MTD 31AE558G099 Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual

9 Horse Power 28" Two-Stage Wheel Drive

Snow Thrower

Model No.

247.888530

CAUTION: Before usingthis product,

read this manual and follow all safety rules

and operating instructions.

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

Visit our website:www.sears.com/craffsman

Printed in U.S.A. (712000)

• Safety

• Assembly

• Operation

• Service

• Maintenance

• EspaSol

770-10057D

Content Page

Warranty Information ......................................... 2

Safe Operation Practices................................... 3

Assembly........................................................... 6

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

Maintenance ...................................................... 17

Content Page

Service & Adjustment ......................................... 20

Off-Season Storage........................................... 25

Trouble-Shooting............................................... 26

PartsList............................................................ 28

Espan61.............................................................. 40

'= Two -Year Warranty on Craftsman Snow Thrower

For two years from the date of purchase, when this Craftsman Snow Thrower is maintained, lubricated and tuned

up according to the instructions inthe owner's manual, Sears will repair, free of charge, any defect in material and workmanship.

If this Craftsman snow thrower is used for commercial or rental purposes, this warranty applies for only 30 days

from the date of purchase.

This warranty does not cover:

Expendable items whichbecome wornduringnormaluse, such as skidshoes, shave plate and spark

plugs.

Repairs necessary because of operatorabuseornegligence, includingbent crankshaftsand thefailure to maintainthe equipment accordingto the instructionscontained inthe owner'smanual.

WARRANTYSERVICE IS AVAILABLEBY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN SNOW THROWER TO THE NEAREST SEARS SERVICE CENTER/DEPARTMENT INTHE UNITED STATES.

This warranty applies only while this product is in use in the United States. Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegalrightsandyou mayalsohaveotherrightswhichmayvaryfrom statetostate.

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO., D/817WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES,IL60179

Horsepower: ......................... 9

Engine Oil ............................. SAE 5W30 oil

Fuel Capacity: ....................... 1 gallon

Spark Plug; ........................... RJ-19LM

Engine: .................................. 143.999005

Model Number 247.888530

Serial Number...........................................................

Date ofPurchase ......................................................

Recordbothserialnumberand date of purchaseand

keep in a safe place for future reference.

This symbol points out important safety instructions which, ifnot followed,couldendanger the

personalsafetyand/or propertyof yourselfand others. Read and follow all instructionsinthismanual beforeattemptingtooperate yoursnowthrower. Failureto complywiththese instructionsmay resultin personalinjury.When yousee thissymbol--heed its warning.

Your snow thrower was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this

manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the

,_ DANGER:operator can result in serious injury. If you violate any of these rules, you may cause serious

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 similar laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest Sears Authorized Service Center (See the REPAIR PARTS section of this manual.)

The engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

injury to yourself or others.

TRAINING gasoline cap securely and wipe off any spilled

Read this owner's guide carefully in its entirety before gasoline before starting the engine as it may cause a

attempting to assemble or operate this machine, Be fire or explosion. completely familiar with the controls and the proper Use a grounded three wire plug-in for all units with

use of this machine before operating it. Keep this electric drive motors or electric starting motors. manual in a safe place for future and regular Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or

reference and for ordering replacement parts. Never allow children under 14 years old to operate a Never attempt to make any adjustments while engine

snow thrower. Children 14 years old and over should is running (except where specifically recommended only operate a snow thrower under close parental by manufacturer).

supervision. Only persons well acquainted with these Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor rules of safe operation should be allowed to use your temperature before starting to clear snow. snow thrower. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields during

No one should operate this unit while intoxicated or operation or while performing an adjustment or repair,

while taking medication that impairs the senses or to protect eyes from foreign objects that may be

reactions, thrown from the machine in any direction.

Keep the area ofoperation clear ofall persons, OPERATION

especiallysmallchildrenand pets. Exercisecaution toavoidslippingorfalling, especially Do not puthands orfeet near or under rotatingparts, whenoperatingin reverse. Keep clear ofdischarge opening,andauger at all

PR EPARATION Exercise extremecaution when operatingon or

Thoroughlyinspectthe area where the equipment is crossinggravel drives, walks, or roads.Stay alert for tobe used and removeall doormats, sleds, boards, hidden hazards ortraffic.

wiresandother foreign objects. Do not carrypassengers. Do not operate equipmentwithoutweahng adequate After strikinga foreignobject,stop theengine, remove

outergarments for winter. Do not wearjewelry, long wire fromthe spark plugand thoroughlyinspectthe scarfsor other loose clothingwhich could become snow throwerfor any damage. Repair the damage

entangled in movingparts. Wear footwear whichwill before restartingand operating the snowthrower. improve footing onslippery surfaces, ifthe snow throwerstartstovibrate abnormally, stop

Before workingwithgasoline, extinguishallcigarettes the engine and check immediatelyfor the cause.

and other sourcesof ignition.Check thefuel before Vibrationisgenerallya warning oftrouble. startingthe engine. Gasoline isan extremely Stopthe engine whenever you leave the operating

flammable fuel. Do notfill the gasolinetank indoors, position, before uncloggingthe collector/impeller while the engine is running,or until engine has been housingordischargeguide and before makingany

allowed to coolat least two minutes. Replace repairs,adjustments,or inspections.Never place your

crushed rock surface.

times.

hand in the discharge or collector openings. Use a stick orwooden broom handle to unclogthe

discharge opening. Take all possible precautions when leaving the unit

unattended. Disengage the collector/impeller, stop the engine and remove the key.

When cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make certain

collectodimpeller and all moving parts have stopped.

Disconnect spark plug wire and keep away from plug to prevent accidental starting.

Do not run the engine indoors,except when starting it

and/or transporting the snow thrower in or out of building. Open doors before starting the engine inthat

case. Exhaust fumes are dangerous.

Do notclear snow across the face of slopes. Exercise

extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.

Do not attempt to clear steep slopes. Never operate the snow thrower withoutguards,

plates or other safety protection devices in place. Never operate the snow thrower near glass

enclosure, automobiles, window wells, drop off, etc., without proper adjustments of snow thrower

discharge angle. Keep children and pets away.

Do not_0verload machine capacity by attempting to clear snow at too fast a rate. Never operate the maci:ine at high transport speeds on slippery

surfaces. Look behind and use care when backing.

Never direct discharge at bystanders or allow anyone

in front of unit while throwing snow.

Disengage power tocollector/impeller of thesnow thrower when transporting it orwhen the unitisnotinuse.

Use only attachments and accessories (such as

wheel weights, counter weights, cabs, etc.) approved

by the snow thrower manufacturer.

Never operate the snow thrower without good visibility or light. Always be sure of your footing and keep a firm

hold on the handles. Walk, never run. Muffler and engine become hot andcan cause severe

burn injury.Do not touch the muffler or the engine while starting or operating the snow thrower.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, etc., at frequent intervals for proper tightness, thus ensuring

that the equipmentis 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 heaters, space heaters, clothes

dryers and the like. Allow engine to cool before storing

in any enclosure. Always refer to owner's guide instructions for important details if the snow thrower isto be stored for

an extended period. Run machine a few minutes after throwing snow to

prevent freeze-up of thecollector/impeller. Check clutch controls periodically to verify that these

engage and disengage properly and readjust if necessary. Refer to Service and Adjustments section

page of this owner's guide.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Restrict the use ofthis power machine to persons who read, understand and follow the warnings and

instructions inthis manual and on the machine.

Following are representations of some of the safety labels on your Craftsman snowthrower. Please follow the instruction on these labels and maintain safety while using or servicing the equipment.

[ ,A WARNING

Lay the hardware pieces from the hardware pack on the figure here and you will have automatically sorted these according to the steps of the assembly procedure described later. (Only one unit of each hardware has been shown per group. The number in parenthesis indicates the total number of the hardware needed in that group.)

Lock Washer (4)

Hex Bolt (2) _

__ 5116-18 x 1.75

Hex Bolt (2)

- /

5116-18 x .75

B Cupped Washer (4)

I Hex

V Nut (4)

5/16-18

_J 5/16-18 x 1.50

Handle

Tab(2)

Carriage

Bolt (4)

Hex Bolt_(6) _ / NutFlanged(6) 1/4-20 x .75 1/4-20

Chute Flange Keeper (3)

_--_HexBolt(2) _ ) Hex _t(2)

- 114-20 x.75" Bele_'evileWashe_2) O

1/4-20

,.d_ Chute

:_ _'.'N /" Flange

"" \ _ Bracket

_'__ (not shown

_,__ in actual

size)

Hairpin Clip (1)

F'_ Flat

D / _'_ / Washer (2)

/_ 5/16 C) F_r)uIE

Hairpin Clip (2)

Spare Parts

"-- ___ [ ,_ _] Nut (2)**

-- Shear Bolt (2) Nut (2)* _k_J_

* Used on auger; ** used on clutch lever

Hex

Hairpin Clip(l) Flat

3/8

H -

0 ,llll,ll ,,,,,lllllllltll,lllly

Philips Screw (2)/___ &_

TU'_ er (2) _ _ _- _----- ,_

Chute

Handle Panel

Rear

Right

Crank

IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped with engine oilin

the engine, but without gasoline. After assembly, see OPERATION section of this manual for fuel selection

and fill-up.

NOTE: Todetermine right and left hand sides of your

snow thrower, stand behind the unit in the operating

position. See Figure 1inset.

Your snow thrower has been assembled at the

factory except the handles and the handle panel, the

discharge chute assembly, the chute crank assembly and the shift rod. These parts are shipped loose in the

carton.

Removing From Carton

Cut the corners ofthe cartonand laythe sides flat onthe ground•Remove all packing inserts.

• Remove all loose parts.For a completelistof thelooseparts, refertothe followingsection, Move the snowthroweroutof the carton,

• Make certain all parts and literature have been removedbefore discardingthe carton.

Loose Parts

(See Figure 1.)

a. Handle Panel and Chute Assembly b. Right Hand & Left Hand Handles

Handles

•

Shift Rod

__¢:_ Electric

Start Cord

Figure I

c. Electric Start Cord d• Two-piece Chute Crank Assembly

e• Shift Rod f. Hardware Pack

Assembly Tips: For easier assembly purposes, remove the chute from the carton and lay it on top of

the engine. Do not unwrap the chute till you have installed the handle panel and the clutch cables.

Tools Required

1. 1/2", 7/16", 3/8" wrenches or a set of adjustable

wrenches

2. Set of pliers

3. Set of philips head screw drivers

4. Funnel to fill up gasoline

WARNING: Make cedainthespark plugwireisdisconnected and moved away fromthe sparkplugbeforeassemblingthesnowthrower.

Attaching Handle Assembly

Stretchout controlcablesandplaceonthe floor.

Placethe righthandleinpositionwiththe flat

side againstthe snow thrower. Youcan identify

therighthandlebythe tractiondrivecontrol label on itand theleft handle bytheauger clutch

controllabel on it.

Securebottomholeinthehandletothesnow throwerusing5/16x.75"hexboltandlock

washerfromthehardwarepack(groupAon page5).Donottightenatthistime.SeeFigure2.

Lock Washer &

Hex Bolt (1.75")

Handle

Tab Hex Bolt (0.75")

Figure 2

Place a handle tab, included in the hardware

pack (group fAon page 5), over the upper hole in handle so that the contour of the handle tab

matches that of the handle. See Figure 2.

Secure handle tab to the snow thrower using hex bolt (5/16 x 1.75" long) and lock washer

from the same group in the hardware pack. Do

not tighten at this time. Attach the left handle inthe same manner. Do

not tighten at this time. Place the handle panel inposition between the

handles so the ends of the curved part of the handles gothrough the slots in the handle panel.

While placing the handle panel, make sure to route chute and chute cable between the

handles underneath the panel keeping the cable on top of the engine. Align the holes in the

handle with the holes on two sides ofthe handle panel. See Figure 3.

Handle

Right Handle Panel

Attach the handle panel to the handle with two carriage bolts, cupped washers (cupped side

against the handle panel) and hex nuts on each side. Align the contour of the carriage bolt head

with the handle. See Figure 3. You will find these fasteners in the hardware pack (group B on page 5). Repeat on other side.

Align the hole on the curved part of the right handle with the corresponding hole onthe right side of handle panel making sure that this end of the handle isfirmly placed in the slot on the

handle panel. See Figure 3. Insert ahex bolt, cupped washer and hex nut

from Group F of the hardware pack through these holes as shown in Figure 3.Tighten to

secure. Do not attach the leftside now.

Attaching Chute

Place the chute assembly over the chute opening with the chute facing front of the unit.

NOTE: Make sure that the chute cables are

straightened while assembling the chute.

• Place the chute flange keeper (flat side down) beneath lipof chute assembly as shown in Figure 4.You will find the chute flange keepers in

group E of the hardware pack.

Insert hex bolt (1/4-20 x .75") and flange nut

from group E up through chute flange keeper and chute assembly as shown in Figure 4. Do

not tighten at this time. Rotate chute to install all the flange keepers.

Chute

Hex

Bolt Hex

Flange

Chute

Flange Keeper

Hex Bolt

Carriage Boll ,Cupped

Figure 3

Washer

Figure 4

After assembling all three chute flange keepers,

tighten, then back off 1/4turn to allow easier

movement of the chute. Use (2) 7/16" wrenches.

Attaching Chute Crank

• On the leftside of the handle panel, place the upperchute crankbracket ontothe insideof the handle panelsupport,See Figure5, You willfind

thisbracketand associated hardware ingroup F ofhardwarepack,

Inserthex bolt throughthe upper chute crank

bracket, handlepanel support,and upper left handle. Secure the bracket using cupped washer and hex nut. Make sure that the cupped

side of the washer is set against the handle.

Handle P Support* v ,/ _

• Place the other 3/8 ID flat washer (from the

same group of hardware) on the end of the chute crank and insert hairpin clip into hole at the end

of the chute crank. See Figure 7.

• Adjust the chute bracket so that the spiral on the

chute crank fully engages the teeth on the chute assembly.

• Slide the upper chute crank through the plastic

bushing inthe upper chute crank bracket and then into the lower chute crank. See Figure 8.

Align the holes on the two pieces of the chute crank, and secure with hairpin clip from group C of the hardware pack.

Uppeii__ Hex Bolt

Crank Br_

* This pert is already attached inside the handle panel

Figure 5

You may have to loosen the carriage bolts and hex lock nuts which secure the lower chute

crank bracket to the extension on the left side of the chute assembly. See Figure 6.

Crank Bracket Hex Lock Nut

e Bolt,

Figure 6

Place one 3/8 ID flat washer (from groupG of

the hardwarepack) ontheend of thechute

crank, then insert theend of the chutecrank into the eye hole inthe plastic bushing in the lower

chute crank bracket. See Figure 7.

Upper Chute

Crank

Ipper

Chute Crank

Bracket

Lower Chute

Crank

Figure 8

Fully rotate the chute, using the chute crank, to make sure that it moves freely. Using a wrench, tighten the hex bolt and the hex

nut onthe upper chute crank bracket. Slip the cables that runfrom the handle panel to

the chute into the cable guide located ontop of the engine. See Figure 9.

Cable Guide

Hairpin Plastic Bushing

Chute Crank

Crank Bracket _Flat Washer

Figure 7

Figure 9

Tightenall loosehardware onthe handle assembly in the following order -- first the four hex bolts at the bottom of the handle, then the

carriage bolts and lastly the hex bolts on the rear of the handle panel.

Attaching Clutch Cables

The clutch control cables are attached to the snow thrower. For shipping purposes, if the cables are

attached to the top of the engine with cable ties, cut the cable ties now. The Z ends of the clutch cables

are hooked into the clutch grips on each handle.

Ensure there is a hex jam nut threaded all the

way up the threaded portion of the Z fitting; extras are supplied inthe hardware pack. See

Figure 10. Place the clutch grip in the raised (up) position.

Outer of cut-out Jam

_J" Nut

Nut \,\ Hex Jam :

Attaching Shift Rod

• Place the shiftlever inthe sixth(6) speed.

• Placethe bentend oftheshiftrod intothehole in theshiftarm assembly.See Figure11. Secure with

5/16flatwasherand hairpinclipfromgroup D ofthe hardwarepack. Thread ferrule (included in group D) from the

rightsideontotheother end ofthe shiftrod till it

linesup with the upper holeinthe shiftlever

(beneath the handle panel). While aligning the ferrule, push down on the shift rod and the shift arm assembly as far as it will go.

NOTE: Youmay have to pull the shift lever out of the

sixth speed position and move it towards the fifth speed position until the ferrule slides into the hole

without force.

• Once the ferrule slides into the hole, turn it counter-clockwise one more full turn and insert it

in the hole in the shift lever.For proper positioning of the ferrule andthe associated

hardware, see Figure 11.

Shift Lever Chute Distance

Control

Ferrule

(Viewed from the underside of the handle panel)

Figure 10

Swing the left auger cable up making sure the cable is routed correctlyin the cable roller

guides located at the lower rear of the unit. Hold the end of the cable at the barrel so the

ferrule turns freely without twisting the cable. Thread the ferrule on to the Z fitting. You may

have to pull on the cable slightly to relieve tension. Keepthe ferrule turning without twisting

the cable. You will reach correct adjustment when there is

minimal slack inthe cable but it isnot tight. Hold the flats on the ferrule with pliers andtighten the

jam nut against the ferrule. CAUTION: Cables will

become loose ifyou do not tighten thejam nut.

WARNING: There must not beany tension

on either clutch cable with the drive or auger clutch grip in the disengaged (up) position.

These clutches are a safety feature. Do not override their function.

Traction

Drive

Clutch

/ Flat

Hairpin Washer Clip

Figure11

Secure the ferrule to the shift lever with another 5/16 flat washer and hairpin clip from group D of

the hardware pack. See Figure 11. Make certain to check for correct adjustment of

the shift rod as instructed inthe Adjustment section before operating the snow thrower.

Attaching Turn Triggers

Check and make sure that the righthand trigger cable is routedinfrontof the tractiondrive cable.

Feedthetriygercable upthrough theoutersideof

the slotinthe handlepanel.Do not feedthe cable

throughthesamesideoftheslotastheZfitting.

Clip

Flat

Washer

Assembly

Place the cable barrel fitting intothe hole in the

trigger. You can find the triggers and associated

hardware ingroup Hof the hardware pack. See Figure 12.

Trigger Assembly /

Inner Cable _

Cable_

Trigger Cable

!Hroi gugerg

/ Barrel

/ Fitting

Slot

Cable snaps in at this end

Figure 12

Pull on the cable and rotate it around the bottom

of the tngger, wtth the innercable mthe slot, until the cable end can be pushed into the trigger

housing and snapped tight. See Figure 12.

NOTE; When the cable is installed correctly, you

should not be able to pull the cable out of the trigger housing,

Place the right turn trigger in position underneath the right handle. Secure with screw

and weld nut from group Hof the hardware pack. See Figure 13. You will need a phillips

screwdriver for tightening the screw. Repeat on left side.

Figure 14

Secure the leftturn trigger cable to the lower handle using the other cable tie. Make sure to

route the cable tie below the auger drive cable so that when the trigger cable is secured by the cable tie, the auger drive cable is left outside the cable tie. Trim excess ends from each cable tie.

NOTE: The right side cable tie must be used to keep cable from coming in contact with the moving shift

arm from the transmission.

Lamp Wiring

Wrap thewire fromthe lampclown the right

handleas shownin Figure 15,

• Plugwire intothe alternator lead wire under the fueltank. See Figure 15.

Weld Nut

Figure 13

Secure the right turn trigger cable to the right lower handle using cable tie provided in the hardware pack. Make sure not to wrap the drive

cable. See Figure 14.

Wire

Figure 15

IMPORTANT: Assembleyour snowthrower, then

check the adjustmentsas instructed and makeany final adjustments necessary before operating the unit.

Failure to follow these instructions may cause

damage to the snow thrower.

Final Adjustments

Auger Control

• To check the adjustment of the auger control, push forward the left hand clutch grip until the rubber bumper is compressed. There should be

slack in the clutch cable.

Release the clutch grip. The cable should be

straight. Make certain you can depress the auger control grip against the left handle

completely.

If adjustment is necessary, loosen the hex jam

nut and thread the cable in (for less slack) or out

(for more slack). Recheck the adjustment. Tighten the jam nut

against the cable when correct adjustment is

reached.

Traction Drive Clutch and Shift Lever

Tip the snow throwerforwardso that it rests on

the auger housing.

Move the shift lever all the way forward to the sixth (6) position_

With the traction drive lever released, spin the snow thrower wheels by hand. The wheels should turn; however, you mayfeel some

resistance.

• Engage the traction drive clutch grip. The wheels should no longer turn.

Now release the traction drive clutch grip, and

spin the wheels again.

Move the shift lever back to the fast reverse

position, then all the way forward again. There should beno resistance in the shift lever, and the

wheels should turn.

If you face resistance when moving the shift

lever or the snow thrower wheels stop when they should not, loosen the lock nut on the traction drive cable and unthread the cable one turn.

If the wheels can still be turned when you

engage the traction drive clutch grip, loosen the

lock nut on the traction drive cable and thread the cable in one turn.

Recheck the adjustment and repeat adjustment

as necessary. Tighten the jam nut to secure the

cable when correct adjustment is reached.

Skid Shoe

The space between the shave plate and theground can be adjusted. For close snow removal, place skid

shoes in the low position. Use middle or high position when area to be cleared is uneven.

NOTE: It is not recommended thatyou operate this snow thrower on gravel as loose gravel can be easily

picked up and thrown by the auger causing an injury

or damage to the snow thrower.

If for some reason, you have to operate the snow

thrower on gravel, keep the skid shoe in the

highest position for maximum clearance between

the ground and the shave plate.

• Adjust skid shoes by loosening the four hex nuts and carriage bolts and moving skid shoes to desired position. Make certain the entire bottom surface of skid

shoe is against the ground to avoid uneven wear on the skid shoes.

• Tighten nuts and bolts securely.

--Skid Shoe

Loosen these hardware

to adjust skid shoe

Figure 16

Tire Pressure (Pneumatic Tires) The tires are over-inflatedfor shippingpurposes.

Check tirepressure and reduceto 15 to 20 psi.

NOTE: If thetirepressure isnot equal in both tires, the

unitmay pull toone side or the other.

NOTE: If you are not sure that you have reached correct adjustment, refer to theAdjustment section on page 20.

Knowing Your Snow Thrower

Read thisowner's manual and safety rules before operating your snow thrower. Compare illustration below with your snow thrower to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future reference.

The operation of any snow thrower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses for operating the snow

thrower, or while performing any adjustments or repairs on it,

Shift

Auger Oil _ap

Control Spark Fill

Traction Drive Plug

Control Choke

Turn Trigger

Discharge

Crank

Chute

Muffler

Ignition

Prim=

Fuel

Tank

Handle

_Recoil

Starter

Start

_AAuger

Skid

Figure 17

Meets ANSI Safety Standards

Sears snowthrowersconformto the safety standardsB71.3 of the American NationalStandards Institute(ANSI).

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