Craftsman 917292200 Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual

3.75 HP 17 INCH TmNEWmDTH

FRONT "FINETILLER

Model No.

917.292200

o Safety

• Assembly

o Operation o Maintenance

o Repair Parts

CAUTION:

Read and follow all Safety Rules and Instructions

before operating this equipment

For answers to your questions about this product, Call:

1.-800-659=5917

Sears Craftsman Help Line

5 am - 5 pm, Mon - Sat

Sears, Roebuck and Co,, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

Safety Rules ................................................ 2

Warranty ..................................................... 2

Product Specifications ................................4

Assembly ................................................. 6

Operation ..................................................... 7

Maintenance._ ........................................ 11

LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN TILLER For one (1) year from date of purchase, when this Craftsman Tiller 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 does not cover: ,, Expendable items which become worn during normal use, such as tines, spark plugs,

air cleaners and belts.

• Repairs necessary because of operator abuse or negligence, including bent crank- shafts and the failure to maintain the equipment according to the instructions con-

tained in the owner's manual

o If this Craftsman Tiller is used for commercial or rental purposes, this Warranty

applies for only thirty (30) days from the date of purchase.

Warranty service is available by returning the craftsman power mower 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

vary from state to state. SEARS, ROEBUCKAND CO., D/817WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60179

Service and Adjustments ........................ 13

Storage ..................................................... 16

Troubleshooting ...................................... 18

Illustrated Parts List ............................... 20

Parts Ordering ........................... Back Cover

TRAINING o Read the Owner's Manual carefully. Be

thoroughly familiar with the controls and the proper use of the equipment. Know how to stop the unit and disengage the

controls quickly.

° Never allow children to operate the

equipment Never allow adults to oper- ate the equipment without proper

instruction..

• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, particularly small children, and

pets.

PREPARATION

o Thoroughly inspect the area where the

equipment is to be used and remove all foreign objects.

o Disengage all clutches and shift into

neutral before starting the engine (mo- tor).

° Do not operate the equipment without

wearing adequate outer garments. Wear footwear that will improve footing on

slippery surfaces.

= Handle fuel with care; it is highly flam-

mable..

• Use an approved fuel container. o Never add fuel to a running engine or

hot engine.

o Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme

care_ Never fill fuel tank indoors.

o Replace gasoline cap securely and

clean up spilled fuel before restarting.

o Use extension cords and receptacles as

specified by the manufacturer for all units with electric drive motors or elec-

tric starting motors.

° Never attempt to make any adjustments

while the engine (motor) is running

(except where specifically recommend-

ed by manufacturer).

OPERATION

o Do not put hands or feet near or under

rotating pad&

o Exercise extreme caution when operat-

ing on or crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic. Do not carry passengers.

o After striking a foreign object, stop the

engine (motor), remove the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly inspect the

tiller for any damage, and repair the

damage before restarting and operating

the tiller..

,, Exercise caution to avoid slipping or

falling.

o If the unit should start to vibrate abnor-

mally, stop the engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause.. Vibration is

generally a warning of trouble.

o Stop the engine (motor) when leaving

the operating position.

° Take all possible precautions when leav-

ing the machine unattende& Disengage the tines, shift into neutral, and stop the engine.

° Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting,

shut off the engine and make certain all moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep the wire away from the plug to prevent accidental starting.. Disconnect the cord on electric

motor&

- Do not run the engine indoors; exhaust fumes are dangerous.

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

,, Keep children and pets away. o Do not overload the machine capacity

by attempting to till too deep at too fast a

rate

• Never operate the machine at high speeds on slippery surfaces Look

behind and use care when backing.

= Never allow bystanders near the unit. ° Use only attachments and accessories

approved by the manufacturer of the tiller (such as wheel weights, counter-

weights, cabs, and the like)

,, Never operate the tiller without good vis-

ibility or lighL

• Be careful when tilling in hard ground_ The tines may catch in the ground and

propel the tiller forward. If this occurs, let go of the handlebars and do not

restrain the machine.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

• Keep machine, attachments, and accessories in safe working condition..

o Check shear pins, engine mounting

bolts, and other bolts at frequent inter- vals for proper tightness to be sure the

equipment is in safe working condition.

o Never store the machine with fuel in th_

fuel tank inside a building where ignitiol sources are present, such as hot water

and space heaters, clothes dryers, and

the like. Allow the engine to cool before storing in any enclosure.

o Always refer to the operator's guide

instructions for important details if the

tiller is to be stored for an extended pel

od. _CAUTION: Always disconnect spark plug wire and place wire where it cannot

contact spark plug in order to prevent ace dental starting when setting up, transport

i_, adjusting or making repairs.

WARNING: The engine exhuast from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defectd, or other reproductive harm.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 3.75 HP

I--

DISPLACEMENT: 9.03 CU_IN.

(148CC)

GASOLINE CAPACITY: 2 Quarts

Unleaded Regular

OIL (API-SF/SG/SH): SAE 30

(Above 32°F)

CAPACITY: 20 oz.) SAE 5W-30

(Below 32°F)

SPARK PLUG : Champion J19LM

GAP: .030")

Congratulations on your purchase of a Sears Tiller. It has been designed, engi-

neered and manufactured to give you the best possible dependability and perform-

ance. Should you experience any problems you

cannot easily remedy, please contact your nearest authorized Sears Service

CentedDepartment. We have competent, well-trained technicians and the proper tools to service or repair this unit.

Please read and retain this manual The instructions will enable you to assemble

and maintain your tiller properly, Always

observe the "SAFETY RULES".

Your new tiller' has been assernbled at the factory with exception of those parts left

unassembled for shipping purposes. To ensure safe and proper operation of your tiller all parts and hardware you assemble

must be tightened securely.

Use the correct tools as necessary to insure proper tightness.

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

A Sears Maintenance Agreement is avail- able on this product. Corrtact your nearest

Sears store for details.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

o Read and observe the safety rules.. o Follow a regular schedule in maintain-

ing, cadng for and using your tiller.

o Follow the instructions under the

"Customer Responsibilities" and "Stor- age" sections of this Owner's Manual

,_kWARNING: This unit is equipped with

an internal combustion engine and should 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 should 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 federal lands. See your Sears Authorized Service Center for spark

arrestor. Refer to the Repair Parts section

of this manual for part number..

These accessories wer e available when the tiller was purchased. They are also avail-

able at most Sears Retail outlets and Service Center& Most Sears Stores can order

repair parts for you when you provide the model number of your tiller

-NGINE

"MUFFLER AIR FILTER GAS CAN ENGINE,OIL"' STABILIZER

TILLER MAINTENANCE

BELT 'TINES

i,i ii , H Illl

CLEV,!,SPIN HAIRPIN CLIP

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY

A socket wrench set will make assembly easier, Standard wrench sizes are listed,

(1) Utility knife (1) Pair of pliers

(1) Screwdriver

(2) 1/2" wrenches

OPERATOR'S POSITION When right or left hand is mentioned ir

this manual, it means when you are in the operating position (standing behind tiller handles)°

Front

(2) Hex Bolts 5/16-18 x 3/4

Left

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

(2) Hex Bolts 5/16-18 x 1

(6) Hex Nuts 5/16-18 (4) Washers

Operator's Position

Right

G ©

3/8 x 7/5 x 14 Ga

. ,,, , *

(2) Hex Bolts 5116-18 x 1-1/4

(1) Bottle Engine Oil

(6) Lock Washers 5/16

UNPACK CARTON & INSTALL HAN- DLE

_CAUTION: Be careful of exposed sta- ples when handling or disposing of carton-

ing material. IMPORTANT:: When uNpacking and as- sembling tiller, be careful not to stretch or kinK cable(s).

= Cut cable ties securing handles.

o The handle may be assembled in high

or low position,, Slowly lift handle as- sembly up and align handle holes with

desired handle panel hole and slot.

= Loosely assemble hardware as shown.

Be sure the " shorter (3/4" long) hex bolt is assembled

in lower hole of handle, Repeat for opposite side. Tighten all hardware se-

curely.

o Cut cable ties securing tiller to skid and

remove tiller from skid,

Handle Panel _ ..Lock Washer

v I-rex_ol[s-" 5/16-18 x 1

5/16-18 x 3/4"

Engine Bracket Halves

Nut "A"

Depth Stake

Support

_X Stake b/ Support Bolt

Stake Spring

Hex Bolt_

HANDLE HEIGHT

o Handle height may be adjusted to better

suit operator: (See "HANDLE HEIGHT"

in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual).

TILLING WIDTH

= Tilling Width may be adjusted to better

handle your tilling conditions (See "TINE

ARRANGEMENT' in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual)°

TINE OPERATION

o Check tine operation before first use,

(See 'q'INE OPERATION CHECK" in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual),

Lockwashers, and Hex nuts

Handle Panel Bolts

INSTALL DEPTH STAKE ASSEMBLY o Loosen nut "A". o Insert stake support between engine

bracket halves with stake spring down,

o Bolt stake support to engine brackets

with bolts, lock washers and nuts.

Tighten securely, Tighten nut "A",

• Depth stake must move freely. If it does

not, loosen support bolt.

KNOWYOURTILLER READTHISOWNER'SMANUALANDSAFETYRULESBEFOREOPERATINGYOUR

TILLER, Comparetheillustrationswithyourtillertofamiliarizeyourselfwiththelocationofvari-

ouscontrolsandadjustments.Savethismanualforfuturereference. Thesesymbols mayappear onyour Tilleror in literature suppliedwith the prod-

uct. Learnandunderstand their meaning.

TILLING FORWARD NEUTRAL REVERSE CAUTION ENGINE ENGINE FAST SLOW CHOKE FUEL OIL

OR WARNING ON OFF

rward Tine Control

t" Throttle Control

Choke Control

_...,.,,,./Tine Shield

.- Tines

Recoil Starter Handle_ __

MEETS ANSI SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears tillers conform to the safety standards of the American National Standards

Institute

FORWARD TINE CONTROL - Engages

tines in forward direction

CHOKE CONTROL - Used when starting a

cold engine. THROTTLE CONTROL - Controls engine

speed.

DEPTH STAKE - Controls forward speed and the depth at which the tiller will dig, RECOIL STARTER HANDLE - Used to

start the engine,

Theoperationof anytillercanresultinforeignobjectsthrownintothe eyes, whichcanresultinsevereeyedamage.Alwayswearsafetyglassesoreye

shieldsbeforestartingyourtillerandwhiletilling,Werecommendawidevision safetymaskoverthespectaclesorstandardsafetyglasses.

HOW TO USE YOUR TILLER

Know how to operate all controls before

adding fuel and oil or attempting to start

engine_ STOPPING

TINES

• Release tine control to stop movement.

ENGINE

o Move throttle control to "STOP" position. o Never use choke to stop engine.

"SneControl "ON" /" Forward Tine Control

(DOWN) Position _ / ""OFF(UP) Position

o For normal tilling, set depth stake at the

second or third hole from the top,

WHEELS

Adjust wheels by removing the hairpin clip

and clovis pin, Change wheel position. Replace the hairpin clip and clevis pin_

. For normal tilling, set wheels at the sec-

ond or third hole from the top_

_C 'A'' Depth Stake

lip

Wheel

end Clevis Pin

/ Throttle

Control

TINE OPERATION

FORWARD

° Squeeze forward tine control to handle. TILLING

The speed and depth of tilling is regulated

by the position of the depth stake and

wheel height. The depth stake should always be below

the wheels for digging. It serves as a brake to slow the tiller'sforward motion to

enable the tines to penetrate the ground. Also,the more the depth stake is lowered intothe groundthe deeper the tines will dig.

DEPTH STAKE

Adjust depth stake by removing the hair_

pin clip and clevis pin. Change depth stake to desired position° Replace the cle-

vis pin and hairpin clip=

TRANSPORTING YOUR TILLER

_,CAUTION: Before lifting or transport-

ing, allow tiller engine and muffler to cool. Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain gaso-

line from fuel tank. AROUND THE YARD = Tip depth stake forward until it is held by

the stake spring.

o Push tiller handles dow._, raising tines

off the ground.

o Push or pull tiller to desired location. AROUND TOWN

o Disconnect spark plug wire. o Drain fuel tank_

= Transport in upright position to prevent

oil leakage.

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

IMPORTANT: Be very careful not to allow dirt to enter the engine when checking or adding oil or fuel. Use clean oil and fuel

and store in approved, clean, covered containers, use clean fill funnels.

FILL ENGINE WITH OIL

o Remove hangtag from engine= o With engine level, remove engine oil

filler plug.

o Fill engine with oil to point of overflow-

ing. For approximate capacity see "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS on

page 4 of this manual=

" Tilttillerbackonitswhe_lsandthenre-

level

o Withenginelevel,refilltopointofover-

flowingif necessary.Replaceoilfiller

plug.

o Forcoldweatheroperationyoushould

changeoilforeasierstarting(See "OIL

VISCOSITYCHARTintheCustomer

Responsibilitiessectionofthismanual).

o Tochangeengineoil,seetheCustomer

Responsibilitiessectionofthismanual°

OilLevel.

Filler

Plug

ADD GASOLINE

= Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular

unleaded gasoline. (Use of leaded gasoline will increase carbon and lead

oxide deposits and reduce valve life.) IMPORTANT: When operating in Temperatures below 32°F (0°C), use fresh,

clean, winter grade gasoline to help insure good cold weather starting_ WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of acids during storage. Acidic

gas can damage the fuel system of an

engine while in storage. To avoid engine

problems, the fuel system should be emp-

tied before storage of 30 days or longer.

Drain the gas tank, start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are

empty Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage section of this manual for addition-

al information. Never use engine or carbu- retor cleaner products in the fuel tank or

permanent damage may occur ,_CAUTION: Fil! to within t/2 inch of top

of fuel tank to prevent spills and to allow

for fuel expansion. If gasoline is acciden-

tally spilled, move machine away from area of spill, Avoid creating any source of

ignition until gasoline vapors have disap- peared. Do not overfill. Wipe off any spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline near an open flame.

_ START ENGINE

CAUTION: Keep tine control in "OFF"

position when starting engine° When starting engine for the first time or if

engine has run out of fuel, it will take extra pulls of the recoil starter to move fuel from the tank to the engine.

o Make sure spark plug wire is properly

connecte&

• Place throttle control in "FAST' position.

• Move choke control to full "CHOKE" position, Grasp recoil starter handle with

one hand and grasp tiller handle with other hand Pull rope out slowly until

engine reaches start of compression cycle (rope will pull slightly harder at this point).

o Pull recoil starter handle quickly. Do not

let starter handle snap back against starter. Repeat if necessary.

• If engine fires but does net start, move choke control to half choke position. Pull

recoil starter handle until engine starts.

° When engine starts, slowly move choke

control to "RUN" position as engine warms up.

NOTE: A warm engine requires less chok- ing to start.

o Move throttle control to desired running

position.

o Allow engine to warm up for a few min-

utes before engaging tine&

NOTE: If at a high altitude (3000 feet) or in cold temperatures (below 32°F), the car- buretor fuel mixture may need to be

adjusted for best engine performance. See "TO ADJUST CARBURETOR" in the

Service and Adjustments section of this manual.

NOTE: If engine does not start, see trou- bleshooting points,

Plug

Control

. Recoil Starter

BREAKING IN YOUR TILLER

Break-in your belt(s), pulleys and tine con- trol before you actually begin tilling

o Start engine, tip tines off ground by

pressing handles down and engage tine control to start fine rotation. Allow tines

to rotate for five minutes.

o Check tine operation and adjust if nec-

essary. See '%INE OPERATION CHECK" in the Service and Adjustments

section of this manual.

TILLING HINTS

CAUTION: Until you are accustomed to handling your tiller, start actual field use

with throttle in slow position (mid-way be-

tween "FAST" and "IDLE").

To help tiller move forward, lift up the ham dies slightly (thus lifting depth stake out of ground)° To slow down the tiller, press

down on handles.

If you are straining or tiller is shaking, the

wheels and depth stake are not set prop- erly in the soil being tilled. The proper set-

ting of the wheels and depth stake is through trial and error' and depends upon the soil condition. ('['he harder or wetter the ground, the slower the engine and tine

speed needed° Under these poor condi- tions, at fast speed the tiller will run and

jump over the ground)_

A properly adjusted tiller will dig with little

effort from the operator.

= Tilling is digging into, turning over, and

breaking up packed soil before planting. Loose, unpacked soil helps root growth.

Best tilling depth is 4" to 6'L A tiller will also clear the soil of unwanted vegeta- tion. The decomposition of this veg-

etable 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 fur- ther condition the soil

o Soil conditions are important for proper

tilling_ Tines will not readily penetrate dry, hard soil which may contribute to

excessive bounce and difficult handling of your tiller. Hard soil should be mois- tened before tilling; however, extremely

wet soil will "ball-up" or clump during till-. ing. Wait until the soil is less wet in order to achieve the best results. When tilling

in the fall, remove vines and long grass

to prevent them from wrapping around

the tine shaft and slowing your tilling operation.

o You will find tilling much easier if you

leave a row untilled between passes.

Then go back over the entire area at

right angles. There are two reasons for

doing this. First, wide turns are much

easier to negotiate than about-faces_ Second, the tiller won't be pulling itself,

and you, toward the row next to ito Set depth stake and wheel height for

shallow tilling when working extremely

hard soil or' sod. Then work across the

first cuts at normal depth..

_( I'll H,I I_1 I_1 I'H I,l-I t_1 t_1 I'_1

t .1I -I I ,1i'l'l I ,1 t,H

_( I'll I_1 l_1 I$1 I'H I,H i'll I_1 H'I

__ I'll 1"_ttt'1 H,I I_1_'1 l'tl 1_! t_1 3_1

CULTIVATING

Cultivating is destroying the weeds between rows to prevent them from rob- bing nourishment and moisture from the

plants.. Af the same time, breaking up the upper layer of soil crust will help retain moisture in the soilo Best digging depth is

1" to 3".

You will probably not need to use the depth stake= Begin by tipping the depth stake forward until itis held by the stake spdng.

Cultivate up and down the rows at a speed which will allow tines to uproot weeds and leave the ground in rough

condition, promoting no further

growth of weeds and grass.

OOiO©O

+ 22 hidden pages

Craftsman 917292200 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual