Craftsman 944.628655, 944.628652, 944.628654, 944.628653 Owner's Manual

OWNER’S

MANUAL

MODEL NO.

944.628655

Important:
Read and fol low
all Safety Rules
and In struc tions
Be fore Op er at ing
This Equip ment

900 SERIES
24 INCH TINE WIDTH

• Assembly

• Operation

• Maintenance

• Service and Adjustments

• Repair Parts

Gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol (E10) is acceptable for use in this machine.

The use of any gasoline exceeding 10% ethanol (E10) will void the product warranty.

*As rated by the engine manufacturer

Sears Canada, Inc., Toronto, Ontario M5B 2B8

442782

SAFETY RULES

SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES FOR WALK-BEHIND POWERED RO TA RY TILLERS

TRAINING

• Read the Owner’s Manual care ful ly. Be thor ough ly
fa mil iar with the controls and the proper use of the
equip ment. Know how to stop the unit and disengage
the controls quickly.

• Never allow children to operate the equipment. Never
allow adults to op er ate the equipment without proper
instruction.

• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, par­ tic u lar ly small children, and pets.

PREPARATION

• Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is
to be used and remove all foreign objects.

• Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before
starting the engine (mo tor).

• Do not operate the equipment with out wearing ad e ­quate outer gar ments. Wear footwear that will im prove
footing on slippery surfaces.

• Handle fuel with care; it is highly flammable.

• Use an approved fuel container.

• Never add fuel to a running engine or hot engine.

• Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never fill fuel
tank indoors.

• Replace gasoline cap securely and clean up spilled
fuel before restarting.

• Use extension cords and receptacles as specified by
the manufacturer for all units with electric drive motors
or electric starting motors.

• Never attempt to make any adjustments while the
engine (motor) is running (except where specifically
rec om mend ed by manufacturer).

• Do not run the engine indoors; exhaust fumes are
dangerous.

• Never operate the tiller without proper guards, plates,
or other safety protective devices in place.

• Keep children and pets away.

• Do not overload the machine capacity by attempting
to till too deep at too fast a rate.

• Never operate the machine at high speeds on slippery
surfaces. Look behind and use care when backing.

• Never allow bystanders near the unit.

• Use only attachments and accessories approved by
the manufacturer of the tiller.

• Never operate the tiller without good visibility or light.

• Be careful when tilling in hard ground. The tines may
catch in the ground and propel the tiller forward. If this
occurs, let go of the handlebars and do not restrain the
machine.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

• Keep machine, attachments, and accessories in safe
work ing condition.

• Check shear pins, engine mounting bolts, and other
bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be
sure the equip ment is in safe working condition.

• Never store the machine with fuel in the fuel tank inside
a building where ignition sources are present, such
as hot water and space heaters, clothes dryers, and
the like. Allow the engine to cool before storing in any
enclosure.

• Always refer to the operator’s guide instructions for
im por tant details if the tiller is to be stored for an ex­tended period.

OPERATION

• Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts.

• Exercise extreme caution when op er at ing on or cross­ ing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden
hazards or traffic. Do not carry pas sen gers.

• After striking a foreign object, stop the engine (motor),
remove the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly in spect
the tiller for any damage, and repair the damage before
restarting and op er at ing the tiller.

• Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.

• If the unit should start to vibrate ab nor mal ly, stop the
engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause.
Vi bra tion is generally a warning of trouble.

• Stop the engine (motor) when leaving the operating
position.

• Take all possible precautions when leav ing the ma chine
unattended. Disengage the tines, shift into neutral, and
stop the engine.

• Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, shut off the
engine and make certain all moving parts have stopped.
Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep the wire away
from the plug to prevent accidental starting. Disconnect
the cord on electric motors.

- IMPORTANT -

CAUTIONS, IMPORTANTS, AND NOTES ARE A MEANS OF
ATTRACTING ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT OR CRIT I CAL
IN FOR MA TION IN THIS MANUAL.

IMPORTANT: USED TO ALERT YOU THAT THERE IS A
POS SI BIL I TY OF DAM AG ING THIS EQUIP MENT.

NOTE: Gives essential information that will aid you to
better understand, incorporate, or execute a particular set
of instructions.

Look for this symbol to point out im­ por tant safety precautions. It means
CAUTION!!! BE COME ALERT!!! YOUR
SAFE TY IS INVOLVED.

CAUTION: Always disconnect spark
plug wire and place wire where it can­ not contact spark plug in order to pre­ vent ac ci den tal starting when setting
up, trans port ing, adjusting or making
re pairs.

2

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

GASOLINE CAPACITY: 3.0 Quarts (2.84L)
Unleaded Reg u lar

OIL (API-SF-SJ): SAE 30 Above 32°F/0°C
(Capacity: 20 oz/0,6L) SAE 5w30 Below 32°F/0°C

SPARK PLUG : Champion RC12YC
(GAP: .030"/0.76mm)

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a Sears Tiller. It
has been designed, en gi neered and manu fac tured to give
you the best pos sible de penda bil ity and per form ance.

Should you experience any prob lems you can not easily
remedy, please contact your nearest authorized Sears
Service Centre/Department. They have com pe tent, well­trained tech ni cians and the proper tools to service or repair
this unit.

Please read and retain this manual. The in struc tions will
enable you to assemble and main tain your tiller prop erly.
Always observe the “SAFETY RULES”.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Read and observe the safety rules.

• Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for
and using your tiller.

• Follow the instructions under the “Maintenance” and
“Stor age” sections of this Owner’s Manual.

IMPORTANT: THIS UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERNAL
COMBUSTION ENGINE AND SHOULD NOT BE USED ON
OR NEAR ANY UNIMPROVED FOREST-COVERED, BRUSH­COVERED OR GRASS COVERED LAND UNLESS THE
ENGINE’S EXHAUST SYSTEM IS EQUIPPED WITH A SPARK
ARRESTER MEETING APPLICABLE LOCAL OR STATE LAWS
(IF ANY). IF A SPARK ARRESTER IS USED, IT SHOULD BE
MAINTAINED IN EFFECTIVE WORK ING ORDER BY THE
OPERATOR.

SEE YOUR SEARS AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTRE/
DEPARTMENT FOR SPARK ARRESTER. REFER TO THE
REPAIR PARTS SECTION OF THIS MANUAL FOR PART
NUMBER.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SAFETY RULES ............................................................ 2

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ................................. 3

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS ....................................... 3

ASSEMBLY ................................................................. 4-5

OPERATION ...............................................................6-9

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ...................................... 10

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE .................................10-12

SERVICE & ADJUSTMENTS .................................13-14

STORAGE .................................................................... 15

TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................. 16

REPAIR PARTS-TILLER......................................... 17-22

REPAIR PARTS-ENGINE ....................................... 23-26

WARRANTY ................................................................. 27

SERVICE/PARTS ORDERING ................BACK COVER

3

ASSEMBLY

(2) Flange

Locknuts

5/16-18 UNC

(2) Lock
Washer
5/16

(2) Hex Nut
5/16-18

(2) Hex Bolt
5/16-18 x 1-1/4

(2) Carriage Bolts
5/16-18 UNC x 2-1/2

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

(1) Manual

(1) Bottle
Engine Oil

Your new tiller has been assembled at the factory with exception of those parts left unassembled for shipping purposes.
To ensure safe and proper operation of your tiller all parts and hard ware you assemble must be tight ened securely. Use
the correct tools as necessary to insure proper tightness.

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY

A socket wrench set will make assembly easier. Stan dard
wrench sizes are listed.

(1) Utility knife

(2) 1/2 Wrench

OPERATOR’S POSITION (See Fig. 1)

When right or left hand is mentioned in this man ual, it
means when you are in the operating po si tion (standing
behind tiller handles).

LEFT

FRONT

overhead_views_7

RIGHT

OPERATOR’S
POSITION

Fig. 1

4

ASSEMBLY

UNPACK CARTON & INSTALL HANDLE
(See Fig. 2)

CAUTION: Be careful of exposed
sta ples when handling or disposing of
cartoning material.

IMPORTANT: WHEN UNPACKING AND AS SEM BLING

TILLER, BE CAREFUL NOT TO STRETCH OR KINK
CABLE(S).

• Cut cable ties securing handle column.

• Route cable(s) as shown and slide handle column onto
handle mount.

• Remove all packing from carton.

• Secure handle column using two (2) carriage bolts and
two (2) flange locknuts. Tighten se cure ly.

• Cut away carton.

• Route tine control cable(s) through plas tic cable clip
on handle mount.

NOTE: Cables must not touch the muffler.

• Cut cable ties securing tiller to skid. Re move tiller from
skid by pulling backwards.

• Remove screws securing depth stake to skid and
discard the screws.

INSTALL DEPTH STAKE ASSEMBLY
(See Fig. 3)

• Loosen nut “A”.

• Insert stake support between engine bracket halves
with stake spring down.

• Bolt stake support to engine brackets with bolts, lock
washers and nuts. Tighten se curely. Tighten nut “A”.

• Depth stake must move freely. If it does not, loosen
support bolt.

d

e

pth_

st

a

k

e_

4

Hex Bolts, Lock Wash ers, and hex Nuts

Engine Bracket Halves

Nut “A”

Depth Stake Support

Depth
Stake

Support Bolt

Stake Spring

Fig. 3

HAN DLE
MOUNT

CARRIAGE
BOLT

TINE
CONTROL
CABLE

TINE CON TROL

HANDLE
COLUMN

HANDLE HEIGHT

• Handle height may be adjusted to better suit operator.
(See “HANDLE HEIGHT” in the Service and Ad just ments
section of this manual).

TILLING WIDTH

• Tilling width may be adjusted to better handle your
tilling con di tions (See “TINE ARRANGEMENT” in the
Ser vice and Adjustments section of this manual).

TINE OPERATION

• Check tine operation before first use. (See “TINE
OPERATION CHECK” in the Service and Adjustments
section of this manual).

FLANGE
LOCKNUT

Fig. 2

5

OPERATION

KNOW YOUR TILLER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR TILLER.

Compare the illustrations with your tiller to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save
this manual for future reference.

These symbols may appear on your Tiller or in literature supplied with the product. Learn and understand their
meaning.

Forward Tine Control

Depth
Stake

Recoil Starter
Handle

Fuel Shut-Off Valve

Choke Control

Fig. 4

Fuel Fill Port

Throttle Control

Tines

MEETS ANSI SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Our tillers conform to the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute.

CHOKE CONTROL - Used when start ing a cold engine.

DEPTH STAKE - Controls forward speed and the depth

at which tiller will dig.

FORWARD TINE CONTROL - En gag es tines in forward
direction.

FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVE - The fuel valve opens and closes
the passage between the fuel tank and the carburetor.

RECOIL STARTER HANDLE - Used to start the engine.

THROTTLE CONTROL - Used to con trol en gine speed.

6

OPERATION

depth_stak

e_4

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 a wide vision safety mask for over spectacles or standard
safety glasses.

HOW TO USE YOUR TILLER

Know how to operate all controls before adding fuel and
oil or attempting to start engine.

STOPPING (See Fig. 5)

TINES

• Release tine control to stop movement.

ENGINE

• Move throttle control to “STOP” position.

• Never use choke to stop engine.

TINE CONTROL
“OFF” (UP) POSITION

TINE CONTRL
“ON” (DOWN) POSITION

CHOKE
CONTROL

THROTTLE
CONTROL

DEPTH STAKE (See Fig. 6)

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 (See Fig. 6)

Adjust wheels by removing the hairpin clip and clevis
pin. Change wheel position. Replace the hairpin clip and
clevis pin.

• For normal tilling, set wheels at the second or third
hole from the top.

Hairpin Clip and Clevis Pin

Depth
Stake

Fig. 5

TINE OPERATION

• Squeeze tine control to handle.

TILLING

The speed and depth of tilling is regulated by the position
of the depth stake and wheel height.

The depth stake should always be below the 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.

Stake

Wheel

Spring

Fig. 6

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

• Tip depth stake forward until it is held by the stake
spring.

• Push tiller handles down, raising tines off the
ground.

• Push or pull tiller to desired location.

AROUND TOWN

• Disconnect spark plug wire.

• Drain fuel tank.

• Transport in upright position to prevent oil leakage.

7

OPERATION

_

a

rt_4

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
AP PROVED, CLEAN, COVERED CONTAINERS. USE CLEAN
FILL FUNNELS.

FILL ENGINE WITH OIL (See Fig. 7)

• With engine level, remove engine oil filler plug.

• Fill engine with oil to point of overflowing. For ap proxi­ mate ca pac i ty see “PRODUCT SPEC I FI CA TIONS” on
page 3 of this manual.

• Tilt tiller back on its wheels and then re-level.

• With engine level, refill to point of overflowing if nec es­ sary. Re place oil filler plug.

OIL
LEVEL

OIL
FILLER
PLUG

Fig. 7

• For cold weather operation you should change oil for
easier starting (See “OIL VISCOSITY CHART” in the
Maintenance section of this manual).

• To change engine oil, see the Maintenance section of
this manual.

ADD GASOLINE

• Fill fuel tank to bottom of filler neck. Do not overfill.
Use fresh, clean, regular un lead ed gasoline with a
minimum of 87 octane. (Use of leaded gasoline will
increase carbon and lead oxide deposits and reduce
valve life). Do not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel
in quan ti ties that can be used within 30 days to assure
fuel freshness.

CAUTION: Fill to within 1/2 inch of top
of fuel tank to prevent spills and to
allow for fuel expansion. If gasoline
is ac ci den tal ly spilled, move machine
away from area of spill. Avoid creating
any source of ignition until gasoline
vapors have disappeared.

Wipe off any spilled oil or fuel. Do not
store, spill or use gasoline near an
open flame.

IMPORTANT: WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES

BELOW32°F(0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE
GAS O LINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD COLD WEATHER
START ING.

CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels (called gas o hol
or using ethanol or methanol) can attract mois­ture which leads to sep a ra tion and for ma tion of
acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage
the fuel system of an engine while 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 fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use
fresh fuel next sea son. See Storage In struc tions
for additional information. Never use engine or
carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or
permanent damage may occur.

TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 8)

CAUTION: Keep drive control bar in
“DISENGAGED” position when start­ ing en gine.

When starting engine for the first time or if engine has run
out of fuel, it will take extra pulls of the recoil starter to
move fuel from the tank to the engine.

• Make sure spark plug wire is prop er ly connected.

• Place throttle control in “FAST” position.

• Turn fuel shut-off valve 1/4 turn to open position.

• Move choke control to choke position.

• Grasp recoil starter handle with one hand and grasp
tiller handle with other hand. Pull rope out slowly until
engine reaches start of com pres sion cycle (rope will
pull slightly harder at this point).

• Pull recoil starter handle quickly. Do not let starter
handle snap back against starter.

• If engine fires but does not start, move choke control
to half choke position. Pull recoil starter handle until
engine starts.

• When engine starts, slowly move choke control to
"RUN" position as engine warms up.

NOTE: A warm engine requires less choking to start.

• Move throttle control to desired running position.

• Allow engine to warm up for a few minutes before
engaging tines.

NOTE: If at a high altitude (3000 feet) or in cold
temperatures (below 32°F), the carburetor fuel mixture
may need to be adjusted for best engine performance.
See "TO ADJUST CARBURETOR" in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual.
NOTE: If engine does not start, see troubleshooting
points.

SPARK PLUG

FUEL SHUT-OFF
VALVE

CHOKE
CON TROL

RE COIL
STARTER
HANDLE

THROT TLE
CON TROL

Fig. 8

8

OPERATION

321

5

4

67

BREAKING IN YOUR TILLER

Break-in your belt(s), pulleys and tine control before you
actually begin tilling.

• Start engine, tip tines off ground by pressing handles
down and engage tine control to start tine rotation.
Allow tines to rotate for five minutes.

• Check tine operation and adjust if necessary. See “TINE
OPERATION CHECK” in the Service and Ad just ments
sec tion of this manual.

TILLING HINTS

CAUTION: Until you are accustomed
to handling your tiller, start ac tu al field
use with throttle in slow position.

To help tiller move forward, lift up the handles slightly (thus
lifting depth stake out of ground). To slow down the tiller,
press down on handles.

If you are straining or tiller is shaking, the wheels and depth
stake are not set properly in the soil being tilled. The proper
setting of the wheels and depth stake is through trial and
error and depends upon the soil con di tion. (The harder or
wetter the ground, the slower the engine and tine speed
needed. Under these poor con di tions, at fast speed the
tiller will run and jump over the ground).

A properly adjusted tiller will dig with little effort from the
operator.

• Tilling is digging into, turning over, and breaking up
packed soil before planting. Loose, unpacked soil
helps root growth. Best tilling depth is 4"-6". A tiller
will also clear the soil of unwanted vege ta tion. The
de com po si tion of this vegetable mat ter en rich es the
soil. De pend ing on the climate (rain fall and wind), it
may be advisable to till the soil at the end of the grow­ing season to further condition the soil.

• Soil conditions are important for proper tilling. Tines will
not readily penetrate dry, hard soil which may con trib ute
to excessive bounce and difficult handling of your tiller.
Hard soil should be mois tened before tilling; however,
extremely wet soil will “ball-up” or clump during tilling.
Wait until the soil is less wet in order to achieve the
best results. When tilling in the fall, remove vines and
long grass to prevent them from wrapping around the
tine shaft and slowing your tilling operation.

• You will find tilling much easier if you leave a row
untilled between passes. Then go back between tilled
rows. (See Fig. 8) There are two reasons for doing
this. First, wide turns are much easier to negotiate than
about-faces. Sec ond, the tiller won’t be pulling itself,
and you, toward the row next to it.

• Set depth stake and wheel height for shallow tilling
when working extremely hard soil or sod. Then work
across the first cuts at normal depth.

CULTIVATING

Cultivating is destroying the weeds between rows to pre­ vent them from robbing nourishment and moisture from the
plants. At the same time, breaking up the upper layer of
soil crust will help retain moisture in the soil. Best digging
depth is 1"-3".

• You will probably not need to use the depth stake. Begin
by tipping the depth stake forward until it is held by the
stake spring.

• Cultivate up and down the rows at a speed which will
allow tines to uproot weeds and leave the ground in
rough con di tion, promoting no fur ther growth of weeds
and grass (See Fig. 10).

Fig. 10

Fig. 9

9