Craftsman 917292393 Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual

ICRRFTSMI N°I

5.5 HP 24 INCH TINE WIDTH

FRONT TINE

TILLER

Model No.

917.292393

• Safety

• Assembly

• Operation

• Maintenance

• Espahol

• Repair Parts

CAUTION: Read and follow all Safety

Rules and Instructions before operating this equipment.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, II 60179

Visit our Craftsman website:www.sears.com/craftsman

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

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

Product Sprcifications ...........................4

Assembly ..............................................5

Operation ......................................... 3&7

LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN TILLER For one (1) year from date of purchase, when this Craftsman Tiller is maintained,

lubricated, 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.

• 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.

Manintenance

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

Storage .......................................... 3&16

Troubleshooting .................................. 17

Illustrated Parts List ............................. 36

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

.........•........ ....... ............ 11

SEARS, ROEBUCKAND CO., D/817WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60179

IMPORTANT: This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and

throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in

serious injury or death.

TRAINING

• 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

operate the equipment without proper instruction.

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

PREPARATION

• Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to be used and remove all foreign objects.

• Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before starting the engine

(motor).

• 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 flammable.

• Use an approved fuel container.

• Never add fuel to a running engine or

hot engine.

• Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care.

Never fill fuel tank indoors.

• Replace gasoline cap securely and clean up spilled fuel before restarting.

• Use extension cords and receptacles as specified by the manufacturer for all

units with electric drive motors or electric starting motors.

• Never attempt to make any adjust- ments while the engine (motor) is

running (except where specifically recommended by manufacturer).

OPERATION

• Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts.

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

walks, or roads. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic. Do not carry passen-

gers.

• 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 operat- ing the tiller.

• Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.

• If the unit should start to vibrate

abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause.

Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.

• Stop the engine (motor) when leaving

the operating position.

• Take all possible precautions when leaving the machine unattended.

Disengage the tines, shift into neutral, and stop the engine.

• Before cleaning, repairing, or inspect-

ing, 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 motors.

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

• Never operate the tiller without proper

guards, plates, or other safety protec-

tive devices in place.

• Keep children and pets away.

• 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.

• Never operate the tiller without good visibility or light.

• 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.

• Check shear pins, engine mounting

bolts, and other bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure the equipment is in safe working

condition.

• Never store the machine with fuet in the fuel tank inside a building where

ignition 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.

• Always refer to the operator's guide

instructions for important details if the

tiller is to be stored for an extended

period.

_l, Look for this symbol to point out important safety precautions. It means

CAUTtON!!t BECOME AWARE!!! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

_CAUTION: Always disconnect spark plug wire and place wire where it cannot contact spark plug in order to prevent

accidental starting when setting up,

transporting, adjusting or making repairs.

_WARNING: The engine exhuast from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer,

birth defects or other reproductive harm.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

GASOLINE 3 QTS

CAPACITY: UNLEADED

REGULAR

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

'CAPACITY: 20 OZ.) (ABOVE 32°F)

SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F)

SPARK PLUG: CHAMPION (GAP: .030") RJ19LM OR J19LM

Congratulations on your purchase of a Sears Tiller. It has been designed, engineered and manufactured to give you the best possible dependability and performance.

Should you experience any problems you cannot easily remedy, please contact your nearest authorized Sears Service Center/Department. 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 assembled 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.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Read and observe the safety rules.

• Follow a regular schedule in maintain- ing, caring for and using your tiller.

• Follow the instructions under the "Maintenance" and "Storage" sections

of this Owner's Manual.

AWARNING: 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

arrester. Refer to the Repair Parts section of this manual for part number.

These accessories were available when the tiller was purchased. They are also available at most Sears Retail outlets and Service Centers. Most Sears Stores can

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

ENGINE

TILLER MAINTENANCE

BELT TINES SHEAR PiN HAIRPIN CLIP

Your new tiller has been assembled 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.

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY

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

(1) Utility knife (1) Pair of pliers

(2) 1/2 Wrench

OPERATOR'S POSITION

When right or left hand is mentioned in this manual, it means when you are in the operating position (standing behind tiller handles).

LEFT RIGHT

FRONT

OPERATOR'S

POSITION

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

(1) Manual

(2) Lock

Washers 5/16

(1) Plastic

Cable Clip

(1) Bottle Engine Oil

(2) Flange Locknuts

5/16-18UNC

(2) Hex Nuts

5/16-18

ilili iUUU!UiiUUililililU!D!!

(2) Hex Bolts 5/16-18 x 1-1/4

(2) Carriage Bolts 5/16-18 UNC x 2-3/8 Gr. 5

UNPACK CARTON & INSTALL HANDLE

_I_CAUTION: Be careful of exposed staples when handling or disposing of

cartoning material.

IMPORTANT: When unpacking and assembling tiller, be careful not to stretch or kink cable(s).

• Cut cable ties securing handle column.

• Remove all packing from carton.

• Secure handle column to handle mount using two (2) carriage bolts and two (2)

flange Iocknuts. Tighten both flange

Iocknuts securely.

• Remove packing material from handle

assembly.

• Route tine control cable through plastic

cable clip on handle column.

• Insert plastic cable clip into hole in handle column.

• Cut cable ties securing tiller to skid.

• Cut away carton and remove tiller from

skid by pulling backwards.

INSTALL DEPTH STAKE

ASSEMBLY

• Loosen nut "A".

• Insert stake support between engine bracket halves with stake spring down.

• 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.

Hex Bolts, Lockwashers,

and Hex Nuts

Engine Bracket Halves

Depth Stake Su

pth

Stake

Support Bolt

Tine Control Cable

Handle Moun

Bolts

Tine Control

Flange Locknuts

HANDLE HEIGHT

• 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

• Check tine operation before first use. (See "TINE OPERATION CHECK" in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual).

These symbols may appear on your Tiller or in literature supplied with the product. Learn and understand their meeting.

KNOW YOUR TILLER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUALAND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR

TILLER.

Compare the illustrations with your tiller to familiarize with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future reference.

TILLING FORWARD NEUTRAL REVERSE CAUTION FUE L

Depth Stake_

ORWARN_NG ON OFF

Choke Control

TineShield

Recoil Starte Handle O

MEETS ANSI SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Our 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.

DEPTH STAKE - Controls forward speed

and the depth at which tiller will dig.

RECOIL STARTER HANDLE - Used to

start the engine.

THROTTLE CONTROL - Used to control engine speed.

The operation of any tiller can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye

shields before starting your tiller and while tilling. We recommend a wide vision safety mask over spectacles or standard safety glasses.

HOW TO USE YOUR TILLER WHEELS

Know how to operate all controls before adding fuel and oil or attempting to start engine.

STOPPING

"TINES

• Release tine control to stop movement.

Adjust wheels by removing the hairpin clip and clevis pin. Change wheel position.

Replace the hairpin clip and clevis pin.

• For normal tilling, set wheels at the second or third hole from the top.

ENGINE

• Move throttle control to "STOP" position.

• Never use choke to stop engine.

Forward Tine Control "OFF"

(UP) Po_

(DOWN) Position _ \

Hairpin Clip and

Depth Stake

Hairpin Clip and Clevis Pin

Choke

Control

TINE OPERATION

• Squeeze 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's forward motion to enable the tines to penetrate the ground.

Also, the more the depth stake is lowered into the ground the deeper the tines will

dig.

DEPTH STAKE

Adjust depth stake by removing the hairpin clip and clevis pin. Change depth stake to desired position. Replace the clevis pin and hairpin clip.

• For normal tilling, set depth stake at the second or third hole from the top.

TOTRANSPORT

ACAUTION: Before lifting or transporting,

allow tiller engine and muffler to cool.

Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain

gasoline from fuel tank. AROUND THE YARD

• Tip depth stake forward until it is held by the stake spring.

• Push tiller handles down, raising tines off the ground.

• Push or pull tiller to desired location.

AROUND TOWN

• Disconnect spark plug wire.

• Drain fueltank.

• 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

• Remove hangtag from engine.

• With engine level, remove engine oil

filler plug.

• Fill engine with oil to point of overflow-

ing. For approximate capacity see "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS".

• Tilt tiller back on its wheels and then re-

level.

• With engine level, refill to point of overflowing if necessary. Replace oil

filler plug.

• For cold weather operation you should change oil for easier starting (See "OIL

VISCOSITY CHART" in the Mainte- nance section of this manual).

• To change engine oil, see the Mainte-

nance section of this manual.

Oil 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 tempera- tures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, clean,

winter grade gasoline to help insure good cold weather starting. _I,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

emptied 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 additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products

in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.

ACAUTION: Fill to within 1/2 inch of top of fuel tank to prevent spills and to allow for fuel expansion. If gasoline is accidentally

spilled, move machine away from area of

spill. Avoid creating any source of ignition

until gasoline vapors have disappeared.

Do not overfill. Wipe off any spilled oil or f_. Do not store, spill or use gasoline

near an open flame.

TO 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.

• Make sure spark plug wire is properly

connected.

• 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).

• Pull recoil starter handle quickly. Do not

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

• If engine fires but does not 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 choking to start.

• Move throttle control to desired running position.

• Allow engine to warm up for a few minutes before engaging tines.

NOTE: If at a high altitude (3000 feet) or in cold temperatures (below 32°F), the

carburetor 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

troubleshooting points.

Spark Plug

;hoke

Control

BREAKING IN YOUR TILLER

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

• Start engine, tip tines off ground by pressing handles down and engage tine

control to start tine rotation. Allow tines to rotate for five minutes.

• Check tine operation and adjust if necessary. See "TINE OPERATION CHECK" in the Service and Adjustments

section of this manual.

TILLING HINTS

_I,CAUTION: Until you are accustomed to

handling your tiller, start actual field use with throttle in slow position.

To help tiller move forward, lift up the

handles 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

properly in the soil being tilled. The proper

setting of the wheels and depth stake is through trial and error and depends upon

the soil condition. (The 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"-6". A tiller will

also clear the soil of unwanted vegeta- tion. The decomposition of this veg-

etable matter enriches the soil. De- pending 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.

• 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 moistened before tilling; however, extremely wet soil will "ball-up" or clump during tilling. 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.

• You will find tilling much easier if you leave a row untilled between passes.

Then go back between tilled rows. 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 it.

• 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.

CULTIVATING Cultivating is destroying the weeds be-

tween rows to prevent them from robbing

nourishment and moisture from the plants. At the same time, breaking up the upper

layer of soil crust will help retain moisture in the soil. Best digging depth is 1"-3".

• You will probably not need to use the

depth stake. Begin by tipping the depth stake forward until it is held by the stake spring.

• 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.

QQQQO O©QQO

©QQQ© ©©QQ©

1(3

+ 21 hidden pages

Craftsman 917292393 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual