Craftsman 917293550 Owner’s Manual

MODEL NO.

917.293550

Caution:

Read and follow

all Safety Rules
and instructions

Before Operating

This Equipment

®

5.0 HP
14 INCH TINE WBDTH

REAR TmNETILLER WUTH

COUNTER ROTATING TiN

, Assembly
, Operation

®Customer Responsibilities
, Service and Adjustments

®Repair Parts

............................... i1,,,111i,, i1,,11,,111,,,111

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

SAFETY RULES

Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Powered Rotary Tillers

TRAINING

o Read the Owner's Manual carefuNy. Be thorougNy

familiar with the controls and the proper use of the

equipment: Know how to stop the unit and disengage

the controls quickly_

- Never al!ow children to operate the equipment, Never
allow adults to operate the equipment without proper

instruction.

o Keep the area of operation clear of allpersons, particu-

larly small children, and pets°

PREPARATION

. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment isto

be used and remove all foreign objects.

. Disengage all ctutches and shift into neutral before

starting the engine (motor).

= Do not operate the equipment without wearing ad-

equate outer' garment& Wear footwear that will im-

prove footing on slippery surfaces.

o Handle fuel with care; it is highly flammable.

- Use an approved fuel containerv

= Never add fuei to a running engine or hot engine.

o Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care Never fill fuel

tank indoors.

,, Replace gasoline cap securely and clean up spiIled

fuel before restarting..

o Use extension cords and receptacles as specified by

the manufacturer for all units with electric drive motors
or electric starting motors.,

o Never attempt to make any adjustmertts while the

engine (motor) is running (except where specifically
recommended by manufacturer)

OPERATION

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

. Exercise extreme caution when operating on or cross-

ing grave! drives, walks, or roads Stay alert for hidden

hazards or'traffic. Do not carry passengers.

. After stdking a foreign object, stop the engine (motor),

remove the wire from the spark plug, thoroughly in-
spect the tiller for any damage, and repair the damage
before restarting and operating the tiller.

- Exercise caution to avoid s_ipping 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 troubte.

o Stop the engine (motor) when leaving the operating

position.

,, Take art possible precautions when leavir_g the ma-

chine 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

- 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

o Never' operate the machine at high speeds on slippery

surfaces. Look behind and use care when backing°

° Never atlow bystanders near the unit,

o Use only attachments and accessories approved by

the manufacturer of the tiller (such as wheel weights,
counterweights, cabs, and the like).

o 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 titler 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

be ts at frequent interva s for proper tightness 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
enciosure

. Always refer to the operator's guide instructions for

important details if the tiller is to be stored for an
extended period.

- IMPORTANT-

CAUTIONS, 1MPORTANTS, AND NOTES ARE A MEANS
OF ATTRACTING ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT OR

CRITICAL _NFORMATION iN THIS MANUAL.
IMPORTANT: USED TO ALERT YOU THAT THERE ISA

POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING THIS EQUIPMENT.

NOTE: Gives essential information that will aid you to
better understand, incorporate, or execute a particular set

of instructions

................... i,,,u, i,m, i,, ,00,,,,

Look for this symbol to point out im-
portant safety precautions, It means

CAUTION!!! BECOME ALERT[t! YOUR
SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

i,i ........

CAUTION: Always disconnect spark
plug wire and place wire where it can-

not contact spark plug in order to pre-

vent accidental starting when setting

up, transporting, adjusting or making
repairs,

................L J I,-

WARNING

The engine exhaust from this product con-
tains chemicals known to the State of Califor-

nia to cause cancer, birth defects, or other
reproductive harm.

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 CentedDepartmento They 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".

MODEL
NUMBER 917.293550

SERIAL
NUMBER

DATE OF
PURCHASE

THE MODEL AND SERIAL NUMBERS WILL BE
FOUND ON THE MODEL PLATE ATTACHED TO

THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION°
YOU SHOULD RECORD BOTH SERIAL NUMBER

AND DATE OF PURCHASE AND KEEP IN A SAFE
PLACE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE..

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 5.,0HP

DISPLACEMENT; 12 57cur in, (206cc)

GASOLINE CAPACITY: 3 Quarts

Unleaded Regular

OIL (APFSF/SG): SAE 30 (Above 32°F)
(CAPACITY: 20 oz) SAE 5W-30 (Below 32°F)

SPARK PLUG : Champion

(GAP: ..030") RJ19LM

MAINTENANCE AGREEIV]ENT

A Sears Maintenance Agreement is available on this prod-
uct. Contact your nearest Sears store for details.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

, Read and observe the safety rules..

, Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and

using your tiller

° Follow the instructions under the "Customer

Responsibilities" and "Storage" sections of this Owner's
Manual.

IMPORTANT: THISUNITIS 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,

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. FEDERALL:AWS 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

LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN TILLER

For one 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 crankshafts and the failure to
maintain the equipment according to the instructions contained inthe owner's manual

• If this Craftsman Tiller is used for commercial or rental purposes, this Warranty applies for only 30 days from the
date of purchase°

WARRANTY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE BY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN TILLER 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

i i iil i,.lll ,', ................................... It-

"FABLE OF CONTENTS

i i , , i,i, i, Hi i , i imll i, i, i_!l_,1,,i., ,i ..... i, H _L

SAFETY RULES ............................................................ 2

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ...................... 3,14-16

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS ...................................... 3

WARRANTY .................................................................. 3

ACCESSORIES ............................................................. 5

ASSEMBLY ............................................................... 6-8

OPERATION ............................................................ 9-13

UNDEX

A

Accessories ..............................................5

Adjustments:

Carburetor ......................................19

Depth Stake .................................10

Handle Height ............................ 16

Side Shields ..................................11

Throttle ........................................ 1g

Tines ..................................................18

V-Belt (Ground Drive) ................17

Wheels .........................................13

Air Cleaner ...................................................15

B

Belt:

Belt Guard .....................................17

Repair Parts ...................................23

V-Bett (Ground Drive) ................17

Cooling System .......................................15

Controls:

Choke ....................................................g

Throttle ....................................................9

Drive (Tines) ....................................9

Cultivating ....................................... 13

Customer Responsibilities:

Air Cleaner _...................................15

Cooling System ..............................15

Finish .......................................... 16

Maintenance Schedule ..............14

Muffler'. ............................................16

Oi! Change ..........................................15

Spark Plug ..................................16

Tines .....................................................18

Transmission ..................................16

V-Bett (Ground Drive) ................17

D

Depth Stake:

Adjustment ..................................!0

Repair Parts .............................. 26

E

Engine:

Air Cleaner. .....................................15

Cooling Systen'l ................................15

Fuel Type .....................................1t

Engine (cont'd)

Lubrication ........................................15

Oil Level ...........................................11

Oil Type ....................................11, t5

Spark Plug .....................................16

Starting ...........................................12

Stopping .........................................10

Storage .............................................20

Winter Operation ..........................15

FueI:

Filling Tank ...................................11

Storage ........................................20

Type ...................................................11

Finish:

Maintenance ...............................16

Handle:

Height Adjustment .....................16

Repair Parts ...................................22

Lubrication:

Lubrication Chart .................... 14

Engine .................................................15

Muffler:

Maintenance .......................................16

Spark Attester ...................................3

Oil:

Level .................................................11

Type ..............................................11,!5

Operation:

Cultivating ........................................13

Fill Fuel Tank ................._................11

Starting Engine ...........................12

Stopping Tines & Engine ...........10

Tilling .........................................10

Tilling Hints .............................. 12

Tine Operation ............................10

Transporting Tiller. ......................11

Winter Operation ...........................15

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ..................................... 14

SERVICE & ADJUSTMENTS ................................. t6-19

STORAGE .................................................................... 20

TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................. 21

REPAIR PARTS=TILLER ....................................... 22-28

REPAIR PARTS-ENGINE ....................................... 29-33

SERVICE/PARTS ORDERING ............... BACK COVER

R

Repair Parts:

Titler. ................................................22-28

Engine ...............................................29-33

Rules for Safe Operation ........................2

Service & Adjustments:

F

H

L

M

O

Carburetor .....................................19

Handle Height ..................................16

Side Shields ...................................11

Throttle ...........................................................19

Tines..........................................................18

V-Belt (Ground Drive) .............. 17

Wheels ...............................................13,16

Service:

Repair Parts .................................22-33

Service Record ..............................14

Shear Pins:

Operation ..........................................12

Repair Parts ....................................27

Spark Plug:

Gap ..........................................................3

Maintenance .......................................16

Storage:

Fuel System ......................................20

Tiller...................................................20

T

Tilling.................................................10,12

"Tines:

Arrangement/Replacement ...... 18

Operation ..............................................10

Repair Parts ....................................27

Shear Pins ...................................12

Transmission:

Maintenance ....................................16

Repair Parts ......................................25

Troubleshooting..........................................21

Transporting ...............................................t1

W

Warranty ......................................................3

Wheels:

Adjustment .........................................13

Removal ..............................................16

Repair Parts .................................24

4

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

i i ,ill,

SPARK PLUG

..... i....

MUFFLER AIR FILTER GAS CAN sTABiLIZER_ENGINE OIL

i

,N,=,,,,i

TILLER PERFORMANCE

FURROW OPENER

, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

TILLER MAINTENANCE

_:._... ....

BELT TINES SHEAR PIN HAIRPIN CLIP

5

ASSEMBLY

.......... I ...... t,l,,,,l,,,,,,t,,ll,t,,,, ! ....................... t,,, ,tt .............................. t

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 securetyo 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) Screwdriver
(1) Tire pressure gauge
(1) Pair of pliers

(1) 9/16" wrench

,, ,numn,l.i

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

OPERATOR'S POSITION (See Fig. 1)

When right or left hand is mentioned in this manual, it

means when you are in the operating position (standing
behind tiller handles)..

FRONT

LEFT

OPERATOR'S
POSITION

FIG, 1

RIGHT

(2) Handle Locks

(1) Flat Washer 13/32 x 1 x 11 Ga.

n l i ii i,i n,n,l,,,

(2) Hairpin Clips

(1) Carriage Boft 3/8-16 UNC x I Gr. 5

©

(1) Cable Clip

lu,, i,,,

(1) Pivot Bolt
3/8-16 UNC Grade 5

6

Q

(1) Center Locknut 3t8-16 UNC

i i

(1) Handle Lock Lever'

Extra Shear Pins & Clips

u l ',,,,,,....... ,i,,, i i,,11,

LY

ii i, i .... ,H,,,,I,, i H i ,

UNPACKING CARTON (See Fig. 2) ° Grasp handle assemblyo Holdin"up"position, Besure

handle lock remains in gearcase notch° Slide handle

! ._ CAUTION: Be careful of exp0sedq assembly into position,,

_ staples when handling or disposing of

ca.oningr.ate,ial, R

IMPORTANT; WHEN UNPACKING AND ASSEMBLING
TILLER, BE CAREFUL NOT TO STRETCH OR KINK

CABLES°
o While holding handle assembly, cut cable ties securing

handle assembty 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 assembly.

SHIFT ROD

HANDLE
ASSEMBLY

FIG. 2

INSTALL HANDLE (See Figs. 3, 4, and 5)

. 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 Roll.SIDE OF TILLER

FIG. 4

• Rotate handle assembly down° insert rear carriage bolt
first, with head of bolt on Loll. side of tiller and loosely

assemble locknut (See Fig. 5).

- Insert pivot bolt in front part of plate and tighten.

o Cut down remaining corners of carton and lay panels

fiat°

• Lower the handle assembly. Tighten nut on carriage
bolt so handle moves with some resistance° This will

allow for easier adjustment°

o Place flat washer on threaded end of handle lock lever.
= Insert handle t0ck lever through handJe base and

gearcase. Screw in handle lock lever just enough to
hold lever in place,

. insert second handle lock (with teeth inward) inthe slot

of the handle base (just inside of washer)_

o Raise handle assembly to highest position and se-

curely tighten handle lock lever by rotating clockwise°
Leaving handle assembly in highest position will make

it easier to connect shift rod.

GEARCASE HANDLE

REAR FLAT
CARRIAGE SLOT

BOLT r

HANDLE ASSEMBLY
"UP" POSITION

LOCK

WASHER

DLE ASSEMBLY

"%%,

FIG. 3 FIG. 5

GEARCASE

NOTCH HANDLE

LOCK

LOCK
LEVER

_HANDLE

HANDLE _"
BASE PIVOT

LOCKNUT BOLT