Craftsman 486252442 Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual

I CRRFTSHRN I

5 HORSEPOWER
36" TOW-BEHIND

UNIVERSAL TILLER

Model No. 486.252442

CAUTION:

Before using this product, read

this manual and follow all
Safety Rules and

Operating Instructions.

• Safety

• Assembly

• Operation

IMPORTANT - READ THIS FIRST!!!

• Maintenance

For Missing Parts or Assembly Questions
Please Call 217-728-8388

Mon.-Fri. 7 am - 5 pm CST.
FAX [phone] or e-mail [e-mail]

Missing parts will be sent UPS in 24 hours directly to your home.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.

www.sears.com/craftsman

PRINTED IN U.S.A. FORM NO. 48792 (2/03)

• Parts

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WARRANTY ............................................................... 2

SAFETY RULES ........................................................ 3

ASSEMBLY ................................................................ 4

OPERATION ............................................................... 6

MAINTENANCE ......................................................... 9

LIMITED WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN POWERED TRACTOR ATTACHMENTS
For one (1) year from the date of purchase, if this Craftsman Equipment is maintained, lubricated and tuned

up according to the instructions in the owner's manual, Sears will repair or replace free of charge any parts
found to be defective in material or workmanship. Warranty service is available free of charge by returning
your Craftsman equipment to your nearest Sears Service Center. In-home warranty service is available but

a trip charge will apply. This Warranty applies only while this product is in the United States.
This Warranty does not cover:

• Expendable items which become worn during normal use, such as spark plugs, air cleaners, belts, and oil
filters.

• Tire replacement or repair caused by punctures from outside objects, such as nails, thorns, stumps, or
glass.

• Repairs necessary because of operator abuse, including but not limited to, damage caused by impacting
objects that bend the frame or crankshaft, or over-speeding the engine.

• Repairs necessary because of operator negligence, including but not limited to, electrical and mechanical
damage caused by improper storage, failure to use the proper grade and amount of engine oil, or failure
to maintain the equipment according to the instructions contained in the owner's manual.

• Engine (fuel system) cleaning or repairs caused by fuel determined to be contaminated or oxidized
(stale). In general, fuel should be used within 30 days of its purchase date.

• Equipment used for commercial or rental purposes.

LIMITED WARRANTY ON BATTERY
For ninety (90) days from date of purchase, if any battery included with the equipment proves defective in

material or workmanship and our testing determines the battery will not hold a charge, Sears will replace the
battery at no charge. Warranty service is available free of charge by returning your Craftsman equipment to

your nearest Sears Service Center. In-home warranty service is available but a trip charge will apply. This

Warranty applies only while this product is in the United States.

TO LOCATE THE NEAREST SEARS SERVICE CENTER OR TO SCHEDULE SERVICE,

SIMPLY CONTACT SEARS AT f-800-4-MY-HOME.

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENT ............................... 11

STO RAG E ................................................................ 12

TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................. 13

REPAIR PARTS ....................................................... 14

PARTS ORDERING/SERVICE ................ Rear Cover

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to

state.

Record serial number and date of purchase in space
provided below.

MODEL
NUMBER: 486.252442

SERIAL
NUMBER:

DATE OF
PURCHASE:

The model and serial numbers will be found on a

plate attached to the right hand chassis.

You should record both serial number and date of

purchase and keep in a safe place for future
reference.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 5.0 H.E
DISPLACEMENT 12.48 CU. IN.
GASOLINE TYPE REGULAR UNLEADED

)IL TYPE SAE 30 (ABOVE 32° F)
API-SF/SG) SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32° F

OIL CAPACITY: 20 OZ.

_PARK PLUG CHAMPION QC12YC
GAP .030") STD361458

TILLING GROUND SPEED Approx. 2 MPH
TILLING WIDTH 36 INCHES

TILLING TINE SPEED 200 RPM

2

WARNING: This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to

observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

IMPORTANT

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes are a means of attract-

ingattention to important or critical information in this
manual.

_, ook for this symbol to point out important

TRAINING

• Read opening and Service instructions carefully. Be
thoroughly familiar with the controls and the proper

use of the equipment.

• Never allow children to operate the machine. Do

not allow adults to operate the machine without
proper instruction.

• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons,

particularly small children and pets.

PREPARATION

• Check the fuel and lubrication before starting the
engine. Do not fill the gasoline tank indoors when

the engine is running or while the engine is still hot.
Wipe off any spilled gasoline before starting the

engine.

• Inspect the area to be tilled. Remove glass, wire,

metal objects, large sticks, and stones. Avoid
underground pipes and wiring.

• Have a complete working knowledge of your tractor
and know how to handle your tractor with a tiller or

other attachment attached.

safety precautions. It means-Attention!

Become Alert! Your safety is involved.

• Stop engine and disconnect spark plug lead wire
before cleaning augers, removing obstacles, or
making adjustments, except for those which must
be done with the engine running.

• Never place hands or feet under or into rotating
parts or concealed areas. Keep hands and feet

clearly away from auger elements, belts, pulleys,

etc. while engine is running.

• Wear substantial shoes and eye protection while

using tiller.

• Never attempt to make a maintenance adjustment

while engine is running, except on the carburetor.

• Do not run the engine indoors; carbon monoxide

fumes are dangerous to inhale.

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

• Disengage the "FineClutch Lever, stop tiller and

tractor engines before getting off the tractor.

• Disengage the Tine Clutch Lever and stop the tiller

engine during transportation to and from the work

area.

MAINTENANCEANDSTORAGE

• Follow maintenance instructions as outlined in this
manual and your Engine Owner's Manual supplied

with the unit.

• Disconnect spark plug wire before making mainte-
nance adjustment or repair.

• Store gasoline in an approved metal container in a

cool, dry place.

• Safety and performance levels can be assured only
by the use of specified replacement parts.

OPERATION

• Give complete and undivided attention to the job at
hand. Operate the tiller in daylight or good artificial

light.

• Personal injury may result from contact with the

augers or debris thrown by this machine. Therefore,
always stay a safe distance away from the augers.

• Stop the tiller engine when leaving your tiller
unattended.

• Check before each use for loose fasteners or parts.

• Never store the equipment with gasoline in the tank
inside of a building where fumes may reach an

open flame or spark. Allow engine to cool before
storing in an enclosure.

_, WARNING: This unit is equipped with an

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 working order by the operator.
In the state of California, the above law is required by
law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources

Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal

laws apply on Federal lands. A spark arrester for the
muffler is available through your nearest Sears

Authorized Service Center.

internal combustion engine and should
not be used on or near any unimproved
forest-covered or grass-covered land

3

TO REMOVE UNIT FROM

TO INSTALL THE TILLER

CARTON

• Cut from top to bottom all four corners of the carton
and lay panels flat. (See Fig. 1)

• Remove the lag screw that holds the floating hitch to
the packing skid.

• Disassemble and discard carton's wood top and side
supports.

• Remove four hex bolt, hex nuts and flat washer from
the hold down brackets at the rear of the carton.

• Remove and save the two Flat Washers and Cotter

Pins from the rear axle. Reuse when attaching gauge

wheels.

• Discard all other packing hardware and hold down

brackets.

WOOD TOP HOLD DOWN
SUPPORTS BRACKET

LAG SCREW

GAUGE WHEELS

Assemble Gauge Wheels onto the Rear Axle with the
extended end of Hub facing inward. Secure with the

Flat Washers and Cotter Pins which you removed
from the axle during unpacking. (See fig. 2.)

COTTER PIN { AXLE

FLAT WASHER ._LS

FIG. 2

TO INSTALL THE TILLER TINE
ASSEMBLIES

WOOD SIDE
SUPPORTS

PACKING HE)( NUT
SKID FLAT WASHER

HEX BOLT

FIG. 1

• Right hand (RH) and left hand (LH) are determined
from the drivers position while seated on the tractor.

• We recommend that you remove the Mower Deck

before using the Tiller. Refer to your Tractor Owner's
Manual.

Attach the floating hitch to the tractor's draw bar.
(Refer to Operating Instructions on page 7.)

Remove the preassembled 3/8" x 2" hex bolt and 3/8"
hex lock nut from the L.H. "FineAssembly. Slide the
tine assembly onto the Transmission Axle on the left

side of the tiller and secure with the hex bolt and hex
lock nut. (See fig. 3.) Repeat for the R.H. side.

3/8" HEX
LOCK

3/8" x 2" AXLE

EDGE HEX BOLT

FIG. 3

4

TO INSTALL (WHEEL)
WEIGHTS TO TILLER

NOTE: Weights are not furnished with the Tiller.

30 lb. tractor wheel weights may be purchased to

mount to the Tiller if extra weight is required. (Refer to

the Operation section of this manual.)

• Remove two Carriage Bolts and Nuts from each Tine

Shield, located approximately 3-1/2" from the front

edge. See fig. 4.

• Place (Wheel) Weights on "Fine Shield and secure
with long Bolts and Nuts furnished with the Weights.

See fig. 4.

LONG

WHEEL

FIG. 4

5

KNOW YOUR TILLER

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

Compare the illustrationswith your tillerto familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and
adjustment& Save the manual for future reference.

RECOIL STARTER HANDLE

--.,.

THROTTLE CONTROL

SAFETY SWITCH ...,.

LIFT HANDLE

RAISE

TINE CLUTCH LEVER

DISENGAGED

FLOATING HITCH

TINE SHIELD

LOWER

ENGA(

TINES

FUELSHUT OFF

CHOKECONTROL

EXTRA TINE BOLTS

',TAKE

STAKE SUPPORT BRACKET

GUARD

GAGE WHEELS

SAFETY SWITCH - prevents engine from starting while
tine clutch lever is engaged

LIFT HANDLE - selects tilling or transport position by
moving gage wheels

TINE CLUTCH LEVER - starts and stops tine rotation

FLOATING HITCH - telescoping hitch limits shock loads
to tractor

FIG. 5

RECOIL START HANDLE - used to start the engine

THROTTLE CONTROL - controls engine speed

FUEL SHUT OFF - shuts of fuel to engine

CHOKE CONTROL - used when starting a cold engine

DEPTH STAKE - controls tilting/cultivating depth

6