Craftsman 917.297140 Owner's Manual page 22

TROUBLESHOOTING CHART:
See appropriate section in manual unless directed to Sears service center
PROBLEM
Engine
overheats
Excessive
bounce/difficult
handling
CAUSE
1. Low oil level/dirty oil.
2. Dirty engine air screen.
3. Dirty engine.
4. Partially plugged muffler.
5. Improper carburetor
adjustment.
1. Ground too dry and hard.
Depth stake
incorrectly adjusted.
CORRECTION
1. Check oil level/change oil.
2. Clean engine air screen.
3. Clean cylinder fins, air-
screen, muffler area.
4. Remove and clean muffler.
5. Adjust carburetor to richer
position.
,
Moisten ground or wait for
more favorable soil condi-
tions.
Adjust depth stake.
2, 2,
Soil balls up or 1. Ground too wet. 1. Wait for more favorable soil
clumps conditions.
1. Engagetine control. Engine runs but
tiller won't
move
,
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
Tine control is not
engaged.
V-belt not correctly
adjusted.
V-belt is off pulley(s).
Tilling too deep.
Throttle control not
properlyadjusted.
Carburetor out of adjust-
ment.
1. Drag Stake not lowered
in forward rotating till
mode.
2. Improper tilling mode.
1. Gears not timed.
1. Shift lever set in between
counter rotating till
position and forward
rotating till position.
2. Tines jammed
Engine runs but
labors when
tilling
Tines skip over
ground
Hard to shift into
gear
Tiller shuts off
when drive
control bar
engaged
2. Inspect/adjust V-belt.
3. Inspect V-belt.
1. Set depth stake for shallower
tilling.
2. Check throttle control setting.
3. Make necessary adjust
ments.
1. Lower Drag Stake
Forward rotating tine drive
should only be used for soft
ground or for soil that has
already been tilled.
,
Briefly engage drive control
bar and release or rock tiller
forward and backward until
are able to shift gears.
,
1. Shift to either counter rotating
till position or forward rotating
till position.
2. Clear tines.
22