Sears Craftsman 842.252440 Owner's Manual

SE/A-Jf S

OW_ 'S

UAL

ODEL NO.

_42.252440

Caution:
Read and follow

all Safety Rules
and Instructions

Before Operating

This Equipment

WIDTH

TOW

ATTACH NT

. Assembly
. Operation

. Customer Responsibilities
. Service and Adjustment
. Repair Parts

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

i i ii!l!lll

SAFETY RULES

Safe Operation Practices for the Tow-Behind Tiller Attachment

TRAiNiNG

Read opening and Service instructions
carefully. Be thoroughly familiar with the
controls and the proper' use of the

equipment,

° Never' allow children to operate the machine

Do not allow adults to operate the machine

without proper instruction.

o Keep the area of operation ctear of all

persons, particularly small children and pets.

PREPARATION

Check the fuel and lubrication before

starting the engine Do not fill the gasoline
tank indoors when the engine is running or
while the engine is still hot Wipe off any

spilled gasoline before starting the engine,

o Inspect the area to be filled_ Remove glass,

wire, metal objects, large sticks and stones,

Avoid underground pipes and wiring°

e Have a complete working knowledge of your

tractor and know how to handle your tractor

with a tiller or'other attachment attached.,

OPERATION

o Give complete and undivided attention to the

job at hand, Operate the tiller in daylight

or good artificial light,

Personal injury may result from contact with
the tines or debris thrown by this machine,
Therefore, always stay a safe distance away
from tines.

= Stop the tiller' engine when leaving your

tUler unattended_

o Check before each use for loose fasteners or

parts,

Never store the equipment with gasoline in
the tank inside of a building where fumes
may reach an open flame or spark Allow
the engine to cool before storing in an
enclosure.

Stop engine and disconnect spark plug lead
wire before cleaning tines, removing
obstacles or making adjustments except for
any instructions which must be done while
the engine is running_

Never place hands or feet under or into

rotating parts or concealed areas. Keep
hands and feet clearly away from tine
elements, belts, pulleys, etc, while engine is

running.

Wear substantial shues and eye protection

while using tiller.

Never' attempt to make a maintenance
adjustment except on the carburetor, while
engine is running.

Do not run the engine indoors; carbon
monoxide fumes are dangerous to inhale.

Never operate machine without proper
guards, plates or other safety protective

devices in place.

• Disengage the Ttne Drive Clutch, stop tiller
and tractor engines before getting off the

tractor,,

• Disengage the Tine Drive Clutch and stop

the tillerengine during transportation to
and from the work area.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

Follow maintenance instructions as outlined
in this manual and your Engine Owners

Manual supplied with the unit.

o Disconnect spark plug wire before making

any maintenance adjustment or repair,.

iMPORTANT

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes are a means of
attracting attention to important or critical

information in this manual.

LOOK FOR THIS SYMBOL TO POINT OUT
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. IT
MEANS-A]TENTION! BECOME ALERT!

YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

2

Store gasoline in an approved metal
container in a cool, dry place,,

Keep all nuts, bolts and screws tight. Keep
machine ingood operating condition and keep

safety devices in place.

Safety and performance levels can be assured
only by the use of specified replacement
parts,,

CONGRATULATIONSonyourpurchaseofaSearstiller.It
hasbeendesigned,engineeredandmanufacturedtogive
youthebestpossibledependabilityandperformance.

Shouldyouexperienceanyproblemsyoucannoteasily
remedy,pleasecontactyournearestSearsAuthorized
ServiceCenter.Searshascompetent,welltrained

techniciansandthepropertoolstoserviceorrepairthis

uniL
Pleasereadandretainthismanual.Theinstructionswill

enableyoutoassembleandmaintainyourtillerproperly_
Alwaysobservethe"SAFETYRULES"_

MODEL
NUMBER842-252440

SERIAL

NUMBER

DATEOF
PURCHASE

THEMODELANDSERIALNUMBERWILLBE

FOUNDONTHEMODELPLATEATTACHEDTO

THERIGHTHANDCHASSIS.
YOUSHOULDRECORDBOTHSERIALNUMBER

ANDDATEOFPURCHASEANDKEEPINA
SAFEPLACEFORFUTUREREFERENCE.

MAINTENANCEAGREEMENT

A Sears Maintenance Agreement is available on this

product_ Contact your nearest Sears store for details.

CUSTOMER RIESPONSIBILITIES

= Read and observe the safety rule&

• Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and
using your Tiller

• Follow the instructions under"Customer
Responsibilities" and "Storage" sections of this Owner's

Manual

i

PRODUCT SPECtRCATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 5,,0HoP.
DISPLACEMENT: t 2.57 cu. ino

J H

GASOLINE CAPACITY: 3 QUARTS

Regular

Unleaded

OIL (20 oz. Capacity): Above 32 F:

SAE 30
Below 32 F:
SAE 5W30

SPARK PLUG (GAP ..030IN.): Champion

RJ19LM

TILLING GROUND SPEED: Approx 2 MPH

TILLING WIDTH: 36 IN.

TILLING TtNE SPEED: 260 RPM

This unit isequipped 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 aspark 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 Cod_),
Other states may have similar 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.

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 customer responsibilities instructionsin 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 th_
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 right, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO, D/817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, tL 60179

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Safety Rules ................... 2

Customer Responsibilities ............... 3

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

Product Specifications ............... 3

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

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

Operation ........................ 7-10

Customer Responsibilities .......... 11-13

Service & Adjustments .............. 14-15

Storage ................. 16

Troubleshooting .................. 17

Repair Parts-Tiller .................. 18-25

aNDEX

E (Cont)

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

Adjustments:

Depth Stake ........ 8

Air Cleaner:

Maintenance ......... .12

Oil Level .............. 9 Repair Parts:

Oil Type ......... 9 Tiller ........... 18-20

Spark Plug .......... ,13 Engine .......... 21-25

Starting, .............. 9 Rules for Safe Operation ..... 2

Stopping ............ 8

Storage .......... o16 S

B

F

Belt:

V-Belt ............. .14 Fuel:

Fitling Tank ....... 9

Service & Adjustments:

V-Belt ............ ,t4

Service:

Maintenance Schedule .... 11

Cooling System:

Maintenance ......... 12

Controls:

Choke ............. 7

Tine ................ 7

Type ............... 9 Spark Plug:

Storage .......... `16 Gap .............. 3

Finish: Maintenance ......... ,13

Maintenance ....... `13 Storage:

Fuel System .......... J6

L Tiller............. 16

Throttle........... 7 Lubrication: T

Customer Responsibilities: Lubrication Chart ....... ,1t

Air' Cleaner ......... 12 Engine ............ .12 Tilling:

Cooling System ....... _12 Operation ......... 7-10

Finish ............ ,13 M Tines:

Maintenance Schedule .... 11 Repair Parts ......... 38

Muffler .............. 13 Muffler: Operation .......... 8

Spark Plug ........... ,13

Transmission ........... 13

Oil Change ......... _12

Cultivating:

Operation ............. 10 OI1:

D

Depth Stake:

Adjustment .......... 8

E

Engine:

Air Cleaner ............ 12

Cooling System .......... 1 3

Fuel Type ................. 9

Lubrication .......... 12

Carburetor'. ........... 15

Maintenance .......... ,13 Transmission:

Spark Arrestor ......... 3 Maintenance ....... ,'13

O

Level ................ 9

Type .............. 12

Repair Parts ......... 20

Troubleshooting Chart ..... .17

Transporting ........... 8

Operation:

W

Cultivating ........... 10 Warranty ............. 3

Fill Engine with Oil ...... 9

Fill Fuel Tank ........... 9

Start Engine .......... 9

Stopping Tines & Engine .... 8

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

Tilling Hints ............ 10

Tine Operation ...... 8

Transporting Tiller ...... 8

Breaking in Your' Tiller ..... 10

4

ACC

THESE ACCESSORIES WERE AVAILABLE WHEN THE TILLER WAS PURCHASED. THEY ARE ALSO AVIALABLEAT 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 MUFFLER

@

AIR FILTER GAS CAN

ENGINE OIL

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

STABILIZER

................ ii

TILLER MAINTENANCE

BELT

TINES

CLEVIS PIN

O

HAIR COTFER PiN

ACCESSORIES

HILL ROW AERATOR DETHATCHER

I

i

i i

TRACTION/COMFORT ATTACHMENTS

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

TIRE CHAINS WHEEL WEIGHTS

TRACTOR

5

TILLER

i i lul ii i iii u ii IIIIHII ,,,,,,,,,,,,

30 LB O_y__ _

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

ASSEMBLY

J,rrT,,,, .................................................................. ::: ;:::................................................... -'_

TO REMOVE UNIT FROM
CARTON

UNPACKCARTON

® Cut from top to bottom all four corners of the carton

and lay panels flat.. (See Fig1)

e Remove lag screw that holds the floating hitch to the

packing skid..

e Disassemble and discard wood top and side carton

supports.

e Remove four Hex Bolts, four Hex nuts, and four Flat

Washers from the hold down Brackets at rear of Tiller
carton.

e Remove two Flat Washers and two Cotter Pins from

rear Axle and save for use when attaching Gauge
Wheels.

e Discard all other packing Hardware and hold down

Brackets_

e Remove Gauge Wheels from Wheel Box

WOOD TOP HO'LD DOWN
SUPPORTS BRACKET

LAG SCREW

WOOD SIDE
SUPPORTS

WHEEL

BOX

HEX BOLT
PACKING HEX NUT
SKID FLAT WASHER

FIG. 1

FLOATING

ACCESSORY
TILLER WEIGHTS

COTTER

FLAT WASHER

FIG. 2

TO HNSTALL THE TnLLER
(WHEEL) WEHGHT

ACCESSORIES

NOTE: Tiller (Wheel) Weights are not furnished with

Tiller'.. They are an accessory that may be purchased if

required (See Operation section of the manual.)

e Remove two Carriage Bolts and Nuts from the front of

each Tine Shield, located approximately 3-1/2 inches
from the front edger (See Fig3)

e Place Tiller (Wheel) Weight on Tine Shield and

secure with long Bolts and Nuts furnished with the
Weights.

LONG

ACCESSORY

WEIGHT

TINE

SHIELD

TO HNSTALL THE T6LLER
GAUGE WHEELS

ATTACH GAUGE WHEELS

® Assemble Gauge Wheels onto the Rear Axle with

extended Hub inward and secure with a Flat Washer
and Cotter Pin. (See Fig. 2)

FIG. 3

When R.H (Right Hand) or L.Ho (Left Hand) are used, it

means from a position behind the steering wheel as if

you were seated on the tractor seat and facing forward_

NOTE: We recommend that you remove Mower Deck
before using Tiller

='_-- ........................ ,_,,, ,J, , ................................................. ,._L,,LU,, ,J L J__ J ............ :

OPERATmO

KNOW YOUR TILLER

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

Compare the illustrations with your tiller to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and
adjustments Save the manual for future reference

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

RECOIL STARTER HANDLE CHOKE CONTROL

OFF iDLE FAST

LOWER

LIFT

HANDLE . ,.

RAISE _\\

ENGAGED

TINE CLUTCH LEVER

DISENGAGED

FLOATING HITCH

THROTTLE CONTROL

EXTRA TINE PINS

DEPTH STAKE

SUPPORT BRACKET

GUARD

TINE SHIELD

'DEPTH ADJUSTMENT

TINES GAGE WHEELS

FIG. 4

TINE CLUTCH LEVER - starts and stops tine
rotation

LIFT HANDLE - selects tillingor transport
position by moving gage wheels

THROTTLE CONTROL- controls engine speed
CHOKE CONTROL - used when starting a cold
engine

FLOATING HITCH - telescoping hitch limits
shock loads to tractor

DEPTH STAKE - controls tilling/cultivating
depth
RECOIL START HANDLE - used to start the

engine

Theoperationofanytillercanresultinforeignobjectsthrownintotheeyes,whichcan

resultinsevereeyedamage.Alwayswearsafetyglassesoreyeshieldsbeforestarting

your tiller and while tilling We recommend wide vision safety mask for over the

spectacles or standard safety glasses°

HOW TO USE YOUR TnLLER

STOPPING (See Fig. 4)

TINES

o Raise Tiller to transport position.

o Pull forward on tine clutch lever.

ENGINE

• Move throttle control to "STOP" position.
o Never use choke to stop engine

ATTACHING TILLER TO TRACTOR

(See Fig. 5)

o Rear wheel weights and tire chains can be used if

additional traction is required for tilling.

o Place Tiller' on ground level and back up tractor to it

for assembly

• Slide Floating Hitch of Tiller over the tractor drawbar
so that the hitch pin holes line up

• Insert hitch pin until it extends from the bottom of the
Floating hitch_ Insert hair cotter pin into hitch pin.

HITCH PII_

TRACTOR

DRAWBAR

HAIR COTTER PIN

TRANSPORTSNG YOUR TILLER

AROUND THE YARD
o Pull forward on lift handle until it locks in the up

transport posttton.

AROUND TOWN
_' Disconnect spark plug wire,

a Drain fuel tank,
o Transport in the upright position to prevent oil leakage.

"1

CAUTION: Before lifting or trans- |

porting, allow tiller engine and

1

muffler to cool. Disconnect spark
plug wire. Drain gasoline from fuel

tank.,

STARTING TO TiLL

o Raise Tiller to transport position,_

• Start Tiller engine and move throttle control to full
speed.

o Push rearward on tine clutch lever to start tine

rotation_

o Move Tiller lift handle to lower Tiller.
o Setect lowest tractor ground speed at tractor engine

idle.

TO ADJUST DEPTH STAKE

o Depth stake has five position holes to select tilling

depth from 1 to 5 tnches_

• The top stake hole selects the sallowest tilling depth
and the bottom stake hole selects the deepest position.

a To change depth remove the hair cotter pin from the

clevis pin which is connecting the depth stake to the
stake support bracket..

o Grasp the top of the depth stake, remove the clevis pin

and reposition the drag stake_ Insert clevis pin and
hair cotter pin_

IMPORTANT: THE DRAG STAKE SHOULD NEVER BE

REMOVED FROM THE TILLER IT IS DESIGNED TO
PROTECT THE TRACTOR TRANSAXLE FROM THRUSTING
ACTION OF THE TILLER°

RG. 5

8

BEFORE STARTRNG ENGNNE

FiLL ENGINE WiTH OIL (See Fig. 6)

IMPORTANT: BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO

ALLOW DIRT TO ENTER THE ENGINE WHEN CHECKING

OR ADDING OIL OR FUEL. USE CLEAN SAE30 WEIGHT
OIL AND STORE IN APPROVED, CLEAN, COVERED

CONTAINERS,. ALL OILS MUST MEET AP,!.. SERVICE

CLASSIFICATION SG. USE CLEAN FILL FUNNELS..

• With engine level, remove engine oil filler
plugo

o Fill engine with oil to point of overflowing.

For approximate capacity see "PRODUCT
SPECIFICATIONS" on page 3

• Tilt tiller back on its wheels and then re-
level

o Check oil level, Refill to point of

overflowing if necessary. Replace oil filler
plug.

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 lines and carburetor are empty° Use

fresh fuel next season. See Storage section of
this manual for additional informatiom Never

use engine or carburetor cleaner products In
the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur°

CAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas
tank filler neck_ Do not overfill

Wipe off any spilled oil or fuel. Do

not store, spill or use gasoline near

open flame

TO START ENGINE (See Fig. 7)

CAUTION: Keep the tine Clutch Lever in

"OFF" position when starting engine.

• For cold weather operation you should

change oi! for easier starting (See "OIL

VISCOSITY CHART" tn the Customer
Responsibilities section of this manual).

o To change engine oil, see the Customer

Responsibilities section in this manual

OIL

LEVEL

FIG. 6

OIL
FILLER
PLUG

ADD GASOLINE

o Make sure spark plug wire is properly

connected.

= Place throttle control in "FAST" position,

Place choke control in "CHOKE" position if
the engine is cold_ A warm engine may not
require choking to start.

o Grasp starter handle with one hand. Pull

rope out slowly until engine reaches start of
compression cycle (rope will pull slightly
harder at this point)°
Pull rope with a rapid, continuous, full arm
stroke. Keep a firm grip on starter handle
and let rope rewind slowly. Do not let
starter handle snap back against starter..

e When engine starts, move choke control on

engine to the "RUN" position.

= Move throttle control to desired running

position

o Allow engine to warm up for a few minutes

before engaging tines,

Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular
unleaded gasoline_ (Use of leaded gasoline
wilt increase carbon and lead oxide deposits
and reduce valve life), Do not use old
gasoline from last season to avoid starting
probtems.

NOTE: If at a high altitude (above 3000 feet)
or in cold temperatures (below 32 F), the
carburetor fuel mixture may need to be adjusted
for best engine performance° See Service and
Adjustment section of this manual