Sears CRAFTSMAN 917.293401 Owner's Manual
Owner's Manual
®
6,0 HP
17 UNCHTJNE WHDTH
REAR NE WiTH
COUNTER ROTA NG TINES
TILLE
Model No.
917.293401
o Safety
AssembBy
Operation
Maintenance
, Repair Parts
CAUTION:
Read and follow all
Safety Rules and Instructions
before operating this equipment
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
Safety Rules ........................................... 2
Warranty ................................................. 2
Product Specifications .......................... 4
Assembly ................................................ 5
Operation ................................................ 8
Maintenance ......................................... 13
Service and Adjustments ...................... 15
Storage ................................................. 19
Troubleshooting .................................... 20
Illustrated Parts List .............................. 22
Parts Ordering ....................... Back Cover
LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN TILLER
For two (2) years from date of purchase, when this Craftsman Tiller is maintained, lubri-
cated, and tuned up according to the operating and maintenance instructions in the
owner's manual, Sears wilt 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 crank-
shafts and the failure to maintain the equipment according to the instructions con-
tained in the owner's manual.
o If this Craftsman Tiller is used for commercial or rental purposes, this Warranty
applies for only thirty (30) days from the date of purchase.
Warranty service is avai{able by returning the craftsman power mower 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/817WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60179
TRAINING
° Read the Owner's Manual carefully° 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
equipmenL Never allow adults to oper-.
ate the equipment without proper
instruction.
- Keep the area of operation clear of all
persons, particularly small children, and
pets.
PREPARATION
• Thoroughly inspectthe area where the
equipment is to be used and remove all
foreign objects°
° Disengage all clutches and shift into
neutral before starting the engine (mo-
tor),
• Do not operate the equipment without
wearing adequate outer garments. Wear
footwear that will improve footing on
slippery surfaces.
, Handle fuel with care; it is highly flam-
mable.
o Use an approved fuel container.
° Never add fuel to a running engine or
hot engine.
° Fil] 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 ail
units with electric drive motors or electric
starting motors.
• Never attempt to make any adjustments
while the engine (motor) is running
(except where specifically recommend.,
ed by manufacturer).
2
OPERATION
o Do not put hands or feet near or under
rotating parts.
o Exercise extreme caution when operat-
ing on or crossing gravel drives, walks,
or roads. Stay alert for hidden hazards
or traffic. Do not carry passengers.
o 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_
o Exercise caution to avoid slipping or
falling.
° If the unit should start to vibrate abnor-
mally, stop the engine (motor) and check
immediately for the cause. Vibration is
generally a warning of trouble.
o Stop the engine (motor) when leaving
the operating position.
o Take all possible precautions when leav-
ing the machine 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.
o 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.
o Do not overload the machine capacity
by attempting to till too deep at too fast a
rate.
o Never operate the machine at high
speeds on slippery surfacesr Look
behind and use care when backing.
o Never allow bystanders near the unit.
° Use only attachments and accessories
approved by the manufacturer of the
tiller (such as wheel weights, counter-
weights, cabs, and the like). '
° Never operate the tiller without good vis-
ibility 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.
.r'
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
o Keep machine, attachments, and
accessories in Safe working condition.
= Check shear pins, engine mounting
bolts, and other bolts at frequent inter-
vals for proper tightness to be sure the
equipment is in safe working condition.
o 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 ar_y enclosure.
° Always refer to the operator's guide
instructions for important details if the
tiller is to be stored for an extended peri-
CAUTION: Always disconnect spark
plug wire and place wire where it cannot
contact spark plug in order to prevent acci-
dental starhng when sethng up, transport-
ing, adjusting or making repairs.
WARNING
The engine exhuast from this product con-
tains chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer, birth defeotd, or
other reproductive harm°
3 _
PRODUCT SPECIRCATIONS
HORSEPOWER: 6.0 HP
DISPLACEMENT: 11.88CU. IN.
GASOLINECAPACITY: 4 Quarts
Unleaded Regular
SAE30
(Above32°F)
SAE5W-30
(Below32°F)
OIL (API-SF/SG/SH):
CAPACITY: 20 oz,)
SPARKPLUG : Champion N4C
(GAP: .030")
Congratulations on your purchase of a
Craftsman Tiller. it has been designed, en-
gineered and manufactured to give you the
best possible dependability and perform-
ance.
Should you experience any problemsyou
cannot easily remedy, please contact your
nearest authorized Sears Service
Center/Department. We have competent,
well-trained technicians and the proper
tools to service or repaii"this unit.
Please read and retain this manual. The
instructionswill enable you to assemble
and maintain your tiller properly.Always
observe the =SAFETY" RULES",
Your new tiller has been assembled at the
factory with exception of those parts left
unassembled for shipping purposes. To
ensure safe and proper operation of your
tiller all parts and hardware you assemble
must be tightened securely. Use the cor-
rect tools as necessary to insure proper
tightness.
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
A Sears Maintenance Agreement is avail-
able on this product. Contact your nearest
Sears store for details.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES
• Read and observe the safety rules.
o Followa regular schedule in maintain-
ing, caring for and usingyour tiller.
o Followthe instructionsunder the
"Customer Responsibilities"and =Stor-
age" sections of this Owner's Manual.
_kWARNING: This unit is equipped with
an internal combustion engine and should
not be used on or near any unimproved
forsst-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). ifa spark arrester is used, it should
be maintained ineffective working order by
the operator.
In the state of California the above is
required by law (Section 4442 ofthe
California Public Resources Code). 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 thismanual for part number.
These accessories were available when the tiller was purchased. They are also avail-
able at most Sears Retail outlets and Service Centers. Most Sears Stores can order
repair partsfor you when you provide the model number of your tiller.
ENGINE
TILLERMAINTENANCE
• BE_LT , 'I_N_:S GHEAR PIN HAIRPIN CLIp
4
"Yournew tiller has been assembled at the
factory with exception of those parts left
unassembled for shipping purposes. To
ensure safe and proper operation of your
tiller all parts and hardware you assemble
must be tightened securely. Use the cor-
rect tools as necessary to insure proper
tightness.
TOOLS REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLY
A socket wrench set will make assembly
easier. Standard wrench sizes are listed.
(t) Utilityknife
(1) Wire cutter
(1) Tire pressure gauge
(1) Screwdriver
(1) Pair of pliers
(1) 9/16" wrench
OPERATOR'S POSITION
When right or left hand is mentioned in
this manual, it means when you are in
the operating position (standing
behind tiller handles).
LEFT
FRONT
OPERATOR'S
POSITION
RIGHT
CONTENTS OF HARDWARE PACK
(2) Handle Locks
(2) Hairpin Clips
(1) Carriage Bolt
3/8-16 UNC x 1 Gr. 5
(1) Cable Clip
(1) Pivot Bolt
3/8-16 UNC Grade 5
(1) Flat Washer
13/32 x 1 x 11 Ga.
(1) Handle Lock Lever "_
5
UNPACKING CARTON '
A_kCAUTION: Be careful of exposed sta-
ples when handling ordisposingof carton-
ing material.
IMPORTANT:When unpacking and
assemblingtiller,be careful notto stretch
or kinkcables.
= While holding handle assembly, cut
cable ties securing handle assembly to
top frame. 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 comers of carton, lay side carton
wall down.
° Remove packing material from handle
assembly.
o Separate shift rod from handle assem-
bly. , :!_
INSTALL HANDLE
o Insertone handle lock (with teeth facing
outward) ingeamase notch. (Apply
grease on smoothside of handle lockto
aid in keeping lockin place until handle
assembly is Iowe_redinto position_)
Viewedfromj.h, side oftiller
_._ / Handle Lock
° Grasp handle assembly. Hold in "up"
position. Be sure handle lock remains in
gearcase notch. Slide handle assembly
into position.
° Rotate handle assembly down. Insert
rear carriage bolt first, with head of bolt
on LHr side of tiller and loosely assem-
ble Iocknutr
Handle Assembly
'UP" Position
Tighten handle lock
lever to hold
Loosen Handle Lock
Lever to Move
• Insert pivot bolt in front part of plate and
tighten.
o Cut down remaining corners of carton
and lay panels flat.
o Lower the handle assembly. Tighten nut
oncarriage bolt so handle moves with
some resistance. Thiswill allow for eas-
ier adjustment.
o Place flat washer on threaded end of
handle lock lever.
° insert handle lock lever through handle
base and gearcase. Screw in handle
lock lever justenough to hold lever in
place.
= Insert second handle lock (with teeth
inward) in the slot of the handle base
(justinside ofwasher).
° Raise handle assembly to highest posi-
tionand securely tighten handle lock
lever by rotating clockwise. Leaving
handle assembly in highest positionwill
make it easier to connect shift rod.
Handle Lock Flat Washer
Gearcase Lock
Slot
Rear Cartridge
Pivot Bolt
Handle Base
6
INSERTCABLE CLIP
o Insert plasticcable clip intohole onthe
back of handle column. Push cables
into clip.
Handle Column
Cables
Clip
Attach this endto shift lever
"'III '
_----_-Attach this End To shift _ Shift Rod
Lever Indicator
Shift Rod Hairpin Clip Shift Lever
\_ indicator
CONNECT SHIFT ROD
o Insert end of shift rod farthestfrom bend
intohole of shift lever indicator,
° Insert hairpinclipthrough hole of shift
rodto secure.
° Insert other end of shiftrod intohole in
shift lever.
• insert second hairpin clip throughhole of
shiftrod.
REMOVE TILLER FROM CRATE
° Adjust handle assemby to lowest posi-
tion. Be sure lock lever is tightened
securely.
o Make sure shift lever indicator is in "N"
(neutral) position.
o Tilt tiller forward by lifting handle.
Separate cardboard cover from leveling
shield.
° Rotate tiller handle to the right and pull
tiller out of carton.
Shift Lever
Sh,ft Rod _ L
Hairpin Clip
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
The tires on your unitwere overinftated at
the factory for shipping purposes. Correct
and equal tire pressure isimportantfor
best tilling performance.
• Reduce tirepl;essureto 20 PSI.
HANDLE HEIGHT
° Handle height may be adjusted to better
suit operator. (See '3"0 ADJUST HAN-
DLE HEIGHT" in the Service and
Adjustments section ofthis manual).
7
These symbols may appea_" on your Tiller or in literature supplied with the product.
Learn and understand their meaning.
11LUNG FORWARD NFJ/TBAL P,EVERS_ FU_
A 6 "@ m\l
CAUTION F.J_BINE F_NG1N_' FAST _LOW CHOI_
OR WARNING ON OFF
RUN
OIL STOP O
KNOW YOUR TILLER
READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR
TILLER.
Compare the illustrationswith your tillerto familiarize yourself withthe location of vari-
ous controlsand adjustmehts. Save this manual for future reference.
Drive Control Bar Tt_rottleControl
Lever
Primer
Shift Lever Indicator
DepthStake
Leveling :
Recoil
i Starter
OuterSideShield Handle
MEETS ANSI SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Our tillers conform to the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute.
DRIVE CONTROL BAR - U_ed to engage
tines.
DEPTH STAKE - Controls depth at which
tillerwilldig.
LEVELING SHIELD - Levels tilledsoil.
OUTER SIDE SHIELD - Adjustable to pro-
tect small plants from being buried.
THROTTLE CONTROL - Used to control
engine speed+.
SHIFT LEVER - Used to shift transmission
gears,
SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR - Shows which
gearthe transmissionis in.
RECOIL STARTER HANDLE - Used to
start the engine.
PRIMER - Pumps additonal fuel from the
carburetor to the cylinder for use when
starting a cold engine,
8
The operation of any tiller can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes,
which canresult in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye
shields before starting your tiller and while tilling. We recommend a wide
vision safety mask over the spectacles or standard safety glasses.
HOW TO USE YOUR TULLER
Know how to operate all controls before
adding fuel and oilor attempting to start
engine.
STOPPING
TINES AND DRIVE
o Release drive control bar to stop move-
ment.
= Move shift lever to "N" (neutral) position.
ENGINE
, Move throttlecontrolto "STOP" position°
Ifequipped with stopswitch, move
switch to "STOP" position.
° Never use choke tostop engine.
DriveControlBar
"ENGAGED" Position ShiftLever
Drive Control Bar
"DISENGAGED"
Position
"Throttle
TINE OPERATION - WITH WHEEL
DRIVE
= Always release drive controlbar before
moving shift lever into another position.
° "line movement is achieved by moving
shiftlever to ( _ ) tiltpositionand
engaging drive controlbar.
FORWARD - WHEELS ONLY/TINES
STOPPED
• Release drivecontrolbar and move shift
lever indicatorto "F" (forward) position.
Engage drive controlbar and tillerwill
move forward.
REVERSE - WHEELS ONLY/TINES
STOPPED
, DO NOT STAND DIRECTLY BEHIND
TILLER.
° Release the drivecontrol bar.
o Move throttlecontrolto "SLOW" posi-
tion.
• Move shiftlever indicator to "R"
(reverse) position.
° Hold drive control bar against the handle
to start tillermovement.
DEPTH STAKE
The depth stake can be raised or lowered
to allow you more versatile tillingand culti-
vating, orto more easily transport your
tiller.
Shallowest Tilling
(Cultivating)
Deeptest Tilling
Depth Stake _'_
"_ Transport Position
TILLING
° Release depth stake pin. Pull the depth
stake up for increased tilling depth.
Place depth stake pi.nin hole of depth
c stake to lock in position.
o Place shift lever indicator in till position.
= Hold the drive control bar against the
handle to start tilling movement. Tines
and wheels will both turn.
o Move throttle control to "FAST" position
for deep tilling. To cultivate, throttle con-
trol can be set at any desired speed,
depending on how fast or stow you wish
to cultivate.
IMPORTANT: Always release drive control
bar before moving shift lever into another
position.
Depth Stake Pin
Position
Nut "B"
Nut "A"
Outer Side Shield
"Locked"
Position
9
TURNING
o
o
o
o
o
Release the drive control bar.
Move throttlecontrol to "SLOW" posi-
tion.
Place shift lever indicator in "F" (forward)
position. Tines will notturn.
Lift handle to raise tines out of ground.
Swing the handle in the opposite direc-
tionyou wishto turn, being careful to
keep feet and legs away from tines.
o When you have completed your turn-
around, release the drive controlbar and
lower handle. Place shift lever in till
positionand move throttle controlto de-
sired _peed. To begin tilling,hold drive
control bar against the h_ndle.
OUTER SIDE SHIELDS
The back edges of the _uter side shields
are slotted so that the sl_ieldscan be
raised for deep tillingand lowered for shal-
low tillingto protect small plants from
being buried. Loosen nut "A" in slotand
nut "B". Move shield to desired position
(both sides). Retighte_ nuts.
TO TRANSPORT '
,_CAUTION: Before liftingor transport-
ing, allow tiller engine and mufflerto cool.
Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain gaso-
line from fueltank.
AROUND THE YARD
o Release the depth stake pin. Move the
depth stake down to the top hole for
transportingthe tiller. Place depth stake
pin in hole of depth stake to lock in posi-
tion. This preverits tines from scuffing
the ground. ,
o Place shift lever indicatorin "F"(forward)
positionfor transporting.
° Hold the drive controlbar against the
handle to start tillermovement. Tines
willnot turn.
• Move throttlecontrol to desired speed.
ARO_IND TOWN
• Disconnect spark plug wire.
o Drain fuel tank.
o Transport in uprightposit=_nto prevent
oil leakage.
BEFORE STARTING ENGINE
IMPORTANT: Be very careful notto allow
dirtto enter the engine when checking or
adding oil or fuel. Use clean oil and fuel
and store in approved, clean, covered con-
tainers, use clean fill funnels.
CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL
o The engine in your unit has been
shipped, from the factory, already filled
with SAE 30 summer weightoil.
o Be suretiller is level and the area
around oilfill is clean.
e Check oil level before each use. Add oil
if needed. Fillto full line on dipstick.
o To readproper level, tighten engine oil
cap each time. k
o Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten.
° For approximate capacity see "PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS" on page 4 of
thls manual. All oilmust meet A.P.I.
Service Classification SF, SG or SH.
o For cold weather operation you should
change oil for easier starting (See oil
viscosity chart in the Customer
Responsibilities section of this manual).
• To change engine oil, see the Customer
Responsibilitiessection in this manual.
Oil Fill
Cap/Dipstick
ADD GASOLINE
o Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular
unleaded gasoline. (Use of leaded
gasoline will increase carbon and lead
oxide deposits and reduce valve life.
IMPORTANT: When operating in tempera-
tures below 32°F (0°C), use fresh, clean,
winter grade gasoline to help insure good
cold weather starting.
WARNING: Experience indicates that alco-
hol 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 dam-
age 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 addition-
al information. Never use engine or carbu-
retor cleaner products in the fuel tank or
permanent damage may occur.
10
,_CAUTION: Fill to within 1/2 inch oftop
offuel tank to prevent spills and to allow
for fuel expansion. If gasoline is acciden-
tally spilled, move machine away from
area of spill. Avoid creating any source of
ignition until gasoline vapors have disap-
peared.
Do not overfill. Wipe off any spilled oil or
fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline
near an open flame.
TO START ENGRNE
_kCAUTION: Keep drive control bar in
"DISENGAGED" position when starting en-
gine.
When starting engine for the first timeor if
engine has runout of fuel, it wilt take extra
pullsof the recoilstarter to move fuel from
the tank to the engine.
o Make sure spark plug wire isproperly
connected.
• Move shift lever indicator to "N" (neutral)
position.
o Place throttlecontrol in "FAST" position.
o To start a cold engine, push primer five
(5) times before tryin_tto start. Use a
firm push. This step =snot usuallynec-
essary when starting an engine which
has already run for a few minutes.
o Grasp recoil starter handle with one
hand and grasp tiller handle with other
hand. Pull rope out slowly untilengine
reaches start of compression cycle (rope
will pullslightly harder at this point).
° Pull recoilstarter handle quickly. Do not
let starter handle snap back against
starter.
° Allow engine to warm up for a few min-
utes before engaging tines.
NOTE: In cooler weather it may be neces-
sary to repeat priming steps, Inwarmer
weather over priming may cause flooding
and engine willnot start. If you do flood
engine, wait a few minutes before attempt-
Jngto start and do not repeat priming
steps.
Starter
Handle
TiLLING.HINTS
,_CAUTION: Until you are accustomed to
handling your tiller, start actual field use
with throttle in slow position (mid-way
between "FAST" and "IDLE").
° Tilling is digging into, turning over, and
breaking up packed soil before planting.
Loose, unpacked soil helps root growth.
Best tillingdepth is 4"to 6". A tillerwill
also clear the soil of unwanted vegeta-
tion.The decomposition of thisveg-
etable matter enriches the soil.
Depending on the climate (rainfalland
wind), itmay be advisable to tillthe soil
at the end of the growing season to fur-
ther condition the soil.
o Soilconditions are important for proper
tilling.Tines will not readily penetrate
dry, hard soilwhich may contributeto
excessive bounce and difficulthandling
ofyour tiller. Hard soil should be mois-
tened before tilling;'however, extremely
wet soil will"ball-up" or clump duringtili-
ing. Wait untilthe soil is less wet in order
to achieve the best results. When tilling
in the fall, remove vines and long grass
to prevent them from wrapping around
the fine shaft and slowing your tilling
operation.
o You will find tilling much easier if you
leave a rowuntilledbetween passes.
Then go back between tilled rows_There
are two reasons for doing this. First,
wide turns are much easier to negotiate
than about-faces. Second, the tiller
won't be pulling itself, and you, toward
the row next to it.
° Do not lean on handle. This takes
weight off the wheels and reduces trac-
tion. To get througha really tough sec-
t=onof sod or hard ground, apply upward
pressure on handle or lowerthe depth
stake_ '
11
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