Craftsman C459-62206-1 Operator's Manual page 15

• When breaking up sod and for shallow cultivation, use the setting
which gives 1" of tilling depth (second hole from the top). Place
the side shields in their lowest position.
• For further depth, raise the depth stake and side shields and also
make one or two more passes over the area.
• When tilling loose soil, the depth stake may be raised to its
highest position (use bottom adjustment hole) to give the deepest
tilling depth. Raise the side shields to their highest position.
• To transport tiller, lower the depth stake (use top adjustment hole).
To adjust the depth stake, remove the clevis pin and cotter pin. Move
the depth stake to the desired setting and secure with the clevis pin
and cotter pin. See Figure 15.
Depth Stake
Cotter Pin
Clevis Pin
To adjust the side shields, remove the wing nuts. Move the side shield
to the desired position and replace the wing nuts. Tighten securely.
See Figure 16.
OPERATION
Transport
1"
3"
5"
7"
Figure 15
Wing Nut
Side Shield
Figure 16
TILLING TIPS & TECHNIQUES
Before tilling, contact your telephone or utilities company and inquire
if underground equipment or lines are used on your property. Do not
till near buried electric cables, telephone lines, pipes or hoses.
Tilling Depth
• Don't overload the engine, but dig as deeply as possible on each
pass. On later passes, the wheels may tend to spin in the soft dirt.
Help them along by lifting up slightly on the handlebar (one hand,
palm up, works most easily).
• Avoid the temptation to push down on the handlebars in an
attempt to force the tiller to dig deeper. Doing so takes the weight
off the powered wheels, causing them to lose traction. Without
the wheels to hold the tiller back, the tines will attempt to propel
towards the operator or away from the operator.
• When cultivating (breaking up the surface soil around the plants
to destroy weeds, See Figure 17), adjust the tines to dig only 1" to
2" deep. Using the shallow tilling depth helps prevent injury to the
plants whose roots often grow close to the surface. If needed, lift
up on the handlebars slightly to prevent the tines from digging too
deeply. (Cultivating on a regular basis not only eliminates weeds, it
also loosens and aerates the soil for better moisture absorption and
faster plant growth.) Watering the garden area a few days prior to
tilling will make tilling easier, as will letting the newly worked soil set
for a day or two before making a final, deep tilling pass.
Choosing the Correct Wheel & Tine Speeds
With experience, you will find the tilling depth and tilling speed combina-
tion that is best for your garden. Set the engine throttle lever at a speed
to give the engine adequate power and yet allow it to operate at the slow-
est possible speed until you have achieved the maximum tilling depth
you desire. Faster engine speeds may be desirable when making final
passes through the seedbed or when cultivating. Selection of the correct
engine speed, in relation to the tilling depth, will ensure a sufficient power
level to do the job without causing the engine to labor.
15
WARNING
Figure 17