Craftsman 247.370371 User Manual

Operator's Manual

CRRFTSPlFIN

21" LAWN MOWER

Model No. 247.370371

CAUTION: Before using this product,
read this manual and follow all safety

rules and operating instructions.

Sears Brands Management Corporation, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179, U.S.A.

Visit our website: www.craftsman.com FormNo.769-07601D

• SAFETY

• ASSEMBLY

• OPERATION

• MAINTENANCE

• ESPANOL

(March11,2014)

WarrantyStatement.............................. Page2

SafetyInstructions............................ Pages3-6

SlopeGuide..................................... Page7

Assembly.................................... Pages8-10

Operation.................................. Pages11-12

CRAFTSMANTWOYEARFULLWARRANTY

Fortwoyearsfromthedateofpurchase,thisproductiswarrantedagainstanydefectsinmaterialorworkmanship.Defectiveproductwillreceivefreerepair
orfreereplacementifrepairisunavailable.

Forwarrantycoveragedetailstoobtainrepairorreplacement,visitthewebsite:www.craftsman.com.

ThiswarrantycoversONLYdefectsinmaterialandworkmanship.WarrantycoveragedoesNOTinclude:
, Expendableitemswhichcanwearoutfromnormalusewithinthewarrantyperiod,suchasmowerblades,bladeadapters,belts,filters,orsparkplugs.
, Productdamageresultingfromuserattemptsatproductmodificationorrepairorcausedbyproductaccessories.

, Repairsnecessarybecauseofaccidentorfailuretooperateormaintainthe productaccordingtoallsuppliedinstructions.
, Preventativemaintenanceorrepairsnecessaryduetoimproperfuelmixture,contaminatedorstalefuel.
Thiswarrantyisvoidifthisproductiseverusedwhileprovidingcommercialservicesorifrentedtoanotherperson.
Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegalrights,andyoumayalsohaveotherrightswhichvaryfromstatetostate.

SearsBrandsManagementCorporation,HoffmanEstates,IL60179

ServiceandMaintenance.................... Pages13-15

Off-SeasonStorage.............................. Page16

Troubleshooting................................ Page17

Espa_ol......................................... Page21

ServiceNumbers............................ BackCover

Engine Oil: SAE 30
Fuel: Unleaded Gasoline

Engine: Briggs & Stratton

© Sears Brands, LLC 2

Model Number
Serial Number
Date of Purchase

Record the model number, serial number,

and date of purchase above.

Thissymbolpointsout importantsafetyinstructionswhich, ifnot
followed,couldendangerthe personalsafetyand/orproperty of

yourselfandothers.Readandfollow all instructions inthismanual

beforeattempting to operatethis machine.Failureto complywith these
instructionsmayresultinpersonalinjury.Whenyouseethis symbol,HEED

ITSWARNING!

Thismachinewasbuilt to beoperatedaccordingtothesafeoperation
practicesinthis manual.Aswith anytype of powerequipment,
carelessnessorerroronthe part ofthe operatorcanresultinseriousinjury.
Thismachineiscapableof amputatingfingers, hands,toesandfeet and

throwingdebris.Failuretoobservethefollowing safety instructionscould
resultinseriousinjuryor death.

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65

EngineExhaust,someofits constituents,and certainvehiclecomponents
containor emit chemicalsknowntoStateof Californiato causecancerand

birth defectsorother reproductiveharm.

GENERAL OPERATION

Readthisoperator'smanualcarefullyinitsentiretybeforeattemptingto
assemblethis machine.Read,understand,andfollowallinstructionsonthe
machineandinthemanualsbeforeoperation.Keepthismanualinasafe
placefor futureandregularreferenceandfororderingreplacementparts

Becompletelyfamiliarwith thecontrolsandtheproperuseofthismachine
beforeoperatingit.

Thismachineisaprecisionpieceofpowerequipment,nota plaything.
Therefore,exerciseextremecautionatalltimes.Thismachinehasbeen

designedto performonejob:to mowgrass.Donotuseitforanyother
purpose.

Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsof agetooperatethis machine.Children
14andovershouldreadandunderstandtheinstructionsandsafeoperation
practicesinthismanualandonthemachineandshouldbetrainedand
supervisedbyanadult.

Onlyresponsibleindividualswhoarefamiliarwith theserulesofsafe
operationshouldbeallowedtousethismachine.

Thoroughlyinspecttheareawheretheequipmentistobeused.Removeall
stones,sticks,wire,bones,toysandotherforeignobjects,whichcouldbe
trippedoverorpickedupandthrownbytheblade.Thrownobjectscancause
seriouspersonalinjury.

Planyourmowingpatterntoavoiddischargeofmaterialtowardroads,
sidewalks,bystandersandthelike.Also,avoiddischargingmaterialagainst
awall orobstruction,whichmaycausedischargedmaterialto ricochetback
towardtheoperator.

Tohelpavoidbladecontactora thrownobjectinjury,stayinoperatorzone
behindhandlesandkeepchildren,bystanders,helpersandpetsatleast75
feetfrommowerwhileitisinoperation.Stopmachineifanyoneentersarea.

Alwayswearsafetyglassesorsafetygogglesduringoperationandwhile
performinganadjustmentor repairtoprotectyoureyes.Thrownobjects
whichricochetcancauseseriousinjurytotheeyes.

Your Responsibility--Restrict theuseofthis powermachineto
personswhoread,understandandfollow thewarningsand instructionsin

thismanualandonthe machine.

SAVETHESEINSTRUCTIONS!

Wearsturdy,rough-soledworkshoesandclose-fittingslacksandshirts.
Shirtsandpantsthatcoverthearmsandlegsandsteel-toedshoesare
recommended.Neveroperatethismachineinbarefeet,sandals,slipperyor
light-weight(e.g.canvas)shoes.

Donotputhandsorfeetnearrotatingpartsorunderthecuttingdeck.
Contactwith bladecanamputatefingers,hands,toesandfeet.

Amissingordamageddischargecovercancausebladecontactorthrown
objectinjuries.

Manyinjuriesoccurasaresultofthemowerbeingpulledoverthefoot
duringafall causedbyslippingortripping.Donotholdontothemowerif
youarefalling:releasethehandleimmediately.

Neverpullthemowerbacktowardyouwhileyouarewalking.Ifyoumust
backthemowerawayfroma wallorobstructionfirst lookdownandbehind
toavoidtrippingandthenfollowthesesteps:

a. Stepbackfrom mowertofullyextendyourarmsforward.
b. Besureyouarewellbalancedwith surefooting.

c. Pullthemowerbackslowly,nomorethanhalfwaytowardyou.
d. Repeatthesestepsasneeded.

Donotoperatethemowerwhileundertheinfluenceofalcoholordrugs.
Donotengagetheself-propelledmechanismonmachinessoequipped

whilestartingengine.
Thebladecontrolhandleisasafetydevice.Neverattempttobypassits

operation.Doingsomakesthesafetydeviceinoperativeandmayresultin
personalinjurythroughcontactwith therotatingblade.Thebladecontrol
handlemustoperateeasilyinbothdirectionsandautomaticallyreturntothe
disengagedpositionwhenreleased.

Neveroperatethemowerinwetgrass.Alwaysbesureofyourfooting.A
slipandfallcancauseseriouspersonalinjury.Ifyoufeelyouarelosingyour
footing,releasethebladecontrolhandleimmediatelyandthebladewill
stoprotatingwithinthreeseconds.

Mowonlyindaylightorgoodartificiallight.Walk,neverrun.
Stopthebladewhencrossinggraveldrives,walksorroads.

Iftheequipmentshouldstarttovibrateabnormally,stoptheengineand
checkimmediatelyforthecause.Vibrationisgenerallyawarningoftrouble.

Shuttheengineoffandwaituntilthebladecomestoacompletestopbefore
removingthegrasscatcheroruncloggingthechute.Thecuttingblade

continuestorotateforafewsecondsafterthebladecontrolisreleased.
Neverplaceanypartofthebodyinthebladeareauntilyouaresurethe

bladehasstoppedrotating.
Neveroperatemowerwithoutpropertrailshield,dischargecover,grass

catcher,bladecontrolhandleorothersafetyprotectivedevicesinplaceand
working.Neveroperatemowerwithdamagedsafetydevices.Failuretodo
socanresultinpersonalinjury.

Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcancauseaburn.Donottouch.
Neverattempttomakeawheelorcuttingheightadjustmentwhilethe

engineisrunning.
Onlyusepartsandaccessoriesmadeforthismachinebythemanufactureras

listedinthePartspagesofthisOperator'sManual.Failuretodosocanresult
inpersonalinjury.

Whenstartingengine,pullcordslowlyuntilresistanceisfelt,thenpull
rapidly.Rapidretractionofstartercord(kickback)willpullhandandarm
towardenginefasterthanyoucanletgo.Brokenbones,fractures,bruisesor
sprainscouldresult.

Ifsituationsoccurwhicharenotcoveredinthismanual,usecareandgood

judgement.

SLOPE OPERATION

Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedto slipandfallaccidents,whichcanresultinsevere
injury.Operationonslopesrequiresextracaution.Ifyoufeeluneasyonaslope,do
notmowit.Foryoursafety,usetheSlopeGuideincludedaspartofthismanualto
measureslopesbeforeoperatingthismachineonaslopedor hillyarea.Iftheslope
isgreaterthan 15degrees,donotmowit.

Do:

Mowacrossthefaceofslopes;neverupanddown.Exerciseextremecaution
whenchangingdirectiononslopes.

Watchforholes,ruts,rocks,hiddenobjects,orbumpswhichcancauseyou
tosliportrip.Tallgrasscanhideobstacles.

Alwaysbesureofyourfooting.Aslipandfallcancauseseriouspersonal
injury.Ifyoufeelyouarelosingyourbalance,releasethebladecontrol
handleimmediatelyandthebladewill stoprotatingwithinthree(3)

seconds.

Do Not:

Donotmowneardrop-offs,ditchesorembankments,becauseyoucould
loseyourfootingorbalance.

Donotmowslopesgreaterthan15degreesasshownontheslopeguide.
Donotmowonwetgrass.Unstablefootingcouldcauseslipping.

CHILDREN

Tragicaccidentscanoccuriftheoperatorisnotalerttothepresenceofchildren.
Childrenareoftenattractedtothemowerandthemowingactivity.Theydonot
understandthedangers.Neverassumethatchildrenwill remainwhereyoulastsaw

them.

Keepchildrenoutofthemowingareaandunderwatchfulcareof a
responsibleadultotherthantheoperator.

Bealertandturnmoweroff ifa childentersthearea.
Beforeandwhilemovingbackwards,lookbehindanddownforsmall

children.

Useextremecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,doorways,shrubs,trees,

orotherobjectsthat mayobscureyourvisionof achildwhomayrunintothe

mower.

Keepchildrenawayfromhotorrunningengines.Theycansufferburnsfrom

ahotmuffler.

Neverallowchildrenunder14yearsofagetooperatethismachine.Children
14andovershouldreadandunderstandtheinstructionsandsafeoperation
practicesinthismanualandonthemachineandbetrainedandsupervised
byanadult.

SERVICE

Safe Handling of Gasoline:
Toavoidpersonalinjuryorpropertydamageuseextremecareinhandling

gasoline.Gasolineisextremelyflammableandthe vaporsareexplosive.
Seriouspersonalinjury canoccurwhengasolineis spilledonyourselfor your
clotheswhichcanignite. Washyourskinandchangeclothesimmediately.

Useonlyanapprovedgasolinecontainer.
Neverfill containersinsideavehicleoronatruckortrailerbedwitha plastic

liner.Alwaysplacecontainersonthegroundawayfromyourvehiclebefore

filling.

Removegas-poweredequipmentfromthetruckortrailerandrefuelit on
theground.Ifthisisnotpossible,thenrefuelsuchequipmentonatrailer
with aportablecontainer,ratherthanfromagasolinedispensernozzle.

Keepthenozzleincontactwiththe rimofthefueltankorcontaineropening
atalltimesuntilfuelingiscomplete.Donotuseanozzlelock-opendevice.

Extinguishallcigarettes,cigars,pipesandothersources
ofignition.

Neverfuelmachineindoorsbecauseflammablevaporswill accumulatein
thearea.

Neverremovegascaporaddfuelwhileengineishotorrunning.Allow
engineto coolatleasttwominutesbeforerefueling.

Neverover-fillfueltank.Toallowforexpansionofthefuel,donotfill above
thebottomof thefueltankneck.

Replacegasolinecapandtightensecurely.

Ifgasolineisspilled,wipeit offtheengineandequipment.Movemachineto
anotherarea.Wait5 minutesbeforestartingengine.

Neverstorethemachineorfuelcontainernearanopenflame,sparkorpilot

lightasonawaterheater,spaceheater,furnace,clothesdryerorothergas
appliances.

Toreducefire hazard,keepmachinefreeofgrass,leaves,orotherdebris

build-up.Cleanupoilorfuelspillageandremoveanyfuel-soakeddebris.
Allowmachinetocoolat least5minutesbeforestoring.

4

General Service:

Neverrunanengineindoorsorinapoorlyventilatedarea.Engineexhaust
containscarbonmonoxide,anodorlessanddeadlygas.

Beforecleaning,repairing,orinspecting,makecertainthebladeandall
movingpartshavestopped.Disconnectthesparkplugwireandground
againsttheenginetopreventunintendedstarting.

Checkthebladeandenginemountingboltsatfrequentintervalsforproper
tightness.Also,visuallyinspectbladefordamage(e.g.,bent,cracked,worn).
Replacebladewith theoriginalequipmentmanufacture's(O.EM.)blade
only,listedinthe Partspagesof thismanual.Useof partswhichdonotmeet
theoriginalequipmentspecificationsmayleadtoimproperperformance
andcompromisesafety!

Mowerbladesaresharpandcancut.Wrapthebladeorweargloves,anduse
extracautionwhenservicingthem.

Keepallnuts,bolts,andscrewstightto besuretheequipmentisin safe
workingcondition.

Nevertamperwith safetydevices.Checktheir properoperationregularly.
Afterstrikingaforeignobject,stoptheengine,disconnectthesparkplug

wireandgroundagainsttheengine.Thoroughlyinspectthemowerforany
damage.Repairthedamagebeforestartingandoperatingthe mower.

Neverattempttomakeawheelorcuttingheightadjustmentwhilethe
engineisrunning.

Grasscatchercomponents,dischargecover,andtrailshieldaresubjectto
wearanddamagewhichcouldexposemovingpartsorallowobjectstobe
thrown.Forsafetyprotection,frequentlycheckcomponentsandreplace
immediatelywithoriginalequipmentmanufacturer's(O.EM.)partsonly,
listedinthePartspagesof thismanual.Useofpartswhichdonotmeetthe
originalequipmentspecificationsmayleadto improperperformanceand
compromisesafety!

Donotchangetheengine'sgovernorsettingorover-speedtheengine.The
governorcontrolsthemaximumsafeoperatingspeedof theengine.

Checkfuelline,tank,cap,andfittingsfrequentlyforcracksor leaks.Replace
if necessary.

Donotcrankenginewithsparkplugremoved.
Maintainorreplacesafetyandinstructionlabels,asnecessary.
Observeproperdisposallawsandregulations.Improperdisposalof fluids

andmaterialscanharmtheenvironment.
Accordingto theConsumerProductsSafetyCommission(CPSC)andtheU.S.

EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),thisproducthasanAverageUseful
Lifeofseven(7)years,or140hoursof operation.At theendoftheAverage
UsefulLifehavethemachineinspectedannuallybya Searsorotherqualified
servicedealertoensurethat allmechanicalandsafetysystemsareworking
properlyandnotwornexcessively.Failuretodo socanresultinaccidents,
injuriesordeath.

DO NOT MODIFY ENGINE

Toavoidseriousinjuryordeath,do notmodifyengineinanyway.Tampering
with thegovernorsetting canleadtoarunawayengineandcauseitto
operateat unsafespeeds.Nevertamperwith factory setting ofengine

governor.

NOTICE REGARDING EMISSIONS

Engineswhkh arecertified to complywith Californiaandfederal EPA
emissionregulationsfor SORE(SmallOff RoadEquipment)arecertified
to operateonregularunleadedgasoline,and mayincludethefollowing

emissioncontrolsystems:EngineModification (EM),OxidizingCatalyst(OC),
SecondaryAirInjection (SAI)andThreeWayCatalyst(TWC)ifsoequipped.

SPARK ARRESTOR

Thismachineisequippedwith aninternalcombustionengineandshould
not beusedonor nearanyunimprovedforest-covered,brusbcoveredor
grass-coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwith a
sparkarrestormeetingapplicablelocalor state laws(if any).

Ifasparkarrestor isused,itshouldbemaintained ineffectiveworkingorder

bythe operator.Inthe Stateof Californiathe aboveisrequiredby law(Section
4442ofthe CaliforniaPublicResourcesCode).Otherstatesmayhavesimilar

laws.Federallawsapply onfederallands.
Asparkarrestorfor the muffler isavailablethrough your nearestSearsParts
andRepairServiceCenter.

SAFETY SYMBOLS

Thispage depicts and describes safety symbols that may appear on this product. Read,understand, and follow all instructions on the machine before

attempting toassembleand operate.

READ THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL(S)
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual(s) before attempting to assemble and

operate

DANGER -- ROTATING BLADES

To reduce the risk of injury, keep hands and feet away. Do not operate unless discharge cover or grass
catcher is in its proper place. If damaged, replace immediately.

• ®

imI

DANGER -- BYSTANDERS
Do not mow when children or others are around.

DANGER -- HAND/FOOT CUT
Keep hands and feet away from rotating parts.

DANGER-- THROWNDEBRIS
Remove objects that can be thrown by the blade in any direction. Wear safety glasses.

DANGER -- SLOPES
Use extra caution on slopes. Do not mow slopes greater than 15°.

WARNING--GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE
Allow the engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling.

WARNING-- CARBON MONOXIDE

Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas.

WARNING-- HOT SURFACE

Engine parts, especially the muffler, become extremely hot during operation. Allow engine and
muffler to cool before touching.

WARNING: Your Responsibility--Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who read, understand and follow

the warnings and instructions in this manual and on the machine.

SAVETHESEINSTRUCTIONS!

6

15° Slope

15° Slope

X

(OK)

_- _. Figure1

_O._daShed._fine

USETHiSSLOPEGAUGETO DETERMINE

iFA SLOPEiSTOOSTEEPFORSAFEOPERATION!

Tochecktheslope,proceedasfollows:

1. Removethis pageandfold alongthe dashedline.

2. Locateaverticalobjecton or behindthe slope(e.g.a pole,building,fence, tree, etc.)

3. Aligneitherside oftheslope gaugewith theobject(SeeFigure1 andFigure2 ).

4. Adjust gaugeup or downuntil theleft cornertouchestheslope(SeeFigure1 andFigure2).

5.

If thereis agap belowthe gauge,theslopeistoo steepfor safeoperation(SeeFigure2 above).

(TOO STEEP)

Figure2

Slopesare a major factor relatedto tip-over and roll-overaccidentswhich can resultin severe injuryor death. Do not operate machine onslopes
in excess of 15 degrees.All slopes require extracaution. Always mow across the face of slopes, nevermow up and down slopes.