Craftsman 358795310 Owner’s Manual

Operator's Manual

CRRFTSMRN

24cc/1.3 cu. in. 2-Cycle

17 Inch Cutting Path / .080 In. Line

GASOLINE WEEDWACKER _

Model No.

358.795310

WARNING:

Read and follow all Safety Rules and Operating Instructions before first use of this product.

For answers to your questions about this product,

call 7am'7pm, Mon.-Sat., or 10am-7pm, Sun.

1-800-235-5878 €.ou_,,=od_oco._o,_,.._

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 USA

530-084638 01/16/98

Warranty Statement 2 Storage 11

Safety Rules 2 TroubleshootingChart 12 Assembly 4 Parts List 13

Operation 5 Maintenance 9 Spanish 16

Service &Adjustments 10 Partsand Ordering Back

FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN GAS POWERED WEEDWACKER _ LINE TRIMMER.

Forone year from thedate of purchase, whenthis Craftsman Gas Powered

Weedwaoker® Line Tdmmer ismaintained, lubricated, and tuned up according to

theoperating and maintenance instructionsinthe Operator's Manual, Sears will

repair,free of charge, any defect in materials orworkmanship. This warranty excludes nylon line,spark plug, and air filter,whtchare expendable

partsand becomeworn duringnormal use.

Ifthis Weedwacker® Line Trimmer is usedfor commercialpurposes, this warran- ty applies for only90 daysfrom the date of purchase. If this Weedwacker® Line Tdmmer is usedfor rental purposes, thiswarranty applies foronly30 days from

the date of purchase. This warrantyapplies onlywhile this productis in use inthe UnitedStates.

WARRANTYSERVICEISAVAILABLEBYRETURNINGTHEWEEDWACKER®LINE

TRIMMERTOTHE NEARESTSEARSSERVICECENTERINTHE UNITEDSTATES. Thiswarranty givesyou specific legal dghts, and you may also have other dghts

whichvary from state to state. Sears, Roebuck and Co., 01817 WA Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

WARNING: When usinggardening appliances,basic safety precautions

mustalways be followedto reducethe

riskoffire and sedous injury.Read and fellow all instructions.

Thispower un# can be dangerous!

Operatoris responsiblefor following instructionsand warnings on unitand in manual. Read entire Operator's Manualbefore usingunit!Be thorough- lyfamiliar with the controlsand the

properuse of the unit.Restrictthe use ofthis unit to personswho haveread,

understand,and willfollowthe instruc- tionsand wamings on the unitand in

the manual. Never allowchildrento operatethis uniL

Safetyinformationontheurdt

DANGER: Never use blades orflail-

ing devices.This unit isdesigned for linetdmmer use only. Use of any other

accessoriesor attachments will in-, crease the dskof injury.

WARNING: Tdmrnerlinethrowsob- jectsviolently.Youand othersCanbe

blindedlinjursd.Weareyeandleg

protection.Keep bodyparts clear of rotatingline. Keep children,bystand-

ers, and animals 50 feet (15 meters) away.If approached stop unitimmedi-

ately.

EyeProtec_on

If situationsoccur which are not coveredin this manual, usecare and

goodjudgement. If you need assistance,contact yourAuthorized

Service Dealer or call 1-800-235-5878.

OPERATOR SAFETY

• Always wear safety eye protection.

• Always wear long pants, long

sleeves, boots, and gloves.Wearing

safety leg guards is recommended.

Do notgo barefoot orwear sandals. Stayclear of spinningEne.

• Secure hair above shoulder length. Secure or remove Jooseclothingor

clothingwith loosely hangingties,

straps,tassels, ets. They can be

caught in moving parts. Beingfully coveredalso helps protect youfrom

debrisand pieces oftoxic plants thrownby spinning line.

• Do not operate when you are tired,

ill,or under the influenceof alcohol, drugs,or medication.

° Wear hearing protection ifyou use

unitfor more than 1-1./2hourspar day.

• Never start or run inside a dosed

roomor building. Breathingexhaust

fumes can kill.

• Keep handles free of oil and fuel.

UNIT / MAINTENANCE SAFETY

• Disconnectthe spark plug before

performingmaintenance except car- buretoradjustments.

• Lookfor and replace damaged or

looseparts before each use. Look

for end repair fuel leaks before use.

Keep ingood workingcondition.

, Replace trimmer head parts that are

chipped,cracked, broken, ordarn- aged in any other way before using the unit.

• Make sure unit is a_embled correct-

lyas shown in this manual.

• Make carburetor adjustmentswith

lower end supportedto prevent line from contacting any object.

• Keep othersaway when making car-

buretoradjustments.

• Use only recommended Craftsman

accessories and mptacementparts,

FUEL SAFETY

- Mix and pour fuel outdoors.

• Keep away from sparks or flames.

• Use a container approved for fuel.

• Do notsmoke or allow smokingnear

fuet or the ur_

• Wipe upall fuel spills.

• Move at least 10 feet (3 meters) away fromfueling site before starting

engine.

• Stop engine and allow to cool before

removingfuel cap.

CU'I'rlNG SAFETY , Use on_ for trimming, mowing, and

sweeping. Do not use forpruning or hedge trimming.

• inspect the area before each use.

Remove objects (rocks,broken

glass, nails, wire, etc.) which canbe thrownby orbecome entangled in

line. Hard objects can damage the

tdmmer head andbe thrown causing seriousinjury.

• Keep firmfooting and balance. Do

not overreach.

• Keep all partsof your bodyaway

from muffler and spinning line. Keep en_ne below waist level. A hotmuf-

fler can cause serious bums.

• Cutting on leftside ofthe shield will throw debrisaway from the operator.

TRANSPORTING AND STORAGE

• Allowengine to cool;,secure unit be- fore storingortransporting in vehicle.

• Empty the fuel tank before storingor transportingthe unit.Use up fuel left

inthe carburetorby starting the en-

gine and letting it run untilit stops,

• Store unit and fuel in area where fuel

vapors cannot reach sparks or open

flames from water heaters, electric

motors orswitches, furnaces, etc_

• Stere unitso line limitercannot acci- dentallycause injury.The unitcan be

hungby the tube.

° Store unitoutof reach of children.

• If situations occur which are notcov-

ered in this manual, use care and good judgment, If you need assis.

tance, call 1-800-235_5878.

SPECIAL NOTICE: This unit isnot equippedwith atemperature limiting

mufflerand spark arresting screen whichmeets the requirementsofCall+

fomia Codes 4442 and 4443. All U.S. forest land and the states ofCalifornia,

Idaho,Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey,

Oregon, and Washington requireby

law that many internalCombustionen-

gines be equipped with a spark arres-

torscreen. If you operatein a locale

where such regulationsexist, you are

legallyresponsiblefor installingand

maintaining the operating conditionof these parts. Failure to do so isa viola- tion of law. Contact yourAuthorized Service Dealer for the Corre_ parts,

SPECIAL NOTICE: Exposure to

vibrationsthrough _rolonged useof gasoiine poweredhand tools could cause blood vessel or nerve damage

in the fingers, hands, and joints of people prone to circulationdisordersor

abnormal swellings. Prolonged use in cold weather has beenlinked to blood

vessel damage in otherwise healthy people, if symptomsoccur such as

numbness, pain, loss of strength, change in skincolor ortexture, orloss

offeeling inthe fingers, hands, or

joints, discontinuethe use of this tool

and seek medical attention. An anti-

vibrationsystem does notguarantee the avoidance ofthese problems. Us- ere who operate power toolson a con-

tinual and regularbasis must monitor closely their physicalconditionand the

condition of this tool,

CARTON CONTENTS Check carton contentsagainst the fol-

lowing list.

Model 358.795310

• Trimmer . Shield

• Wing Nut (screwed ontoshield)

• Extra Spool with line

• Gas Tank (1 gal.)

• Container of Oil Exam;_e partsfor damage. Do not use

damaged parts.

NOTE: If you need assistanceor find

partsmissing or damaged, call

1-800-235-5878.

It is normalfor the fuel filterto rattlein the empty fueltank.

Findingfuel or oil residueon muffler is normaldue tocarburetoradjuStments

and teslJngdone bythe manufacturer. ASSEMBLY WARNING: If received assembled,

repeat all steps to ensureyour unit is

propedy assembled and allfasteners

are secure.

ADJUSTING THE HANDLE WARNING: When adjustingthe han-

dle, be sure it remains between the trigger and the safety label.

* Loosen wingnut or knob onhandle.

• Rotate the handleonthe tube to an

updght position;retightenwing nut,

ATTACHING SHIELD WARNING: The shieldmustbe properly

installed.The shieldprovidespafdal

protectionfromthe riskof thrownobjects to the operatorand othersand is

equippedwitha linel_miterwhichcuts excess line to the properlength. The fine timiter (onundersideofshield) is sharp and can cutyou. Forproperorientation,

see iliustralioninOperalionsection.

• Remove wing nut fromshield.

• insert bracket into slotas shown.

• Pivot shield until boltpasses through hole in brackeL

• Secure_' tightenwing nut onto bolt.

Slot

Shield _ cket

KNOWYOURTRIMMER

READTHISOPERATOR'SMANUALANDSAFETY"RULESBEFOREOPERATINGYOUR UNIT.Compare the illustmti0nswith your unitto familiarize yourselfwith the Joca-

tionof the vadouscontrolsand adjustments. Save thismanual forfuture refer-

ence.

AssistHandle

Trh'nmer

Muffler

ON/STOP Trigger Switch\

Starter Handh

Choke Lever Shield

Head

ON/STOP SWITCH The STOPswitchis usedto stop engine.

Pressand hold_ to stopengine.

PRIMER BULB The primer bulbremoves air from the

fuel lines and fillsthem with fuel. This allows you to start the engine withfew-

er pullson the starter rope. Activate

the primer bulbby pressing itand

allowingit to returnto its origirlalform.

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE WARNING: Be sure to read the fuel informationinthe safety rulesbefore

you begin. If you do not understand the safety roles,do not attempt to fuel your unit.Call 1-800-235-5878.

FUELING ENGINE

Thisengine is certifiedtooperate on unleaded gasoline. Before operation,

gasolinemust be mixed witha good

quality2-cyclo air-cooled engine oil. We recommend Craftsman brand oil.

Mix gasoline and oilat a ratioof 40:1 (A 40:1 ratiois obtained by mixing3.2

ounces of oilwith I gallonof unleaded gasoline). DONOTUSE automotive o_

or boat oil.These oilswillcause

engine damage. When mixing fuel,

follow instructionsprintedon container.

PrimerBulb

FuelMix Lirniter

Fi_Gap Blade

CHOKE

The choke helps to supplyfuel tothe carburetordudngstarling.This allows you tostart a coldengine.Activatethe choke by movingchoke leverto the Full

position.Afterthe enginehas stetted, move the choketothe Off position.

EDGE GUIDE

The edge guide protectsthe unitfrom contactingthe groundduring edging.

Once oil is added to gasoline, shake container momantadly to assure that

the fuel isthoroughly mixed. Always read andfollow the safety rules relatingto fuel beforefueling your unit.

IMPORTANT

Experience indlcatasthatalcohol blended fuels (csIted gasoholor using

ethanol or meti_nol) can attract mois- ture which leads to separationand

formation of acids durfngstorage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel sys-

tem of an engine while instorage. To avoid engine problems,empty the fuel system before storage for 30 days or longer. Drain the gastank, start the

engine andlet it rununtilthe fuel lines and carburetor are empty.Use fresh

fuel next season.

Line

Never use engineor carburetorclean-

or productsin the fuel tank or perma- nentdamage may occur. See the STORAGE sectionforaddi-

tional information.

STOPPING YOUR ENGINE

• Press and hold the On/Stop switchin theSTOP pos_on.

• If engine does not stop, move choke leverto full position.

ChokeLever

STARTING YOUR ENGINE COLD ENGINE OR WARM ENGINE

AFTER RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WARNING: The trimmerhead will

turnwhile staxtingtheengine.

Avoid any contactwiththe muffler.A

hotmuffler can cause serious bums.

• Restengineandshieldonground, suppOrtingtrimmerheadoffground.

• MovethechokelevertotheFull Chokepos_on.

• Slowlypresstheprimerbulb6times.

• Squeezeandholdthethretfletrigger.

Keepthrottletriggerfullysqueezed untiltheenginerunssmoothly.

_tv Ch°ke

• Pullstealerrope sharply 5 times. NOTE: If the engine sounds as if itis

tryingtostart before the 5thpull, go to the next step.

• Move the choke lever to the Half

Choke position.

• Pull starter rope sharply untilengine

runs,but no more than 6 pulis.

NOTE: Ifthe engine has not staded

after 6 pulls(at half choke), checkto make surethe choke lever is in the

proper position.Then, move the choke lever to the Full Choke position and press the primer bulb6 times; squeeze and holdthe throttle triggerand pull the starterrope 2 more times. Move

the choke lever to Half Choke and pull the starterrope untilthe engine runs,

butno morethan 6 more pulls. If the engine stillhas not started, it is prob-

ablyflooded. Proceed to "Startinga Rooded Engine."

• Allowthe engine to run 10 seconds, then move the choke lever to Off

Choke.Allow the unit to run for30 more seconds at Off Choke before

releasingthe throttle trigger.

NOTE: If engine dies withthe choke lever at the Off Choke position,move the chokelever to Half Choke and pull

the rope untilengine runs.

STARTING A WARM ENGINE

• Movethe choke lever tothe Half

Chokeposition.

• Squeeze and holdthe throttle trigger. Keepthrottle trigger fully squeezed

untilthe engine runs smoothly.

• Pull starterrope sharply until engine

runs,but no more than 5 pulls.

- Allow engine to run 15 seconds,

then move the choke lever to Off Choke.

NOTE: Ifengine has not started, pull starterrope 5 more pulls. If engine still

doesnot run, it isprobablyflooded. DIFFICULT STARTING OR

STARTING A FLOODED ENGINE Floodedengines can bestarted by

placingthe choke lever in the Off Chokeposition;then, pull the rope to

¢lsar the engine ofexcess fuel This could require pullingthe starter handle

many times depending on how badly the unitisflooded.

Ifthe unit stilldoesn't start, refer to

TROUBLESHOOTING chart or call 1-800-235-5878.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS OPERATINGPOSITION

ALWAYS WEAR: _------_

Eye Protection

To eelvance line, tap bottom of trimmer head on groundone _me.

Line IJ properlength,

LongPants -_

HeavyShoes

Cutfromyourfighttoyourraft.

Bringthe engineto cuttingspeed be- fore enteringthe materialto be cut.

Do not runthe engine at a higher speedthan necessary. The cutting line

willcutefficientlywhen the engine is runat lessthan full throttle.At lower

speeds,there is less engine noise and vibration.The cuttingline will last

longerand willbe less likelyto"weld _ ontothe spool.

Ifthe trimmer head does not turn when

the engine isin operation,make sure the drive shafthousingis properly

seated in engine shroud. Always releasethe throttle trigger and

allowthe engine to retum to idlespeed when not cutting. Tostop engine:

• Release the throttletdgger0

• Pushand hold down the oldstop

switchuntilthe engine hasstopped completely.

TRIMMER UNE ADVANCE The trimmer line willadvance approxi-

mately 2 in. (5 cm) each time the bot- tomof the trimmer head istapped on

the ground_ the engine runningat

fullthrottle. The mostefficientline lengthis the

maximum lengthallowed by the line

llmiter.

Alwayskeep the shieldin place when the too)is being operated.

ToAdvance Line:

• Operate the engine at fullthrottle.

• Hold the trimmer head paraJletto and

above the grassyarea.

• Tapthe bottom ofthe trimmer head lightlyonthe groundone time. Ap-

proximately2 in. (5 cm)of line will be advanced witheach tap.

Always tapthe trimmer head ona grassy area. Tapping on surfacessuch as concrete orasphalt can cause ex- csssive wear tothe trimmerhead.

If the line is worn downto 2 in.(5 cm) or teas, more than one tap will be re-

quiredto obtain the most efficient line length.

WARNING: Use only .080" (2 ram) diameter line. Other.sizes of line will

notadvance properly and can cause

seriousinjury. Do not use other materi- als such as wire, string,rope, etc, Wire

can break off during cuttingand be- come a dangerous missilethat can

cause seriousinju_. CUTTING METHODS WARNING: Use minimumspeed and

do not crowd the linewhen cutting around hard objects (rock, gravel,

fence posts,etc.), whichcan damage the trimmer head, become entangled

in the line,or be thrown causing a sad*

due hazard.

• The tip of the line does the cutting.

YOuwill achieve the bestperform-

ance and minimum line wear by not crowdingthe line into the cutting area. The right and wrongways are

shown below,

T_poftheUne LineCrowdedInto

DoesTheCutting Work/Vea

Right

• The linewilleasily remove grass and

weeds fromaround walls,fences,

trees and flowerbeds, butit also can

cutthe tender bark oftrees or shrubs and scar fences, To help avoid dam-

age especiallyto delicate vegetation ortrees with tender bark,shorten line

to 4-5 in. (10-13 cm) and use at less than full throttle.

• For trimmingor scalping, use less than fu_throttle to increase line life

and decrease head wear, especially:

• During lightdutycutting.

• Near objectsaround whichthe line can wrap such as small posts,

trees or fence wire.

• For mowing orsweeping, use full throttlefor a goodclean job,

WARNING: Always wear eye protec- tion. Never lean over the trimmer head.

Rocks or debds can ricochet or be

thrown into eyes and f_e and cause blindness or otherserious injuly.

TRIMMING - Holdthe bottom of the tdmmer head about3 in. {8 cm) above the ground end at an angle. Allow only

the tip of the lineto make contact, Do notforce trimmerline into work area.

Trimming .. o.

SCALPING - The scalping technique removes unwanted vegetation. Hold

the bottom of the trimmer head about 3 in. (8 cm) above the groundand at an

angle. Allow the tip of the line to strike the ground around trees, posts, monu-

ments, etc. This technique increases linewear.

Scalpt_ jr ......

MOWING - Yourtrimmer is ideal for mowing in places conventional lawn mowerscannot reach. In the mowing pos_on, keep theline parallel to the ground.Avoidpressing the head into

the ground as thiscan scalp the groundand damage the tool

Mowing I1

8WEENNG - The fanning action of the rotatinglinecan be used for a

quickarmeasy' clean up, Keep the line paralleltoand above the surfaces be-

ing swept and move the toolfrom side tOside.

EDGING - Your unitcan be usedfor

edgingsidewalks,patios,driveways,etc, While edging,_ow the t_pof the Freeto nt_e contact.Do notforce line. The

edgeguardhelpsprotectthe urfitby keepingunitfromcontactingthe ground.

Take extracautionwh_eedgingas ob- jects canbe thrown bytdmmer line.

Edging

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

CARE & MAINTENANCE TASK

Checkfor Loosefasteners and parts...........

Checkfor damaged or worn parts

Clean unitand labels Clean air filter Replace spark plug

WHEN TO, PERFORM

Before each use Before ead_ use _

Aftereantf use

Every 5 hoursof operation ..........

Yeady .........

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty onthis unitdoes not cov- er itemsthathave been subjectedto

operatorabuse ornegligence. To re- ceivefullvalue from the warranty, the operatormust maintain unitas instruct- ed in this manual. Vadous edju,,%_nents

willneed tobe made period_callyto properlymaintain your unit,

CHECK FOR LOOSE FASTENERS AND PARTS

• SparkPlug Boot

')Air Filter

• HousingScrews

• As_st Handle Screws

• DebrisShield CHECK FOR DAMAGED OR

WORN PARTS Referreplacement ofdamaged/worn

partsto your Sears Service Center.

• On/StopSwitch - Ensure On/Stop

switchfunctions properly by pressing andholdingthe switch in the "Stop"

position.Make sure engine stops;

then restart engine and continue.

• FuelTank- Discontinue use of un_if

fueltankshows signs ofdamage or

leaks.

= Debds Shield- Discontinue use of

unitif debdsshield is damaged.

CLEAN UNIT & LABELS

• Cisanthe unit using a daJ'npcloth witha mild detergent.

• Wipeoff unitwith a clean drycloth.

CLEAN AIR FILTER Do not clean filter in gasoline or other

flammable solventto avoid creating a firehazard orproducing harmful evap-

orathte emissions.

A dirty air filter decreases engine per- formance and increases fuel consump-

tionand harmfulemissions. Always clean after every 5 hOUrsof operation.

• Clean the cover and the area around it to keep dirt from Pallingintothe

carburetor chamber when the cover is removed.

* Remove partsas illustrated.

• Wash the filter in soap and water, * Altowfilterto drY.

o Replace parts.

Cover

REPLACE SPARK PLUG Replace the spark plug each year to

ensure the engine starts easier and runs better. Setspark plug gap at .025 in. ignitiontiming is fixed and

nonadjustable.

• Twist,then pull off spark plug boot.

• Remove spark plug from cylinder and discard.

- Replace with Champion RCJ-SY

spark plugand tighten witha 3/4 in. sockst wrench (10-12 ft.-ibs),

• Reinstallthe spark plug boot.

ADVANCINGTHECUTTINGLINE

Advanceline bytapping bottomof cut-

ting head lightlyon the groundwhile engine is running at full speed. A metal blade attached tothe shieldwillcut the

lineto the proper length. REPLACING THE LINE

* Pressthe Iocktabs and removecover. . Remove the spool.

* Check the indexingteeth on the spool

and hub forwear.

• Usa a clean clothtowipe the inner/out- ersurfaces of the spool and hub.

, Useonly.O8Oinch(2ram}diamsterline.

. Cuta _ngth oflineabout22feet(6.5m}.

. Bendthe lineat the midpoint.

Fs,°t

, Insert thebend intothe slotinthe inner

dm of the spool.

. Wind the line evenly and tighffyonto

the spool;,wind in directionof arrow found on spool.

, Push the line intothe notches,leaving

3-5 inches (8--12 cm) unwound.

o insertline intotineexithoh_sas shown. * Align notcheswiththe lineexit holes.

, Push the spool into the hub until it osnaps into place.

Pull the ends of the line to seat the

spool in the hub.

• Re-install the cover.

LockTab Unein

TJ Lineexithois notches

! !

Une exit hole

CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT

WARNING: The trimmer head wigbe spinning duringmost of this procedure.

Wear yourprotective equipmentand observe all safety precautions. After

making mixture adjustments, recheck idlespeed.

Cover

Carburetor adjustmentis c"nticaland if done improperly can permanently

damage the engine as well as the cap

buretor. Ifyou requirefurther assis- tance orare unsureabout performing

this procedure, call ourcustomeras- sistance help line at 1-800-235-5878.

Old fuel, a dirtyair filter, a dirtyfuel fil- ter,or floodingmay give the impres-

sionof an improperlyadjustedcarbu-

retor.Check these conditionsbefore adjustingthe carburetor, The carburetorhas beencarefully set at the factory. Adjustmentsmay be necessary if you noticeany ofthe fol- lowingcond_ons: * Engine will not idle, See =idleSpeed'

under adjustingprocedure.

, Engine dies or hesitatesinstead of

accelerating. See =Acceleration Check" underadjusting procedure.

* Loss of cuttingpower.See =Mixture

Adjustment"underadjusting procedure.

There are twoadjustmentscrews on

the carburetor.

_Umiter

CARBURETOR PRESETS

When making carburetorpreset adjust- ments, do not force plasticlimitercaps

beyondstops or damage will oscur. If carburetorpresets are notneeded,

proceed to =Adjusting Procedure,Idle Speed."

Toadjust presets:

• Turn mixture screw counterclockwise untilitstops.

• Turn the idle speed screw clockwise untilitstops. Nowturn counterclock-

wise 4-I/2 rums.

• Start motor, cut grass for3 minutes,

and proceed to the adjustment section. Ifengine does notstart,

refer to troubleshootingchart or call

1-800-235-5878.

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