Craftsman 358798560 Owner’s Manual

Operator's Manual

CRRFTSMRN_

1.3 cu. in./21cc 2-Cycle 17 Inch Cutting Path / .065 In. Line

GASOLINE WEEDWAOKER ®

Model No.

358,798560

0 0

WARNING:

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

530-084265 04/24/97

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, 10 am-7 pm

1-800-235-5878

Warranty Statement 2 Storage 11 Safety Rules 2 Troubleshooting Chart 12 Assembly 4 Illustrated Parts List 13

Operation 5 Maintenance 9 Spanish 16

Service & Adjustments 10 Parts and Ordering Back

FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN GAS POWERED WEEDWACKER ® 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 operating and 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 air filter, which are expendable parts and become worn during 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® Line

Trimmer is used for rental purposes, this warranty applies for only 30 days from

the date of purchase. This warranty applies only while this product is in use in the United States.

WARRANTY SERVICE ISAVAILABLE BY RETURNINGTHE WEEDWACKER® LINE

TRIMMER TO THE NEAREST SEARS SERVICE CENTER IN THE UNITEDSTATES. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights

which vary from state to state.

Sears, Roebuck and Co,, D/817 WA Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

WARNING: When using gardening

appliances, basic safety precautions

must always be followed to reduce the

risk of fire and serious injury. Read and

follow all instructions.

This power unit can be dangerous!

Operator is responsible for following

instructions and warnings on unit and

in manual. Read entire Operator's

Manual before using unit! Be thorough- ly familiar withthe controls and the proper use ofthe unit. Restrict the use of this unit to persons who have read,

understand, and will follow the instruc- tions and warnings on the unit and in

the manual. Never allow children to operate this unit.

_ety information on the unit

DANGER: Never use blades or flail- ing devices. This unit is designed for

line trimmer use only. Use of any other accessories or attachments will in-

crease the risk of injury.

@QO

WARNING: Trimmer line throws ob-

jects violently. You and others can be

blinded/injured. Wear eye and leg protection. Keep body parts clear of rotating line. Keep children, bystand- ers, and animals 50 feet (!5 meters)

away.Ifapproachedstopunitimmedi- ately.

otect,on

mmBoots

If situations occur which are not

covered in this manual, use care and good judgement. If you need

assistance, contact your Authorized

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 not go barefoot or wear sandals. Stay clear of spinning line.

• Secure hair above shoulder length.

Secure or remove loose clothing or clothing with loosely hanging ties, straps, tassels, etc. They can be caught in moving parts.

• Do not operate when you are tired, ill, or under the influence of alcohol,

drugs, or medication.

• Wear hearing protection if you use unit for more than 1-1/2 hours per day.

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

fumes can kill.

• Keep handles free of oil and fuel.

UNIT / MAINTENANCE SAFETY

• Disconnect the spark plug before performing maintenance except car- buretor adjustments.

• Look for and replace damaged or loose parts before 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 unit is assembled correct- ly as shown in this manual.

• Make carburetor adjustments with lower end supported to prevent line from contacting any object.

• Keep others away when making car- buretor adjustments.

• Use only recommended Craftsman accessories and replacement parts.

FUEL SAFETY

• Mix and pour fuel outdoors.

• Keep away from sparks or flames.

• Use a container approved for fuel.

• Do not smoke or allow smoking near fuel or the unit.

• Wipe up all fuel spills.

• Move at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from fueling site before starting engine.

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

CUTTING SAFETY

• Use only for trimming, mowing, edg- ing, and sweeping. Do not use for pruning or hedge trimming.

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

glass, nails, wire, etc.) which can be thrown by or become entangled in line. Hard objects can damage the trimmer head and be thrown causing serious injury.

• Keep firm footing and balance. De not overreach.

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

engine below waist level. A hot muf- fler can cause serious burns.

• Cutting on left side of the shield will throw debris away from the operator.

TRANSPORTING AND STORAGE

• Allow engine to cool; secure unit be- fore storing or transporting in vehicle.

• Empty the fuel tank before storing or transporting the unit. Use up fuel left in the carburetor by starting the en- gine and letting it run until it stops.

• Store unit and fuel in area where fuel vapors cannot reach sparks or open

flames from water heaters, electric

motors or switches, furnaces, etc.

• Store unit so line limiter cannot acci- dentally cause injury. The unit can be

hung by the tube.

• Store unit out 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 with a temperature limiting

muffler and spark arresting screen

which meets the requirements of Cali- fornia Codes 4442 and 4443. All U.S.

forest land and the states of California,

Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington require by law that many internal combustion en-

gines be equipped with a spark arres- tor screen. If you operate in a locale where such regulations exist, you are

legally responsible for installing and

maintaining the operating condition of these parts. Failure to do so is a viola-

tion of the law. Refer to the MAINTE-

NANCE section in this manual.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Exposure to

vibrations through prolonged use of

gasoline powered hand tools could cause blood vessel or nerve damage in the fingers, hands, and joints of people prone to circulation disorders or abnormal swellings. Prolonged use in

cold weather has been linked to blood vessel damage in otherwise healthy

people. If symptoms occur such as numbness, pain, loss of strength, change in skin color or texture, or loss of feeling in the fingers, hands, or joints, discontinue the use of this tool

and seek medical attention. An anti- vibration system does not guarantee

the avoidance of these problems, Us- ers who operate power tools on a con- tinual and regular basis must monitor closely their physical condition and the

condition of this tool.

CARTON CONTENTS

Check carton contents against the fol-

lowing list.

Model 358.798560

• Trimmer

• Shield

• Container of Oil

• Extra Spool

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. Finding fuel or oil residue on muffler is

normal due to carburetor adjustments and testing done by the manufacturer.

ASSEMBLY WARNING: If received assembled,

repeat all steps to ensure your unit is properly assembled and all fasteners

are secure.

ADJUSTING THE HANDLE WARNING: When adjusting the han-

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

• Loosen wing nut or knob on handle.

• Rotate the handle on the tube to an

upright position; retighten wing nut.

ATTACHING TRIMMER HEAD &

SHIELD

WARNING: The shield must be prop-

erly installed. The shield provides par- tial protection from the risk ofthrown objects to the operator and others and

isequipped with a line timiter which cuts excess line to the proper length. The line limiter (on underside of shield)

is sharp and can cut you.

• Assemble parts as shown.

• Tighten parts securely.

Sield

anduse washer and

NOTE:Remove

wing nut from this bolt for assembling Washer,and

shield. Wing Nut

KNOW YOUR TRIMMER

READ THIS OPERATOR'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERAT- ING YOUR UNIT. Compare the illustrations with your unit to familiarize yourself

with the location of the various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future reference.

Assist Handle

Tube Trimmer

l Head

Shield

Throttle Trigger ON/STOP Spark Plug _ Line Limiter

ON/STOP SWITCH The STOP switch is used to stop the

engine. Press and hold the switch to stop the unit.

PRIMER BULB

The primer butb removes 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

Switch

Starter Rope Choke Lever

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

WARNING: Be sure to read the fuel information in the 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 is certified to operate on unleaded gasoline. 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

(A 40:1 ratio is obtained by mixing 3.2 ounces of oil with 1gallon of unleaded gasoline). DO NOT USE automotive oil

or boat oil. These oils will cause

Blade

r _ Primer Bulb

Fuet Mix Fitl Cap

allowing it to return to its original form. CHOKE

The choke helps to supply fuel to the carburetor during starting. This allows you to start a cold engine. Activate the choke by moving the choke lever to the Full position. After the engine has

started, move the choke to the Off

position.

engine damage. When mixing fuel, follow instructions printed on container.

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

the fuel is thoroughly mixed. Always

read and follow the safety rules

relating to fuel before fueling your unit.

IMPORTANT

Experience indicates that alcohol

blended fuels (called gasohol or using

ethanol or 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 in storage.

To avoid engine problems, empty the

fuel system before storage for 30 days

or longer. Drain the gas tank, start the

engineandletitrununtilthefuellines andcarburetorareempty.Usefresh fuelnextseason.

Neveruseengineorcarburetorclean- erproductsinthefueltankorperma- nentdamagemayoccur.

SeetheSTORAGEsectionforaddi- tionalinformation.

STOPPING YOUR ENGINE

• Press and hold the ON/STOP switch in the STOP position.

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

Engine Stop

Switch

STARTING YOUR ENGINE

COLD ENGINE OR WARM ENGINE AFTER RUNNING OUT OF FUEL

WARNING: The trimmer head will

turn while starting the engine. Avoid any contact with the muffler. A hot muffler can cause serious burns.

• Rest engine and shield on ground, supporting trimmer head off ground.

• Move the choke lever to the Full Choke position.

• Slowly press the primer bulb 6 times.

• Squeeze and hold the throttle trigger.

Keep throttle trigger fully squeezed

until the engine runs smoothly.

Choke Lever

Choke

Lever

rimer

Bulb

• Pull starter rope sharply 5 times. NOTE: If the engine sounds as if it is

trying to start before the 5th pull, go to the next step.

• Move the choke lever to the Half Choke position.

• Pull starter rope sharply until engine runs, but no more than 6 pulls.

NOTE: If the engine has not started after 6 pulls (at half choke), check to

make sure the choke lever is in the proper position. Then, move the choke

lever to the Full Choke position and press the primer bulb 6 times; squeeze and hold the throttle trigger and pull

the starter rope 2 more times. Move the choke lever to Half Choke and pull

the starter rope until the engine runs,

but no more than 6 more pulls. If the engine still has not started, it is prob*

ably flooded. Proceed to "Starting a Flooded Engine."

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

Choke. Allow the unit to run for 30 more seconds at Off Choke before

releasing the throttle trigger.

NOTE: If engine dies with the choke lever at the Off Choke position, move

the choke lever to Half Choke and pull

the rope until engine runs.

STARTING A WARM ENGINE

• Move the choke lever to the Half Choke position.

• Squeeze and hold the throttle trigger. Keep throttle trigger fully squeezed until the engine runs smoothly.

• Pull starter rope 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 starter rope 5 more pulls. If engine still

does not run, it is probably flooded. DIFFICULT STARTING OR

STARTING A FLOODED ENGINE

Flooded engines can be started by placing the choke lever in the Off Choke position; then, pull the rope to clear the engine of excess fuel. This could require pulling the starter handle many times depending on how badly

the unit isflooded.

Iftheunitstilldoesn'tstart,referto TROUBLESHOOTINGchartorcall 1-800-235-5878.

OPERATINGINSTRUCTIONS OPERATINGPOSITION

ALWAYS WEAR:

Eye Protection

Lone

Heavy Shoes

Cut from your right to your left.

Do not run the engine at a higher speed than necessary. The cutting line

will cut efficiently when the engine is run at less than full throttle. At lower

speeds, there is less engine noise and vibration. The cutting line will last longer and will be less likely to "weld" onto the spool.

If the trimmer head does not turn when the engine is in operation, make sure

the drive shaft housing is properly seated in engine shroud.

Always release the throttle trigger and allow the engine to return to idle speed when not cutting.

To stop engine:

• Release the throttle trigger.

• Press and hold the ON/STOP switch in the STOP position.

TRIMMER LINE ADVANCE

The trimmer line will advance approxi- mately 2 in. (5 cm) each time the bot-

tom of the trimmer head is tapped on the ground with the engine running at

full throttle. The most efficient line length is the

maximum length allowed by the line limiter.

Always keep the shield in place when the tool is being operated. To Advance Line:

• Operate the engine at full throttle.

• Hold the trimmer head parallel to and above the grassy area.

• Tap the bottom of the trimmer head lightly on the ground one time. Ap-

proximately 2 in. (5 cm) of line will be advanced with each tap.

Always tap the trimmer head on a grassy area. Tapping on surfaces such as concrete or asphalt can cause ex-

cessive wear to the trimmer head.

Ifthe line is worn down to 2 in. (5 cm) or less, more than one tap will be re- quired to obtain the most efficient line

length. WARNING: Use only .065" (1.6 mm)

diameter line. Other sizes of line will

not advance properly and can cause serious injury. Do not use other materi- als such as wire, string, rope, etc. Wire can break off during cutting and be-

come a dangerous missile that can cause serious injury.

CUTTING METHODS WARNING: Use minimum speed and

do not crowd the line when cutting

around hard objects (rock, gravel, fence posts, etc.), which can damage

the trimmer head, become entangled

in the line, or be thrown causing a seri-

ous hazard.

• The tip of the line does the cutting. You will achieve the best perform-

ance and minimum line wear by not crowding the line into the cutting

area. The right and wrong ways are shown below.

Tip of theLine I LiwnceC/_r°_'dedInto

Right _ _l Wrong ....

• The line will easily remove grass and weeds from around walls, fences, trees and flower beds, but it also can

cut the tender bark of trees or shrubs and scar fences. To help avoid dam-

age especially to delicate vegetation or trees with tender bark, shorten line

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

• For trimming or scalping, use less than full throttle to increase line life

and decrease head wear, especially:

• During light duty cutting.

• Nearobjectsaroundwhichtheline canwrapsuchassmallposts,

treesorfencewire.

° Formowingorsweeping,usefull

throttleforagoodcleanjob.

WARNING:Alwaysweareyeprotec- tion.Neverleanoverthetrimmerhead.

Rocksordebriscanricochetorbe

thrownintoeyesandfaceandcause blindnessorotherseriousinjury.

TRIMMING - Hold the bottom of the trimmer head about 3 in. (8 cm) above

the ground and at an angle. Allow only the tip of the line to make contact. Do

not force trimmer line into work area.

Trimming

Mowing

SWEEPING - The fanning action of the rotating line can be used for a quick and easy clean up. Keep the line parallel to and above the surfaces be- ing swept and move the tool from side

to side.

Sweeping //

SCALPING - The scalping technique removes unwanted vegetation. Hold

the bottom of the trimmer head about 3

in. (8 cm) above the ground and at an angle. Allow the tip of the line to strike the ground around trees, posts, monu-

ments, etc. This technique increases

line wear.

Scalping

MOWING - Your trimmer is ideal for

mowing in places conventional lawn

mowers cannot reach. In the mowing

position, keep the line parallel to the

ground. Avoid pressing the head into

the ground as this can scalp the

ground and damage the tool.

(8 cm)

Above Ground

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