Craftsman 536292523 Owner’s Manual

Operator's Manual Cultivator

2 Horsepower 2-cycle Engine

10 Inch Tines

Model 536.292523

CAUTION: Before using

this product, read this manual and follow all of its

Safety Rules and Operating Instructions.

- CRRFTSMRN °

Manual del usario

Cultivador

2 caballos de fuerza (hp) motor 2 tiempos

Aspas de 10 pulg.

Modelo 536.292523

PRECAUCI6N: Antes de usar este

producto, lea este manual y siga todas las reglas de seguridad e

instrucciones de operaci6n.

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

F-021300C www.sears.com/craftsman Made in China

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 inthe owner's

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

become worn during normal use.

Ifthis Craftsman Cultivator is used for commercial or rental purposes, this warranty applies

for only 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 rightswhich may

vary from state to state.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., D817WA, Hoffman 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 land 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 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 arrester for the muffler.

F-021300C 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."

_ ARNING: To prevent acciden- 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 manual carefully. Be

• Do not operate the cultivator without wear-

• Keep the area of operation clear of all per-

• Thoroughly inspect the area where the cul-

Fuel Safety

• Handle fuel with care; it is highly flam-

• Use an approved container.

• Check fuel supply before each use, allow-

• Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care.

• Never remove the fuel tank cap or add fuel F-021300C

tal starting when setting-up, transporting, adjusting or mak-

thoroughly familiar with the controls and

the proper use of the cultivator. Know how to stop the cultivator and disengage the

controls quickly.

ing adequate outer garments. Wear foot- wear that will improve footing on slippery

surfaces.

sons, particularly small children and pets.

tivator is to be used and remove all foreign objects.

mable.

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

Never fill fuel tank indoors. Replace fuel tank cap securely and wipe up spilled fuel.

to a running or hot engine.

• Never store fuel or cultivator with fuel in the tank inside a 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 cultivator. 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 repair the damage before restarting and attempting to till too deep at too fast a rate. operating it.

spect the cultivator for any damage, 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, repairing, or inspecting, shut off the 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-021300C 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

Thrown Objects.

Keep Bystanders Away.

IMPORTANT

Read Owner's Manual

Before Operating

This Machine.

F-021300C 5

Rotating Parts. Stop Engine.

Disconnect Spark Wire Before

WARNING

Making Adjustments.

WARNING

Wear Eye Protection

WARNING

STOP

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- tor's position behind the unit.

HOW TO REMOVE THE

CULTIVATOR FROM THE CARTON

1. Remove the bottle of oil from the carton.

2. Remove the packing material positioned around the unit.

3. Lift the cultivator out of the carton and place on a hard level surface.

HOW TO RAISE THE HANDLE

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.

1 - 5.2 oz. 2-cycle Oil

Figure 1

_Kn Handle

obs

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-021300C 6

Figure 2

ASSEMBLY

v" 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 following 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 all controls.

F-021300C 7

OPERATION

KNOW YOUR CULTIVATOR

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

_our cultivator. Save this manual for future reference.

ON / OFF

Switch

Throttle Control

Lever

Upper Handle

Recoil Starter Handle

Lower Handle

Depth Stake and _

Tra n_sP°e_mW,y_

Throttle Control - Controls the eng=ne 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 starting a 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 ._

Air Cleaner

Fuel Cap

Tine Shield

Tines

Figure 3

Recoil Starter Handle - The engine is equipped with an easy pullrecoil 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 - Mount with the wheels down when transporting 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-021300C

,_ WARNING: Debris thrown from

the eyes, which can cause severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or

eye shields when operating the cultiva- tor.

the cultivator can result in for- 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 off the 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 soil and not ride forward over the ground.

F-021300C 9

Figure 4

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.

6. 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. See "How 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 _ ARNING: Always use a safety

fuel container. Do not smoke when adding the fuel mixture to

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.

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 offresh, clean,

unleaded automotive gasoline into a one gallon size gasoline container.

2. Add 5.3 ounces of clean, high quality, 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. SI. (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.

OII Add more gas

(5.2 oz)_ Shake Can (3 U. S. Quarts)

4- +

] U.S. Gallon container _-_

F-021300C 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.

Fill the fuel tank to 1/2 inch below the bottom of the fill neck. Reinstall the fuel

tank cap securely. Always use fresh fuel. Never use fuel that could be stale from

long periods of storage.

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

Move the choke control to the FULL CHOKE position (all the way down).

NOTE: Do notchokea hot orwarm engine.

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

the ground.

Hold the upper handle firmly to stabilize the cultivator.

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

When the engine starts, move the choke

lever 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-021300C 11

,_ WARNING: The muffler and sur-

rounding areas become hot af- ter running the engine. Avoid

these areas.

Recoil Starter Handle

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

will 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 till 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- vator) 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 will

allow it to move faster and till more shal- low.

When cultivating around plants 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-021300C 12

MAINTENANCE

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

SERVICERECORDS After

Fillin datesasyou Before First Every Every Before

completeregular Each 2 25 75 Before Each SERVICE

service. Use Hours Hours Hours Storage Season DATES

Lubricate Tine Shaft

ill

Check Spark Plug _/ _/

Clean Cylinder Exhaust _/

Ports

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Model No.: Date Of Purchase:

Horse Power: Displacement:

Gasoline Capacity: Fuel/Oil Mix Ratio:

Spark Plug:

Spark Plug Gap: Idle RPM:

F-021300C 13

536.292523

3.0 cu. in. (49.2 cc.)

20 oz. 24:1 Oil To Gas

(5.3 oz. oil to 1 gal. gas (use unleaded regular)

Champion RCJ-8Y

0.035inch 1700-3000

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.

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 Lubriplate 630AA (Product No. 06787, 1-3/4 oz. tube) or Lubriplate

GR-132 (Product No. 15892, 10 oz. tube). After cleaning and before storage, apply oil

to the fine shaft (see Figure 6).

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

Clean and lubricate the fine 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 fine shaft. Reinstall the right side tines.

sion to cool before filling with

WARNING: Allow the transmis-

grease.

1. Remove both left side tines. See "How To Replace The Tines" in the Service

and Adjustments section.

2. Remove the air vent screw (see Figure 6).

3. Mount a grease gun onto the grease fit- ting. Fill the transmission until the

grease begins to come out of the air vent screw hole.

4. Reinstall the air vent screw.

5. Check the condition of the felt washer (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

tine shaft with a few drops of oil.

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

F-021300C

Air Vent Screw

Grease Fitting

Connect the spark plug wire to the spark plug.

Hair Pins Tines Figure 7

Figure 6

MAINTENANCE

SPARK PLUG

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

pitted or burned or ifthe porcelain is cracked.

Make sure the spark plug is clean. Clean the spark plug by carefully scrap-

ing the electrodes (do not sand blast or use a wire brush).

Check the spark plug gap with a feeler gauge. See "Product Specifications" 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

0.035"

Spark Plug

Figure 8

HOW TO CLEAN THE AIR FILTER

The engine uses a foam air filter that can be cleaned and reused. Clean and oil the air

filter every 25 hours. Clean more often in dusty conditions. Remove and clean the air

filter as follows: CAUTION: Never run the engine without

the air filter installed. An air filter clogged with dust can result in loss of engine

power and can cause excessive wear or damage to the engine. If the air filter is

clogged, clean or replace immediately.

1. Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug.

2. Remove the screws from the air filter cover (see Figure 9). Remove the air

filter cover and the air filter.

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

4. Clean the air filter in a solution of water and household detergent. Rinse tho-

roughtly in clean water.

5. Wrap the air filter in a dry clean cloth. Squeeze out (do not twist) all solution

until dry.

Cover the outside of the air filter with oil. Use the same type of oil as used to

make the fuel mixture. Lightly squeeze

the air filter to distribute and remove

any excess oil.

Put the clean air filter into the air 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

Filter Housing

Screw

Figure 9

CYLINDER EXHAUST PORTS

Clean the cylinder exhaust ports after every 75 hours of operation. For this procedure, we

recommend that you take your unit to a Sears Service Center.

F-021300C 15

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENT

HOW TO REMOVE AND INSTALL THE TINES

References to the right or left side of the cul- tivator are from the viewpoint of the opera- tor'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 properly.

To till around plants or in small areas, the outside tines can be removed to reduce the

tilling 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 all four 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.

Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug.

While 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.

Clevis

Pins

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.

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

4. 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.

Figure 11

Hair Pins Tines Figure 10

F-021300C

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.

+ 36 hidden pages