Craftsman 944.629673, Owner'S Manual

9

NUT “A”

NUT “B”

OUTER

SIDE SHIELD

DEPTH 

OR DRAG 

STAKE PIN 

"RELEASED 

POSITION"

Fig. 12

"LOCKED" PO SI TION

OPERATION

TURNING

•  Release the clutch control bar.
•  Move throttle control to “SLOW” position.
• 

Place shift lever indicator in “F” (forward) position.  Tines 

will not turn.

•  Lift handle to raise tines out of ground.
•  Swing the handle in the opposite direction you wish 

to turn, being careful to keep feet and legs away from 

tines.

•  When you have completed your turn-around, release 

the clutch control bar and lower handle.  Place shift  

lever in till position and move throttle control to de sired 

speed.  To begin tilling, hold clutch control bar against 

the handle.

CULTIVATING

•  Use the forward rotating tine drive when cultivating, 

tilling soft ground or tilling pre-tilled soil.

• 

Release depth and drag stake pins. Lower drag stake. 

Pull the depth stake up for increased tilling depth. Place 

proper pin in hole of depth stake or drag stake to lock 

in position.

•  Place shift lever indicator in counter rotating (  ) till 

position.

•  Hold the drive control bar against the handle to start 

tilling movement. Tines and wheels will both turn.

•  Move throttle control "FAST" position for deep tilling. 

To cultivate, throttle control can be set at any desired 

speed, depending on how fast or slow you wish to 

cultivate.

• 

Always lower the drag stake when using the for ward 

rotating tine drive.

OUTER SIDE SHIELDS (See Fig. 12)

The back edges of the outer side shields are slotted so 

that the shields can be raised for deep tilling and low ered 

for shal low tilling to protect small plants from being buried.  

Loosen nut “A” in slot and nut “B”.  Move shield to desired 

position (both sides).  Retighten nuts.

TO TRANSPORT

CAUTION:  Before lifting or trans port ing, 

allow tiller engine and muffler to cool.  

Disconnect spark plug wire.  Drain 

gasoline from fuel tank.

AROUND THE YARD

•  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 posi-

tion.  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.

•  Move throttle control to desired speed.

AROUND TOWN

•  Disconnect spark plug wire.
•  Drain fuel tank.
•  Transport in upright position to prevent oil leakage.

Fig. 13

OIL 

FILL

BEFORE START ING 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 CONTAINERS.  USE CLEAN 

FILL FUNNELS.

CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL (See Fig. 13)

• 

The engine in your unit has been shipped, from the 

factory, already filled with SAE 30 summer weight oil.

• 

With engine level, clean area around oil filler plug and 

remove plug.

• 

Engine oil should be to point of overflowing when engine 

is level.  For ap proxi mate capacity see “PROD UCT 

SPEC I FI CA TIONS” on page 3 of this manual.  All oil 

must meet A.P.I. Service  Classification SG-SL.

•  Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten.
•  For cold weather operation you should change oil for 

easier starting (See oil viscosity chart  in the Mainte-

nance sec tion of this manual).

•  To change engine oil, see the Maintenance section in 

this manual.