Craftsman 917.299751 User Manual

OWNER’S

MANUAL

MODEL NO.

917.299751

CRRFTSMRr

Caution: Read and follow all Safety Rules

and Instructions Before Operating

This Equipment

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, IL 60684 U.S.A.

5.0 HP 14 INCH TINE WIDTH REAR TINE TILLER WITH COUNTER ROTATING TINES

• Assembly

• Operation

• Customer Responsibilities

• Service and Adjustment

• Repair Parts

SAFETY RULES

TRAtNING

• Read the operating and service instruction manual care fully. 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, particu larly small children, and pets.

PREPARATION

• Thoroughly inspectthearea 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 ftiel 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 recom mended 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 passengers.

• 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.

• 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.

Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Powered Rotary Tillers

• Stop the engine (motor) when leaving the operating position.

• Take all possible precautions when leaving the machine unattended. Disengage the power take-off, lower the attachment, shift Into neutral, stop the engine, and remove the key,

• 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 dan gerous-

• Never operate the tiller without proper guards, plates, or other safety protective 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 (such as wheel weights, counterweights, cabs, and the like).

• 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 bolts, 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 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 enctosure.

• 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 IS A POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING THIS EQUIPMENT.

NOTE: Gives essential information that will aid you to

better understand, incorporate, or execute a particular set of instructions.

CAUTION; Look for this symbol to point out important safety precau tions. It means - Attention! Become Alert! Your safety is Involved.

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. They have competent, welltrained 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

917.2997S1

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 5.0 HP DISPLACEMENT: GASOLINE CAPACITY:

OIL (20 02. CAPACITY):

SPARK PLUG (GAP .030 IN.); Champion

12.57 cu. in.

3 QUARTS (UNLEADED)

SAE SOW

(SAE10W30)

RJ19LM

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.

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 tiller.

• Follow the instructions under the “Customer Responsibilities" and “Storage" sections of this Owner’s Manual.

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 in the 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/731CR-W SEARS TOWER, CHICAGO, IL 60684

- IMPORTANT.

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 simitar 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. •

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SAFETY RULES CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

.........

........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ...........

.......

...

3,14-16

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS.....................

WARRANTY ACCESSORIES ASSEMBLY OPERATION ...

................................................... 3

..........

....

.......................................

......................................

........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ...........

...6-8

9-13

INDEX

Adjustments:

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

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

Handle Height Side Shields

Throttle.................................

Tines

................................... ,.18

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

Wheels

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

.....................

.........................

......................

...16

......13,16

Beit:

Beit Guard

Repair Parts....

V-Belt (Ground Drive)....

...........................

....................

........17

„23

Cooling System. Controls;

Choke ....................................

Throttle .................................

Drive (Tines)

Cultivating Customer Responsibilities:

Air Cleaner Cooling System Finish

Maintenance Schedule..........

Muffler

Oil Change.,...,......,.....,,.,.,.....,, 15

Spark Plug ........................

Tines............................

Transmission .........................

V-Belt (Ground Drive)

.......................

.........................

..............................

........................

...................................

......... .

...................

.......................

....13

..,„.„..18

....

......„,17

.,15

..„15

15 16

„16

Depth Stake:

Adjustment.....,.,..

Repair Parts

...................

.........................

Engine:

Air Cleaner,....,,.

Cooling System FueiType

.................

................

..............

......15

.....,„.„.....11

Engine (cont’d)

Lubrication ............................

Oii Level..

Oil Type .......

Spark Plug........

Starting..........

Stopping Storage Winter Operation

Fuel:

Filling Tank

Storage Type.

Finish:

Maintenance

Handle;

Height Adjustment, Repair Parts

Lubrication:

Lubrication Chart Engine

Muffler:

Maintenance........................

Spark Arrester

Oil:

Level Type

Operation:

Cultivating Fill Fuel Tank

Starting Engine .......

Stopping Tiñes & Engine ...

Tilling

Tilling Hints Tine Operation...,.

Transporting Tiller.....,,,,,.,..

Winter Operation ............

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

SERVICE & ADJUSTMENTS..............................16-19

.....3

STORAGE.......

TROUBLESHOOTING......

REPAIR PARTS-TILLER

REPAIR PARTS-ENGINE

.....

. .

....................................

_____________

................................. ...11

...................

....................

........................

...11,15 .

.......

.....

..„..11

..........

.........................

...................

.,...„15

..........

.............

..............................

...........................

...................

.......

................................

........................

.......

. .

.,15

.....

.......

.....

.11,15

.....

......11

....

......10

.....

....

.....

....

......15

...............................................

.......................... ....21

...........................

........

.................

Repair Parts .................

10 20 15

„16 „22

,12

,12 ,11

Rules for Safe Operation..

Service & Adjustments:

Carburetor

Handle Height.............

Side Shields

Throttle .................

Tines., V-Belt (Ground Drive)

Wheels..........

Service:

Repair Parts Service Record

Shear Pins:

Operation........

Repair Parts..-..,..

Spark Plug:

Gap ................

Maintenance.......

Storage:

Fuel System Tiller

.................

Tilling.........

Tines;

Arrangement/Replacement Operation

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

Shear Pins

Transmission;

Maintenance

10 10

Repair Parts

Troubleshooting

Transporting

Warranty Wheels:

.....

Adjustments Removal Repair Parts

............

...............

.................

.........

................

......................

...............................

..............................12

......

...5

....

.....

.......

..22-27

..28-31

. .

.20

.22-31

......19

.„,..16

....

.....

......17

.13,16 ,22-31

....

,14

..12 ..27

.,..3 „16

„20 ..20

.10,12

......

.........

.......

......

19 18

13 16 24

ACCESSORIES

These accessories were available when the tiller was purchased. They are also available at most Sears Retail outlets, Catalog and Service Centers. Most Sears Stores can order repair parts for you when you provide the model number

of your tiller.

ENGINE

TILLER PERFORMANCE

TILLER MAINTENANCE

ASSEMBLY

TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TILLER YOU WILL NEED:

(1) Utility knife

(1) Wire cutter

(1) Screwdriver (1) Tire pressure gauge (1) Pair of pliers (1) 9/16" wrench {or 9/16" socket, ratchet, and extension:

or adjustable wrench)

OPERATOR’S POSITION (See Fig. 1)

The right hand (R.H.) and left hand (L.H.) sides of your tiller

are determined from the operator’s position while standing behind tiller.

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

(2) Handle Locks

-------

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

(2) Hairpin Clips

(2) Carriage Bolts 3/8-16 UNC x 1 Gr. 5 (2) Center Locknuts 3/8-16 UNC

(1) Handle Lock Lever

fibril

î£5iR!iW!Sf<i«ni

(1) Cable Clip

(1) Owner's Manual

ASSEMBLY

UNPACKING CARTON (See Fig. 2)

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

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 and depth stake. 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.

cartoning material.

Grasp handle assembly. Hold In "up” position, Be sure handle lock remains in gearcase notch. Slide handle assembly into position.

Rotate handle assembly down to install two carriage bolts and locknuts. Insert rear carriage bolt (Fig. 5) first, with head of boit on L.H. side of tiller. Lower the handle assembly. Tighten bolts so handle moves with some resistance.

Insert second handle lock (with teeth inward) in the slot

of the handle base.

Place flat washer on threaded end of handle lock lever. Insert handle lock lever through handle base and

gearcase. 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.

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.)

ASSEMBLY

CONNECT SHIFT ROD (See Fig. 6)

• Insert end of shift rod farthest from bend into hole of shift lever indicator.

• insert hairpin dip 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.

ATTACH THIS END TO SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR

ATTACH THIS END TO SHIFT LEVER

SHIFT HOD

REMOVE TILLER FROM CRATE

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

• Tilt tiller forward by lifting handle. Separate cardboard cover from leveling shield.

• Rotate tiller handle to the right and pull tiller out of carton.

INSERT CABLE CLIP (See Fig. 7)

• Insert plastic cable clip into hole on the back of handle column. Push cables into dip.

SHIFT LEVER

SHIFT ROD

FIG. 6

CHECK TIRE PRESSURE

The tires on your unit were overinflated at the factory for

shipping purposes. Correct and equal tire pressure is

important for best tilling performance.

• Reduce tire pressure to 20 PSI.

HANDLE HEIGHT

• Handle height may be adjusted to better suit operator. (See “TO ADJUST HANDLE HEIGHT' in the Service

and Adjustments section of this manual).

HAIRPIN CUP

KNOW YOUR TILLER

OPERATION

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 protect small plants from being burled. THROTTLE CONTROL - Used to control engine speed.

SAFETY DECAL

The decal shown below is located on the handle of your tiller.

■ PUSH DRIVE COf'ITROL DOWN TO ENGAGE TILLER

• RELEASE TO STOP

BEFORE USING REVERSE

REDUCE ENGINE SPEED. DO NOT

STAND DIRECTLY BEHIND TILLER.

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.

A CAUTION

HEAD THE OPEHATOH S MANUAL KNOW LOCATION AMD FUNCTION OF ALL CONTROLS. KEEP ALL SAFETY DEVICES AND SHIELDS IN PLACE. NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN OR UNINSTHUCTEO ADULTS

SHUT Opi&ylalroRE UNCLOGOINOTINES OH

MAKING REPAIHS. . KEEP BySTAHDERS AWAY FROM MACHINE. A KEEP AWAY FBOH ROTATING PABTS.

TO AVOID INJURY

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 wide vision safety mask for 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 movement.

• Move shift lever to "N” (neutral) position.

ENGINE

• Move throttle control to "STOP” position.

• Never use choke to stop engine.

TINE OPERATION - WITH WHEEL DRIVE

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

• Tine movement is achieved by moving shift lever to‘T’ (till) position and engaging drive control bar,

DEPTH STAKE (See Fig. 10)

The depth stake can be raised or lowered to allow you more versatile tilling and cultivating, or to more easily transport your tiller.

TILLING (See Fig. 11)

• Release depth stake pin. Putl the depth stake up for Increased tilling depth, Place depth stake pin in hole of depth stake to lock in position.

• Place shift lever indicator in‘T* position.

• Hold the drive control bar against the handle to start tilling movement. Tines and wheels will both turn.

• Move throttle control to "FAST’ position for deep tilling.

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

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 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 tiller movement.

+ 22 hidden pages