Craftsman 536292522 Owner’s Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WARRANTY STATEMENT ...... 2

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

INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS .... 5

ASSEMBLY ................... 6

OPERATION .................. 8

MAINTENANCE ............... 13

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENT .. 16 TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART., 19

REPAIR PARTS ............... 20

ENGINE REPAIR PARTS ....... 25

SPANISH (ESPAI_IOL) .......... 31

PARTS ORDERING/SERVICE ..

BACK COVER

WARRANTY STATEMENT

LIMITED ONE-YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN CULTIVATOR

For one year from the date of purchase, when this Craftsman Cultivator is maintained, lubri- cated, and tuned up according to the operating and maintenance instructions in the owner's

manual, Sears will repair, free of charge, any defect in material or workmanship. This warranty excludes tine(s), spark plug, and air cteaner which are expendable parts and

become worn during normal use. If this Craftsman Cultivator is used for commercial or rental purposes, this warranty applies

for onIy 90 days from the date of purchase.

WARRANTY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE BY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN CULTIVA-

TOR TO THE NEAREST SEARS SERVICE CENTER/DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS WARRANTY APPLIES ONLY WHILE THIS PRODUCT IS IN USE IN THE

UNITED STATES. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which may

vary from state to state.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., D817WA, Hoftman Estates. IL 60179

Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit

chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other repro-

ductive harm. Battery posts, terminals and related accessories

contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer

and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING.

IMPORTANT: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and must not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-covered or grass-covered lard

unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark attester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it must be maintained in

effective working order by the operator. In the State of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California

Public Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal laws apply on fed-

eral lands. See a Sears Authorized Service Center for a spark attester for the muffler.

F-011302M 2

IMPORTANT

Safe Operation Practices for Cultivator

WARNING: Look for this symbol to point out important safety precautions.It means: "Attention! Become Alert. Your Safety Is Involved.

_lb ARNING: To prevent acciden-

tal starting when setting-up,

transporting, adjusting or mak-

ing repairs, always disconnect spark plug wire and put wire where it cannot contact the spark plug.

IMPORTANT: Safety standards require opera-

tor presence controls to minimize the risk of in-

jury. Your cultivator is equipped with such

controls. Do not attempt to defeat the function of the operator presence control under any cir-

cumstances.

Before Use

• Read the owner's menua} carefully. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls and

the proper use of the cultivator. Know how to stop the cultivator and diser_gage the controls quickly.

• Do not operate the cultivator without wear-

ing adequate outer garments. Wear foot-

wear that will improve footing on slippery

surfaces.

• Keep the area of operation clear of al per- sons, particulady small children and pets.

• Thoroughly inspect the area where the cul- tivator is to be used and remove all foreign

objects.

Fuel Safety

• Handle fuel with care; it is highly flam- mable.

• Use an approved container.

• Check fuel supply before each use, allow-

ing space for expansion as the heat of the engine and/or sun can cause fuel to ex- pand.

• Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never fill fuel tank indoors. Replace fuel

tank cap securely and wipe up spi}led fuel

• Never remove the fuel tank cap or add fuel to a running or hot engine.

F-Ol1302M

• Never store fuel or cultivator with fuel in the tank inside e building where fumes may reach an open flame.

Operating Safety

• Never allow children or young teenagers to operate the cultivator. Keep them away

while it is operating. Never allow adults to operate the cultivator without proper in-

struction.

• Do not operate this machine if you are tak-

ing drugs or other medication which can cause drowsiness or affect your ability to

operate this machine.

• Do not use this machine if you are mentally or physically unable to operate this ma- chine safely.

• Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during operation or while performing an

adjustment or repair to protect your eyes

from foreign objects that may be thrown

from the cultivator.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under ro- tating parts.

• Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing gravel drives, walks, or

roads. Stay alert for hidden hazards or

traffic.

• Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.

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

• Never operate the cultivator at high trans- port speeds on slippery surfaces. Look be-

hind and use care when backing.

• Never allow bystanders near the coltivator.

• Keep children and pets away while operating.

• Never operate the cultivator without good visibility or light.

• Do not run the engine indoors. The ex-

haust fumes are dangerous, containing CARBON MONOXIDE, an ODORLESS and DEADLY GAS.

IMPORTANT

• Take all possible precautions when leaving and keep the wire away from the plug to the cultivator unattended. Stop the engine, prevent accidental starting. Thoroughly in-

, Do not overload the cultivator capacity by spect the cultivator for any damage, and

attempting to till too deep at too fast a rate. operating it.

repair the damage before restarting and

Safe Storage

• Always refer to the owner's manual instruc- tions for important details if the cultivator is

to be stored for an extended period.

• Never store the cultivator with fuel in the fuel tank inside a building where ignition

sources are present such as water and space heaters, clothes dryers, and the like.

Allow the engine to cool before storing in

any enclosure.

• Keep the cultivator in safe working condi- tion. Check all fasteners at frequent inter-

vals for proper tightness.

Repair / Adjustments Safety

• After striking a foreign object, stop the en-

gine. Remove the wire from the spark plug,

If cultivator should start to vibrate abnor- mally, stop engine and check immediately

for the cause. Vibration is generally a warn- ing of trouble.

Stop the engine whenever you leave the operating position. Also, disconnect the spark plug wire before unclogging the tines and when making any repairs, adjust- ments, or inspections.

When cleaning, repainng, or inspecting, shut offthe engine and make certain all moving parts have stopped.

Never attempt to make any adjustments while the engine is running except when specifically recommended by the manufac-

turer

F-O11302M 4

IMPORTANT

INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS

IMPORTANT: Many of the following symbols are located on your unit or on literature sup- plied with the product. Before you operate the unit, learn and understand the purpose for each symbol.

ControlAnd Operating Symbols

Slow Fast Fuel Oil

Half Choke Choke OFF A

Full Choke

Safety Warning Symbols

WARNING WARNING

Thrown Objects. Rotating Parts. Stop Engine. WARNING

Keep Bystanders Away. Disconnect Spark Wire Before

IMPORTANT WARNING STOP

Read Owner's Manual Wear Eye Protection

Before Operating

This Machine.

F-O11302M 5

Making Adjustments.

ASSEMBLY

PARTS PACKED SEPARATELY IN CARTON

1 - Owner's Manual (not shown) 1 - 5.2 oz. 2-cycle Oil

glasses or eye shields while as-

WARNING: Always wear safety

sembling the cultivator.

Figure 1 shows the cultivator completely as- sembled.

References to the right or left side of the cul- tivator are from the viewpoint of the opera-

tot's position behind the unit.

HOW TO REMOVE THE CULTIVATOR FROM THE CARTON

1. Removethe bottle of oil from the carton.

2. Removethe packingmaterial positioned

around the unit.

3. Liftthe cultivator out ofthe carton and

place on a hard level surface.

HOW TO RAISE THE HANDLE

1. Loosen the knobs (see Figure 2). Tilt

the cultivator forward and rotate the up- per handle to the upright position. Make

sure the throttle cable is not caught be- tween the handles.

f - 5.2 oz. 2-cycle Oil

Figure 1

2. Tighten the knobs.

NOTE: To tighten the knobs, hold the curved carriage bolt head against the out-

side of the lower handle as you tighten

the knobs.

F=011302M 6

Figure 2

ASSEMBLY

_." CHECKLIST

For the best performance and satisfaction from this quality product, please review the

following checklist before you operate the cultivator:

_' All assembly instructions have been

completed.

_' Check carton. Make sure no loose

parts remain in the carton.

_' All fasteners have been properly tight-

ened.

As you learn how to use the cultivator', pay extra attention to the foliowing important

items: _'_" Fuel tank is filled with a fresh, clean,

fuel mixture.

_'_" Become familiar and understand the

function of all controls. Before you start the engine, operate alI controls.

F-O11302M 7

OPERATION

KNOW YOUR CULTIVATOR

READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALL SAFETY RULES BEFORE YOU OPERATE the cultivator. To familiarize yourself with the Iocation of the controls, compare the illustrations with

our cultivator'. Save this manual for future reference.

Recoil Starter Handle

Throttle Control

Lever

Upper Handle

ON / OFF

Switch

Lower Handle

Assembly_

Throttle Control i Controls the engine speed and the tine rotation. The cultivator is

equipped with a centrifugal clutch that en- gages the tine drive system when the engine

speed is increased.

Choke Control Lever - Use to assist when startinga cold engine.

ON / OFF Switch - The ON position al- lows the engine to start. The OFF position stops the engine and keeps the engine from

starting.

Choke Control

Fuel Cap

Tine Shield

Tines

Figure 3

Recoil Starter Handle - The engine is

equipped with an easy pull recoil starter.

Depth Stake - Mount with the wheels up to adjust the depth of cut. Also use to help

control the direction and speed of the cultiva- tor.

Transport Wheels i Mountwith the wheels down whentransporting the cultiva-

tor.

EYE PROTECTION

Always wear safety glasses. If you wear eye glasses, put a Wide Vision Safety Mask over

your eye glasses.

F-011302M

the cultivator can result in for- WARNING: Debris thrown from

the eyes, which can cause severe eye

damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields when operating the cultiva-

tor.

eign objects being thrown into

OPERATION

HOW TO USE THE CULTIVATOR

How To Stop The Cultivator

1. Release the throttle control to stop the

tines.

2. Move the ON/OFF switch, on the engine,

to the OFF position.

How To Set The Depth

Use the depth stake to control the tilling depth and the forward speed. Set the depth

stake to the desired tilling position as fol- lows:

1. Remove the hairpin and the clevis pin

from the depth stake (see Figure 4).

2. Adjust the depth stake upward to dig

shallower or downward to dig deeper.

Depth Stake

Clevis Pin

Depth Stake

Bracket

3. Reinstall the clevis pin and hairpin.

How To Operate The Cultivator

1. Start the engine.

2. Tilt the unit back on the depth stake until

the tines are offthe ground. Squeeze the throttle control all the way up against the

hand grip. The engine is governor con- trolled and must be run at full throttle

while tilling.

3. Hold the handle firmly and slowly tilt the

unit forward to begin the tilling action.

4. As the tines begin to make contact with

the ground, hold back on the handles so that the tines will dig into the soiI and not

ride forward over the ground.

F-011302M 9

Figure 4

5. Avoid tilling soil that is too dry as it will pulverize and produce a dust that will not

hold water'. Also, tilling soil that is too wet will be hard on the machine and produce

unsatisfactory clods.

Lowering the depth stake will slow the

cultivator and make it till deeper. Raising the depth stake will allow itto move fast-

er and till more shallow. See "Now To Set The Depth".

_ ARNING: Keep away from the

rotating tines. Rotating tines

can cause injury.

OPERATION

BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE

How To Prepare The Engine

A WARNING: Always use a safety

_when adding the fuel mixture to

How To Mix The Fuel Mixture

The two cycle engine, used on this cultivator, requires a mixture of gasoline and oil for lu-

brication of the bearings and other moving parts. The correct fuel mixture ratio is 24:1

(5.2 oz. oil per one gallon of gas - see the Fuel Mixture Chart). Gasoline and oil must be pre-mixed in a clean gasoline container.

Always use fresh, clean, unleaded gasoline. Mix gasoline and oil as follows:

1. Pour one (1) U.S. quart of fresh, clean,

2. Add 5.3 ounces of clean, high quality,

fuel container. Do not smoke

the engine. When inside an enclosure,

do not fill the fuel tank. Before you add

the fuel mixture, stop the engine. Let the

engine cool for several minutes.

unleaded automotive gasoline into a one gallon size gasoline container.

two-cycle oil to the gasoline container.

IMPORTANT: Do not use outboard mo- tor oil or multi-viscosity oils,such as

10W-30 or 10W-40.

install the fuel cap onto the gasoline con- tainer. Vigorously shake the gasoline

container to mix the oil with the gasoline.

Add an additional three (3) U.S. quarts of gasoline to the gallon container. Again shake the gasoline container.

This completes the gasoline mixing pro- cedure. The gasoline can now be added

to the fuel tank.

FUEL MIXTURE CHART (mixture 24:1)

U.S. Sl. (Metric

GAS OIL GAS OIL 1 Gal. 5.2 oz. 4 Liters .167 L

2 Gal. 11 oz. 8 Liters .333 L 5 Gal. 27 oz. 20 Liters .833 L

Do not fill the fuel tank with gasoline that does not have oil mixed in it. Shake the gasoline container before each filling of the fuel tank.

(5.2ozI Shake Can (3 U. S. Quarts)

Ol,

Add more gas

+ +

1 U.S. Gallon container '_

F-011302M 10

OPERATION

HOW TO START THE ENGINE

Before you start the engine, make sure that you have read and understand all the in-

structions on the preceding pages.

f. Fill the fuel tank to 1/2 inch below the

bottom of the fill neck. Reinstall the fuel tank cap securely. AIways use fresh fuel.

Never use fuel that could be stale from

iong periods of storage.

2. Move the on-off switch to the ON posi- tion (see Figure 5).

3. Move the choke controI to the FULL CHOKE position (ali the way down).

NOTE: Do not choke a hot or warm

engine.

4. Tilt the cultivator back on the depth stake or transport wheels to raise the tines off

the ground.

5. Hold the upper handle firmly to stabiIize the cultivator.

7. Pull the starter handle with rapid, full arm strokes until the engine starts.

When the engine starts, move the choke Iever to the HALF CHOKE position.

When the engine runs smoothly, move the choke lever to the NO CHOKE posi-

tion.

NOTE: If the tines do not stop when

the throttle control is released, adjust the carburetor idle speed. See "How To Adjust The Carburetor" in the Ser-

vice And Adjustments.

To stop the engine, release the throttle control and move the on-off switch to

the OFF position.

10. If the engine becomes flooded remove and dry the spark plug. See "Spark Plug

Maintenance" in the Maintenance sec- tion of this manual. Then, pull the starter rope with the choke lever in the NO

CHOKE position.

6. Hold the starter handle and pull slowly until you feel engine drag. Slowly return

the starter handle to the original position.

ON / OFF

Switch

F-011302M 11

rounding areas become hot af-

WARNING: The muffler and sur-

these areas.

Recoil Starter Handle

ter running the engine. Avoid

Air Cleaner

Figure 5

CULTIVATING TIPS

Tilling is digging in, turning over and breaking up packed soil before planting.

Loose unpacked soil helps root growth. Best tilling depth is 4 to 6 inches. A tiller

wilI also clear the soil of unwanted vege- tation. The decomposition of this vegeta- tion matter enriches the soil. Depending

on the climate (rainfall and wind), it may be advisable to tilI the soil at the end of

the growing season to further condition the soil.

Avoid tilling soil that is too dry as it will pulverize and produce a dust that will not

hold water. Also, tilling soil that is too wet will be hard on the machine and produce unsatisfactory clods.

Better growth will be obtained if an area

is tilled properly and used soon after till- ing to preserve the moisture content.

The depth stake (on the back of the culti- vato o serves a dual purpose. It helps

regulate the depth of the cut and also acts as a brake to help the operator con-

trol the speed of the cultivator.

Lowering the depth stake will slow the

cultivator and make it till deeper'. Raising the depth stake will allow it to move fast-

er and till more shallow.

OPERATION

all safety devices and shields in place. Never allow children or uninstructed

adults to operate cultivator. Shut off en- gine before unclogging tines or making

repairs. Keep bystanders away from ma- chine. Keep away from rotating parts

and tines. They can cause injury.

If the cultivator stops forward motion and

tries to dig deeper than necessary, move the handles from side to side to start for-

ward motion.

Cultivating is loosening or digging around growing plants which allows the

plants to flourish.

When using the cultivator to remove weeds, it is best to cultivate no deeper

than 1-1/2 inches. Cultivating deeper will only pull to the surface ungerminated

weed seeds. Raising the depth stake wilI allow it to move faster and till more shal-

low.

When cultivating around piants or close areas, you may want to remove the out- side tines. See "Tine Replacement" in

the Service/Adjustments section.

manual. Know location and

WARNING: Read the Owner's functions of all controls. Keep

F-O11302M 12

MAINTENANCE

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

SERVICE RECORDS After

Fill in dates as you Before First Every Every Before

complete regular Each 2 25 75 Before Each SERVICE

service. Use Hours Hours Hours Storage Season DATES

Tighten Ag Screws and

Nuts

Lubricate Tine Shaft

Lubricate Transmission I I 4 I . '

Check Spark Plug

Clean Cylinder Exhaust

Ports

Drain Fuel " " " " " N/ " "

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Model No.: 536.292522 Date Of Purchase:

Horse Power: 2 Displacement: 3.0 cu. in.

Gasoline Capacity: 20 oz. Fuel/Oil Mix Ratio: 24:1 Oil To Gas

Spark Plug: Champion

Spark Plug Gap: 0.035 inch

Idle RPM: 1700-3000

(49.2 cc.)

(5.3 oz. oil to 1 gal. gas (use unleaded regula o

RCJ-SY

I I I I I I

4 4 ....

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty on this cultivator does not cov- er items that have been subjected to opera-

tor abuse or negligence. To receive full value from the warranty, the operator must main-

tain the cultivator as instructed in this manual.

Some adjustments must be made periodical- ly to properly maintain your cultivator.

All adjustments in the Service and Adjust- ments section of this manual must be

checked at least once each season.

F-011302M 13

MAINTENANCE

LUBRICATION

Every 25 hours and/or at the beginning of each season, make sure the gear box is

filled with lubricant (see Figure 6). Tubes of gear lubricant are available from most auto-

motive supply stores. Use portable tool grease such as LubripIate 630AA (Product

No. 06787, 1-3/4 oz. tube) or Lubdplate GR-132 (Product No. 15892, 10 oz. tube).

After cleaning and before storage, apply oil to the tine shaft (see Figure 6).

if it is damaged (see the Repair Parts section in this manual).

Clean and lubricate the tine shaft with a few drops of oil.

Reinstall the left side tines.

Remove the right side tines. Check the

felt washer for damage. Clean and oil the tine shaft. Reinstall the right side

tines.

_1_ ARNING: Allow the transmis-

1. Remove both left side tines. See "How

2. Remove the air vent screw (see

3. Mount a grease gun onto the grease fit-

4. Reinstall the air vent screw.

5. Check the condition of the felt washer

sion to cool before filling with grease.

To Replace The Tines" in the Service and Adjustments section.

Figure 6).

ting. Fill the transmission until the grease begins to come out of the air vent

screw hole.

(see Figure 6). Replace the felt washer

HOW TO CLEAN THE TINES

Always remove dirt and debris from the culti- vator after each use. Remove any string,

wire or vegetation that may become lodged in the mechanism and stop the tines from rotating.

1. Release the throttle control and move the on-off switch to the OFF position.

Disconnect the spark plug wire from the

spark plug.

2. While wearing gloves, remove the hair- pins and clevis pins that secure the tine

assemblies to the shaft (see Figure 7).

Remove the tines from the shaft.

3. Remove any lodged debris from the shaft and tines. Clean and lubricate the

fine shaft with a few drops of oil.

4. Reassemble the tines on the shaft and secure with a clevis pin and hairpin.

F-011302M

Air Vent Screw

Grease Fitting

Figure 6

Connect the spark plug wire to the spark plug.

Hair Pins Tines Figure 7

MAINTENANCE

SPARK PLUG

Check the spark plug every 25 hours Re- place the spark plug if the electrodes are

pitted or bur ned or d the porcelain Es cracked

Make sure the spark plug is clean

Clean the spark plug by carefully scrap-

Engthe electrodes (do not sand blast or use a w_re brush)

Check the spark plug gap with a feeler gauge See Product Speclhcahons r for

the correct spark plug gap and replace-

ment spark plug

3 Before installing the spark plug, coat

the threads lightly with oil for easy re-

moval Tighten the spark plug to a torque

of 15 foot pounds

Feeler Gauge

O 035

Spark Plug

Figure 8

HOW TO CLEAN THE AIR FILTER

The engine uses a foam aTrfilter that can be cleaned and reused Clean and oEIthe air

filter every 25 hours Clean more often _n dusty conditions Remove and dean the a_r

filter as follows CAUTION Never run the engine without

the air filter installed An a=r filter clogged

with dust can result in loss of engine power and can cause excesmve wear or

damage to the engine If the air filter is clogged, clean or replace =mmediately

1 DEsconnect the spark plug wire from the

spark plug

2 Remove the screws from the a=r filter

cover (see F=gure 91 Remove the a=r fdter cover and the a=r filter

Wipe the cover and the inside of the air filter housing with a clean cloth

Clean the a=rfdter in a solution of water and household detergent R_nse tho-

roughtly In clean water

Wrap the air filter .1 a dry clean cloth Squeeze out (do not twist) all soluhon

untd dry

Cover the outside of the air filter with oil Use the same type ofo=l as used to

make the fuel m_xture L_ghtly squeeze

the aE filter to d_stnbute and remove any excess od

Put the clean a=r filter .]to the a=r filter housing

Install the air filter cover and secure

with the screws as shown

Connect the spark plug wire to the spark

plug

Air Filter

Fdter Housing

Co_er

Screw

Figure 9

CYLINDER EXHAUST PORTS

Clean the cyhder exhaust ports after every 75 hours of operation For this procedure we

recommend that you take your unit to a Sears Service Center

F 011302M

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENT

HOW TO REMOVE AND INSTALL THE TINES

References to the dght or left side of the cul- tivator are from the viewpoint of the opera-

tot's position behind the unit. All four tines are different and cannot be in-

terchanged. The tines must be correctly installed or the cultivator will not function

propedy. To till around plants or in small areas, the

outside tines can be removed to reduce the tilIing width to approximately 7 inches.

sharpening and will become

WARNING: The tines are self

quite sharp from use. Handle

carefully.

The tines will all wear evenly. If the tines are being replaced because of wear', we recom-

mend that aIIfour tines be replaced at the same time. To replace the tines, do the fol- lowing:

Tine Removal

1. Put the on-off switch in the OFF posi- tion.

2. Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug.

3. WhiIe wearing gloves, remove the hair- pins and clevis pins that secure the tine

assemblies to the shaft (see Figure 10).

Remove the tines from one side of the

unit.

Tine Installation

1. Clean and lubricate the tine shaft with a few drops of oil.

2. Place the inside tine on the tine shaft and reinstall the clevis pin and hairpin.

3. When the tines are properly installed, the letter R will be visible on the outside of

the right tine (see Figure 11). The letter

L will be visible on the outside of the left

tine.

Oil Drain Plug

R Figure 11

Mount the outside tine on the tine shaft

and fasten with the clevis pin and hair- pin (see Figure 10).

The cutting tips on the outside tines all bend in toward the inside tine. When as-

sembled correctly, the letter R on the right side, or L on the left side, will be

visible from the outside of the unit.

Hair Pins Tines Figure 10

F-O11302M 16

6. Repeat the above steps on the opposite side of the unit.

NOTE: Make sure the tines are installed on the correct side of the unit.

+ 35 hidden pages