Craftsman 917293400 Owner’s Manual
Owner's Manual
CRnFTSMnNo
6.0 HP
17 INCH TINE WIDTH
REAR TINE WITH
COUNTER ROTATING TINES
TILLER
Model No,
917.293400
• Safety
• Assembly
° Operation
° Maintenance
° Repair Parts
CAUTION:
Read and follow all
Safety Rules and Instructions
before operating this equipment
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
Warranty .:............................................... 2
Safety Rules ............................................ 2
Product Specifications ........................... 4
Assembly ................................................ 5
Operation ............................................ 3 & 8
Service and Adjustments ...................... 15
Storage .......................................... 3 & 19
Troubleshooting .................................... 20
Illustrated Parts List ....................................22
Parts Ordering ....................... Back Cover
Maintenance ......................................... 13
LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN TILLEB
For two (2) years 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 relurning 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, ROEBUCK AND CO., D/817WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60179
•
TRAINING
• Read lhe 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
• 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 (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.
° 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 fue! before restarting.
° Use extension cords and receptacles as
specified by the manufacturer for all
units with electric ddve motors or electric
starling motors.
° Never attempt to make any adjustments
while the engine (motor) is running
(except where specifically recommend-
ed by manu!acturer).
OPERATION
• Do not put hands or feet near or under
rotating parts.
• 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.
,, After striking a foreign object, stop the
engine (motor), remove the wire from
the spark plug, thoroughly inspect the
tilier for any damage, and repair the
damage before restarting and operating
the tiiler_
• Exercise caution to avoid slipping or
falling°
• 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.
• Stop the engine (motor) when leaving
the operating position.
• Take all possible precautions when leav-
ing the machine unattended. 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
motors.
o 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.
o 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. I..ook
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 light.
° Be careful when tilling in hard ground.
The tines may catch in the ground and
propel the tiller forward, tf 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 inter-
vals for proper lightness to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition°
• Never store the machine with fuel 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 il the
tiller is to be stored for an extended peri-
odo
•_kCAUTION: Always disconnect spark
plug wire and place wire where it cannot
contact spark plug in order to prevent acci-
dental starting when setting up, transport-
ing, adjusting or making repairs.
WARNING
The engine exhuast from this product con-
tains chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer, birth defectd, or
other reproductive harm.
PRODUCTSPECIFICATIONS
-IORSEPOWER:6.0HP
DISPLACEMENT: 11o88CU.tN.
GASOLINECAPACITY:4 Quarts
UnleadedRegular
OIL(API-SF/SG/SH): SAE30
(Above32°F)
CAPACITY:20oz.) SAE5W-30
(Below32°F)
SPARKPLUG: ChampionN4C
GAP:.030")
Congratulations on your purchase of a
Craftsman Tiller. It has been designed, en-
gineered and manufacttJred 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
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 tillerproperly, Always
observe the "SAFETY RULES'L
Your new tiller has been assembled at the
factory with exception of those parts teft
unassembfed for shipping purposes. To
ensure safe and proper op6ration of your
tiller all parts and hardware you assemble
must be tightened securely. Use the cor-
rect tools as necessary to insure proper
tightness.
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
A Sears Maintenance Agreement is avail-
able on this product° Contact your nearest
Sears store for details.
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
"Customer Responsibilities" and "Stor-
age" sections of this Owner's Manual.
WARNING: 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 main-
tained in effective working order by the
operator.
tn 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
Iaws apply on federal lands, See your
Sears Authorized Service Center for spark
arrester. Refer to the Repair Parts section
of this m_nual for part number.
These accessories were available when the tiller was purchased. They are also avail-
able at most Sears Retail outlets and Service Centers. Most Sears Stores can order
repair pads for you when you provide the model number of your tiller.
ENGINE
AiR F_LTER 'GAS CAN i
TILLER PERFORMANCE
FURROWOPENER
TILLER MAINTENANCE
BELT '
SHEAR_PIN i HAtRP{NCL!= p
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) Wire cutter
(1) Tire pressure gauge
(1) Screwdriver
(1) Pair of pliers
(1) 9/16" wrench
OPERATOR'S POSITION
When right or left hand is mentioned in
this manual, it means whenyou are in
the operating position (standing behind
tiller handles),
LEFT'
FRONT
RIGHT
OPERATOR'S
POSITION
i
i JJ,_'uJJ i,m i 1±± LL . I IHIH'I
CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK
//llllfifY
(2) Handle Locks
(I) Carriage Bolt
3/8-16 UNC x 1 Gr, 5
(2) Hairpin Clips
(1) Flat Washer
13/32 x 1 x 11 Ga,
0
Q
(1) Center Locknut
3/8-16 UNC
(1) Cable Clip
(1) Pivot Bolt
3/8-16 UNC Grade 5
©
Extra Shear Pins & Clips
(1) Handle L.oc_L_v_r_
UNPACKING CARTON
,_OAUTION: Be careful of exposed sta-
ples when handling or disposing of cartom
ing material,
IMPORTANT:When unpacking and
assembling tiller, be careful not to stretch
or kink cables.
• While holding handle assembly, cut
cable ties securing handle assembly to
top frame. Let handle assembly rest on
tiller.
. Remove top frame of carton.
• Slowly ease handle assembly up and
place on top of carton.
• Cut down right hand front and right hand
rear corners of carton, lay side carton
wall down.
, Remove packing material from handle
assembly.
° Separate shift rod from handle assem-
bly.
_.,m
"---.. t J Assembly
INSTALL HANDLE ' ' '
° Insert one handle lock (with teeth facing
outward) in gearcase notch. (Apply
grease on smooth side of handle lock to
aid in keeping lock in place until handle
assembly is lowered into position.)
Viewed from r.h. side of tiller
,,._,,_ Handle Assembly
"uP"Posilfoo
"::'+:_::_ Tighten handle lock
Loose__ _.'_,_'_ _
o
Insert pivot bolt in front part of plate and
lighten.
°
Cut down remaining corners of carton
and lay panels flat.
0
Lower the handle assembly. Tighten nut
on carriage bolt so handle moves with
some resistance. This will allow for eas-
ier adjustment.
°
Place flat washer on threaded end of
handle lock lever.
°
Insert handle lock {ever through handle
base and gearcase. Screw in handle
lock {ever just enough to hold {ever in
place,
Insert second handle lock (with teeth
inward) in the slot of the handle base
(just inside of washer).
Raise handle assembly to highest posi-
tion and securely tighten handle lock
lever by rotating clockwise. Leaving
handle assembly in highest position will
make it easier to connect shift rod.
Handle Lock Flat Washer
Gearcase \ Handle Lock
/Handte Assembly
\'_"v_" Gearcase Notch
_.__., / Handle Lock
. Grasp handle assembly° Hold in "up"
position. Be sure handle lock remains in
gearcase notch. Slide handle assembly
into position.
• Rota[e handle assembly down. Insert
rear carriage bolt first, with head of bolt
on LH. side of titler and loosely assem-
ble locknut.
Slot
Rear Cartridge
Boft
Handle Base
- ._. Pivot Bolt
Locknut--
INSEHT [;ABLI= ULtt _
° Insert plastic cable clip into hole on the
back of handle column Push cables
into clip,
Handle Column
Cables
Cable Clip
CONNECT SHIFT ROD
. Insert end of shift rod farthest from bend
into hole of shift lever indicator,
o Insert hairpin clip through hole of shift
rod to secure.
o Insert other end of shift rod into hole in
shift lever,
° Insert second hairpin clip through hole of
shift rod.
REMOVE TILLER FROM CRATE
° Adjust handle assemby to lowest posi-
tion, Be sure lock lever is tightened
securely°
. Make sure shift lever indicator, is in "N"
(neutral) position.
° Tilt tiller forward by' lifting handle,
Separate cardboard cover from leveling
shield,
• Rotate tiller handle to the right and pull
tiller out of carton,
Attach thts end to shift lever -.-,.._
LL"_,Atlach this End To shift "_'_" Shift Rod
Lever Indicator
Shift Rod Hairpin Clip Shift Lever
Indicator
Shift Lever
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
The tires on your unit were overinfIated at
the factory for shipping purposes, Correct
and equal tire pressure is important for
best tilling performance.
• Reduce tire pressu[e to 20 PSI,
HANDLE HEIGHT
° Handle height may' be adjusted Io better
suit operator° (See "TO ADJUST HAN-
DLE HEIGHT' in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual)_
Thesesymbols mayappearonyourTElleror inliteraturesuppliedwitl_theproduct.
Learnandunderstandtheirmeaning.
T_,LI#(_ FO;_,Vi_D N_UT_I F_EE CkUT_ON Et,_GIHE 5t',_G_E _5T SLO_ CHOK_
OR WARNING Ot_ OFF
FUEL
KNOW YOUR TILLER
READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR
TILLER.
Compare the illustrations with your tiller to familiarize yourself with the location of vari-
ous controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future reference,
Drive Control Bar Throttle Control
Primer
"",,.\ Shift Lever Indicator
Depth Stake-._
Leveting Shield---..
Recoil
Starter
Outer Side Shield
Handle
MEETS ANSI SAFETY REQUIREMENTs .......... -"
Our tillers conform to the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute.
DRIVE CONTROL BAR - Used to engage
tines.
DEPTH STAKE - Controls depth at which
tiller will dig.
LEVELING SHIELD - Levels tilled soil.
OUTER SIDE SHIELD - Adjustable to pro-
tect small plants from being buried.
THROTTLE CONTROL - Used to conlrol
engine speed.
SHIFT LEVER - Used to shift transmission
gears,
SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR - Shows which
gear the transmission is in.
RECOIL STARTER HANDLE - Used to
start'the engine.
PRIMER - Pumps additonat fuel from the
carburetor to tile cylinder for use when
starting a cold engine,
Theoperationol anytillercan resultin foreignobjectsthrownintotheeyes,
whichcanresultinsevereeyedamage.Alwayswearsafetyglassesoreye
shieldsbeforestartingyourtillerandwhiletilling,Werecommendawide
visionsafetymaskoverthespectaclesor standardsafetyglasses.
HOW TO USE YOUR TILLER
Know how to operate all controls before
adding fuel and oil or attempting to start
engine+
STOPPING
TINES AND DRIVE
° Release drive control bar to stop move-
ment.
• Move shift fever to "N +'(neutral) position.
ENGINE
• Move throttle control to "STOP" position+
If equipped with stop switch, move
switch Io "STOP" position.
• Never use choke to stop engine.
Drive Control Bar
"ENGAGED" Position Shift Lever
Drive Bar
"DISENGAGED"
Position
Throttle
TINE OPERATION - WITH WHEEL
DRIVE
° Always release drive control bar before
moving shift lever into another position.
+ T_ne movement is achieved by moving
shift lever to ( _ ) fill position and
engaging drive control bar.
FORWARD - WHEELS ONLY/TINES
STOPPED
• Release drive control bar and move shift
lever indicator to "F" (forward) position.
Engage drive control bar and tiller will
move forward..
REVERSE - WHEELS ONLY/TINES
STOPPED
• DO NOT STAND DIRECTLY BEHIND
TILLER,
• Release the drive contro! bar+
• Move throttle control to "SLOW" posF
tion,
, Move shift lever indicator to "R"
(reverse) position.
° Hold drive control bar against the handle
to start tiller movement+
DEPTH STAKE
The depth stake ban be raised or lowered
to allow you more versatile tilling and culti-
yating, or to more easily transport your
tiller+
Shallowest Tilling +......
(Cultivating)
Deepest "Riling
Depth Stake.
TILLING
• Release depth stake pin. Pull the depttl
stake up for increased tilling depth.
Place Depth stake pin ir_hole of depth
stake to lock in position.
• Place shift lever indicator in till position+
• Hold the drivecontrol bar against the
handle to start telling movement. "Fines
and wheels will both turn,
° Move throttle control to "FAST" position
for deep tilling. To cultivate, throttle con-
trol can be set at any desired speed,
depending on how fast or stow you wish
to cultivate+
IMPORTANT: Always release drive control
bar before moving shift lever into another
position.
Depth Stake Pin
%
"" Transport Position
SED" Position
\
"Locked"
Nut "B"
Nut "A"
Outer Side Shield
Position
TURNING
• Release tile drive control bar.
. Move throttle control to "SLOW" posi-
tion.
• Place shift lever indicator in "F" (forward)
position. Tines will not turn.
- Lift handle to raise tines out of ground.
o Swing the handle in the opposite direc-
tion you wish to turn, being careful to
keep feet and legs away from tines.
• When you have completed your turn-
around, release the drive control bar and
lower handle, Place shift lever in till
position and move throttle control to de-
sired spbed_ To begin tilling, hold drive
control bar against the handle.
OUTER SIDE SHIELDS
The back edges of the outer side shields
are slotted so that the shields can be
raised for deep tilling and lowered for shal-
low tilling to protect smaif plants from
being buried Loosen nut "A" in slot and
nut "B". Move shield to desired position
(both sides)° Retighten'nuts,
TO TRANSPORT
_CAUTION: Before lifting or transpod-
ing, allow tiller engine and muffler to cool.
Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain gaso-
line from fuel tank.
AROUND THE YARD
° Release the depth stake pin. Move the
depth stake down to the top hole for
transporting the tiller. Place depth stake
pin in hole of depth stake to lock in posi-
tion, This prevents tines from scuffing
the ground.
. Place shift lever indicator in "F" (forward)
position for transporting.
• Hold the drive control bar against the
handle to start tiller movement Tines
will not turn.
° Move throttle control to desired speed.
AROUND TOWN
° Disconnect spark plug wire.
• 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 oiFor fuel. Use clean oit and fuel
and store in approved, clean, covered con-
tainers,, use clean fill funnels,
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
,, The engine in your unit has been
shipped, from the factory, already filled
with SAE 30 summer weight oil,
. Be sure tiller is level and the area
around oil fill is clean,
• Check oil level before each use. Add oil
if needed. Fill to full line on dipstick,
• To read proper level, tighten engine oil
cap each time.
Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten.
For approximate capaci!_/see 'PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS on page 4 of
this manual, All oil must meet A P.I.
Service Classification SF, SG or SH,
° For cold weather operation you should
change oil for easier starting (See oil
viscosity chart in the Customer
Responsibilities section of this manual).
° To changeengine oil, see the Customer
Responsibilities section in this manual.
"_""'-.-, Oil Fill
Cap/Dipstick
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.
WARNING: Experience indicates that alco-
hol 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 dam-
age 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 addition-
al information, Never use engine or carbu.,
retor cleaner products in the fuel tank or
permanent damage may occur.
tt3
,_CAUTtON" Fill to within 1/2 inch of top
of fuel tank to prevent spills and to allow
for fuel expansion° If gaso{ine _sacciden-
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.
TO START ENGINE
,_CAUTION: Keep drive control bar in
"DISENGAGED" position when starting en-
gine,,
When starting engine for the first lime dr 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.
• Moveshift lever indicator to "N" (neutral)
position,
• Place throttle control in "FAST" position.
• To start a cold engine, push primer five
(5) times before trying to start. Use a
firm push. This step is not usually nec-
essary when starting an engine which
has already run for a few minutes.
° Grasp recoil starter handle with one
hand and grasp tiller handle with other
hand. Pul/rope cut slowly until engine
reaches start of compression cycle (rope
wJtl pull slightly harder at this potnt)o
o Pull recoil starter handle quickly. Do not
let starter handle snap back against
starter.
• Allow engine to warm up for a few min-
utes before engaging lines,
NOTE: In cooler weather it may be neces-
sary to repeat priming steps. In warmer
weather over priming may cause flooding
andengine wilt not start° tf you do flood
engine, wait a few minutes before attempt.-
ing to start and do not repeat priming
steps,
TILLINL_ HINT_
,_CAUTION: Until you are accustomed to
handling your tiller, start actual field use
with throttle in slow position (mid-way
between "FAST" and "IDLE").
° 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". 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.
• 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 filling; however, extremely
wet soil will "ball-up" or clump during till-
ing. Wait until the soil is tess 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.
7_
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Primer_
Recoil
Starter
Handle
Do not lean on handle. This takes
weight off the wheels and reduces trac-
tion, To get through a really tough sec-
tion of sod or hard ground, apply upward
pressure on 'handle or lower the depth
stake.
11
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