Craftsman 536773521 Owner’s Manual

6.5 Horsepower

HIGHWHEEL WEEDTRIMMER
KEY START i

MODEL NO.

536.773521

m

Caution:

Read and follow all Safety Rules
and Operating Instructions before
first use of this product,

SEARS,F_0O0211MROEBUCKAND CO., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.. I

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WARRANTY STATEMENT ...... 2

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

INTERNATIONALSYMBOLS .... 5

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

OPERATION .................. 9

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

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENT.,, 16

TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART .. 21

SLOPE GUIDE ................. 23

REPAIR PARTS ................ 24

ENGINE REPAIR PARTS ........ 29

SPANISH (ESPA_IOL) .......... 38

PARTSORDERING/SERVICE ... 64

WARRANTY STATEMENT

LIMITED TWO-YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN WEEDTRIMMER

For two yearn from the date of purchsse, when this Craftsman Weedtdmmer is maintained,
lubricated, and tuned up according to the operating and maintenance instructions in the

owner's manuat, Sears will repair, free of charge, any defect in matadal or workmanship.
If this Craftsman Weedtrimmer is used for commercial or rental purposes, this warranty ap-

plies for onty 90 days from the date of pumhase.
This warranty does not cover the following:

Expendableitems whichbecomewornduringnormaluse, suchassparkplugs,etc.

Repairnecessarybecauseofoperatorabuseornegligence,includingbentcrankshafts

and thefailure tomaintainthe equipmentaccordingto the instructionscontainedinthe
owner'smanual.

WARRANTY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE BY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN WEED-
TRIMMER TO THE NEAREST SEARS SERVICE CENTER/DEPARTMENT IN THE

UNITED STATES.THIS WARRANTYAPPUES ONLYWHILE THIS PRODUCTISIN USE

IN THE UNITED STATES.

Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegaltights,andyoumay alsohaveotherfights which may
varyfromstate to state.

Sears, Roebuckand Co., D817WA, HoffmanEstates.IL 60179

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 arreeter meeting

applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arreatar 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 an Authorized Service Center for a spark arrester for the muffler.

F-O(]O211M 2

SAFETY RULES

Safe Operation Practices for Trimmer.

A

It means: "Attention! Become Alertl Your Safety Is Involved,"

I. General Operation

1. Read, understand, and follow all instruc-
tions on the machine and in the manual(s).

Be thoroughly familiar with the contmle and

the proper use of the tdmmer before start-

ing.

2. Familiarize yourself with all of the safety
and operating decals on this equipment

and on any of its attachments or accesao-

rigs.

3. Do not put hands or feet near orunder mtst-

ing parts.

4. Only allow responsible individuals, who are

familiar with the instructions,to operate the
trimmer.

5. Inspect the area where the tdmmer is to be

used. Your equipment can propel small ob-

jects at high speed causing personal injury

or property damage. Stay away from
breakable objects, such as house win-
dows, auto glass, greenhouses, etc.

6. Keep the area of operation clear of all per-

sons, perticolady small children, and pets.

7. Wear appropriate clothing such as a long-

sleeved shirt orjacket. ALsowear long trou-
sers or slacks. Do not wear shorts.

8. Do not wear loose clothing which could get
caught in this equipment.

9. Always wear safety goggles or safety
glasses with side shields when operating

tdmmer to protect your eyes from foreign
objects which can be thrown from the unit.

10. Always wear work gloves and sturdy feet-

wear. Leather work shoes or short boots
work well for moat people. These will pro-

tact the operator's ankles and shins from
small sticks, splinters, and other debds,
and improve traction.

11. It is advisable to wear protective headgear
to prevent the possibility of being struck by
small flying pertJcles, or being struck by low

hanging branches, twigs, or other objects
which may be unnoticed by the operator.

12. Do not operate the trimmer without proper
guards or other safety protective devices

in place.

13. Use this equipment for its intended pur-

pose only.

14. See manufacturer's instructions for proper

operation and instatiation of accessories.

F-OOO211M

WARNING: Lookfor this symbol to point out importantsafety precautions.

Only usa accessories approved by the
manufacturer.

15. Operate only in daylight or good artificial
light.

16. Do not operate the trimmer while under the
influence ofalcohol, drugs or other medica-

tion which can cause drowsiness or affect
your ability to operate this machine safely.

17. Never operate trimmer in wet grass. Al-

ways be sure of your footing; keep a firm

hold on the handle and walk; never run.

18. Before each use, inspect the throttle con-
trol lever and cable. Make sure that the

cable is free and that the lever is not dam-
aged. Also check the cable linkage running
to the carburetor for kinks, loose fittings,

and obstructions. Verify that the contra[
bail is working properly.

19. Stop the rotating trimmer bead when cross-
ing gravel ddves, walks, or roads. Wait for

the cutting lines to stop rotating.

20. Watch for traffic when operating near, or
when crossing roads.

21. Stop the engine (motor) whenever you
leave the equipment, before cleaning re-

pairing or inspecting the unit, be sure the
trimmer head and all moving parts have

stopped. Let the engine cool, disconnect
the spark plug wire and move itaway from

the spark plug.

22. If the equipment should start to vibrate ab-

normally, stop the engine (motor), discon-
nect the spark plug wire and prevent it from

touching the spark plug. Check immediate-

ly for the cause. Vibration is generally a
warning of trouble.

23. After striking a foreign object, stop the en-

gine (motor). Remove the wire from the
spark plug. Inspect the tnmrner for dam-

age. Ifdamaged, repair before starting and
operating the trimmer.

24. Never leave the trimmer unattended when

the engine is running. Remove the wire
from the spark plug.

25. Regutarly inspect the trimmer. Make sure

parts are not bent, damaged or loose.

li. Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fail

accidents which can result in severe injury. All

SAFETY RULES

slopes require extra caution. If you feel uneasy
on e slope, do not trim it.

Dotdm across the face of slopes; never up end

down. Do not trim excessively steep slopes

(maximum 15 degrees) or areas where the
ground is very rough. See the "Guide" in the
back of this manual to check a slope. Exercise

extreme caution when changing direction on
slopes.

Do remove objects such as rocks, tree limbs,
etc.

Do watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Ta]l grass
can hide obstacles.

Do nottrim near drep-offs, ditches, or embank-
mants. The operator could lose footing or bal-

ance.

Do nottrim excessively steep slopes.

Do not trim on wet grass. Reduced footing

could cause slipping.

III. Children

Tragic accidents can occur ifthe operator is not

alert to the presence of children. Children are
often attracted to the trimmer and the trimming

activity. Neverassume that children wiltremain
where you fastsaw them.

1. Keap childran out ofthe tlimming area and

under the watchful care of a responsible

adult.

2. Be alert and turn trimmer off if children en-
ter the area.

3. Before and while moving backwards, look
behind and down for small children.

4. Never allow children to operate the trim-

me_

5. Use extra care when approaching blind
corners, shrube, trees, or other objects that

may obscure vision.

6. On electric start models, remove the igni-

tion key to prevent accidentst starting when
the trimmer is not is use.

IV. Service

1. Use extra care in handling gasoline and

other fuels. They are flammable and va-
pots are explosive.

a. Use only an approved container.
b. Never romove gas cap or add fuol with

the engine running. Allow engine to
cool before refueling. Do not smoke.

c. Never refuel the machine indoors.

d. Never store the machine or fuel con-

tainer inside where there is an open
flame, such as a water heater.

2. Never run an engine indoors or inside a
closed area.

3. Never make adjustments or repairs with
the engine (motor) running. D_sconnect the

spark plug wire, and keep the wire away
from the plug to prevent accidental starting

(remove the ignitionkey it equipped with an
electric start). Always wear eye protection

when you make adjustments or repairs.

4. Check the trimmer heed and engine

mounting bolts at frequent intervals for
proper tightness.

5. Keep all nuts and bolts tight and keep

equipment in good coediSon. Check

mounting hardware on thmmer head every

time you change trimmer line and plior to
each use.

6. Never tamper with safety devices. Check

their proper operation rngulady.

7. When servicing or repairingthe trimmer, do

not tip the machine over or up unless ape-
cificelly instructed to do so in this Manual.

Service and repairprocedures can be done
with the trimmer in an upright position.
Some procedures will be easier if the ma-

chine is lifted on a raised platform or work-
ing surface.

8. To reduce fire hazard, keep _mmer free of
grass, leaves, or other debris build-up.

Clean up oil or fuel spillage. Allow trimmer
to cool before storing.

9, Stop and inspect the equipment if you

strike an object. Repair, if necessary, be-
fore restarting.

10. Always disconnect spark plug wire before
cleaning, repainng, or adjusting.

11. Do not change the engine governor setting
or over-spasd the engine.

12. Clean and replace safety and instruction
decals as necessary.

13. To guard against engine over-hsating, al-
ways have engine debris filter mounted

and dean.

14. Inspect trimmer before storage.

15. Use only original equipment or authorized

replacement parts.

F_)OO211M 4

SAFETY RULES

INTERNATIONAL SYMBOLS

IMPORTANT:Many of the following symbols are located onyour unit or on literature sup-
pliedwith the product. Before you operate the unit, learn and understand the purpose for

each symbol.

Slow Fast Fuel Oil

OOlO_ eOOGOOGOOO OOGO

WARNING

Thrown Objects.

KeepBystanders Away.

Rotating Parts. Stop Engine.

Disconnect Spark Wire Before

WARNING

Making Adjustments.

Q M

IMPORTANT WARNING

Read Owner's Manual Wear Eye Protection

Before Operating

This Machine.

@

WARNING

Never Operate Up Or

Down Slopes. Operate

Across Slopes.

F-(_:O211M 5

A

WARNING

STOP

ASSEMBLY

CONTENTS OF PARTS BAG
1 Owner'sManual

- Parts Bag
Not shown actual size)

ASSEMBLY

1 - T--Handle 1 - Safety 1 - 20 oz.

Wrench Glasses Bottle Oil

WARNING: Always wear safety
glasses or eye shields while as-

sembling the trimmer.

TOOLS REQUIRED

1 - Knife to cut carton.
1 - T-Handle Wrench.

Figure 1 shows the trimmer completely as-
sembled and positioned in the carton for ship*

ment.

References to the fight or left hand side of the
trimmer are from the viewpoint of the opera-
tor's position behind the unit.

2 Sets

Trimmer Lines 1 - Battery

(0.155 inch diameter) Charger

TO REMOVE THE
TRIMMER FROM CARTON

1. Remove the parts bag and all loose parts
from carton.

2. Remove the packing material positioned
around the unit.

3. Cut down an four comers of the carton and

lay the side panels flat.

4. Pull the trimmer out of the carton and off

the base pad.

5. Remove packing material from around the

trimmer head.

6. Remove protective plastic from front of

frame.

F-OOO211M 6

Figure 1

ASSEMBLY

HOW TO RAISE THE HANDLE

t. Hold the handle with one hasd asd loosen both handle adjustment knobs untU the ratchet

teeth are disengaged. Do not remove the handle adjustment knobs. See Figure 2.

2. Raise the handle to the

operating position.

3. Stand in the operator's

position behind the trim-
mer. Put the handle in a

comfortable position.
Make sure both sides of

the handle are level.
NOTE: Make sure the

cables are not caught
between the upper and

lower handle.

4. Tighten the handle ad-

justment knobs. Make
sure the handle pivots

are locked in place.

NOTE: The handle
height is adjustable.

See "How To Adjust
The Height Of The Han-

dle" in the Adjustment

section.

5. To attach the recoil start handle to the rope guide, twist the rope through

the rope guide mounted on the right side ofthe handle.

Recoil

Handle

Pivot

Rope \\

Guide

/ \\

Handle

\\

\\

Figure 2

HOW TO INSTALL

THE ENGINE DEBRIS SHIELD

1. Remove the engine debris shield from the

proteclJve packaging.

2. Attach the engine debris shield to the two

mounting brackets with the wingnuts as
shown in Figure 3. Make sure the wing°

nuts are tight.

F-O(X)211M

Mounting

Bracket

Figure

ASSEMBLY

ENGINE PREPARATION
Fill Crankcase With Oil

The trimmer was shipped with a container of

SAE30 motor oil.This oil must be added to the

engine before operating.

1. Remove the oil fin cap/dipstick shown in
Figure 4. Fill the crankcase to the FULL

line on oil fillcap/dipstick. DO NOT OVER-

FILL.

2. Install the oil till cap/dipstick and tighten

securely.

Fill Fuel Tank With Gasoline
For the correct procedure and grade of

gasoline, see "How To Fill With Gasoline" in
the Operation section.

ELECTRIC START BA'n'ERY

When the mower was shipped from the facto-

ry, the battery was notfully charged. Before the

first use, the battery must be charged for

16-24 hours. Bee "How To Charge The Bat-

tery" in the Service And Adjustment section.

Cap

Oil FillCap/

Dipstick

Figure 4

• CHECKLIST

For the best performance and satisfaction
from this quality product, please review the fol-
lowing checklist before you operate the tnm-
mer:

All assembly instructions have been
completed.

Check carton. Make sure no looseparts
remain in the carton.

F-OOO211M 8

As you learn how to use the trimmer, pay extra
attention to the following important items:

• • Engine oil is at correct level.

• • Fuel tank is tilled with fresh, clean, reg-

ular unleaded gasoline.

• • Become familiar and understand the
function of allcontrols. Before your start

the engine, operate all controls.

OPERATION

KNOW YOUR TRIMMER

READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALL SAFETY RULES BEFORE YOU OPERATE the trim-
mer. To familianze yourself with the location of the controls, compare the illustrationswith your trim-

mer. Save this manual for future reference.

Control Bail

TdmmerHead Drive Lever

/1

Ignition Switch

Throttle Control Lever

Recoil StarterHandle

J

Handle Adjustment Knob

Dipstick

Shield Edge

Trimmer Head Drive Lever - Engages

the rotation of the trimmer head.

Control Bail - Release to stop the rotation

of the trimmer head.
Throttle Control Lever - Controls the
speed or stops the engine.
Primer Button - Injects fuel directly intothe

carburetor manifold for faster starts. See
Figure 8,

Fuel Cap

Engine Debris Shield

Trimmer Head

Figure 5

Recoil Starter Handle - The engine is
equippedwithan easy pullrecoilstarter.

Ignition Switch - Useonkey-startengine.

Shield Edge Guard - Protectsthe shield
by automaticallycuttingthe lineto the correct

length,
Engine Debris Shield - Protectsthe en-

ginefrom debns. Can be easily removedto
sen/icetheengine.

EYE PROTECTION

WARNING: Debris thrown from
the trimmer can result in foreign

eyes, which can cause severe
objects being thrown into the

eye damage. Always wear safety
glasses or eye shields when op

erating the tHmmer,

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

F-OOO211M

HOW TO STOP
THE TRIMMER HEAD

1. Release the control bail, Itwill re_um to its

open position and disengage the trimmer

head,

HOW TO STOP THE ENGINE

1. Move the throttle control lever com-

pletely back to the STOP position,

9

OPERATION

HOW TO USE THE

TRIMMER HEAD DRIVE LEVER

1, To engage the trimmer head, hold the con-

trol bail against the handle. Move the
trimmer heed drive lever forward to en-

gage the trimmer head. See Figure 6. The

faster the engine runs, the faster the trim-

mar head will rotate.

2. Once the tdmmer head is rotating, push
the trimmer forward to trim.

HOW TO USE THE
THRO'I-rLE CONTROL

1. Duting normal use, set the throttle con-
trol lever inthe FAST position to run the

engine at full speed.

2. Pull the throttle control lever back to de-

crease engine speed. Push the throttle
control lever forward to increase engine
speed.

3. To stop the engine, pull the throttle con-

trol lever completely back to the STOP
position,

Control Bail

!

Handle

Trimmer Head

Drive Lever

Figure 6

ThrottleControl

Lever

Figure 7

HOW TO USE

THE PRIMER BUTTON

1. Push the primer button five times, See

Figure 8 for location. Wait approximately

two seconds between each push.

NOTE: Do not use the primer button to re-
start e warmengine after a shortshutdown.

F_OO211M 10

OPERATION

BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE

Oil Recommendation
Only usehighqualitydetergentoil ratedwith

API serviceclassification SG. Selectthe oil's

SAE viscositygrade according to your ex-
pectedoperatingtemperature:

Colder _,_ _ _ B _ _,_ Warmer

32.F

I ;,E--; I

NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils
(5W30, 10W30, etc.) improve starting in

cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils
will result in increased oil consumption

when used above 32-F. To avoid possible
engine damage from running low on oil,

frequently check your engine oil level.

Check The Engine Oil
Before each use, check the engine oil as

follows:

1. Put the trimmeron a levelsurface.

2. Remove the oil fillcap/dipstickshownin

Figure9.

3. Make suretheoil reachestheFULLmark

onthe oilfill cap/dipstick.

4. If necessary,add oil untiltheFULL mark

onthe oilfill cap/dipstickis reached.DO
NOT OVERFILL. See 'Oil Recommenda-

tion"for thegradeand typeof oilto use.

FuelCap

Debds Screen

Figure 9

F-OOO211M 11

How To Fill With Gasoline

NOTICE: ENGINES WHICH ARE CERTI-
FIED TO COMPLY WITH CALIFORNIA AND
US EPA EMISSION REGULATIONS FOR

ULGE ENGINES: Are certified to operate on
regular unleaded gasoline. Include thefollow-

ing emission control system(s): EM, TWC (if
=o equipped). Include any user adjustable
features-therefore no other adjustments are

needed.

WARNING: Never fill the gas tank

hoL Allow the engine to cool

while the engine is running or
before adding gasoline. Immedi-

ately wipe off any spilled gaso-
line before you start the engine.

WARNING: Gasoline is flam-
mable. Use caution when han-

away from an open flame or an
dling or storing gasoline. Keep

electrical spark. Do not smoke
while filling the fuel tank. Store
gasoline In a clean, approved
container in a cool well ventilated

place; never In the house.

Fill the fuel tank with a fresh, clean, unleaded

regular, unleaded premium, or reformulated

automotive gasoline only. DO NOT use
leaded gasoline. Be sure that the gasoline

container is clean and free from dust or other
foreign particles. Never use gasoline that is

stale from long periods of storage. Reinstall
fuel cap.

CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels (called
gesohol or using methanol) can attract
moisture which leads to separation and
formation of acids during storage. Acidic

gas can damage the fuel system of an en-
gine while in storage. To avoid engine

problems, empty the fuel system before

storage of 30 days or longer. Drain the fuel
tank. Start the engine and let it run until the

fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Never
use engine or carburetor cleaner products

in the fuel tank or permanent damage may
occur. See "Storage Instructions" for addi-
tional information.

OPERATION

HOW TO START THE ENGINE
NOTE: DO NOT BEALARMED, your engine

will smoke the first time it is started. It is
burning offthe protectivecoating thatis on
the internal engine parts.

A ARNING: Never leave the trim-

mar unattended whil the engine
is runngin. Wait for the trimmer

lines to atop rotation.

Figure10. Pullbacksharplyon therecoil

starter handle. DO NOT allowthestarter

rope to snap back. Let the starter rope

slowlyrewindasyouholdthe recoilstarter

handle.

NOTE: If engine fails to start after three at-
tempts, push the primer button two times

and again try to start the engine.

1. Before each use, remove debris from the
debris screen shown in Figure 9. Debris
can cause the engine to overheat. Wipe

the debris screen with a cloth or paper
towel.

2. Key Start: Make sure the battery is con-

nected to the wiring harness.

3. Move the throttlecontrollever forward to

theSTART or FAST position,

4. To start a cold engine, push the prbnerbut-

ton five times. Wait two seconds between
each push of the primer button.

NOTE: Do not use the primer to start a
warm engine.

5. Key Start: Turn the ignition key to the

START position. Use short starting cycles
(15 seconds per minute). When the engine

starts, release the ignition key, If the en-
gine will not turn over, charge the battery,
See "How To Charge The Battery".

6. RecoiI-Start:FitTnlyholdtherecoil start-

er handle with your right hand. See

TRIMMER TIPS

A WARNING: Debris such as sticks,

F_)OO211M 12

gravel or rocks, can be thrown

with sufficient force to cause per-
sonel injury or property damage,

Set the throttle control in the FAST posi-
tion. If the weeds or grass are tall and
thick, operate the trimmer at a slower
walking speed.

Frequently clean the undemide of the trim-
mer to remove any grassbuild up. See the

Maintenance section for details,
For best rasults and longer lasting line,

use the ends of the line to do the cutting.
This is easily done by moving slowly
through very thick or heavy weeds.

A WARNING: Never run the engine

carbon monoxide, an odorless and dead-
ly gas. Keep hands, feat, hair and loose

clothing away from the trimmer and any

indoors or in a poorly ventilated
area. Engine exhaust contains

moving parts on the engine. Avoid the
muffler and surrounding areas. Temper-

aturas may exceed 150°F.

IgniSon Key /

Figure 10

If the trimmer lines become too short,itwill
take longerto complete the job. If the trim-
mar lines are worn to less than half their

original length, change to a new trimmer
line. "See How To Change The Trimmer

Line" in the Service And Adjustment sec-
tion.

Do not trim on excessively steep slopes, tf
a slope isdifficult to stand on, do not tnm.

Do not trim on slopes when the ground is

slippery or wet. Trim across the face of a
slope, not up and down.

Trimmer head contact to concrete, asphalt
and harder services may create prema-

ture wear to the height guide (See
Figure tS).