre-cleaner from air fi lter.
• Wash it in liquid detergent and water.
• Squeeze it dry in a clean cloth.
• If very dirty or damaged, replace pre-cleaner.
• Reinstall pre-cleaner onto air fi lter.
• Reinstall cover and secure with knob.
TO SERVICE CARTRIDGE
• Carefully remove cartridge to prevent debris from
en ter ing carburetor. Clean base carefully to pre vent
debris from entering carburetor.
• Remove foam pre-cleaner from air fi lter.
• Clean cartridge by tap ping gen tly on fl at surface. If
very dirty or damaged, replace cartridge.
• Reinstall pre-cleaner onto air fi lter.
• Reinstall cover and secure with knob.
IMPORTANT: PETROLEUM SOLVENTS, SUCH AS KER O SENE,
ARE NOT TO BE USED TO CLEAN THE CAR TRIDGE. THEY
MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION OF THE CARTRIDGE. DO NOT
OIL CARTRIDGE. DO NOT USE PRESSURIZED AIR TO CLEAN
OR DRY CARTRIDGE.
13
OIL FILLER OIL LEVEL
PLUG
FIG. 18