Craftsman 917.986940 Owner's Manual page 9

The operation of any tiller can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes,
which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye
shields before starting your tiller and while tilling. We recommend standard
safety glasses or a wide vision safety mask worn over spectacles.
HOW TO USE YOUR TILLER
Know howto operate all controls before add-
ing fuel and oil or attempting to start engine.
STOPPING
TINES
• Release forward tine control to stop
forward movement.
• Release reverse tine control to stop
reverse movement.
Reverse Tine Control "On" (DOWN) Position
Tine
Control
"Off" (UP)
Position
Control
"On"
(DOWN)
Position
Tine Control
"Off" (UP) Position
DEPTH STAKE
Adjust depth stake by removing the hairpin
clip and clevis pin. Change depth stake to
desired position. Replace the clevis pin
and hairpin clip.
• For normal tilling, set depth stake at the
second or third hole from the top.
WHEELS
Adjust wheels by removing the hairpin clip
and clevis pin. Change wheel position. Re-
place the hairpin clip and clevis pin.
• Fornormaltilling, setwheelsatthesecond
or third hole from the top.
Hairpin Clip and
Clevis Pin
ENGINE
• Move throttle control to "STOP" posi-
tion.
• Never use choke to stop engine.
Throttle
Control
Choke
Control
FORWARD
• Squeeze forward tine control to handle.
REVERSE
• With forward tine control "OFF" (up)
position, pull back and hold reverse tine
control.
TILLING
The speed and depth of tilling is regulated
by the position ofthe depth stake and wheel
height.
The depth stake should always be belowthe
wheels for digging. It serves as a brake to
slow the tiller's forward motion to enable the
tines to penetrate the ground. Also, the more
the depth stake is lowered into the ground
the deeper the tines will dig.
Depth
Stake
9
Wheel Spring
TO TRANSPORT
_CAUTION: Before lifting or transport-
ing, allow tiller engine and muffler to
cool. Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain
gasoline from fuel tank.
AROUND THE YARD
1. Tip depth stake forward until it is held by
the stake spring.
2. Push tiller handles down, raising tines
off the ground.
3. Push or pull tiller to desired location.
AROUND TOWN
1. Disconnect spark plug wire.
2. Drain fuel tank.
3. Transport in upright position to prevent
oil leakage.
BEFORE STARTING ENGINE
IMPORTANT: Be very careful not to allow
dirt to enter the engine when checking or
adding oil or fuel. Use clean oil and fuel and
store in approved, clean, covered contain-
ers. use clean fill funnels.
FILL ENGINE WITH OIL
1. Remove hangtag from engine.
2. With engine level, remove engine oil filler
plug.