Craftsman 944.511580 User Manual

Instruction Manual

CULTIVATOR ATTACHMENT

Model No.

C944.511580

• Safety

• Assembly

• Operation

• Maintenance

• Parts List

WARNING;

Read and follow all Safety Rules and Operating

A

545001432 2/14/05

Instructions before first use of this product.

Sears Canada, Inc., Toronto, Ontario MSB 2B8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Warranty Statement
Safety Rules
Assembly
Operation

Maintenance

Service & Adjustments 9
Storage 9
Parts List Center Section
Parts and Ordering Back Cover

WARRANTY STATEMENT

LIMITED TWO (2) YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN® CULTIVATOR

ATTACHMENT

For two (2) years from the date of purchase, Sears Canada, Inc,, will repairer replace
free of charge, at Sears option, parts which are defective as a result of material or
workmanship.

COMMERCIAL OR RENTAL USE:

Warranty on Cultivator Attachment will be 90 days from the date of purchase if
used for commercial or rental purposes.

This warranty excludes expendable parts that become worn during normal use.
Warranty service is available by returning the Cultivator Attachment to the nearest

Sears Service Centre/Department in Canada. This warranty applies only while this
product is in use in Canada.

This warranty is in addition to any statutory warranty and does not exclude or limit
legal rights you may have but shall run concurrently with applicable provincial
legislation. Furthermore, some provinces do NOT allow limitations on how long an
implied warranty will last, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

Sears Canada, Inc., Toronto, Ontario MSB 2B8

SAFETY RULES

^WARNING; When using garden
ing appliances, basic safety precautions
must always be followed to reduce the
risk of fire and serious injury. Read and
follow all instructions. Failure to so so
can result in serious injury.

This power unit can be dangerous!
This unit can cause serious injury in
cluding amputation or blindness to the
operator and others. Operator is re
sponsible for following instructions
and warnings on unit and in manual.

Read entire instruction manual before
using unit! Be thoroughly familiar with
the controls and the proper use of the
unit. Restrict the use of this unit to
persons who have read, understand
and will follow the instructions and
warnings on the unit and in the manu
al. Never allow children to operate
this unit.

OPERATOR SAFETY

A DANGER: risk of cut. keep

HANDS AND FEET AWAY FROM TINES
AND CUTTING AREA. Rotating tines

can cause serious injury. Do not at
tempt to clear away cut material or
hold material to be cut when the en­gine/motor is running. Make sure pow­erhead is stopped and spark plug wire
is disconnected (or powerhead is dis
connected from power source) when
removing jammed material from the
tines. Do not grab or hold attachment
by the tines.

INSTRUCTION

MANUAL

SAFETY INFORMATION
ON THE UNIT

AwARNING: Keep away from ro

tating tines. You and others can be
blinded/injured. Wear eye and leg
protection.

Keep children, bystanders, and animals
30 feet (10 meters) away. Stop unit im
mediately if approached.

• Dress properly. Always wear safety

glasses or similar eye protection
when operating, or performing main
tenance on your unit (safety glasses
are available). Eye protection
should be marked Z87.

• Always wear face or dust mask if op

eration is dusty.

• Always wear heavy, long pants, long

sleeves, boots, and gloves.

• Always wear foot protection. Do not

go barefoot or wear sandals.

• Secure hair above shoulder length.

Secure or remove loose clothing or
clothing with loosely hanging ties,
straps, tassels, etc. They can be
caught in moving parts.

• Being fully covered also helps pro

tect you from debris and pieces of
toxic plants thrown by spinning
tines.

• Stay alert. Do not operate when you

are tired, ill, upset, or under the influ
ence of alcohol, drugs, or medica
tion. Watch what you are doing; use
common sense.

• Wear hearing protection.

• Never start or run inside a closed

room or building. Breathing exhaust
fumes can kill.

• Keep handles free of oil and fuel.

• Never operate the cultivator without

the tine guard in place and properly
secured.

FUEL SAFETY (for gas powerheads)

• Mix and pour fuel outdoors.

• Keep away from sparks or flames.

• Use a container approved for fuel.

• Do not smoke or allow smoking near

fuel or the powerhead.

• Avoid spilling fuel or oil. Wipe up all

fuel spills before starting the power­head.

• Move at least 10 feet (3 meters)

away from fueling site before start
ing powerhead engine.

• Stop engine and allow to coo! before

removing fuel cap.

• Remove fuel cap slowly.

• Store unit and fuel in an area where

fuel vapors cannot reach sparks or

open flames from water heaters,
electric motors or switches, fur
naces, etc.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY (for electric
powerheads)

^WARNING: Avoid a dangerous
environment. To reduce the risk of elec
trical shock, do not use in rain, in damp
or wet locations, or around swimming
pools, hot tubs, etc. Do not expose to
snow, rain, or water to avoid the possi
bility of electrical shock. Do not use on
wet surfaces. Do not handle extension
cord plug or unit with wet hands.

• Use only a voltage supply as shown
on the nameplate of the unit.

• Avoid dangerous situations. Do not
use in presence of flammable liquids
or gases to avoid creating a fire or ex
plosion and/or causing damage to
unit.

• Avoid dangerous environments. Do
not use in unventilated areas or
where dust or explosive vapors can
build up.

• To reduce the risk of electric shock,
the powerhead may have a polarized
plug (one blade is wider than the oth
er); if so, it will require the use of a po
larized extension cord. The appliance
plug will fit into a polarized extension
cord only one way. If the plug does
not fit fully into the extension cord, re
verse the plug. If the plug still does
not fit, obtain a correct polarized ex
tension cord. A polarized extension
cord will require the use of a polarized
wall outlet. This plug will fit into the po
larized wall outlet only one way. If plug
does not fit fully into the wall outlet,
reverse the plug. If it still does not fit,
contact a qualified electrician to install
the proper wall outlet. Do not change
the equipment plug, extension cord
receptacle, or extension cord plug in
any way.

• To reduce risk of electrical shock, use
extension cords specifically marked
as suitable for outdoor appliances
having electrical rating not less than
the rating of unit. Cord must be
marked with suffix “W-A” (in Canada
“W”). Make sure your extension cord
is in good condition. Inspect extension
cord before use and replace if dam
aged. Do not use a damaged cord.
Cord insulation must be intact with no
cracks or deterioration. Plug connec
tors must be undamaged. The exten
sion cord used to reach the power
source must be heavy enough to

carry current from the power source
the full length of the extension cord to
the unit. An undersized extension
cord will cause a drop in line voltage
resulting in loss of power and over
heating. If in doubt, use the next
heavier gauge. The lower the gauge
number, the heavier the cord.

• Do not use multiple cords.

• Do not abuse cord. Never carry the
unit by the extension cord or yank ex
tension cord to disconnect unit. To un
plug, grasp the plug, not the cord. Do
not use cord as a handle, close a
door on cord, or pull cord around
sharp edges or corners. Do not ex
pose cords to heat, oil, or water.

• Keep the extension cord clear of op
erator and obstacles at all times.

• Tie cord to cord retainer and con
nect to recessed plug as shown in
this manual to prevent damage to
unit and/or extension cord and to re
duce the possibility of the extension
cord disconnecting from the unit dur
ing operation.

• Do not attempt to repair unit. Inspect
the insulation and connectors on the
powerhead and extension cord before
each use. If there is any damage, do
not use until damage is repaired by
your authorized service dealer.

• Do not use the powerhead if the
switch does not turn the unit on and
off properly. Have the unit repaired by
your authorized service dealer.

• Do not use with damaged cord or
plug. If powerhead is not working as it
should, has been dropped, damaged,
left outdoors, or dropped into water,
return it to your authorized service
dealer for repair.

• Avoid unintentional starting of the
unit. Never carry unit with your finger
on the switch. Be sure the switch is
in the OFF position and never touch
the switch when connecting exten
sion cord.

• Unplug the unit from the power
source when not in use, before servic
ing, and when changing accessories
and/or attachments.

• Avoid any body contact with any
grounded conductor, such as metal
fences, or pipes, to avoid the possibil
ity of electric shock.

• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
protection should be provided on the
circuit or outlet to be used for the
powerhead. Receptacles are avail
able having built-in GFCI protection

and may be used for this measure of
safety.

UNIT/MAINTENANCE SAFETY

WARNING; Disconnect power-

head spark plug {or disconnect power­head from power source) before per
forming maintenance.

• Inspect entire unit before each use.
Replace damaged parts. Check for

fuel leaks. Make sure all fasteners
are in place and securely fastened.

• Maintain unit according to recom

mended procedures.

• Have all maintenance and service

not explained in this manual per
formed by a Sears Service Center.

• Throw away tines that are bent,

warped, cracked, broken, or dam
aged in any other way. Replace
parts that are cracked, chipped, or
damaged before using the unit.

• Use only recommended Craftsman

parts and accessories. Never use
wire, wire rope, string, flailing de
vices, etc.

• Be sure tines stop turning when en

gine idles (see CARBURETOR AD

JUSTMENTS section of powerhead

manual).

• Remove the tines before making

carburetor adjustments. Hold the
unit by hand.

• Keep others away when making car

buretor adjustments.

• Never start the unit with the clutch

housing removed. The clutch can
fly off and cause serious injury.

• Avoid heavy contact with solid ob

jects that might stop the tines. If
heavy contact occurs, stop the unit
and inspect for damage.

• If tines strike a foreign object, follow

these steps: stop unit and discon
nect spark plug wire (or disconnect
from power source), inspect for
damage, and repair any damage be
fore resuming operation of the unit.

• Never douse or squirt the attach

ment with water or any other liquid.
Clean unit and decals with a damp
sponge (see STORAGE).

CULTIVATING SAFETY

^WARNING: Inspect the area to

be cultivated before each use. Remove
objects (rocks, vines, branches, broken
glass, nails, wire, string, etc.) which can
be thrown by the tines or can wrap
around the shaft.

• Hold the unit firmly with both hands.

• Keep firm footing and balance. Do
not overreach or stand on unstable
surfaces.

• Look behind and use care when
backing up.

• Keep all parts of your body away
from the tines and muffler.

• Do not force the unit. Use only for
jobs explained in this manual. Use
only for cultivating. Do not abuse
unit. Do not use in rain or wet loca
tions.

• Use only in daylight or good artificial
light.

TRANSPORTING AND STORAGE

• Stop powerhead before leaving work
area.

• Allow powerhead and gearbox to
cool before storing or transporting it
in a vehicle.

• Store unit and fuel in area where
fuel vapors cannot reach sparks or
open flames from water heaters,
electric motors or switches, fur
naces, etc.

ASSEMBLY

CARTON CONTENTS

Check carton contents against the fol
lowing list.

Model C944.511580

• Cultivator Attachment

• Attachment Hanger

Examine parts for damage. Do not

use damaged parts.

• Store attachment so tines cannot
accidentally cause injury.

• Store attachment indoors, out of
reach of children.

if situations occur which are not cov
ered in this manual, use care and
good judgment. If you need assis
tance, call 1-800-235-5878.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Exposure to
vibrations through prolonged use of
gasoline powered hand tools could
cause blood vessel or nerve damage
in the fingers, hands, and joints of
people prone to circulation disorders
or abnormal swellings. Prolonged use
in cold weather has been linked to
blood vessel damage in otherwise
healthy people. If symptoms occur
such as numbness, pain, loss of
strength, change in skin color or tex
ture, or loss of feeling in the fingers,
hands, or joints, discontinue the use of
this tool and seek medical attention.
An anti-vibration system does not
guarantee the avoidance of these
problems. Users who operate power
tools on a continual and regular basis
must monitor closely their physical
condition and the condition of this unit.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE; If you need assistance or find

parts missing or damaged, call
1-800-235-5878.

ASSEMBLY

Your attachment is fully assembled;
no assembly is necessary.

OPERATION

KNOW YOUR CULTIVATOR ATTACHMENT

READ THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR
CULTIVATOR ATTACHMENT. Compare the illustrations with your attachment to familiar
ize yourself with the location of the various controls and adjustments. Save this
manual for future reference.

Hanger

Cutting Tines

CUTTING TINES

The CUTTING TINES are designed to
loosen soil.

OPERATING THE COUPLER

Your powerhead is equipped with a
coupler which enables optional attach
ments to be installed. The optional
attachments are:

Edger.......................... 71-51157

Blower

Pruner

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

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

71-51160

71-51161

Brushcutter* ....... 71-51159

*not designed for use with electric
powerheads

^WARNING: Always disconnect
powerhead spark plug (or disconnect
powerhead from power source) before
removing or installing attachments.

REMOVING ATTACHMENT
CAUTION: When removing or instal

ling attachments, place the power­head and attachment on a flat surface
for stability.

1. Loosen the coupler by turning the
knob counterclockwise.

TINE GUARD

The TINE GUARD provides partial
protection from the rotating tines.

Upper Shaft

Couplei

LOOSEN

TIGHTEN Knob

2. Press and hold the locking/release
button.

Locking/Release
Button

Lower Attachment

Coupler!

While securely holding the upper
shaft, pull the attachment straight

Upper Shaft

out of the coupler.

INSTALLING ATTACHMENT

1 Remove the shaft cap from the at

tachment (if present) and discard.

Position locking/release button of

attachment into guide recess of up

per shaft coupler.

Coupler Primary Hole

" ■ Guide Recess

Upper Locking/ Attachment

Shaft Release

Button

3. Push the attachment into the cou
pler until the locking/release button

snaps into the primary hole.

4. Before using the unit, tighten the
knob securely by turning clockwise.

INSTALLING ATTACHMENT

HANGER

An attachment hanger is provided for
storage when attachment is not in
use.
To install hanger on attachment:

1. Remove the shaft cap from the at
tachment (if present) and discard.

2. Press and hold the locking/release
button.

3. Push hanger onto the attachment
until the locking/release button

snaps into the hole.

OPERATING POSITION

CULTIVATING

1. Move the cultivator to the work area
prior to starting the engine/motor,

2. With the engine/motor running and
the tines off the ground, press the
throttle trigger to increase the en
gine speed.

3. Hold trigger handle and assist han
dle firmly. Siowly lower the cultiva
tor until the tines make contact with
the ground.

4. As unit begins cultivating, pull back
on the unit so that the tines can
penetrate the ground.

a WARNING; To avoid personal

injury, never carry the cultivator while
the unit is running.

^WARNING; The gearbox gets
very hot after extended periods of use.
To avoid burns, do not touch the gear
box until it has been allowed to cool.

Once the ground has been broken,
continue at a moderate pace until
you are familiar with the controls
and the handling of the cultivator.
Pull the cultivator backwards to im
prove the depth of cultivation and
reduce your effort.
To cultivate in confined areas or
narrow rows, remove the left and
right outer tines (see TINE RE

PLACEMENT).

MAINTENANCE

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

A WARNING: Always stop unit and disconnect spark plug wire (or discon

nect powerhead from power source) before performing maintenance.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE TASK WHEN TO PERFORM
Check for loose fasteners and parts Before each use
Check for damaged or worn parts Before each use

Inspect and dean unit and decals After each use

Check or replace tines Every 5 hours of operation

GENERALRECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty on this attachment does
not cover items that have been sub
jected to operator abuse or negli
gence. To receive full value from the
warranty, the operator must maintain
the cultivator attachment as instructed
in this manual.

CHECK FOR LOOSE

FASTENERS AND PARTS-

• Clevis pins

• Hitch pin clips

CHECK FOR DAMAGED OR WORN PARTS

Contact Sears Service Center for re
placement of damaged or worn parts,

• Tine Guard - Discontinue use of cul
tivator if tine guard is damaged.

INSPECT AND CLEAN UNIT AND

DECALS

• After each use, inspect complete

unit for loose or damaged parts.
Clean the unit and decals using a
damp cloth with a mild detergent.

• Wipe off unit with a clean dry cloth.

TINE MAINTENANCE

^WARNING: The tines will contin
ue to spin after the engine stops or af
ter the throttle trigger has been re
leased. To avoid serious injury, make
sure the tines have stopped coasting
and disconnect the spark plug (or dis
connect powerhead from power
source) before performing work on the
tines.

^WARNING: Always replace
tines that are bent, warped, cracked,
broken, or damaged in any other way.
Never attempt to straighten and reuse
a damaged tine. Use only specified
replacement tines. Wear protective
gloves when handling or performing
maintenance on the tines to help
avoid injury.

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS

TINE REPLACEMENT

A WARNING: The tines will contin

ue to spin after the engine stops or af
ter the throttle trigger has been re
leased. To avoid serious injury, make
sure the tines have stopped coasting
and disconnect the spark plug (or dis
connect powerhead from power
source) before performing work on the
tines.

A WARNING: Wear protective

gloves when handling or performing
maintenance on the tines to avoid
injury. The tines become very sharp
from use.

1. Remove the hitch pin clips and cle
vis pins.

Clevis Pin

STORAGE

a WARNING: Perform the follow

ing steps after each use:

• Allow attachment and gearbox to
cool before storing or transporting.

• Position attachment so that any
sharp object cannot accidentally
cause injury.

• Store the attachment in a dry, well

ventilated area out of the reach of

children.

SEASONAL STORAGE

Prepare attachment for storage at end
of season or if it will not be used for 30
days or more.

2. Remove the tines and felt cushions
from the shaft.

3. Clean and oil the shaft.

4. Replace the tines and the felt cush
ions.

5. Repeat previous steps on opposite
side.

6. Reinstail clevis pins and hitch pin
clips.

NOTE: When installed correctly, the
hubs on the tines will face each other.
The letters “R" stamped on the tines
will be on the right side of the cultiva
tor and the letters “L” will be on the left
side.

If your cultivator attachment is to be
stored for a period of time:

• Clean the entire attachment.

• Inspect the tine guard area and

clean any dirt or debris that has col
lected. Inspect the tines; replace
tines that are bent, warped, cracked,
broken or damaged in any other
way.

• Lightly oil external metal surfaces.

• Check entire attachment for loose

screws or nuts. Replace any dam
aged, worn or broken parts.

• At the beginning of the next season,

use only fresh fuel having the proper
gasoline to oil ratio.