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Hi Everyone,
I have a craftsman rear-tine (counter-rotating) tiller, Model Number 917.294260, and need the Service Manual for it. (NOT the operator's manual!) It has a broken drive chain, but everything else is like showroom condition. Starts first pull. Tines rotate.
Sears says the manual is 'no longer available', so I looked on the web. According to Amazon, there was one available, so I ordered it, only to get a notice that my order had been canceled as the item was out of stock. Can't find one anywhere else on the web. I registered at searspartsdirect to "ask an expert" if ANYONE on the planet still had this manual. My 'expert' told me that the manual was no longer available from Sears. (Exactly what I had told him) and he sent me the link to the operator's manual. A big help if you don't know where to put gas in the machine.
So I have this tiller completely disassembled and could put it back together through trial-and-error, but sure would be easier with the manual. Anyone?

rustypeevee said:

Hi Everyone,
I have a craftsman rear-tine (counter-rotating) tiller, Model Number 917.294260, and need the Service Manual for it. (NOT the operator's manual!) It has a broken drive chain, but everything else is like showroom condition. Starts first pull. Tines rotate.
Sears says the manual is 'no longer available', so I looked on the web. According to Amazon, there was one available, so I ordered it, only to get a notice that my order had been canceled as the item was out of stock. Can't find one anywhere else on the web. I registered at searspartsdirect to "ask an expert" if ANYONE on the planet still had this manual. My 'expert' told me that the manual was no longer available from Sears. (Exactly what I had told him) and he sent me the link to the operator's manual. A big help if you don't know where to put gas in the machine.
So I have this tiller completely disassembled and could put it back together through trial-and-error, but sure would be easier with the manual. Anyone?

Click to expand...

Where is the chain? I thought it was belt drive. Is it a chain inside the rear housing?

I would think it is the same as some other brand of tiller. Maybe you can find a manual for a similar tiller. Someone makes them for Sears.

Shiftsuper,
There IS a belt on your machine, which makes contact and turns pulleys when you pull back on the drive control lever, which causes the tines to rotate and the wheels to turn.
The belt drive allows things to slip when rocks or whatever get jammed inside the tine housing, rather than just breaking engine parts. There are also shear-pins on the shaft which hold the tines, designed to break off when too much pressure is exerted on the tines, rather than breaking the tines themselves.
But the tines are driven by a serious chain and the wheels are driven by a smaller-guage chain, both of which are inside the transmission housing. To access either chain, you need to remove everything--wheels, handles, tine shield, tines, engine, counterweight, guards, everything--and split the cases.
And I'm sure you're right--somebody manufactured the tiller for Sears. But there are no markings on any of the parts, and Sears won't help. Since Sears went to hell, they just want you to buy new--they're not interested in you fixing the older stuff.
RPV

Your tiller was manufactured by AYP/ELECTROLUX. Their manuals are available online, but it is going to take time because we don't know which model your unit crosses to. You are going to have to do a search for AYP TILLERS and then start viewing each one until you find the right one. This is going to take time unless you get lucky. Sorry I can't be of more help. Just a thought, you might try to find a way to contact AYP/ELECTROLUX and ask them. GOOD LUCK, you will need it.

Rivets:
Thank ypu! I knew SOMEBODY would have a clue. I will let you know how I do. Thanks again.
RPV

See if you can find a manual for a PRRT850. It uses the same transmission as your craftsman tiller.