Craftsman 358796190 Owner’s Manual

_R_'r=_rti_N°perat°r'sManual ®

24cc/1.46 cu.in. 2-Cycle

17 Inch Cutting Path

GASOLINE WEEDWACKER

Model No.

358.796190

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 7 am-7 pm, Mon-Sat; Sun, t0 am-7 pm

II

1-800-235-5878

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

530087757 04/07'/99

Warranty Statement 2 Storage 10

Safety Rules 2 Troubleshooting Chart 1
Assembly 4 Emissions Statement 12

Operation 5 Repair Parts Ust 14

Maintenance 8 Spanish 17

Service & Adjustments 9 Parts and Ordedng Back Cover

FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN GAS POWERED

WEEDWAGKER ® LINE TRIMMER
For one year from the date of purchase, when this Craftsman Gas Powered

Weedwacker® Line Trimmer is maintained, lubricated, and tuned up according to
the operatingand maintenance instructions in the Operator's Manual, Sears will

repair, free of charge, any defect in materials or workmanship.

This warranty excludes nylon line, spark plug, and airfilter, whichare expendable

parts and become wornduring normal use.

If this Weedwacker® Line Trimmer is used for commercial purposes, this warran-
ty applies for only 90 days from the date of purchase. If this Weedwacker® Une

Trimmer is used for rental purposes, this warranty applies for only 30 days from
the date of purchase. This warranty applies onlywhite this product is in use in the

United States,
WARRANTYSERVICEISAVAILABLE BY RETURNINGTHEWFJEDWACKER®LINE

TRIMMERTOTHE NEARESTSEARS SERVICECENTERIN THE UNITEDSTATES.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other dghts

which vary from state to state.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., 01817 WA Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

WARNING: When using gardening DANGER: Never use blades or flail-

appliances, basicsafety precautions ing devices. This unit is designed for

must always be followed to reduce the line trimmer use only.Use of any other

risk of fire and serious injury.Read and accessories or attachroents will in-
follow all instructions.

Thispower unit can be dangerous!

Operator isresponsible for following

instructionsand warnings on unit and

in manual. Read entire Operator's

Manual before using unit! Be thorough.
ly familiar with the controls and the

proper use of the unit. Restrict the use
of this unitto persons who have read,

understand, and will follow the instruc-

tions and warnings on the unitand in

the manual. Never allow children to
operate this unit.

Safety _nformation on the unit

crease the risk of injury.

@@@

WARNING: Triromer llne throws ob-

jects violently. You and others can be
blinded/injured. Wear eye and leg
protection. Keep bodypads clear of

rotating line. Keep children,bystand-
ers, and animals 50 feet (15 ran)away.

If approached, stop unit imroediatety.

EyeProtection

2

• If situationsoccur which are not cov-
ered in this manual, use care and

good judgement. If you need assis-

tance, contact Sears Service or call
the 1-800 numberlisted on the front of

this manual.

OPERATOR SAFETY

• Always wear safety eye protection;

• Always wear _ongpants, long
sleeves, boots, and gloves. Wearing

safety leg guards is recommended.
Do not go barefoot or wear sandals.
Stay clear of spinningline.

• Secure hair above shoulder length
Secure or remove loose clothing or
clothingwithloosely hangingties,

straps, tassels, etc. They can be

caught in moving parts.

• Do not operate when you are tired,
il!, or underthe influenceof alcohol,

drugs,or medication.

• Wear hearing protection ifyou use

unit for morethan 1-1/2 hours per
day.

• Never start or run inside a closed
room or building. Breathing exhaust

fumes can kill.

• Keep handlesfree ofoil and fuel.

UNIT / MAINTENANCE SAFETY

• Disconnect the spark plug before

performing maintenance except car-
buretor adjustments.

• Look for and replace damaged or
loose partsbefore each use. Look

for and repair fuel leaks before use.

Keep in good working condition.

• Replace trimmer head parts that are
chipped, cracked, broken, or dam-
aged in any other way before using

the unit.

• Make sure unitis assembled correct_
lyas shownin this manual.

• Make carburetoradjustments with
lowerend supportedto prevent line

from contactingany object.

• Keep othem awaywhen making car-

buretor adjustments.

• Use only recommended Craftsman
accessories and replacement parts.

FUEL SAFETY

• Mix and pourfuel outdoors°

• Keep away from sparks or flames.

• Use a containerapproved for fuel.

• Do notsmoke orallow smoking near

fuel or the unit.

• Wipe upall fuel spills.

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

engine.

• Stop engine and allow to cool before
removing fuet cap.

CUTTING SAFETY

• Use only for trimming,mowing, edg-
ing, andsweeping, Do not use for

pruningorhedge trimming.

• Inspect the area before each use.
Remove objects (rocks, broken

glass, nails,wire, etc.) which can be
thrownby or become entangled in
line. Hard objects can damage the

trimmerhead and be thrown causing
seriousinjury.

• Keep firm footing and balance. Do

notoverreach.

• Keep all partsof your body away
from muffler and spinning line. Keep

engine below waist level. A hot muf-
flercan cause seriousbums.

- Cuttingon left side of the shield will

throw debris away from the operator.

TRANSPORTING AND
STORAGE

• Allow engineto cool; secure unit be-
fore storingor transpc_ng invehicle.

• Empty the fuel tank before storing or
transportingthe unit. Use up fuel left
in the carburetorby starting the en-

gine and lettingit run until itstops.

• Store unitand fuel in area where fue!

vapors cannot reach sparks or open

flames from water heaters, electric

motors or switches, furnaces, etc.

• Store unitsoline limiter cannot acci-

dentally cause injury.The unit can be
hung by the tube.

• Store unitout of reach of children.

• If situations occur which are not cov-

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

tance, call 1-800-235-5878.

SPECIAL NOTICE: This unit is not

equipped witha temperature limiting
muffler and sparkarresting screen

which meetsthe requirements of Cali-

fornia Codes 4442 and 4443. All U.S.
forest land andthe states of California,

Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey,

Oregon, and Washington require by
law that many internal combustion en-

gines be equippedwith a spark arres-

tor screen. Ifyou operate in a locale

where such reguJationsexist, you are

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legally responsiblefor instelling and tion ofthe law. Contact your Sears

maintainingthe operating conditionof Service Center for the correct parts,

these parts, Failure to do so is a v_o!a- •

CARTON CONTENTS

Check carton contentsagainst the fol-
lowing list.
Model 358.796190

• Trimmer

• Shield with wing nut

• Assist Handle with bolt and knob

• Container of Oil

•Spool with 20 ft, of line
Examine parts for damage. Do not use

damaged parts,
NOTE: If you need assistance or find

parts missing or damaged, call
1-800-235-5878,

It is normal for the fuel filter to rattle in

the empty fuel tank.
Findingfuel or oi! residue on muffler is

normal due to carburetor adjustments

and testing done bythe manufacturer.

ASSEMBLY
WARNING: If received assembled,

repeat all steps to ensure your unitis

properly assembled and all fasteners
are secure.

Be sure to assemble the handle tothe
unit beforeyou assemble the shield.

ATTACHING THE HANDLE

(some units are already assembled)

• Assemble handle to the unit asshown;
make sure bottom of handle is seated

in the groove in the trigger housing.

NOTE: Knob must be assembled on

the right hand side of the unit as
shown in the illustration,

• Make sure the bolt is seated into the

hex-shaped hole in the handle.

• Pivot handle toacomfortabTeposition.

• Tighten handle securely,

ATTACHING SHIELD
WARNING: The shield must be prop-

erly installed.The shieldprovidespartial
protectionfrom the riskofthrown objects

tothe operatorand othersandis

equippedwith a line limiterwhichcuts
excesslineto the properlength. The line

limiter(on undersideofshield)issharp
and can cutyou. For properorientation,

see illustration in Operation section.
o Remove wing nutfrom shield.

* Insert bracket intoslot as shown.

• Pivot shield until boltpasses through
hole in bracket.

. Securely tighten wing nut onto bolt,

Blot

Shield

Bracket

\

Wing
nut

KNOWYOURTRIMMER
READTHISOPERATOR'SMANUALAND SAFETYRULESBEFOREOPERATINGYOUR

UNIT.Comparethe illustrationswith yourunfftofamiliarizeyourselfwith the location of

• controlsand adjustments.Save thismanualforfuturereference.

Assist Handle

Tube

/

Muffler Engine Stop

ENGINE STOP SWITCH

The enginestopswitch isusedto stopthe
engin_ Push and holdthe engine stop
switch inthe STOPOrOFFposition until

the engine has fully stopped.
PRIMER BULB

The primer bulbremoves air from the

fuel lines and fills them with fuel. This
allows you to start the engine with few-

er pulls on the starter rope, Activate

the primer bulb by pressing it and al-

lowing it to return to its original form.

Switch Trigger Head

Starter 3park Plug Edge

Rope _ Choke

Lever Shield

Primer \'_

B_Ib

Fuel M_ Line

Fill Cap 1Jmiter

CHOKE

The choke helps to supplyfuel tothe

carburetor duringstarting.This allows

you to start a cold engine. Activate the
choke by moving choke lever to Full
Choke. After engine hasstarted, move

chokeleverto Off Choke,
EDGE GUIDE

The edge guide protectsthe unitfrom
contactingthe groundduring edging.

Trimmer

Guide

Blade

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE
WARNING: Be sure to read the fuel

information inthe safety rules before
you begin. If you do not understand

the safety rules, do not attempt to fuel

your unit. Call 1-800-235-5878.

FUELING ENGINE
This engine ts certified tooperate on

unleaded gasoJine.Before operation,

gasoline must be mixed with a good

quality 2-cycle air-cooled engine oil.
We recommend Craftsman brand oil.

Mix gasoline and oil at a ratio of 40:1
(A40:1 ratio is obtained by mixing 3.2

ounces of oilwith 1 gallon of unleaded
gasoline)• DONOTUSE automotive oil

or boat oil. These oils will cause
engine damage. When mixing fuel,

follow instructionsprinted on container.

Once oil is added to gasoline, shake

container momentarilyto assure that

the fuel isthoroughlymixed. Always

read andfollow the safety rules
relatingto fue! before fueling yourunit.

IMPORTANT

Experience indicates that alcohol
blended fuels (called gasohol or using

ethanolor methanol)can attract mois-

ture which leads to separation and

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

tem of an engine while instorage.

Toavoidengine problems,emptyfuel

system before storagefor 30 daysor
longer.Drain gas tank, startengine and

let it runu_l fuel linesandcarburetor
are empty.Usefresh fuel nextseason.

Never use engine or carburetor cleaner

products in thefuel tankor permanent
damage may occur.See the STORAGE
sectionfor additionalinformation.

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