Craftsman 917295852 Owner’s Manual

OWNER'S

MANUAL

MODEL NO.

917.295852

Caution:

Read and follow

all Safety Rules
and Instructions

Before Operating

This Equipment

®

5.0 P

17 raNCHTINE WIDTH
REAR TiNE TILLER WiTH

COUNTER

ROTATING TINES

=Assembly
=Operation

- Customer Responsibilities

- Service and Adjustments

- Repair Parts

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

i illll llllll llll

A SAFETY RULES A

Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Powered Rotary Tillers

TRAINING

• Read the Owner's Manua! 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 ofoperation clear ofal! persons,particu-

larly small children, and pets.

PREPARATION

° Thoroughly inspectthe areawhere the equipment isto

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 ad-
equate outer garments. Wear footwear that will im-
prove 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 adjustments 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 cross-

inggravel 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 in-

spect the tiller for any damage, and repair the damage
before restarting and operating 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 isgenerally a warning of trouble.

• Stop the engine (motor) when leaving the operating

position.

• Take all possible precautions when leaving 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 certainall moving partshavestopped.
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.

° Keep children and pets away

° Do notoverload 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,

counterweights, cabs, and the like).

° Never operate the tiller' without good visibility 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..

° 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 fuel inthe 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.

- IMPORTANT -

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

CRITICAL INFORMATION 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 particufar set

of instructions.

................. ,,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,

portant safety precautions. It means

! _b Look for this symbol to point out im-

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

ILIJLI IIIIUIIUIII

A CAUTION: Always disconnect spark

CAUTION!!! BECOME ALERT[!! YOUR

SAFETY IS INVOLVED. ............

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

repa=rs.

WARNING A

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.

2

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of aSears Tillero
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/Departmento 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 proper¥

Always observe the "SAFETY RULES".

MODEL

NUMBER 917.295852
SERIAL

NUMBER
DATE OF

PURCHASE

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

THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSIONn
YOU SHOULD RECORD BOTH SERIAL NUMBER

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

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 5,0 HP

DISPLACEMENT: 9°03cu ino(148cc)
GASOLINECAPACITY: 3 Quarts

UnleadedRegular

OIL(API_SF/SG): SAE30(Above32°F)
(CAPACITY:20oz,) SAE 5W-30(Below32°F)

SPARKPLUG: Champion

(GAP: ,030") RJtgLM (STD361458)

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

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 ti_lero

° Follow the instructions under the "Customer

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

IMPORTANT: THtS UN]T 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 SPARKARRESTER 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/DEPARTMENT FOR SPARK ARRESTER REFER TO THE REPAIR

PARTS SECTION OF THIS MANUAL FOR PART NUMBER_

LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN TILLER

For two years from date of purchase, when thisCraftsman 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 itemswhich become worn during normal use, such as tines, spark plugs, air cleaners and belts
° Repairs necessary because of operator abuse or negtigence, including bent crankshafts and the failure to

maintain the equipment according to the instructions contained in the owner's manual,

o 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/817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SA FEI_"_ RULES ............................................................ 2

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ...................... 3,13-15

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

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

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

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

OPERATION ............................................................. 9-12

INDEX

A

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

Adjustments:

Carburetor .......................................18

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

Handle Height ................................15

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

Throttle .......................................18

Tines ...............................................17

V-Belt (Ground Drive) ................t6

Air Cleaner ........................................14

B

Belt:

Belt Guard ...........................................16

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

V-Belt (Ground Drive) ...............16

C

Cooling System .................................14

Controls:

Choke ...............................................9

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

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

Cultivating ........................................ 12

Customer Responsibilities:

Air Cleaner'. ..................................14

Cooling System ..........................14

Finish ...............................................15

Maintenance Schedule ..............13

Muffler. ........................................15

Oil Change .....................................14

Spark Plug .......................................15

Tines ...........................................!7

Transmission .................................15

V-Bett (Ground Drive) .............. 16

D

Depth Stake:

Adjustment .......................................10

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

E

Engine:

Air Cleaner'. ..................................14

Cooling System ........................ 14

Fuel Type.........................................11

Engine (cont'd)

Lubrication................................ 14

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

Oil Type .................................11,14

Spark Plug ..................................15

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

Stopplng ....................................10

Storage .............................................19

Winter Operation ......................14

Fuel:

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

Storage .........................................19

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

Finish:

Maintenance ............................. 15

Handle:

Height Adjustment ........................15

Repair Parts ..................................2t

Lubrication:

Lubrication Chart .........................13

Engine ...................................... 14

Muffler:

Maintenance ......................................15

Spark Arrester ..............................3

Oil:

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

Type ................................................11,!4

Operation:

Cultivating ...................................12

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winter Operation .......................14

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ...................................... 13

SERVICE & ADJUSTMENTS ................................. 15-18

STORAG E ................................................................... 19

TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................. 20

REPAIR PARTS-TILLER ........................................ 21-27

REPAIR PARTS-ENGINE ...................................... 28-32

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

R

Repair Parts:

Tiller ..............................................21-27

Engine ................................. 28-32

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

S

Service & Adjustments:

F

H

L

M

O

Carburetor. .....................................18

Handle Height .......................................15

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

Throttle .....................................................18

Tines ...............................................17

V-Belt (Ground Drive) .................16

Wheels ....................................... 15

Service:

Repair Parts ................................21-32

Service Record ...............................13

Shear Pins:

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

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

Spark Plug:

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

Maintenance ............................ 15

Storage:

Fuel System .............................. 19

Tiller, ...........................................19

T

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

Tines:

Arrangement/Replacement .... 17

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

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

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

Transmission:

Maintenance .....................................15

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

Troubleshooting ..........................................20

Transporting ..................................... 11

W

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

Wheels:

Removal ..........................................15

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

4

ACCESSOR

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

sPARK PLUG

MUFFLER

TILLER PERFORMANCE

FURROW OPENER

f'

AIRF,LTER STASiUZER_

GAS CAN

ENGINE OIL

F'

TILLER MAINTENANCE

, ,,,L , , ....

BELT

TINES SHEAR PIN HAIRPIN CLIP

5

Your new tiller has been assembled at thefactory withexception ofthose parts leftunassembled 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 toots as necessary to insure proper tightness.

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY OPERATOR'S POSITION (See Fig. 1)

A socket wrench set will make assembly easier. Standard When right or left hand is mentioned in this manual, it
wrench sizes are listed, means when you are in the operating position (standing

(t) Utility knife
(1) Wire cutter

(1) Screwdriver

(1) Tire pressure gauge
(1) Pair of pliers
(t) 9/16" wrench

behind tillerhandles).

LEFT

FRONT

RIGHT

OPERATOR'S

POSITION

FIG. 1

,,,H,

(2) Handle Locks

......................... Ulll

@

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

................................ , ,,,L

(2) Hairpin Clips

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

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

(1) Cable Clip

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

G

(1) Center Locknut3/8-16 UNC

(!) Handle Lock Lever'

Extra Shear Pins

6

, i i,i i,,i,,i,i

ASS

UNPACKING CARTON (See Fig. 2)

......................... i ll,,,i i ,i i i, :

I _ CAUTION: Be careful of exposed !

........... cartoning material. ,,, J

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

CABLES
° While holding handle assembly, cut cable tiessecuring

handle assembly to top frame and depth stake.. Let
handle assembly rest on tiller_

, Remove top frame of carton..
o 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°

i

i

I .......

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 tock to aid in keeping lock in place until handle

assembly is Iowered into positionr)

staples when handling or disposing of I

i,i i

SHIFT ROD

\

HANDLE
ASSEMBLY

FIG. 2

VIEW FROMR°H.SIDE OFTILLER

\ HANDLE ASSEMBLY

GEARCASE

NOTCH

MBLY

Grasp handle assembly. Hold in "up" position. Be sure

handle lock remains in gearcase notch_ Slide handle

assembly into position_

fo--_;;_:'.'_.,., / HANDLE ASSEMBLY

/-_:.:::_i __ _ "UP" POSIT, ON

_'_- ": °",.. TIGHTEN HXNDLE i

_, "". LOCK LEVER TO I

_-_" _._'_ HOLD ..... I

I"_0OSENHANDLE_ __:_:

t LOCKLEVERTO _ _-_ _ _

!,,ow ,

FIG. 4

• Rotate handle assembly down_ Insert rear carriage
bolt first, with head of bolt on L.H. side of tiller and

loosely assemble IocknuL (See Fig..5)

° Insert pivot bolt in front part of plate

• Cut down rear panel of carton.

• Lower the handle assembly. Tighten bolts so handle

moves with some resistance. This will a[!ow for easier
adjustment,

• Place flatwasher on threaded end ofhandle lock lever

• insert handle lock lever through handle base and
gearcase. Screw in handle lock lever just enough to
hold lever in ptace.

° insertsecond handle lock (withteeth inward) in the slot

of the handle base (just insideof washer)..

o With handle assembly in lowest position, securely

tighten handle lock lever by rotating clockwise Leav-

ing handle assembly in lowest position will make it
easier to remove tiller from carton.

REAR
CARRIAGE

BOLT

GEARCASE HANDLE

SLOT WASHER

LOCK

FLAT

HANDLE

LOCK

LEVER

ot .- L"Do" LE

FIG. 3 7

HANDLE

BASE

LOCKNUT

FIG. 5

;0

PIVOT
BOLT

CONNECTSHIFTROD (See Fig. 6)

* Insert end of shift rod farthest from bend into hole of

shift lever indicator

- insert hairpin c|ip through hole of shift rod to secure

• Insert other end of shift rod into hole in shift lever

• Insert second hairpin clip through hole of shift rod

REMOVE TILLER FROM CRATE

• Make sure shift lever indicator is in "N" (neutral) posi
tion (See Fig 6)

• Tilt tiller forward by lifting handIe Separate cardboard
cover from leveling shietd

,, Rotate tiller handle to the right and putt tiller out of

carton

ATTACH THIS END ATTACH THIS
TO SHIFT LEVER END TO SHIFT

INDICATOR

\

SHIFT ROD

SHIFT

LEVER

INDICATOR

SHIFT LEVER

INSERT CABLE CLIP (See Fig. 7)

• Insert plastic cable clip intohole on the back of handle
coiumno Push cables into cfip

HANDLE
COLUMN

CABLES

LE CLIP

FIG, 7

CHECK TIRE PRESSURE

The tires on your unit were overinflated at the factory for
shipping purposes Correct and equal tire pressure is
importantfor'best tiffingperformance,.

• Reduce tire pressure to 20 PSi°

HANDLE HEIGHT

• Handle height may be adjusted to better suit operator

(See "TO ADJUST HANDLE HEIGHT" tnthe Service

and Adjustments section of this manual)°

SHIFT ROD

CLIP

FIG, 6

8

OPERATION

KNOW YOUR TILLER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RlJLES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR TILLER.
Compare the illustrationswith yourtiller to familiarize yourselfwiththe location of variouscontrols and adjustments, Save

this manua! for future reference,
These symbols may appear on your Tiller or in literature supplied with the product, Learn and understand their

meaning.

RUN

CAUTION ENGINE ENGINE FAST SLOW

OR WARNING ON OFF

................................... i iiiiii i ,i_11_1,111,111_11,1,1,1,1

DRIVE THROTTLE
CONTROL CONTROL

BAR

SHIFT LEVER

DEPTH STAKE

SHIFT LEVER

INDICATOR

CHOKE

RECOIL
STARTER

HANDLE

FUEL

OiL STOP O

CHOKE CONTROL

LEVELING i
SHIELD

OUTER

SIDE
SHIELD

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 tiilerwill dig.,
LEVELING SHIELD - Levels titled soil,,

OUTER SIDE SHIELD - Adjustable to protect small plants
from being buried°

THROTTLE CONTROL _Used to control engine speed,

FIG. 8

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

CHOKE CONTROL - Used when starting a cold engine

9

OPERATION

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 the spectacles

or standard safety glasses.

............................................... ,,,,, ,,,,

HOW TO USE YOUR TILLER

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

STOPPING (See Fig. 9)

TINES AND DRIVE

• Release drive control bar to stop movemer_t,,

• Move shift lever to "N" (neutral) position°

ENGINE

• Move throttle control to "STOP" position_
° Never use choke to stop engine_

DRIVE CONTROL BAR
"ENGAGED" POSITION

SHIFT
LEVER

/

DRIVE CONTROL BAR

"DISENGAGED" POSITION

FIG. 9

TINE OPERATION - WITH WHEEL DRIVE

• Always release drive control bar before moving shift
lever into another position.

• Tine movement is achieved bymoving shift lever to "T"

(till) position and engaging drive control bar.

DEPTH STAKE (See Fig. 10)

The depth stakecan be raised orlowered toallowyou more

versatile tilling and cultivating, or to more easily transport
your tiller.

qSPORT

SHALLOWES'i
TILLING

TILLING

DEPTHSTAKE

POSITION

FIG, 10

TILLING (See Fig. 11)

° Release depth stake pin. Pullthe depth stake up lor

increasedtilling depth. Place depth stake pinin hole of
depth stake to lock in position.,

° Place shift lever indicatorin'q_' position.
° Hold the drive control bar against the handle to start

tilling movement° Tines and wheels will both turn,

° Move throttle control to "FAST" pc)sitionfordeep tilling.

To cultivate, throttle control can be set at any desired
speed, depending on how fast or slow you wish to

cultivate.

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS RELEASE DRIVE CONTROL BAR
BEFORE MOVING SHIFT LEVER 1NTO ANOTHER

POSITION

DEPTH STAKE PIN

'RELEASED POSITION

FORWARD -WHEELS ON LY/TIN ES STOPPED

• Release drive controf barand 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 control bar.
° Move throttle control to "SLOW" position.

• Move shift lever indicator to "R" (reverse) position.
° Hold drive control bar against the handle to start titler

movement.

"LOCKED"

POSITION

NUT "A"

OUTER NUT "B"
SIDE SHIELD

FIG. 11

10

OPERATnON

TURNING

• Release the drive control bar,
° Move throttle control to "SLOW" position.
. Place shift lever indicator in "F" (forward) position,

Tines will not turn

o

Lift handle to raise tines out of ground,

°

Swing the handle in the opposite direction 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 barand lower handle. Place shift lever
in 'T' (till) position and move throttle control to desired

speed. To begin tilling, hold drive control bar against
the handle,

OUTER SIDE SHIELDS (See Fig. 11)

The front edges of the outer side shields are slotted sothat
the shields can be raised for deep tilling and lowered for

shallow tilling to protect small 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 transport-
ing, allow tiller engine and muffler to

cool. Disconnect sparkplugwire. Drain
gasoline from fuel tank.

i i ll,l,l,i,

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 inhole of depth stake tolock inposition.
This prevents tines from scuffing the ground.

- Place shift lever indicatorin "F" (forward) positionfor
transporting.

= Hold the drive control bar against the handle to start

tiller movement_ Tines wil! 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

OIL OR FUEL. USE CLEAN OIL AND FUEL AND STORE

iN APPROVED, CLEAN, COVERED CONTAINERS USE

CLEAN FILL FUNNELS.

CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL (See Fig. 12)

• The engine in your unit has been shipped, from the
factory, already filled with SAE 30 summer weight oil

° With engine level, clean area around oil filler plug and

remove ptug_

Engine oil should be to point of overflowing For

approximate capacity see "PRODUCT SPECIFiCA-
TIONS" on page 3 of this manual. All oil must meet
A PJ Service Classification SF or SG

° For cold weather operation you should change oil for

easier starting (See oil viscosity chart in the Customer

Responsibilities section of this manual)

° To change engine oil, see the Customer Responsibili-

ties section in this manual

OIL

OIL

FILLER

DRAIN

PLUG

PLUG

FIG. 12

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 tile

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 emptied before

storage of 30 days or longer. Drain the gas tank, start the
engine and let it run until the fuel linesand carburetor are

empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage section
ofthis manual for additional information. Never use engine
or carburetor cleaner products inthe fue{ tank or permanent
damage may occur_

CAUTION: 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 fuel. Do not store, spill or use gaso-
line near an open flame.

: Hi,l/ill,

11