Craftsman 247.888550 Owner's manual

Brand: Craftsman

Model: 247.888550

Category: Snow throwers

Type: Owner's manual

This manual is also suitable for

247888550

Owner's Manual

9 Horse Power

28" Two-Stage Track Drive

Snow Thrower

Model No.

247.888550

CAUTION: Before

usingthis product,

read this manual and

follow all safety rules

and operating

instructions.

• Safety

• Assembly

• Operation

• Service

• Maintenance

• Espafiol

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

Visit ourSears website: www.sears.condcraftsman

FormNo.770-10051C

PdntedJnU.S.A. (6/99)

Content Page

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

Safe OperationPractices................................... 3

Hardware Pack .................................................. 5

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

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

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

Content Page

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

Off*Season Storage........................................... 24

Trouble-Shooting............................................... 25

PartsList............................................................ 26

Espanbl.............................................................. 40

Two -Year Warranty on Craftsman Snow Thrower

Fortwoyearsfrom the date ofpurchase,when this CraftsmanSnow Throwerismaintained,lubricatedand tuned

up accordingto the instructionsinthe owner'smanual, Sears willrepair,free ofcharge, any defectin material

and workmanship.

Ifthis Craftsman snow throwerisused for commercial or rentalpurposes, thiswarrantyapplies for only30 days

from the date of purchase.

This warranty does not cover:

Expendable itemswhich become worn duringnormal use, suchas skidshoes, shave plate and spark

plugs.

Repairs nec•ssary because of operatorabuse or negligence,includingbent crankshaftsand the failure to

maintainthe equipmentaccordingto the instructionscontainedin theowner'smanual.

WARRANTY SERVICE ISAVAILABLEBYRETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN SNOWTHROWER TOTHE NEAREST

SEARS SERVICE CENTER/DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

This warranty applies only while this product Is In use in the United States.

Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegal rightsandyou mayalsohaveotherdghts whichmayvaryfrom statetostate.

SEARS,ROEBUCKAND CO., D/817WA,HOFFMAN ESTATES,IL60179

Horsepower: 9

EngineOil SAE 5W30 oil

FuelCapacity: 1 gallon

Spark Plug: RJ-19LM

Engine: 143.999005

Model Number 247.888550

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

Date of Purchase ......................................................

Record both serial number and date of purchase and

keep in a safe place for future reference.

This symbol points out important safety instructions which, ifnotfollowed, could endanger the

personalsafetyand/or propertyofyourselfand others. Read and followall instructions in this manual

beforeattemptingtooperate your snow thrower.Failure tocomplywiththese instructionsmay resultin

personal injury.When yousee thissymbol--heed its warning.

,_ Your snowthrower was builttobe operated accordingtothe rulesforsafe operation inthis manual. As

DANGER" withany type of powerequipment carelessness or erroron the partof the operatorcanresultin serious

in ury. f you vo ate anyof these rules,you may cause serious njurytoyourselfor others.

Thisunitisequippedwithaninternalcombustionengineandshouldnotbe usedonornearany unimproved

forest-covered, brush-coveredorgrass-coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwitha

sparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalorstate laws(ifany). Ifa sparkarresterisused,itshouldbe

maintainedineffectiveworkingorderbytheoperator.

In theStateofCaliforniathe aboveisrequiredbylaw(Section4442 ofthe CaliforniaPublicResources

Code).Otherstatesmayhavesimilarlaws.Federallawsapplyonfederal lands.Asparkarresterfor the

mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestSearsAuthorizedServiceCenter(See theREPAIR PARTSsection

ofthismanual.)

TRAINING

Read thisowner'sguide carefullyin itsentiretybefore

attemptingtoassemble oroperate this machine. Be

completelyfamiliar withthe controlsand the proper

useof this machinebefore operatingit. Keep this

manual ina safe placefor future and regular

reference andfor orderingreplacement parts.

Never allowchildrenunder 14 years oldto operate a

snowthrower.Children 14 years oldand over should

onlyoperate a snowthrower underclose parental

supervision.Onlypersonswell acquainted with these

rulesof safe operationshould be allowedto useyour

snowthrower.

No one should operate thisunitwhileintoxicated or

whiletaking medicationthat impairsthe senses or

reactions.

Keepthe area ofoperationclear of all persons,

especially smallchildrenand pets.

Exercise caution toavoidslippingor falling,especially

when operating inreverse.

PREPARATION

Thoroughlyinspectthe area where the equipmentis

to be usedand remove alldoor mats, sleds,boards,

wiresand other foreign objects.

Donot operate equipment withoutwearing adequate

outergarments for winter.Do notwear jewelry, long

scarfsor otherlooseclothingwhichcould become

entangled inmovingparts.Wear footwear whichwill

improvefootingon slipperysurfaces.

Before workingwithgasoline,extinguishalt cigarettes

and othersourcesof ignition.Check the fuel before

startingthe engine. Gasolineis an extremely

flammable fuel. Donot fillthe gasolinetank indoors,

while the engine isrunning,or untilengine has been

allowed to cool at least twominutes. Replace

gasolinecap securelyand wipe off any spilled

gasolinebefore startingthe engine as itmay cause a

fireor explosion.

Use a grounded threewire plug-infor all unitswith

electricdrive motors or electricstartingmotors.

Adjustcollector housingheightto clear gravelor

crushed rocksurface.

Never attemptto make any adjustmentswhile engine

is running(except where specificallyrecommended

by manufacturer).

Letengine and machineadjusttooutdoor

temperature beforestartingto clearsnow.

Always wear safety glasses oreye shields during

operationor whileperformingan adjustmentor repair,

to protecteyes from foreign objectsthat may be

thrownfrom the machinein any direction.

OPERATION

Do not put hands orfeet near or under rotatingparts.

Keep clearofdischargeopening and auger at all

times.

Exercise extremecaution when operatingon or

crossinggraveldrives, walks,or roads. Stay alert for

hidden hazardsor traffic.

Do not carry passengers.

Afterstrikinga foreign object,stopthe engine, remove

wire from the spark plugand thoroughlyinspectthe

snowthrower for any damage. Repair the damage

before restartingand operatingthe snowthrower.

Ifthe snowthrower startsto vibrate abnormally,stop

the engineand check immediatelyfor the cause.

Vibrationisgenerallya warningoftrouble.

Stopthe engine whenever you leave the operating

position,before uncloggingthe collector/impeller

housingor dischargeguide and before making any

repairs,adjustments,or inspections.Never place your

hand in the dischargeor collectoropenings.Use a

stickor woodenbroomhandle to unclogthe

discharge opening.

Take allpossible precautionswhen leavingthe unit

unattended. Disengage the collector/impeller,stop

the engine and removethe key.

When cleaning, repairing,or inspecting,make certain

collector/impellerand allmovingpartshave stopped.

Disconnectsparkplugwire and keep away from plug

to prevent accidentalstarting.

• Do not runthe engine indoors,exceptwhen startingit

and/ortransportingthe snowthrower in oroutof

building.Open doors beforestartingtheengine inthat

case. Exhaust fumes are dangerous.

Do not clearsnowacross theface ofslopes. Exercise

extreme caution when changing directionon slopes.

Do not attemptto clearsteep slopes.

Never operate the snowthrower withoutguards,

plates or othersafety protectiondevicesin place,

• Never operate the snowthrower near glass

enclosure, automobiles,windowwells, dropoff, etc.,

withoutproper adjustmentsofsnow thrower

dischargeangle. Keep childrenandpets away.

Do notoverload machine capacity by attemptingto

clear snow at toofast a rate. Never operate the

machine at hightransportspeeds onslippery

surfaces. Lookbehindand use care whenbacking.

Never direct dischargeat bystandersor allowanyone

in front of unitwhilethrowingsnow.

• Disengagepower tocollector/impellerofthe srx)w

throwerwhentransportingitorwhen the unitisnotin use.

Use only attachments and accessories(such as

wheel weights,counterweights, cabs, etc.)approved

by the snowthrower manufacturer.

Never operatethe snowthrowerwithoutgoodvisibility

or light.Always be sure ofyourfooting and keep afirm

holdonthe handles.Walk, never run.

Mufflerand engine become hotand can cause severe

bum injury.Do nottouchthe mufflerorthe engine

whilestarting oroperatingthe snowthrower.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

Check shearbolts, enginemountingbolts,etc., at

frequent intervalsfor propertightness,thusensuring

thatthe equipment isinsafe workingcondition.

Never storethe machinewithfuel in the fuel tank

insidea buildingwhere ignitionscumes are present,

suchas hotwater heaters,space heaters, clothes

dryersand the like.Allowengineto cool beforestoring

in anyenclosure.

Alwaysrefer to owner'sguide instructionsfor

importantdetails ifthesnowthrower istobe storedfor

an extended period.

Runmachine a few minutesafterthrowingsnowto

preventfreeze-up ofthe collector/impeller.

Check clutchcontrolsperiodicallyto verifythat these

engage and disengageproperlyand readjust if

necessary. Referto Serviceand Adjustmentssection

page ofthis owner'sguide.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Restrictthe useof this powermachineto personswho

read, understandand follow the warnings and

instructionsinthis manualand on the machine.

Following are representationsof some of thesafety labelson yourCraftsman snowthrower.Please follow the

instructionon these labels and maintain safety while usingor servicingthe equipment.

I ,A WARNING

ADANGER

Lay the hardware pieces from the hardware pack on top of the figure here and you will have automatically soded these

aCCordingtothe steps ofthe assembly procedure described later. (Only one unitofeach hardware has been shown per group.

The number in parenthesis indicatesthe total numberofthe hardware needed in that group.)

LockWasher (4)

Hex Bolt (2) /_

5/16-18 x 1.75

Hex Bolt (2)

,/t

5/16-18 x .75

Handle

Tab (2)

Cupped Washer (4)

HexNut (4)

_5/16-18 x 1,50 Carriage Bolt

_\ (4)

(_ Helrp_ ]

Clip

-_fi_ilrpln Clip (2)

I Ferrule

Flat Washer (2) _ ! (1)

3pare Part

"ShearBolt*(2) 5/16-18 x 1.5

Lock

Nut (2)*

Hex

Hot (2)*

*Used on auger; **Used on clutch lever

_/Flanged _;

E_ Hex Bolt (6) Nut (6)

- 'N "--"

1/4-20 x .75 1/4-20

Chute Flange Keeper (3)

:-_"exBolt(2) _) Hex_, (2)

1/4-20 X .75" Cup_ped Washer (2) G

1/4-20

Upper Chute

'_/ Crank Bracket

(notshown

inactual

size)

Hairpin Clip (1) Flat

3/8 I.D.

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII_,@_ -

,1024x,375"/F "__

TurnTr_r_//// _" Cable Tie (2)_

_,/ Rat Weld Nut (2)

Chute

Handte

Panel

Handles

Rear

, Left

Chute

Crank

Shift

Rod

Electric

Start Cord

iMPORTANT: This unitisshippedwithengine oil, but

without gasoline, in the engine.Afterassembly, see

OPERATION sectionofthismanLJalfor fuel selection

and fill-up.

NOTE: To determineright and lefthand sides ofyour

snow thrower,standbehind the unitin the operator's

position.See Figure I inset,

Your snowthrowerhas been assembledat the

factory, exceptthe handle and thehandle panel, the

dischargechute assembly,the chute crank assembly

and the shiftrod.These partsare shippedlooseinthe

carton.

Removing From Carton

• Cut the comersof thecartonand lay thesides

fiaton theground.Remove all packinginserts.

• Remove all looseparts,For a completelistof

the looseparts, refertothe following section.

• Move thesnow throweroutofthe carton.

• Make certainall partsand literaturehave been

removedbefore discardingthecarton.

Loose Parts

(See Figure 1.)

a. Handle Panel & ChuteAssembly

b. Right Hand &Left Hand Handles

Figure I

c. ElectricStartCord

d. Two-Piece ChuteCrank Assembly

e. Shift Rod

f. Hardware Pack

Assembly Tips: Foreasier assembly purposes,

remove thechute from the carton and lay iton top of

the engine. Do not unwrapthe chute tillyou have

installedthe handle paneland the clutchcables.

Tools Required

1. 1/2", 7/16", 3/8" wrenchesor a set ofadjustable

wrenches

2. Set ofstandardhead screwdrivers

3. Set ofphilipshead screw drivers

4. Funneltofill up gasoline

WARNING: Make certainthe spark plug

wire Is disconnected and movedaway from

the spark plugbeforeassemblingthe snow

thrower.

Attaching Handle Assembly

• Stretchout controlcables and place on thefloor.

Placethe righthandle in positionwiththeflat

side againstthesnow thrower. Youcanidentify

the right handleby the traction drive control label

on it and the left handle by the auger clutch

control label on it.

Securebottomholeonthehandletothesnow

throwerusing5/16x.75"hexboltandlock

washerfrom the hardware pack (groupA on

page 5 ). Donottightenatthistime.See Figure2.

Lock Washer &

He]( Bolt (1-3/4")

Right Handle

Handle

Tab Hex Bolt (.75")

Figure 2

• Place a handle tab, includedinthe hardware

pack (groupA ), overthe upperhole in handle so

thatthe contourofthe handle tab matchesthat

of thehandle. See Figure2.

• Secure handletab tothe snow throwerusing

hexbolt(5/16 x 1.75" long)and lockwasher

from the same groupinthe hardware pack. Do

nottightenat thistime.

• Attachthe lefthandle inthe same manner. Do

nottightenat this time.

• Placethe handle panelin positionbetween the

handles sothe ends ofthe curvedpart ofthe

handlesgo throughtheslotsinthe handlepanel.

While placingthehandle panel, make sure to

routechute andchute cable between the handle

and thepanel keepingthe cable on top ofthe

engine. Align the holesinthe handlewiththe

holesonthe two sides ofthe handlepanel. See

Figure3.

RightHandle 1

..xoo,t

Carriage Bolt

Handle

Panel

Washer

Figure 3

• Attachhandle paneltothe handle withtwo

carriagebolts,cupped washers (cuppedside

againstthe handle panel) and hex nutson each

side.See Figure3. You willfind these fasteners

ingroupBofthe hardware pack.Aligncontourof

thecarriage bolthead withthe handle.Tighten

thehardware. Repeat on otherside.

• Align the holeon thecurved partofthe right

handle withthecorrespondingholeon the right

side ofhandlepanel makingsure thatthisend of

the handle isfirmly placedinthe sloton the

handlepanel. See Figure3.

• Inserta hex bolt, cuppedwasher and flange nut

from Group F of the hardware pack through

these holes as shown in Figure 3.Tighten to

secure, Do notattach the left side now.

Attaching Chute

• Place thechute assemblyover thechute

openingwiththe chutefacing frontofthe unit.

NOTE: Make sure that thechute cables are

straightened while assemblingthechute.

Placethe chuteflange keeper (flat side down)

beneath lipofchute assembly as shownin

Figure 4.You will find the chute flange keepers in

group E of the hardware pack.

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

(group Eof the hardware pack) up through chute

flange keeper and chute assembly asshown in

Figure 4. Do not tighten at this time. Rotate

chute to instal! all the flange keepers.

Figure 4

Afterassembling allthree chuteflange keepers,

tighten,then backoff 1/4turntoalloweasier

movementofthe chute.Use (2) 7/16" wrenches.

Attaching Chute Crank

• Onthe leftside ofthe handle panel, placethe

upperchute crankbracket ontothe insideofthe

handle panelsupport.Locate thisbracketand

associatedhardware ingroupF ofhardware

pack. See Figure5.

Inserthexboltthroughthe upper chutecrank

bracket,handle panelsupport,and upper left

handle.Secure thebracketusingcupped

washer and hex nut.Make surethat thecupped

side ofthewasher isset againstthe contourof

the handle.

Handle Panel l

Support*

\ "<

Hex Bolt

Crank Bracket

Placetheother3/8 ID flat washer (fromthe

same groupof hardware)on theend ofthechute

crank and inserthairpinclipintoeye holeat the

end ofthe chutecrank. See Figure7.

Slidethe upperchute crank throughtheplastic

bushinginthe upperchute crank bracketand

then intothe lowerchutecrank. See Figure8.

Alignthe holeson thetwo piecesofthe chute

crank,and securewith hairpinclipfrom groupC

ofthe hardwarepack.

Adjustthe chutebracketso thatthespiralon the

chutecrankfully engagesthe teeth onthe chute

assembly.

Using a wrench, tightenthe hex boltand the hex

nut onthe upperchutecrank bracket.

Fullyrotatethechute, usingthe chute crank, to

make surethat itmovesfreely.Tightenthe nuts

on the lowerchutecrank bracketsecurely.

* This part isalready attached inside the handle panel

Figure 5

You may have to loosenthe carriage boltsand

hex locknutswhichsecurethe lowerchute

crank brackettothe extensionon theleftside of

the chute assembly.See Figure6.

L rrlage Bolt,

CrankBracket ItexLockNut

Figure 6

Place one 3/8 ID flatwasher (fromgroupG of

the hardware pack) on theend ofthe chute

crank,then insertthe end ofthecrank intothe

eye holeinthe plasticbushinginthechute crank

bracket.See Figure7.

Cotter Pin

Flat Washer

Chute Crank

Tilt Upper

Chute Chute

Cables

Crank

Upper

Chute

Crank

Bracket

LowerChute

Crank

Flgure 8

Slipthecables thatrunfrom the handle panelto

thechute intothecable guidelocatedon topof

theengine. See Figure9.

Cable Guide

Flat Rasher

Lower Chute /

Crank Bracl_t

Figure 7

Figure 9

Tightenallloose hardware on the handle

assemblyin thefollowingorder-- firstthe hex

boltsat the bottomof the handle, then the

carriagebolts and lastlythe hex boltson the rear

ofthe handle panel.

Attaching Clutch Cables

The clutchcontrolcables are attachedto the snow

thrower.Ifthe cables ere attachedto the top ofthe

engine withcable ties, cutthecable tiesnow.The Z

ends of theclutchcables are hooked intothe clutch

gripson each handle.

• Ensure there isa hexjam nutthreaded allthe

way upthe threaded portion ofthe Z fitting;

extras are supplied in the hardware pack. See

Figure 10.

• Place the clutch grip in the raised (up) position.

Z Fitting

Outer

ofcut-out

\ Nut

HexJam

Nut

WARNING: There mustnotbe any tension

on eitherclutchcable withthe driveor auger

clutchgripinthe disengaged (up) position.

These clutchesare a safety feature. Do not

override theirfunction by allowingtension

on eithercablewiththeclutchesdisengaged.

Attaching Shift Rod

• Placethe shiftlever inthesixth(6) speed.

• Placethebentendoftheshiftrodintotheholein

theshiftarmassembly.See Figuret 1.Securewith

5/16 flatwasherandhairpinclipfromthe hardware

pack(groupDon page 5).

• Startthreadingthe ferrule(includedinthe same

groupinthehardware pack)ontothe otherendof

the shiftrod. Ithas tolineup withthe upper hole

inthe shiftlever(beneath thehandle panel).

While aligningtheferrule,pushdownon theshift

rodand theshiftarmassemblyas far as itwillgo.

• Once theferrule slidesintothe hole, turnit

counter-clockwiseone more ful!turnand insertit

inthe holeinthe shiftlever.

Shift Chute Distance

Lever Control

Drive Auger

Clutch

Ferrule

Barrel

(Viewed from the underside of the controlpanel)

Upper

Shift

Lever

Clip

Figure 10

• Swingtheleftauger upmaking surethe cable is

routed correctlyin thecable rollerguideslocated

at thelower rear ofthe unit.

• Hold theend ofthe cable at the barrel sothe

ferrule turnsfreely withouttwistingthecable.

Thread theferrule on totheZ fitting.You may

have topullon the cable slightlyto relieve

tension.Keeptheferrule turningwithout twisting

thecable.

• You willreachcorrectadjustmentwhenthere is

minimalslackinthecable butitisnottight.Hold

theflats on theferrule withpliersandtightenthe

jam nutagainsttheferrule.

CAUTION: Cables willbecome looseifyoudo not

tighten thejam nut.

Rod

Clip

Assembly

Figure 11

NOTE: Itmay be necessary topull theshiftlever outof

thesixthspeed positionand moveit towardsthe fifth

speedpositio n untiltheferruleslidesintothehole

withoutforce.

Secure theferrule tothe shift leverwithanother

5/16 flatwasher and hairpin clipfrom group D of

the hardware pack. See Figure 11.

Make certain tocheckfor correctadjustmentof

the shiftrodas instructedintheAdjustment

sectionbeforeoperatingthesnow thrower.

Attaching Turn Triggers

Make surethatthe righthandtriggercable is

routedinfrontofthetractiondrivecable.

• Feedthetriggercableupthroughthe outersideof

theslotinthe handlepanel.Donotfeedthecable

throughthesamesideoftheslotastheZ fitting.

• Placethecablebarrelfitting intothe holeinthe

trigger.You canfindthetriggersandassociated

hardwareingroupHofthehardwarepack(on

page5). Pullonthe cable and rotateitaroundthe

bottomofthetrigger,withtheinnercable inthe

slot,untilthecable endcan bepushedintothe

triggerhousingand snappedtight.See Figure12.

Trigger

Assembly

Inner Cable

Barrel Slot

Fitting

thisend

Figure 12

Note: When the cable isinstalled correctly, itshould

not be possibletopullcable out ofthe trigger housing.

Place the rightturntriggerinposition

underneaththe righthandle.Secure withscrew

and weld nutfrom group Hof thehardware

pack. See Figure 13. You willneed a phillips

screwdriverfor tighteningthe screw. Repeat on

leftside.

Turn

S_ot ,Trigger

Cable

Figure 13

• Secure therightturntriggercable tothe right

lowerhandle, usingcable tieprovidedinthe

hardware pack. Make sure to routethecable tie

over thedrivecable. See Figure 14.

Figure 14

Secure the leftturntriggercable to the lower

handle usingthe othercable tie. Make sureto

route the cable tie below the auger drive cable

sothat when the trigger cable is securedby the

cable tie, the auger drive cable is left outside the

cable tie.Trim excess ends from eachcable tie.

NOTE: The right sidecable tiemust be used tokeep

cable from comingin contact withthemoving shift

armfromthe transmission.

Lamp Wiring

• Wrapthewirefrom thelampdownthe right

handle.Plugwireintothe aitemator leadwire

underthefuel tank. See Figure15.

I _ Hsn le

Figure 15

IMPORTANT: Assembleyoursnowthrower, then

checkthe adjustmentsas instructedand make any

final adjustmentsnecessarybeforeoperatingthe unit.

Failureto follow the instructionsmaycause damage

tothe snowthrower.

Final Adjustments

Adjusting Auger Control

• To checktheadjustment ofthe auger control,

pushforward the lefthandclutchgrip untilthe

rubberbumper iscompressed,There shouldbe

slackinthe clutchcable.

• Release the clutchgrip.The cable shouldbe

straight. Make certain you can depress the

auger controlgripagainst the lefthandle

completely.

• If adjustmentisnecessary,loosen the hexjam

nutand thread thecable in(for lessslack)or out

(for more slack),

• Recheck theadjustment.Tightenthejam nut

againstthe cablewhen correctadjustmentis

reached.

Adjusting Traction Drive Control

To checkthe adjustmentofthetractiondrive

controland shiftlever,move theweighttransfer

levertothe transportposition(shownin Figure

18 on page 13) and theshiftlever allthe way

forward tosixth(6) position.

• Withthe tractiondrivecontrolreleased, pullthe

triggersuptothe handleand then pushthesnow

throwerforward to checkthatthe tracksturn.

• Squeeze tractiondrivecontrolagainstthehandle

and pullthestarter.The tracksshouldturn.

• Now release the tractiondrivecontroland pull

the starteragain. The unitshouldnot move.

• Beforeproceedingwith adjustment,make sure

thatthe spark plug is disconnected.

• Ifthetractiondrivecontrolneeds adjustment,

loosen thejam nut on thetractiondrivecable

and threadthe cable one turn. Recheck

adjustmentand repeat as necessary.

• Tightenthejam nuttosecure thecable when

correctadjustment isreached.

NOTE: Cables are outofadjustmentifaugers

continuetoturnwhenauger clutchisreleasedand/or

machine continuestorunwhen driveclutchis

released. For more details,refer totheService and

Adjustmentsection.

Adjusting Skid Shoe

The spacebetween the shaveplate and theground

canbe changed byadjustingthe skidshoe.

• Returnweighttransferlever to normalposition

before adjustingskidshoes.

• For closesnow removal,adjustskidshoes

higher to minimizegap between the shaveplate

and the ground.

• For snow removalfrom uneven groundlike

gravel, adjustskidshoes downwardtocreate

sufficientclearancebetween the bottomedge of

the shaveplate andthe ground.See Figure16.

NOTE: Itisnot recommendedthat you operate this

snow throweron gravelas loosegravelcan be easily

pickedup and thrownby theauger causingan injury

or damage tothesnowthrower.However, ifyou do

have tousethesnow throwerongravel,put the weight

transfer lever to transport position.

• Adjustskidshoesby loosening the four hex nuts

and carriage bolts and moving skidshoes to

desired position. Make certain the entire bottom

surface of skidshoe is against the ground to

avoid unevenwear on the skid shoes. See

Figure 16.

• Retightennuts and bolts securely.

Skid Shoe_ _HeXNa_t" Bolt

Figure 16

Knowing Your Snow Thrower

Read thisowner's manual and safety rules before operatingyoursnowthrower.Compare

withyoursnowthrowerto familiarize yourselfwiththe location ofvariouscontrols and

adjustments.Save this manualfor future reference.

The operationof anysnow throwercan resultin foreign objectsbeing thrownintothe eyes,

whichcan resultinsevere eye damage. Alwayswear safety glasses for operating the snow

thrower,or whileperforminganyadjustmentsor repairson it.

Auger

Control

Traction Drive

Control

Chute

Shift Distance

Lever Lever

Choke

Oil

Spark Fill

Fuel

Right

Turn

Trigger

Chute Crank

DischargeChute

Throttle

Fuel

Tank

Starter

Handle

Recoil

Starter

Weight

Transfer

Lever

Track

Skid Shoe

Auger

Figure 17

Meets ANSI Safety Standards

Sears snowthrowersconformtothe safety standardsB71,3 ofthe AmericanNationalStandardsInstitute(ANSI),

Operating Controls

(See Figure 17.)

Chute Crank

The chute crankislocated on the left sideof thesnow

thrower. To change the direction in which snow is

thrown, turn chute crank as follows:

turn clockwise to discharge to the left;

turn counterclockwiseto discharge to the right.

Chute Distance Control

The distance that snow isthrown can be adjusted by

adjusting the angle of the chute assembly. Push the

chute distance control lever forward to move the

upper chute down and decrease the distance. Pull the

lever back toward the rear to move the upper chute

up and increase the distance.

Left And Right Turn Trigger

The leftand rightturntriggers are located onthe

undersideofthe handles and are used toassistin

steeringyoursnow thrower.Squeeze the rightturn

triggerwhenturningright,squeeze theleftturntrigger

when turningleft. Operate yoursnowthrower inopen

areas untilyou become familiar withthesecontrols.

Shift Lever

The shift lever islocated inthe center ofthe handle

panel. It may be moved into one of eight positions:

a. Forward--oneofsixspoeds;po,v_onone(1)

isthe slowest and position six (6) isthe

fastest.

b. Reverse--two reverse (R) speeds; R2 is

faster.

Use the shift lever to determine ground speed. Do not

shiftto different speed while the unit is moving.

Auger Control

The auger controlis locatedon the left handle.

Squeeze the auger controlagainstthe handle to

engage theaugers; release todisengagethe augers.

(Tractiondrivecontrolmustalso be released.)

Traction Drive Control

The tractiondrive controlislocatedonthe right

handle. Squeeze the tractiondrive controltoengage

thetrackdrive;release to stop.

This same lever also locks the auger control so

thatyou canturn the chutecrank withoutinterrupting

the snowthrowingprocess.Ifthe augercontrolis

engaged withthetractiondrivecontrolengaged, you

can release the auger control(onthe lefthandle) and

the augers willremainengaged. Release the traction

drivecontrolto stopboththeaugers andthe track

drive. (Auger controlmustalsobe released).

Weight Transfer Lever

The weighttransferlever islocatedonthe rightside of

thesnow throwerand isused toselectthe positionof

the housingand the methodoftrack operation.See

Figure 18. Move the lever tothe right,then forward or

backwardtoone ofthe three positions.

Packed

Snow

Normal

Snow

Transport

Figure 18

a. Transport--Raises the front end of the

snowthrowerfor easytransport. Using

propercaution,thispositionmay also be

used on manygraveldrivewaysto clear

snowwhileleaving gravelundisturbed.

b. Normal Snow--Allows thetracksto be

suspendedindependently for continuous

groundcontact.

c. Packed Snow.--Locksthe frontend ofthe

snowthrowerdowntothe groundforhard-

packed or icysnow conditions.

Throttle Control

The throttlecontrolislocatedonthe engine. It

regulatesthe speed ofthe engine.

Safety Ignition Switch

The ignitionkey must be insertedintothe switchfor

the unitto start. Remove the ignitionkey when the

snow thrower is not in use.

To Stop The Snow Thrower

• To stopthetrack, release thetractiondrivelever

ofthe snowthrower.

• To stopthrowingsnow,releasetheaugerdrive

leverand the driveleverifengaged.

• To stopthe engine, pushthethrottlecontrol

leverto OFF and pulloutthe ignitionkey. Do not

turnkey.

Before Starting Engine

Fill Gas

WARNING: Gasolineisflammableand cau-

tionmustbe usedwhenhandling orstoringit.

Do notfillfuel tankwhilethe snowthroweris

running,when it ishotor when itisin an

enclosedarea.

Keep yoursnowthrower away from any

open flame or an electricalspark and do not

smoke while filling the fuel tank.

Never fill thefuel tank completely. Fill the

tankto within1/4"-1/2" from the topto

provide space for expansion of fuel.

Always fill the fuel tankoutdoorsand use a

funnel or spoutto prevent spilling.

Make sure towipeoffany spilledfuel before

startingthe engine.

• Store gasoline in a clean, approved container

and keep the cap in place on the container.

• Make sure that the container from which you

pour the gasoline is clean and free from rust or

other foreign particles.

• Fill fuel tank with clean, fresh, unleaded grade

automotivegasoline.

• At the end of the job, empty the fuel tank ifthe

snow thrower is notgoing to be used for 30 days

or longer. See storage instructions on page 24

of this manual.

CAUTION: Experience indicatesthat alcohol

blended fuels (calledgasohol)or those usingetha-

nolor methanol canattractmoisturewhich leads to

separationand formationofacids duringstorage.

Acidicgas can damage the fuel system ofan engine

whilein storage.

To avoidengineproblems,thefuel systemshouldbe

emptiedbeforestoragefor30 days orlonger. Drainthe

gastank,starttheengineand letitrununtilthefuel

linesand carburetor are empty.Use fresh fuel nextsea-

son.See storageInstructionsfor additionalinformation.

Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in

the fuel tankor permanent damage may occur.

To Start Engine

WARNING: Be sure no one other than

the operator isstandingnear thesnow

throwerwhilestartingoroperating.Do not

operate thissnowthrowerunlessthe

dischargechuteassembly hasbeen

properlyinstalledand issecured.

A. Electric Starter

Connect spark

wire

Insertkey_

Move

button

starter

Figure 19

Forlocationof allthe engine controlsreferredto in

this section,see Figure 19.

Before starting,make sure thatthe engine has suffi-

cient oil.The snow thrower engine isequippedwith a

120 voltA.C. electricstarterand recoilstarter.The

electricstarter is equippedwith a three-wire power

cordand plugand isdesignedtooperate on 120 volt

AC householdcurrent,Foll_vallinstructionscarefully.

!Snow Spark Drive

Thrower Plug Levers

wire

Electric Connect Release

Starter

Recoil IConnect Release

Starter

_ Starting Instructions at a glance

Throttle

control

Move to

FAST

Moveto

FAST

Ignition

Key

Pushto

snap in

Pushto

snapin

Choke

Move to

FULL

Move to

FULL

Power

Cord

Connect

tosource

Primer

Pnme

Starter After starting

Push t. Release button

button 2. Move Choke to Off

3. Disconnectcord

IPull t. Release handle

handle 2. Move Choke to Off.

ColdStart

NOTE:ff theunit shows anysignofmotion (driveor

augers) with the clutch grips disengaged,shutthe

engineoffimmediately. Readjustas instructedin the

"FinalAdjustments"sectiononpage 11.

WARNING: The electric starter mustbe properly

groundedat all timesto avoidpossibility ofelectric

shockwhichmay injurethe operator.

• Determinewhetheryourhousewiringisa three-

wire groundedsystem.Ask a licensed

electricianifyou are notcertain.

,_ WARNING: Ifyourhousewiringsystemis

not a three-wiregrounded system,do notuse

thiselectricstarterunderanyconditions.

• If yourhouse wiringsystem isgrounded and a

thrae-hole receptacle isnotavailableat the point

the snow thrower starter will normallybe used,

one should be installed by a licensed electrician.

• When connecting the power cord, always

connect cord to starter on engine first, then the

other end into a three-hole grounded receptacle.

• When disconnecting the power cord, always

unplug the end from the three-hole, grounded

receptacle first.

• Attach spark plugwire tospark plug.

• Make sure thatthe augerdriveand the traction

drivelevers are inthe disengaged RELEASED

position.

• Move throttlecontrolleverto FAST position.

• Removethe keysfrom the plasticbag. Push key

intothe ignitionslot.Make sure itsnaps into

place. Do not tumkey. Save thesecond key.

• Rotatethe choke knobto FULL choke position.

• Connect powercord to switchbox on engine.

• Plugthe otherend ofthe powercordintoa

three-hole, grounded120 voltA.C. receptacle.

WARNING: Do not use primerwhile

startingthe enginewith an electricstarter,

Push downonthe starterbutton untilthe engine

starts.Do notcrank formorethan 10 secondsat

a time. Thiselectricstarteristhermally

protected.Ifoverheated, itwillstop

automaticallyand can be restartedonlywhen it

has cooled to a safe temperature (a waitof

about5 to 10 minutes is required).

When the engine starts,release the starter

button and slowlyrotate the choke to OFF

position. If the enginefalters, rotate the choke to

FULL and then gradually to OFF.

Disconnect the power cord from the receptacle

first and then from the switch box on the engine.

Allow the engine to warm up for a few minutes

because the engine will not develop full power

until it reaches operating temperature.

Operate the engine at full throttle(FAST) when

throwing snow.

Warm Start

If restarting a warm engine after a shutdown,

rotatechoketo OFF insteadof FULL and press

the starter button.

B. Recoil Starter

Make sure that the engine has sufficientoil and the

auger drive and the traction drive levers are released.

• Move throttle control to FAST position.

• Push key into the ignitionslot so that it snaps

into place. Do not turn key. Remove plastic bag

and keep the second key in a safe place.

• Rotate choke control to FULL choke position.

• Pushthe primer button while covering the vent

hole.Removeyourfingerfromtheprimerbetween

primes.Do not primeiftemperature isabove

50° F; primetwo timesbe{ween50° F and 15oF;

andprimefourtimesbelow15° F.

• Pullthe starterhandle rapidly.Do not allowthe

handletosnap back, butallowitto rewindslowly

whilekeepinga firmholdon the starterhandle.

• As the engine warmsup and beginsto operate

evenly, rotatethechoke knobslowlyto OFF

position.Ifthe engine falters, returnto FULL

choke, thenslowlymovetoOFF chokeposition.

• Allow the engine towarm upfor a few minutes

becausethe engine willnotdevelop fullpower

untilitreaches operatingtemperature.

• Operate the eng!neat fullthrottle(FAST) when

throwingsnow.

Warm Start

• If restartinga warmengine after a temporary

shutdown, rotatechoke toOFF insteadof FULL

and do notprime. Pressthe starterbutton.

Frozen Recoil Starter

If the starter isfrozen and willnot turnthe engine,

proceed as follows:

• Pull as much rope out of the starter as possible.

• Release the starter handle and let it snap back

against the starter.

• If the engine still fails to start, repeat the first two

steps. If continued attempts do not free starter,

follow the electric starter procedures to start.

• Avoid possible freezing of recoil starter and the

engine controls.

Operating Snow Thrower

To Engage Drive

With the engine running near top speed, move

shift lever toone of sixFORWARD positions or

two REVERSE positions.Select a speed

appropriatefor thesnowconditionsthat exist.

Use slowerspeeds untilyou are familiar withthe

operationofthe snowthrower.

Squeeze the tractiondriveclutchgrip againstthe

righthandle and the snowthrowerwillmove.

Release itand the drivemotionwillstop.

To Engage Augers

To engage augers and start snowthrowing,

squeeze theleft handauger clutchgrip against

the lefthandle. Release tostop augers.

While the augercontrolisengaged,squeeze the

tractiondrivecontroltomove, releaseto stop. Do

not shiftspeeds whilethe driveisengaged.

NOTE: This same lever also locksthe auger control so

you can turnthe chute crank without interrupting the

snow throwing process.

• Release the auger control;the interlock

mechanismshouldkeepthe auger control

engaged untilthe tractiondrive controlis

released.

• Release thetractiondrivecontroltostopboth the

augersand the trackdrive.

,_ WARNING: To stoptheauger, both levers

mustbe released.

To Throw Snow

CAUTION: Check the area to be clearedfor foreign

objects. Remove, ifany.

• Move weighttransfer levertothe right, then

backward or forward tothe desired position.

• Startthe enginefollowing StartingInstructions.

Rotate thedischargechuteto thedesired

direction,away from bystandersand/orbuildings.

Move thechute distancecontrolforward or

backwardto adjustthedistancethe snowisto be

thrown.

• Selectthe speed accordingtothe snow

condition.

CAUTION: Never movethe shiftlever withoutfirst

releasingthe driveclutch.

Engagethe auger controland tractiondrive

controllevers following the preceding

instructions.

The interlock feature willallow youto remove

yourlefthandfrom theauger controllever.

When clearingthe first passthroughthe snow,

controlthe tractionspeed ofthe snowthrower

accordingtothe depthand conditionofsnow.

To turnthe unitleft, squeeze lefttrigger;toturn

right,squeeze righttrigger.

On each succeedingpass, readjustthechute

deflectortothedesired positionand slightly

overlapthe previouslycleared path.

• Afterthearea iscleared, stopthe snowthrower

following instructionsgivenbelow.

Operating Tips

NOTE: AIIowthe engineto warmup fora few minutes

as theengine willnot developfullpower untilff

reaches operatingtemperature.

Warning: The temperature ofmufflerand

surroundingareas mayexceed 150° F. Avoid

theseareas.

• Formost efficientsnow removal, removesnow

immediatelyafter itfalls.

• Discharge snowdownwindwhenever possible.

Slightlyoverlapeach previousswath,

• Settheskidshoes1/4"belewthescraperbarfor

normalusage.The skidshoesmaybe adjusted

upwardfor hard-packedsnow.Adjustskidshoes

downwardwhen usingon gravel orcrushedrock.

• Cleanthesnowthrower thoroughly aftereachuse.

Before Stopping

• Run enginefor a few minutesto helpdry offany

moistureon engine.

To avoidpossible freeze.up ofthe starter, follow

these steps:

Recoil Starter

a. Withtheengine running,pullthe starterrope

witha rapid,continuousfullarmstrokethree

or fourtimes.

Electric Starter

a. Connect powercordtoswitchbox,thento

120 Volt AC receptacle.

b. While the engineis running,pushthestarter

buttonand spinthe starterforseveral

seconds.

c. Disconnectpowercord from the receptacle

first,then fromthe snowthrower.

NOTE: The unusual sound from pulling thestarter

rope in thecase oftherecoilstarter,orfromspinning

thestarterin the case ofthe electricstarter,willnot

harm theengine.

To Stop The Snow Thrower

• To stopthetrack, release the tractiondrivelever

on thesnow thrower.

• Tostopthrowing snow,releaseaugerdrivelever

and drivelever, ifengaged.

• To stopthe engine,pushthrottlecontrolleverto

OFF and pulloutthe ignitionkey. Do not turnkey.

General Recommendations

Always observesafety rules when performing

anymaintenance.

The warrantyon thissnow throwerdoes not

cover itemsthat have been subjectedto

operatorabuse ornegligence.To receive full

value from thewarranty, operatormustmaintain

the snow throweras instructedinthis manual.

Some adjustmentswillhaveto be made

periodicallyto maintainyourunitproperly.

• All adjustments inthe Service and Adjustments

sectionofthis manualshouldbe checked at

least once each season.

• Follow the maintenanceschedule given below.

Periodically check all fasteners and make sure

these are tight.

WARNING: Alwaysstop the engine and

disconnect the sparkplug wirebefore

performingany maintenanceor

adjustments.

Customer Responsibilities

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ._oJ _ _ _ • _ __o_ SERVICE DATES*

Lubricatepivotpoints <_

Clean snowthrower

0 Clean shave plate

Clean skid shoes '_

Check V-belts

Check friction wheel

rubber

Check engine oil '_

_Z Change engine oil _:_ <_

g.l Check spark plug '_

Check muffler

Emptyfuel system '_

* Fill in dates as you complete regular service

Check; service ifneeded

Lubrication

Fora view ofthe lubricationpointson thesnow

thrower,see Figure20.

Sprocket Shaft

• Lubricatethesprocketshaftwithgreaseat least

oncea seasonorafterevery25 hoursof

operation.

IMPORTANT: Keepall grease and oiloffofthe

friction wheel andthe driveplate.

Shifting Mechanism

• Lubricatetheshiftingmechanismand pivot

pointsonthe shiftrodwith engine oilat least

once a season or afterevery 25 hoursof

operation,

Traction Drive Control

• Lubricate cams onthe ends ofthe controlrods

whichinterlockthe tractiondriveand auger

controlsat leastoncea season or every 25

hoursofoperationwithgrease. The camscanbe

accessedbeneaththehandlepanel,

Gear Case

The gear case islubricatedwithgrease at the

factory and does notrequirechecking.If

disassembledfor any reason, lubricatewithtwo

ouncesofShellAlvania grease.

Bearings

Once a season lubricatetheauger bearingsand

the bearingson the sideof theframe withlight

oil.See lubricationchart below.

Check V-belts

Followinstructionsbelow tocheck the conditionof

thedrivebeltsevery 50 hoursofoperation.

• Remove the plasticbelt coveron the front ofthe

engine byremovingtwoself-tappingscrews.

• Visuallyinspectfor frayed, cracked,or

excessivelywornout belts.

Check Friction Wheel

Follow the instructionsbelow to checktheconditionof

the friction wheel rubber every 25 hours of operation.

• Remove the four self-tapping screws from the

frame cover underneath thesnow thrower.

• Visually inspect the friction wheel rubberfor

excessive wear, cracks, or loose fit on the

friction wheel drive hub.

• Also engage traction drive control and check if

the friction wheel is making contact with the

friction plate.

• If itdoes not make contact, adjust the traction

drive cable following adjustment instructions.

Recheck the friction wheel

• Replacefriction wheel rubber ifnecessary.

Refer toinstructionson page 22.

LUBE

Figure 20: Lubrication Chart

Engine Maintenance

Engine Oil

Only use high quality detergent oilrated withAPI

serviceclassification SF, SG or SH. Select the oil's

SAE viscositygrade according to the expected

operating temperature.

colder.,_---32 ° warmer

5W30 '9[ I _'-_ SAE30

Viscosity Chart

NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils(5W30, 10W30

etc.) improve startingin coldweather, thesemulti-

viscosityoilswillresultinincreased oilconsumption

when used above 32°F. Checkyoursnow thrower's

engine oillevel more frequentlytoavoidpossible

engine damage fromrunninglow on oil.

Refer to the viscosity chart forproper selectionof

engine oil.

Checking Oil Level

IMPORTANT: Before operatingthesnow thrower,

check the oillevel

• With engine on level ground, the oil must be to

FULL mark on dipstick.

• Stop engine and wait several minutes before

checking oil level. Remove oil fill cap and

dipstick.

• Wipe dipstick clean, insert it into oil fill hole and

tighten securely.

• Remove dipstick and check. Ifoil is not up to the

FULL mark on dipstick, add 5W30 oil.

Changing Oil

Change engine oilafter the firsttwohoursof

operationand every 25 hours thereafter.

Inorder todo thatyou willhave tofirst drain the spent

engineoilfrom theengine and then refillwithfresh oil.

• Drainoilwhileengine is warm. Remove oil drain

cap locatedat the bottomof therecoilstarterof

theengine. Catch oilina suitablecontainer.

• When engine isdrainedofall oil, replacedrain

plugsecurely.

Remove the dipstick from theoiltill tube. For

locationofthe oilfill tube,see Figure 17 inset.

Pourfresh oilslowlythroughthe tube. Replace

dipstick.

• Check and make sure thatthe oillevelisup to

the FULL markon thedipstick.

WARNING: Temperature of muffler and

nearby areas may exceed 150° F (65°C).

Avoid these areas.

Spark Plug

• Clean area aroundthe sparkplug base.

• Remove and inspect the sparkplug.

• Replace the spark plug ifelectrodes are pitted,

burned, orthe porcelainiscracked. See Figure21.

• Clean the spark plug and reset the gap to 0.030"

at least once a season or every 50 hours of

operation. See Figure 21.

• Spark plug replacement is recommended at the

start of each season. Refer to engine parts list

for correct spark plug type.

NOTE: Do not sandblastspark plug. Spark plug

shouldbe cleaned by scrapingor wire brushing and

washing with a commercialsolvent.

Figure 21

WARNING: Always stop the engine,dis-

connectsparkplug wireand move itaway

fromthe spark plug beforeperformingany

adjustmentsor repairs,

Never attempt to clean thechute or make

any adjustmentswhilethe engine is running.

Adjustments

Traction Drive Control

Refer to the Final Adjustmentsectionofthe Set-Up

Instructionsto adjustthetraction drivecontrol.If you

are not sure ofproperadjustment,checkas follows.

• Drain thegasolineor place plasticfilm underthe

gascap ifthesnow throwerhasalready been

operated.

• Tipthe snowthrowerforward and remove the

four self-tappingscrewsthat holdtheframe

cover underneaththe snowthrower.

Withthe tractiondrivecontrolreleased, make

sure thatthere isclearance between thefriction

wheel and the friction plate in all positionsofthe

shiftlever. See Figure22.

"_l_ I I Drive

Sproc.e,

• IILIIIi._,i-II

,r,ct,on--...lli-tlLltL° Jill I

°,' Lon

Figure 22

With the tractiondrive controlengaged, make

surethat thefrictionwheel ismakingcontact

withthe friction plate,Alsomake sure that the

overtravelspringisstretched.

Ifadjustmentisnecessary,loosen thejam nut

on thetractiondrivecable and thread thecable

in or outas necessary.

Tightenthejam nutto securethe cable when

correctadjustmentisreached. Reassemble the

frame cover.

NOTE: ff you placed plasticunderthegas cap, be

certaintoremove it,

Augers

The augers are secured tothe spiral shaftwithtwo

shear boltsand hexlock nuts.Ifyou hit a foreign

objector ice jam, the snowthrower isdesigned so

that the boltswillshear.

• Iftheaugerswillnotturn, checktosee ifthe

boltshave sheared. Replace ifnecessary. See

Figure23. Two replacementshear boltsand hex

locknuts have been providedinGroup D ofthe

hardwarepackwhichisillustratedon page 5.

ShearBolt

Figure 23

Auger Clutch

To adjustthe augerclutch,refer toFinal Adjustment

sectionofAssemblyInstructions,

Chute Assembly

The distancesnow isthrowncan be adjusted by

adjustingthe angle of the chute assembly,

Skid Shoe

The space between the shave plate and the ground

can beadjusted byadjustingthe skid shoe. Refer to

page 11 of thismanual.

Shift Rod

Toadjust the shiftrod, proceed as follows.

• Remove thehairpin clipand flat washerfrom the

ferrule underneaththe shiftpanel. Remove the

ferrule from thehole inthe shiftlever.

• Place theshiftlever onthe handle panel inthe

sixth(6) speed position(all theway forward).

• Pushdown onthe shiftrod(and shift arm

assembly)as far as itwillgo. Holditin this

position.See Figure24.

• Thread the ferrule up or downthe shiftrodas

necessary untiltheferrule linesup withthe

upper holeinthe shiftlever.

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Craftsman 247.888550 Owner's manual

Brand: Craftsman

Model: 247.888550

Category: Snow throwers

Type: Owner's manual

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