SWAURS

OWNER'S

MANUAL

MODEL NO, 917.299642

Caution:

Read and follow

all Safety Rules and Instructions

Before Operating This Equipment

??RI:IFTSMI:IN

4.0 HORSEPOWER

14 INCH TINE WIDTH

COUNTER ROTATING TINES

REAR TINE TILLER

Assembly

Operation

Maintenance

Service and Adjustment

Repair Parts

TRAINING

-Read the operating and service instruction manual carefully. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls and the proper use of the equipmentv 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 used and remove all foreign objects??

. Disengage all clutches and shift into neutral before starting the engine (motor)..

=Do not operate the equipment without wearing ade- quate outer garments.. Wear footwear that will improve footing on slippery" surfaces.

. Handle fuel with care; it is highly flammable..

???Use an approved fuel container.,

???Never add fuel to a running engine or hot engine.

???Fill 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 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 recom-

. If the unit should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause??Vi- bration is generally a warning of trouble.,

. Stop the engine (motor) when leaving the operating position, before unclogging the tines, and when making any repair, adjustments, and inspections,

??Take all possible precaufionswhen leaving the machine unattended., Disengage the power take-off, lower the attachment, shift into neutral, stop the engine, and remove the key.

???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 dan- gerous.

???Never operate the tillerwithout properguards, 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 allow bystanders near the unit.,

???Use only attachments and accessories approved by the manufacturer of the tirler (such as wheelweights, counter_ weights, 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 restrainthe machine.

mended by manufacturer),

OPERATION

. Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts.,

??Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing gravel 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 inspect the tiller for any damage, and repair the damage before restarting and operating the tillers.

???Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

???Keep machine, attachments, and accessories in safe workingcondition..

. Check shear bolts, engine mounting bolts, and other bolts at frequent intervalsfor propertightnessto be sure the equipment is in safe workingcondition_

. Never store the machine with fuel in the fuel tank inside a buildingwhere ignitionsourcesare present,suchas hot water and space heaters, clothes dryers, and the like.

Allowthe engine to cool before storingin any enclosure.,

. Always refer to the Owner'sManual instructionsfor im- portant details if the tiller is to be stored for an extend- ed period.

LOOK FOR THIS SYMBOL TO POINT

OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY PRE-

CAUTIONS. IT MEANS -- ATTENTION!

BECOME ALERT! YOUR SAFETY IS

INVOLVED.

CAUTION: 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 instructions.

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a Sears Craftsman Tiller?? it has been des=gned, engineered and

manufactured to give you the best possibledependability and performance.

Should you experience any problems you cannot easily remedy, please contact your nearest Sears Service Cen- teriDepartmentoWe have competent,well trained techni- cians and the proper tools to service or repair this unit

Please read and retain this manual. The instructionswill

enable you to assembleand maintain your Tiller prop- erty, Always observe the SAFETY RULES

MODEL

NUMBER 917.299642

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,,

SPARK PLUG (GAP ,030 IN,): CHAMPION RCJ8

TO ASSEMBLE YOUR TILLER YOU WILL NEED:

(1) utility knife

(1) wire cutter

(1) tire pressure gauge

(1) pair of pliers

(1) screwdriver

(1) 9/16" wrench

(1) ratchet

(1) socket extension

(1) 9/16" socket

OPERATOR'S POSITION

The right hand (RH.) and left hand (LH,) sides of your Tiller are determined from the Operator's Position while standing beilind Tiller

FRONT

UNPACKING CARTON

WHEN HANDLING OR DISPOSING OF

BE CAREFUL OF EXPOSED STAPLES

CARTONING MATERIAL.

CAUTION: WHEN UNPACKING AND ASSEMBLING

TILLER, BE CAREFUL NOT TO STRETCH

OR KINK CABLES,,

. While holding Handle Assembly, cut Cable Ties secur- ing Handle Assembly to Top Frame and Depth Slake?? Let Handle Assembly rest on Tiller.

???Remove Top Frame of Carton.

???Slowly ease Handle Assembly up and place upside down on top of Carton (Fig. 2).

FIGURE 2

???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,

INSTALL HANDLE

???Insert one Handle Lock (with teeth facing OUTWARD) in Gearcase Notch (Fig. 3). (Apply grease on smooth side of Handle Lock to aid in keeping Lock in place until Handle is lowered into position)??

GEARCASE GEARCASE

NOTCH

HANDLE

LOCK

FIGURE 3

Grasp Handle Assembly. Hold in "UP" position (Fig. 4), Be sure Handle Lock remains in Gearcase Notch,, Slide Handle Assembly onto Gearcaseo

f,...-..= "UP" POSITION

"": "" ', ', _GF'_'_ENHANDLE

"_._ "',", I LOCK LEVER TO

_?'_ " "t HOLD

HANDLE==,_'_. ',-,....

z

FIGURE 4

???Rotate Handle Assembly down to install two Carriage Bolts and Lock Nuts, Insert rear Carriage Bolt (Fig,,5) first, with head of Bolt on L.H. side of Tiller, Lower the

Handle Assembly,,Tighten Bolts so Handle moves with some resistance.

???Insert second Handle Lock (with teeth INWARD) in the slot-of the Handle Base (Fig,,5)??

-Place Flat Washer on threaded end of Handle Lock Lever.,

???Insert Handle Lock Lever through Handle Base and Gearcase.

???With Handle Assembly in lowest position, securely tighten Handle Lock Lever by rotating clockwise ((_)o

Leaving Handle Assembly in lowest position wilt make it easier to remove Tiller from Carton,

HANDLE LOCKNUT

BASE

FIGURE 5

' /

SHIFT ROD

FIGURE 6

SHIFT

LEVER

HAIRPIN CLIPINDICATOR

SHIFT

ROD

FIGURE 7

. insert other end of Shift Rod into hole in Shift Lever (Fig. 8)

???insert second Hairpin Clip throughhole of Shift Rod.

REMOVE TILLER FROM CRATE

???Make sure Shift Lever Indicator (Fig 7) is in "N" posi- tion._

???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 ROD

HAIRPIN

CLIP

FIGURE 8

TIRE PRESSURE

Reduce Tire pressure to 20 PSI (Tires were overinflated for shipping purposes). If'Tire pressures are not equal, Tiller will pull to one side

CABLE CLIP

Insert Plastic Cable Clip into hoEeon the back of Handle Column. Push Cables into Clip (Fig. 9)

ADJUSTMENTS

Refer'to Service and Adjustments Section (page 17) to adjust Handle height

HANDLE

COLUMN

CABLES

CLIP

FIGURE 9

DRIVE CONTROL BAR - is used to engage Tiller,

THROTTLE CONTROL- is used to control engine speed SHIFT LEVER - is used to shift transmission into differ-

ent gears,

SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR - shows which gear the Tiller is currently in.

CHOKE CONTROL - is used when starting a cold Engine_ DEPTH STAKE - is used to set the depth at which the Tiller will dig.

LEVELING SHIELD - smooths tilled ground behind Tiller.

OUTER SIDE SHIELD - Protects small plants from being buried..

HOW TO USE YOUR TILLER

Know how to operate all controls before adding fuel and

oil or attempting to start Engine. (To stop Engine place Throttle Control in STOP position,)

TINE OPERATION - WiTH WHEEL DRIVE

???Always release Drive Control Bar before moving Shift

Lever intoanother position,

-Tine movement is achieved by moving Shirt Lever to "T" position and engaging Drive ControlBar.,

FORWARD - WHEELS ONLY ! TINES STOPPED

???Release Drive Control Bar and move Shift Lever Indi-

cator to "F" position, Engage Drive Control Bar and Tiller will move forward

REVERSE - WHEELS ONLY / TINES STOPPED

. DO NOT STAND DIRECTLY BEHIND TILLER

???Release the Drive Control Bar

???Move Throttle Control to "SLOW" position..

???Move Shift Lever Indicator to "R" position,

. Hold Drive Control Bar against the Handle (Fig. 11) to start Tiller movement.,

DRIVE CONTROL BAR

Z

BAR DISENGAGED_ \

FIGURE 11

DEPTH STAKE

The Depth Stake can be raised or lowered to allow you more versatile tilling and cultivating, or to more easily transportyour tiller (Fig. 12)??

TRANSPORT

POSITION

SHALLOWEST

TILLING

DEEP

TILLING

TILLING

DEPTH

STAKE

FIGURE 12

TILLING

. Release Depth Stake Pin (Fig. 13). Pull the Depth Stake up for increased tilling depth. Place Depth Stake Pin in hole of Depth Stake to lock in position.

???Place Shift Lever Indicator in the "T" position..

???Hold the Drive Control Bar against the Handle to start tilling movement. Tines and Wheels will both turn.,

. Move Throttle Control to "FAST" position for deep till- ing. 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

"LOCKED"

POSITION

NUT "A"

OUTER NUT "B"

SIDE

SHIELD

FIGURE 13

STOPPING TINES AND ENGINE

. TILLER MOVEMENT AND TINES WILL STOP WHEN

DRIVE CONTROL BAR iS RELEASED.

???Move Shift Lever Indicator to "N" Neutral position.,

???To stop Engine, move Throttle Control to "STOP" posi- tion.

TURNING

???Release the Drive Contro! Bar.

???MoveThrottle Control to "SLOW" speed,

. Place Shift Lever Indicator in the "F" Forward position. Tines will not turn,

???Lift Handle to raise Tines out of ground,.

???Swing the Handle in the opposite direction you wish to

turn, being careful to keep feet and legs away from Tines,,

???When you have completed your turn-around, release the Drive Control Bar and lower Handle., Place Shift Lever in "T" position and move Throttle Control to de- sired speed, To begin tilling, hold Drive Control Bar against the Handle.,

OUTER SIDE SHIELDS

The front of the Outer Side Shields are slotted so that they can be raised for deep tilling and lowered for shal-

low tilling to protect small plants from being buried. Loosen Nut "A" in slot and Nut "B" (Fig. 13). Move Shield

to desired position (both sides)., Retighten nuts.

TRANSPORTING

. Release the Depth Stake Pin, Move the Depth Stake down to the top hole for transporting the Tiller. Place Depth Stake Pin in hole of Depth Stake to lock in position. This prevents Tines from scuffing the ground,,

???Place Shift Lever Indicator (Fig?? 14) in "F" position for transporting,

SHIFT

LEVER

INDICATOR

BEFORE OPERATING YOUR TILLER

FOR THE FIRST TIME, STUDY THIS

SECTION AND THE "RULES FOR

SAFE OPERATION" ON PAGE 2,

ALWAYS RELEASE DRIVE CONTROL

BAR BEFORE MOVING SHIFT LEVER

INTO ANOTHER POSITION??

DON'T BACK YOURSELF INTO A

SOLID OBSTRUCTION SUCH AS A

TREE, FENCE, ETC.

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

CHECK ENGINE OIL LEVEL

CAUTION: BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO ALLOW DIRT

TO ENTER THE ENGINE WHEN CHECK-

ING OR ADDING OIL OR FUEL. USE CLEAN 30 OR 10W-30 WEIGHT OIL AND

STORE IN APPROVED, CLEAN, COVERED

CONTAINERS,, (DO NOT USE PRESSUR-

IZED STARTING FLUID AS SEVERE IN-

TERNAL DAMAGE MAY OCCUR DUE TO

LOSS OF LUBRICATION)

???With Engine level, remove Oil Filler Plug (Fig 15),

???Engine oil should be to point of almost overttowing, Engine oil capacity is about 1-1/4 pints (20 ounces),

FIGURE 14

???Hold the Drive Control Bar against the Handle to start Tiller Movement, Tines will not turn

???Move Throttle Control to desired speed before slarting Engine.

CAUTION: PRACTICE THE ABOVE PROCEDURES

SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE FILLING EN-

GINE WITH FUEL AND OIL,,

FILL FUEL TANK

???TO fill Fuel Tank (Fig 16), use fresh, clean regular unleaded automotive gasoline Capacity is about 2 quarts_

FILL TO WITHIN 1/2 INCH OF TOP OF

FUEL TANK TO PREVENT SPILLS

AND TO ALLOW FOR FUEL EXPAN-

SION. IF GASOLINE IS ACCIDEN-

TALLY SPILLED, MOVE MACHINE

AWAY FROM AREA OF SPILL.

AVOID CREATING ANY SOURCE OF

IGNITION UNTIL GASOLINE VAPORS

HAVE DISAPPEARED.

FUEL

TANK

FIGURE 16

CAUTION: EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT ALCO-

HOL BLENDED FUELS (CALLED GASO-

HOL OR USING ETHANOL OR METHA-

NOL) CAN ATTRACT MOISTURE WHICH

LEADS TO SEPARATION AND FORMA-

TION 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 FOR 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 INSTRUCTIONS

ADDITIONAL

FOR_RMATtON

NEVER USE ENGI OR CARBURETOR CLEANER PRODUCTS iN THE FUEL

TANK OR PERMANENT DAMAGE MAY

OCCUR

H,

TO START ENGINE

KEEP THE DRIVE CONTROL BAR IN

"DISENGAGED" POSITION WHEN

STARTING ENGINE.

iu

. Make sure Spark Plug Wire is properly connected.

??? Move the Shift Lever Indicator to "N" Neutral position,

. Place Throttle Control in "FAST" position.

o Place Choke Control in "CHOKE" position if the En-

gine is cold, A warm Engine may not require choking to start

???Grasp Starter Handle with one hand and grasp the Tilller Handle with other hand. Pull Rope out slowly un- til Engine reaches start of Compression Cycle (Rope will pull slightly harder at this point)_

???Pull Rope with a rapid, continuous, full arm stroker

Keep a firm grip on Starter Handle and let Rope re- wine slowly_ Do not let Starter Handle snap back against Starter'

. When Engine start,s, place, Choke Control on Engine halfway between CHOKE and "RUN" positions and

then to "RUN" position as Engine warms up

???Move Throttle Control halfway between "FAST" and "STOP" position for a few minutes to warm up.

NOTE: tn order to idle smoothly, a new Engine may require 3 to 5 minutes running time above slow idle speed. Idle speed has been adjusted to be correct after this break-in period.

TILLING/CULTIVATING TIPS

TILLING

Tilling is digging into, turning over',and breaking up packed soil before planting_ Loose, unpacked soil helps root growth_ Best tilling depth is 4" to 6'LA Tiller will also clear the soil of unwanted vegetation, The decom-

position of this ve._etable matter enriches the soil. De- pending on the chmate (rainfall and wind), it may be

advisable to till the soil at the end of the growing sea. son to further condition the soil

Soil conditions are important for proper tilling. "13nes

will not readily penetrate dry, hard soilwhich may con- tribute to excessive bounce and difficult handling of

)tour Titler_ Hard soil should be moistened before till- ing; however, extremely wet soil will "ball-up"or clump

during tilling, Wait until the soil is less wet in order to achieve the best results?? When tilling in the fall, re- move vines and long grass to prevent them from wrap- ping around the Tine Shaft and slowing your tilling operation.

. For easier handling of your Tiller, leave about 8 inches of untilled soil between the first and second tilling passes. The third pass will be between the first and second (Fig. 17).

FIGURE 17

???Do not lean on the Handle. This takes weight off the Wheels and reduces traction. To get through a really tough section of sod or hard ground, apply upward pressure on Handle or lower the Depth Stake,.

CULTIVATING

Cultivating is destroying the weeds between rows to pre- vent them from robbing nourishment and moisture from the plants,. At the same time, breaking up the upper layer of soil crust will help retain moisture in the soil. Best digging depth is 1" to 3". Lower the Outer Side Shields to protect small plants from being buried_

???Cultivate up and down the rows at a speed which will allow Tines to uproot weeds and leave the ground in rough condition, promoting no further growth of weeds and grass (Fig. 18).

FIGURE 18

ADJUST WHEELS FOR CULTIVATING

???Place blocks under right hand side of Tiller and re- move Hairpin Clip and Retainer Pin from right hand

Wheel (Fig.. 19)._

???Move Wheel outward and approximately 1 inch until hole in Inner Wheel Hub lines up with inner hole in Axle.

OUTERVIEWOF TIRE

CLIP

FIGURE 19

???Replace Retainer Pin and Hairpin Clip on inside of Wheel (Fig..20) and remove blocks..

. Repeat preceding steps on left hand side.

NOTE: In extremely rough conditionsand while cultivat- ing, the Wheels should be moved outward on the Axle for increased stability_

INNERVIEW OFTIRE

RETAINI

HAIRPIN ""I- \'\ _._

CLIP\',

FIGURE 20

WINTER OPERATION (UNDER 32??F)

ENGINE LUBRICATION

???Engine oil must be chan_ed before the air temperature drops below 32??F. Dram the Engine oil when Tiller Engine is at operating temperature??

???By refilling the Engine with 5W30 oil you will promote easier starting,

NOTE: Be sure to change Engine oil back to S.AE 30 or 10W30 (SD, SE, or SF) for springTilling,

FUEL

Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded automotive gasoline,

Capacity is about 2 quarts,

COLD WEATHER STARTING HINTS

, Be sure to use the proper oil and gasoline..

???Keep Drive Control Bar in "DISENGAGED" position when starting the Engine

???Set Throttle Control at medium to fast position and use full Choke for starting_ Slowly move Choke Control to "RUN" position as Engine warms up,.

AREA OF ALL GRASS, DIRT, AND DE-

BRIS.

DO NOT TOUCH HOT MUFFLER OR

CYLINDER FINS AS CONTACT MAY

CAUSE BURNS.

iillllll

COVER

AIR CLEANER

CARTRIDGE

COOLING SYSTEM

Your Engine isair cooled. For proper Engine performance and long life KEEP YOUR ENGINE CLEAN,

???Clean Air Screen (Fig,.21) frequently using a stiff bristled brush

???Remove Blower'Housing and clean as necessary,,

. Keep Cylinder Fins free of dirt and chaff,

CYLINDER

MUFFLERFINS

BLOWER

HOUSING

AIR SCREEN

FIGURE 21

AIR CLEANER

Replace Air Cleaner Cartridge every twenty-five hours, more often if Engine is used in very dusty conditions:

???Loosen Air Cleaner Screws, one on each side of Cover (Fig. 22),

FIGURE 22

??? Remove Air Cleaner Cover,

-Carefully remove Air Cleaner Cartridge?? Be careful. Do not allow dirt or debris to fail into Carburetor.

???Install new Air Cleaner Cartridge_ Clean and replace Cover, Tighten Screws secureiy_

MUFFLER

Do not operate Tiller without Muffler (Fig. 21),, Do not tamper with exhaust system, Damaged Mufflers or Spark Arresters could create a fire hazard. Inspect periodically and replace _fnecessary. If your Engine is equipped with a Spark Arrester Screen Assembly, remove every 50 hours for cleaning and inspection_ Replace if damaged.

SPARK PLUG

. The Spark Plug should be changed every 50 hours of operation or at the beginning of every tilling season_

. Set gap at .030". Order Spark Plug listed in the Repair Parts Section of this Manual

PLUG WIRE TERMINAL DOES NOT

FITSPARKINGFIRMLY CANON SPARKOCCUR PLUG,IF SPARKRE-

FORM TERMINALIF NECESSARY.

.03_'FEELER

GAUGE

SPARK PLUG

ENGINE LUBRICATION

Your four cycle Engine will normally consume some oil, therefore check Engine oil level regularly--approximately every five hours of operation and before each usage. Stop Engine and wait several minutes before checking oii level, With Engine level the oil must be even with oil fill(Fig. 24), Change Engine oil after the first two hours of operation and every twenty five hours thereafter or at the beginning of every tilling season.

???Drain oil while Engine is warm,

???Remove Oil Drain Ptug (Fig 24)

. T_pTiller forward and catch oil in a suitable container,

???When Engine is drained of all oil, replace Oil Drain Ptugo

???Refill with fresh SAE 30 or SAE 10W-30 weight oil.

OIL

DRAIN

PLUG

OIL

LEVEL

OIL FILLER

PLUG

FIGURE 24

TRANSMISSION

Your Transmission is sealed and will only require lubri- cation if serviced_

FINISH

Keep your Tiller finish and Wheels free of gasoline, oil, etc_ Protectpainted surfaceswith automotive type wax.

SERVICE RECORD

FILL IN DATES

AS YOU COMPLETE

REGULAR SERVICE

Check Engine Oil Level

i

SERVICE DATES

V V

,/

V

POSITION HANDLE

Select Handle height suitable for you and your tilling

conditions,Handle heightwill changewhen Tiller digsinto the soilo

TO ADJUST HANDLE:

???First loosen Handle Lock Lever (Fig, 26),,

???Handle can be positionedat different settingsbetween

"HIGH" and "LOW" positions,

???Retighten Handle Lock Lever securely after adjusting??

"HIGH"

POSITION

HANDLE

LOCK

LEVER

FIGURE 26

TIRE CARE

BEADS ARE SEATED, OVERINFLA-

WHEN MOUNTING TIRES, UNLESS

TION CAN CAUSE AN EXPLOSION.

-Maintain 20 pounds ofTire pressure. IfTire pressures are not equal, Tiller will pull to one side.

???Keep Tires free of gasoline or oil which can damage rubber,,

WHEEL REMOVAL

To remove Wheel and Tire for repair:

???Place blocks under the Transmission to keep Tiller from tipping??

???Remove Hairpin Clip and Retaining Pin from Wheel (Fig.,

27).

" Remove Wheel and Tire,,

??? Repair Tire and reassemble,

RETAINING

PIN

FIGURE 27

GROUND DRIVE BELT REPLACEMENT

-Remove Hairpin Clip and Retaining Pin from Hub of left hand Wheel Pull Wheel out from Tiller about I inc_h__

-Remove Belt Guard by removing two (2) Cap Nuts, one

(1) Hex Nut and three (3) Washers so that the Belt Guard can slide straight out away from the Engine (Fig. 28).

NUT

HEX

(LOCATED

BEHIND TIRE)

HAIRPIN CLIP

AND RIVET

FIGURE 28

???Loosen Belt Guides "A" and "B", and also Nuts "C" and "D" (Fig. 29)??

???Remove old Belt by slipping from Engine Pulley firsL

???Place Belt in groove of Transmission Pulley and into

oove of Engine Pulley,rBELT MUST BE tN GROOVE

N TOP OF IDLER PULLEY_ NOTE POSITION OF

BELT TO GUIDES.,

???Tighten Belt Guides "A" and "B" and Nuts "C" and "D".

???Replace Belt Guard, Washers, Cap Nuts, and Hex NuL

- Reposition Wheel and replace Retaining Pin and Hair- pin Cfip_

GROUND DRIVE BELT ADJUSTMENT

For proper belt tension, the Extension Spring should have about 518 inch stretch with Drive Control Bar in "EN-

GAGED" position_ This tension can be obtained as fol- lows:

???Loosen Cable Clip Screw securing the Drive Control Cable (Fig. 29 - INSET A)..

???Slide Cable forward for less tension and rearward for more tension until about 5/8 inch stretch is obtained while the Drive Control Bar is engaged (Fig. 29 - INSET B)_

???Tighten Cable Clip Screw securely_

TINE REPLACEMENT

STOP THE ENGINE AND REMOVE

SPARK PLUG BEFORE CLEANING

THE SPARK PLUG WIRE FROM THE

OUT THE TINES BY HAND. USE CAU*

TION : TINES ARE SHARP.

A badly worn Tine causes your Tiller to work harder and dig more shallow.. Most important, worn Tines cannot chop and shred organic matter as effectively nor bury it as deeply as good Tines. A Tine this worn needs to be replaced (Fig. 30).

???To maintain the superb tilling performance of this ma- chine the Tines should be checked for sharpness, wear, and bending, particularly the Tlnes which are next to the Transmission?? If the gap between the Tines ex- ceeds 3-1/2 inches, they should be replaced or straight- ened as necessary (Fig 31)4

CARBURETOR

NOTE: A dirty Air Cleaner will cause the Engine to run rough. Be sure Air Cleaner is clean before adjustments_ Factory settings are satisfactory for most applications

and conditions, if adjustments are needed, proceed as follows:

Never attempt to change maximum Engine speed. This is preset at the fa,ctory and should only be changed by a qualified service technician who has the necessary equipment. The Carburetor mixture may need re-adjust- ing it Engine lacks power'or does not idle properly,

MIXTURE ADJUSTMENT

. Turn Needle Valve (Fig. 33) clockwise (('_1)until it just

closes. Valve may be damaged by turning Needle Valve in too far,

???Open Needle Valve 1-1t2 turns counterclockwise (J??'_), This initial adjustment will permit the Engine to be started and warmed up prior to final adjustment,

???Start the Engine,. Allow Engine to warm up for about 5 minutes before proceeding,,

. Place Throttle Control in "iDLE" position,

???Turn Needle Valve in until Engine slows (clockwise ((-_) lean mixture).,

THROTTLE THROTTLE

LINKAGE STOP

*Next turn Needle Valve out past smoothoperatingpoint until Engine runs unevenly (counterclockwise(F'_)rich mixture).

,Now turn Needle Valve to the midpoint between rich and lean so the Engine runs smoothly_

IDLE RPM ADJUSTMENT

???To adjust Idle RPM, Rotate Throttle Linkage counter- clockwise (V'_,)and hold against stop while adjusting Idle Speed Adjusting Screw to obtain 1750 RPM. Re- lease Throttle Linkage,,

CHECKING ADJUSTMENT

. Test the Engine by tilling,If Engine dies out, it usually indicates that the mixture is slightly lean and it may be necessary to turn the Needle Valve counterclockwise (_"_,) slightly to provide a richer mixture,. This richer mixture may cause a slight unevenness in idling..

THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE ADJUSTMENT

CAUTION; NEVER TAMPER WITH THE ENGINE GOV-

ERNOR, WHICH IS FACTORY SET FOR

PROPER ENGINE SPEED??

??? Loosen Throttle Cable Adjusting Screw.

. With Throttle Control in "FAST" position and Cable con- nected to Bellcrank, pull Cable backward through Screw until Bellcrank is as far rearward as it will go.

, Tighten Adjusting Screw

STORAGE

Keep your Tiller in a weatherproof, dry building_ To avoid Engine problems, the fuel system should be emptied be-

fore storage of 30 days or longer??

???Drain Fuel Tank; run Engine until gasoline in Carbure- tor is used..

. While Engine is still warm, drain oil from Engine. Refill with fresh oilo

- Remove Spark Plug; pour one half ounce of clean en-

gine oil into cylinder. Pull Starter Handle slowly several times to distribute oil, Replace Spark Plug..

. Clean entire Tiller, especially Cylinder Fins, Blower Housing and Air Screen.. Tighten all bolts and nuts..

Gasoline stored for several months will lose its volatility (ability to burn effectively); therefore, always use up gaso-

line at the end of the season, Do not store, spill, or use

gasoline near an open flame or devices such as a stove, furnace, or water heater which utilize a pilot light or de- vices that can create a spark.

CAUTION: IT IS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT GUM

DEPOSITS FROM FORMING IN ESSEN-

TIAL FUEL SYSTEM PARTS SUCH AS THE

CARBURETOR, FUEL FILTER, FUEL

HOSE, OR TANK DURING STORAGE.

ALSO, 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 STOR-

AGE. ACIDIC GAS CAN DAMAGE THE

FUEL SYSTEM OF AN ENGINE WHILE IN

STORAGE.

No gasoline in Fuel Tank w' Throttle Control not set properly ,="

Choked improperly, flooded Engine =r

Clogged Fuel Tank r Dirty Air Cleaner Cadridge w"

Spark Plug Dirty or impropergap r Water in gasoline or old fuel w

Improper Carburetor adjustment _"

Fill Tank with gasoline

Place Throttle Control in "FAST" position

Move Choke Control to "RUN" position or place Throttle Control in

"FAST" position and pull Starter several times to clear out gas Remove and clean

Remove and clean or replace

Clean, adjust gap or replace

Drain Fuel Tank and Carburetor, use fresh fuel and replace Spark Plug

Make necessary adjustments

REPAIR PARTS

4 H.P. CRAFTSMAN TILLER

HANDLE ASSEMBLY

"%::.',

32---_

10STD511005" Screw, Mach. Pan Head. C. R..#10-24

x1/2

11110548X Panel, Control

- MODEL NUMBER 917.299642

12

16

26

KEY PART DESCRIPTION

NO. NO.

19 STD541437" Nut, Centedock - 3/8 - 16

20 109229X Lock, Handle

21STD533710" Bolt, Rd. Hd Sq Neck Carr. 3/8 - 16 x

1Gr5.

2219131611 Washer, 13/32 x 1 x 11 Ga,

30STD541025" Nut, Hex 114-20

31STD551125" Washer, Lock 1/4

32STD54t462" Nut, Keps. #10-24

331t0670X Throttle, Control

34110680X Knob, Control

--124340XOE Owners, Manual

*STANDARD HARDWARE--PURCHASE LOCALLY

24

5117580408 Screw 1/4 - 20 x 1/2

52STD541031" Nut, Hex. 5/16- 18

536066J Grease, Plastilube #1

* STANDARD HARDWARE--PURCHASE LOCALLY

,J

%,

24

7

23

2211

27

28

19

REPAIR PARTS

4 H.P. CRAFTSMAN TILLER - MODEL NUMBER 917.299642

ENGINE- BRIGGS & STRATTON -- MODEL NUMBER 112202, TYPE NUMBER

ENGINE, INTERNAL PARTS

6

72,74

5

75

776

14

8

23

54

49

24 25

L

23

26.._ 27

0847.01

69

KEY PART NO. NO.

1270836

2213141

493111

5293918

666538

7223085

8261233

9262278

10 89838

14 492591

16223786

1766578

18231527

1967838

20 93394

21 294178

2227549

2393312

2426478

25260552

2693307

2793306

2892613

2991249

NOTE:

30231082

31490454

32222450

33231077

34397147

35231079

36395970

37211291

3893032

NOTE:

3966768

40393862

42 270833

42270895

42270896

43394820

44392171

DESCRIPTION

Gear- Governor

Washer- Thrust

Tappet - Valve Crankshaft

Screw - Connecting Rod

Dipper* Connecting Rod

Rod Ass'y,- Connection

For Connecting Rod with .020" unde rsize Crankpin Bearing order No, 393710

Screw - Cylinder Shield Mounting

Sere

Shield- Cylinder

Valve - Exhaust

Lock - Piston Pin

Pin Assembly - Piston - Standard Ring Set - Std Piston

Ring Set - 010 "OS. Piston Ring Set - .020" O.S. Piston Ring Set - .030" OS Piston

For Chrome Piston Ring Set Std size order NO 392330

Piston Assembly - Std Piston Assembly - 010" O.S Piston Assembly -. 020" O,S.

Piston Assembly- _,030"O S. Deflector- Exhaust

Screw - Sem

Seat - Intake Valve (Standard) Guide - Exhaust Valve

63709 Guide - Intake Valve Bushing Assembly - Crackcase Cover (includes 220538 Bushing) Bushings require special tools for instaUation.

Screw - Machine, Fil. Hd.,- 8 - 32 x I/2"

Lockwasher - Shakeproof Insulator

Nut - Hex_ - 8 - 32

Decal (Label) Kit

Locknut - Muffler

Spark Arrester Kit

Adaptor/Muffler

Gasket Exhaust

Screw Hex Head

OWNERS

MANUAL

MODEL NO. 917.299642

HOW TO ORDER

REPAIR PARTS

??RRFTXMaN

R AR TINE TILLER

Each Tiller has its own model number,, Each Engine has its own model number,_

The Model Number for your Tiller will be found on a plate attached to the top of the Transmission.

The model numberfor the Engine will be found on the Blower Housing of the Engine adjacent to the Spark Plug,,

All parts listed herein may be ordered from any Sears, Roebuck and Co. Service Centers and most Retail Stores

WHEN ORDERING REPAIR PARTS, ALWAYS GIVE THE FOLLOWING

INFORMATION:

o PRODUCT - "REAR TINE TILLER" o MODEL NUMBER - 917.299641

o ENGINE MODEL NUMBER -112202 - TYPE NUMBER -0847-01 o PART NUMBER

??? PART DESCRIPTION

Your Sears merchandise has added value when you consider Sears has service units nationwide staffed with Sears trained technicians??.??profes- sional technicians specifically trained to insure that we meet our pledge to you, we service what we sell.