Craftsman 5 HP front tine tiller 917.295350


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Old 10-11-10, 10:27 AM
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Craftsman 5 HP front tine tiller 917.295350

Decided to work on my tiller on a very nice columbus day.

It starts immendiately (first pull today) and it runs well but after about a minute of tilling it stops rotating the tines. I checked the belt and its not slipping. It appears the engine doesnt have enough power to rotate the tines under load. I pulled on the throttle and it can go much faster but doesnt on its own.

Im going to run through the troubleshooting points list in the manual:

1. engine is overloaded - no
2. dirty air cleaner - no
3. low/dirty oil - no
4. spark plug - I'll replace that
5. oil in fuel - no
6. stale fuel - possible but not likely
7. water in fuel - no
8. clogged fuel tank - probably not (it keeps running just not strong enough under load)
9. spark wire loose - no
10. dirty engine air screen - not likely
11. dirty muffler - I'll check that
12. carb - ?
13. poor compression - I hope not

I guess I'll look at a new spark plug and the muffler first. Any ideas? TIA
 
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Old 10-11-10, 11:24 AM
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update:

replaced spark plug it tilled a row then the tines stopped again. It's running pretty hot - I think.

I think I found the problem and it doesnt look good - I changed the oil and it looked like a slurry with lots of metal filings in it. I assume that means she's about to blow.

It had a few shavings in it when I bought it new 10+ years ago but I haven't seen the oil in this steel color.

new engine? part it out?

update: Changed the oil, ran it, changed it again. Didnt help any. I did change the oil each season and I only use it 2x a year. Looks like a new tiller or an engine - just missed a nice troybilt on craigslist for $300.
 

Last edited by bletzinger; 10-11-10 at 12:20 PM.
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Old 10-11-10, 02:51 PM
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Hello bletzinger,

Do yourself a favor and update your fleet with a rear tine tiller, Your body will thank you in the long run.....
 
 

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