Craftsman 486252445 Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual

36" TOW-BEHIND

®

U IVERSAL TILLE

Model No. 486.252445

DO NOT RETURN TO STORE
For Missing Parts or Assembly

Questions Call 1-866-576-8388

CAUTION:

Before using this product, read

this manual and follow all Safety

Rules and Operating Instructions.

,, Safety
,, Assembly
,, Operation

,, Maintenance
,, Parts

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

www.sears.com/craftsman

PRINTED IN U.S.A. FORM NO. 49424 (10/24/08)

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

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

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

OPERATION ................................................................ 5-7

MAINTENANCE ........................................................... 8-9

LIMITED WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN POWEREDTRACTOR 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.

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENT ................................ 10-11

STORAGE ..................................................................... 11

TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................. 12

REPAIR PARTS ........................................................ 13-15

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

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 1-800-4-MY-HOME.

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: 486.252445

SERIAL NUMBER:

DATE OF PURCHASE:

The model and serial number will be found on the
model plate attached to the right hand chassis.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

GASOLINE TYPE Re ular Unleaded
OIL (20 oz. Capacity): Above 32 F: SAE 20

Below 32 F: SAE 5W30
SPARK PLUG
TILLING GROUND SPEED:
TILLING WIDTH:
TILLING TINE SPEED:

Gap: .030"

Approx. 2 MPH

36 in.

230 RPM

You should record both serial number and date of
purchase and keep in a safe place for future reference.

WARNING:Thiscuttingmachineiscapableofamputatinghandsandfeetandthrowingobjects.Failureto
observethefollowingsafetyinstructionscouldresultinseriousinjuryordeath.

iMPORTANT

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes are a means of attracting
attention to important or critical information in this
manual.

Look for this symbol to point out important
safety precautions. It means -- Attention!
Become Alert! Your safety is involved.

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.

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.

• 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 Tine Clutch 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.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

• Follow maintenance instructions as outlined in this

manual and your Engine Owner's Manual supplied

with the unit.

• Disconnect spark plug wire before making
maintenance 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.

WARNING: This unit is equipped with an
internal combustion engine and should

not be used on or near any unimproved

forest-covered or grass-covered land
unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with
a spark attester meeting applicable local or state
laws (if any). If a spark attester 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 attester for the
muffler is available through your nearest Sears
Authorized Service Center.

REMOVE UNiT FROM CARTON

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

iNSTALL TILLER TINE ASSEMBLIES

Attach the floating hitch to the tractor's draw bar

(Refer to OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS on page 6.)
Remove the preassembled 3/8" x 2" hex bolt and 3/8"

nylock nut from the L.H. Tine Assembly'. Slide the tine

assembly onto the Transmission Axle on the left side
of the tiller and secure with the hex bolt and nylock

nut. (See Figure 3.) Repeat for the R.H. side.

3/8" NYLOCK
NUT

L

WOOD SIDE "_-_
SUPPORTS

HEX BOLT

PACKING HEX NUT

SKID FLAT WASHER

FIGURE 1

INSTALL TILLER 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 Figure 2.)

EDGE HEX BOLT

3/8" x 2" AXLE

FIGURE 3

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 Hex Bolts and Nuts from each Tine

Shield, located approximately 3-1/2" from the front
edge. See Figure 4.

Place (Wheel) Weights on Tine Shield and secure
with long Bolts and Nuts furnished with the Weights.
See Figure 4.

LONG_

__ WEIGHT

WHEEL

COTTER PiN

FLAT WASHER

FIGURE 2

/ /

TINE
SHIELD

REAR AXLE

NUTS

GAGE WHEELS

FIGURE 4

RIGHT HAND (RH) AND LEFT HAND (LH) ARE WE RECOMMENDTHATYOU REMOVETHEMOWER
DETERMINED FROM THE DRIVERS POSiTiON DECK BEFORE USINGTHETILLER. REFERTOYOUR

WHILE SEATED ON THE TRACTOR. TRACTOR OWNER'S MANUAL.

KNOW YOU R TILLER

Compare the illustrationbelow with your tiller to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments.

RECOIL STARTER HANDLE

THROTTLE CONTROL

SAFETY SWITCH

LiFT HANDLE

RAISE

ENGAGED

TINE CLUTCH LEVER,

DISENGAGED

FLOATING HITCH

TINE SHIELD

LOWER

TINES

FUEL SHUT OFF

CHOKE CONTROL

EXTRA TINE BOLTS

DEPTH STAKE

STAKE SUPPORT BRACKET

"DEPTH ADJUSTMENT

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

FIGURE 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 tilling/cultivating depth