Craftsman 917299850 Owner’s Manual

!

/

/

/

,,,,,, ,, "IM"'I ' "r '" I I I I'11"IIl,l,llll I'=11 '11 I --

®

Caution:
Read and foEiow

all Safety Rules
and Ilnstructaons

Before Operating

This Equipment

iii.rll . ....-. i..i . i.i, i i ..... _lllll.,.i. .i..i .iiirllr . II'"MI"I"II' IIIII

5=0 HP

!7 INCH TnNE WBDTH
REAR TJNE TILLER WUTH

COUNTER ROTAT! TI

Assembly

Operation

• Customer ResponsibHUties
oService and Adjustment

• Repair Parts

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, DL60684 U.S.A.

. i

SAFETY RULES

Safe Operation Practices for Walk.Behind Powered Rotary Tillers

TRAINING

• Read the Owner's Manual carefully. Be thoroughly
Tamiliar 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 inspectthe area where the equipment is to

be usedand remove all foreign objects. .

o 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 ishighly flammable.
* Use an approved fuel container°
, Never add fuel to a running engine or hot engine. °

o Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never fill

fuel tank indoors.

• Replace gasotine 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 cress-

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 im
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 is generally 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 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°

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 onty 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' pins, engine mounting bolts, and other

bolts at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be
sure the equipment is insafe 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 if the tiller is to be stored for an

extended period.

- IMPORTANT-

CAUTION, tMPORTANTS, AND NOTES ARE A MEANS OF ATTRACTING ATTENTION TO IMPORTANT OR CRITICAL
INFORMATION IN THIS MANUAL.

CAUTION: Look for this symbol to point
out important safety precautions. It
means _Attentionl Become Alert! Your

safety is involved.

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 instrUc-

tions_

CON GRATULATIONS 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, well-

trained technicians and the proper tools to service or repair
this unit.

Please read and retain this manual. The instructionswill
enable you to assemble and maintain your tiller properly,.

Always observe the "SAFETY RULES"_

MODEL
NUMBER 917',299850

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 5°0 HP

DISPLACEMENT: 12.57 cu, in.

GASOLINE CAPACITY: 3 Quarts

Unleaded Regular

OIL: SAE 30 or 10W-30
(CAPACITY: 20 OZo) WINTER: 5W-30

SPARK PLUG: Champion
(GAP: _030IN.) RJ19LM (STD361458)

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 RESPONSlEliLITIES

• Read and observe the safety rules,

= Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and

using your tilter_

o Follow the instructions under the "Customer

Responsibilities" and "Storage" sections ofthis Owner's
Manual

LJMtTED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN T LLER

For two years 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:
o 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., D1731CR-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 foresFcovered,
brush-covered orgrass covered land unlessthe engine's exhaust system is equipped witha 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, Federal laws apply onfederal lands, See your Sears Authorized Service Center for spark arrester,,
Refer to the Repair Parts section ofthis manual for part number,,

3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

INDEX

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

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

STORAGE .................................................................... 19

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

REPAIR PARTS-TILLER ........................................ 21-26

REPAIR PARTS-ENGINE ....................................... 27-31

A

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

Adjustments:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trees ........................................ 17

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

V-Belt (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,t4

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

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

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

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

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

F

Fuel:

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

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

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

Finish:

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

H

Handle:

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

Repair Parts .............................. 21

L

Lubrication:

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

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

M

Muffler:

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

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

0

Oil:

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

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

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

R

Repair Parts:

Tiller ....................................... 21-26

Engine .................................. 27-31

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

S

Service & Adjustments:

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

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

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

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

"l'*ines......................................... 17

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

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

Service:

Repair Parts ......................... 21-31

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

..........................I¸l ......................... , i, i,

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

,.,,, [,

SPARK PLUG

TILLER PERFORMANCE

FURROW OPENER

............. ,JJ J J,

MUFFLER ENGINE OIL STABILIZERAIR FILTER GAS CAN

',,LL_,

TILLER MAINTENANCE

TINES ........ CLEVIS PIN ....HAIRPIN CLIP

_O

, ,,u, ,,,

, ,,,,,,,

5

LY

i , i iiiii IIIIHI

TO ASSEM BLE 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 righthand (R.H.) and lefthand (LH,) sides of yourtiller
are determined from the operator's position while standing

behind tiller.

FRONT

LEFT

OPERATOR'S

POSITION

RIGHT

i i i i iiii iiiiiiiii iiiiiiiii i i i i i i i ii iiiiilllllll

CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK

............................................. ii1,11,1, iii ....

(2) Handle Locks

................................ i i,iii n iii , ii ,,i,i1,1,

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

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

FIG. 1

(1) Handle Lock Lever

(2) Hairpin Clips (1) Cable Clip

6

(1) Owner's Manual

ASS LY

i, ,,i,, ,, ' ,

UNPACKING CARTON (See Fig. 2)

iiii ............. 1,,,11 ,i ,,11

staples when handling or disposing of II

I _ CAUTION: Be careful of exposed

cartoning material,

, ,, i i, ,11,,,111,,,i

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

CABLES

• White holding handle assembly, cutcableties securing
handle assembly to top frame and depth stake_ Let
handle assembly rest on titler.

• 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.)

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

%. _. / UP' POSITION

j HANDLE ASSEMBLY

T,GHTEN.ANDLEt

LOCKLEVERTOI

HOLD J

FIG. 4

• Rotate handle assembly down to install two carriage
bolts and Iocknuts Insert rear carriage bolt (Fig 5)first,

with head ofbolton LH, side of tiller Lower the handle
assembly Tighten bolts so handle moves with some

resistance_

• insert second handle lock (with teeth inward) inthe slot
of the handle base

- Place fiat washer on threaded end of handle lock lever

, Insert handle lock lever through handle base and

gearcase_

. With handle assembly in lowest position, secure!y

tighten handle lock lever by rotating clockwise. Leav-
ing handle assembly in lowest position will make it

easier to remove tiller from cartonr

HANDLE

GEARCASE_

SLOT "_

CARRIAGE

BOLT

LOCK

FLAT

WASHER

HANDLE

LOCK
LEVER

\ HANDLEASSEMBLY

_\ \\ /

\\'\ ./ GF.ARCASE
\, \_,_,/ NOTCH

_\\_;L'_. / / HANDLE

/ / LOO

FIG. 3

R_R

CARRIAGE

BO_

HANDLE
BASE

LOCKNUTS

FIG. 5

7

i,,,i,,,i i ,i,, ,,i ,i, i I,H,, iii,

LY

H " ' ' i ..... i,,i,,i,,,,, ..... i'1 ,HII

CONNECT SHIFT ROD (See Fig. 6)

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

shift lever indicator°

, Insert hairpin clip through hole of shift rodto secure_

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

= Insert second hairpin clip through hole of shift rod_

ATrACH THiS END ATTACHTHIS
TO SHIFT LEVER ENDTO SHIFT
INDICATOR LEVER

SHIFT ROD

SHIFT

HAIRPIN
CLIP

SHIFT

LEVER

INDICA'rOR

REMOVE TILLER FROM CRATE

° Make sure shift lever indicator is in "N" (neutral) posi-

tion (See Fig.,6)

o TilttiUerforward by liftinghandle. Separate cardboard

cover fro m leveling shield_

o 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 clip.

CABLES

HII,IIII

SHIFT LEVER

CABLE 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
important for best tilling performance.

• Reduce tire pressure to 20 PSI.

HANDLE HEIGHT

= Hand!e height may be adjusted to better suit operator°

(See q'O ADJUST HANDLE HEIGHT' in the Service
and Adjustments section of this manual).

I

_\

FIG. 6

HAIRPIN CLIP

8

i MI 11111 I I ,I,l, ll III

.......................i,

OPERATION

iiii i,iii ,, i i ,, ii ii1,1 i ,, ii

KNOW YOUR TILLER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR TILLER,

Compare the illustrationswith your tiller tofamiliarize yourself with the locationof various controlsand adjustments. Save this
manual for future reference_

DRWE THROTTLE
BAR

DEPTH STAKE

SHIELD (:;::: ,

LEVELING

OUTER
SIDE

SHIELD

CONTROL

' LEVER

SHIFT LEVER
INDICATOR

CHOKECONTROL

RECOIL
STARTER

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 protect small plants

from being buried,
THROTTLE CONTROL - Used to controt engine speed,

SAFETY DECAL

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

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

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_

DRIVE CONTROL BAR

"ENGAGED" POSITION

SHIFT

/

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 isachieved by moving shiftleverto'T'

(till) position and engaging drive control bar.

DEPTH STAKE (See Fig. 10)

"['hedepthstake can be raised orlowered toallow you more
versatile tilling and cultivating, or to more easily transport

,our til{ero

_"__ TRANSPORT

SHALLOWEST

TILLING

TILLING

i POSITION

FIG. 10

TILLING (See Fig. 11)

• Release depth stake pin. Pullthe depth stake up for
increased tillingdepth. Place depth stake pinin hole of

depth stake to lock in position,

o Place shift lever indicator in 'T' position.
o Hold the drive control bar against the handle to start

tilling movernent. Tines and wheels will both turn.

° Movethrottlecontrolto"FAST'positionfordeeptilling.

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

cultivate.

DEPTH STAKE PIN
"RELEASED" POSITION

.\

FORWARD- WHEELS ONLY/TINES STOPPED

° Release drive control barand move shift lever indicator

to"F" (forward)position. Engagedrivecontrolbarand
tiller will move forward_

REVERSE- WHEELS ONLY/TINES STOPPED

o 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.

"LOCKED"

POSITION

NUT "A"

NUT "B"

SIDESHIELD

FIG. 11

10