Craftsman 917372490 Owner’s Manual

MODEL

*Assembly *Operation

*Maintenance

*Service *Adjustments

917.372490 OWNER'SMANUAL

*Repair Parts

Caution:

Readand Foffew

aJJSafety Rules arid instructions

Before Operating

ThisEquipment

RULES

CAUTION: _L_AYSI_DiS_NN!ECT SPARK PLUG WiRE AND PLACE WiRE WHERE IT CANNOT CONTACT S_ARK PLUG TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL STAR_ ,_

TING WHEN SETTING-UP, TRANSPORTING, ADJUSTING OR MAKING

REPAIRSTOYOURLAWNMOWER

IMPORTANT

FEDERAL REGULATIONS REQUIRE OPERATOR PRESENCE BLADE STOP CONTROLS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF BLADE CONTACT INJURY. YOUR LAWN MOWER IS EQUIPPED WITH SUCH CONTROLS. DO

NOT ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT THE FUNCTION OF THE OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL UNDER ANY

CIRCUMSTANCES.

• BE CAREFUL-WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUN- NING THE BLADE iS TURNING.

• Please read your owner's manual. Only allow

raerSons who know the safety rules to use your

wn mower.

• DO NOT tie the operator presence control bar

to the handle. Control must be free to permit brake engagement when handles and control

are released.

• DO NOT allow children to use your lawn

mower.

• 0r before each use°

Tic etc.

• stones, wires, cans, boards, etc. from area to be mowed. These objects can

be thrown by the blade.

° DO NOT allow children, bystanders or pets in

the area while mowing.

• Always wear shoes when mowing. DO NOT

operate lawn mower when barefoot or wear-

ing open sandals.

• Always wear safety glasses or eye shields before starting your lawn mower and while

mowing.

Always shut off engine before trying to adjust wheelheights.

When engine is running, DO NOT put hands or feet under lawn mower or in the discharge chute, nor make any adjustments. Stay clear of discharge opening at all times.

• Do not fill gas tank when engine is running,

when indoors or when engine is hot. Allow engine to cool for several minutes before fill-

ing gas tank. Clean off any spilled gasoline before starting engine.

Mow only in good light.

• Always stop blade when not cutting grass or when crossing gravel drive, sidewalk, or

roadway.

• DO NOT continue to run your lawn mower if you hit a foreign object. Stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug, inspect the lawn mower for damage and make repairs as required° DO NOT use a damaged lawn mower. Always have damage repaired before mowing.

• DO NOT run your lawn mower if it vibrates too much. Stop engine and make repairs.

Vibration is an indication of damage.

• Never use your lawn mower without proper guards or deflectors in place.

• Always mow across a slope or inclined area. DO NOT mow up or down a slope or inclined

area.

• DO NOT mow in wet grass. Be careful of

footing when mowing in wet grass, use shoes with good traction.

• DO NOT run with the lawn mower.

• DO NOT run your lawn mower indoors. Exo

haust gases are deadly poison.

• Always disconnect the spark plug wire from

spark plug to prevent accidental starting when transporting or storing your lawn mower after the mowing season.

• DO NOT attempt to raise engine speed above

factory settings. Engine damage or personal injury may result.

• If a grass catcher is used on your lawn mower,

check the catcher often for damage or deterioration, it will wear through normal use. Use only a recommended replacement catcher.

• Always stop blade to remove or install catcher.

• DO NOT store your lawn mower or gasoline

where fumes may reach an open flame and cause a fire.

• DRAIN THE GASOLINE from your lawn mower before transporJ'i_ng your lawn mower

inside your car or othe_J_ve_ideo

LOOKFORTHISSYMBOLTOPOINT OUT IMPOR-

,_ TANTSAFETYPRECAUTIONS.IT MEANS-- ATTEN-

TION!I! BECOME ALERT!!! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

CONG TU TWONSonyaurpurchaseofa PRODUCTSPECiFiCATiONS

smart Lawn Mower° h has been designed,

engineered and manufactured to give you the bes_ .......

possible dependability and performance. Should you experience any problem you cannot easi-

ly remedy, please contact your nearest Sears Ser- vice Center/Department. We have competent, well- trained technicians and the proper tools to service or repair this unit.

HORSE POWER: 5.0

DISPLACEMENT: 12.04 cu. in.

GASOUNE CAPACITY: 1.5 quart

(Unleaded)

Please read and retain this manual. The instructions will enable you to assemble and maintain your lawn

mower properly. Always observe the "SAFETY

RULES".

MODEL

NUMBER 917.372490

SERIAL NUMBER

DATE OF PURCHASE

THE MODEL AND SERIAL NUMBERS WiLL BE

FOUND ON A DECAL ATTACHED TO THE REAR

OF THE LAWN MOWER HOUSING. YOU SHOULD RECORD BOTH SERIAL NUMBER

AND DATE OF PURCHASE AND KEEP iN A SAFE

PLACE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE_

OIL (21 oz. Capacity}: SAE 30 or

(SAEI0W30)

SPARK PLUG (GAP _030 in.): Champion

RJ 19-LM or

Sears 77 33312 or STD 361458

VALVE CLEARANCE: intake: .008 in.

Exhaust: _008 in.

SOLID STATE IGNITION AiR GAP: .0125 in.

BLADE BOLT TORQUE: 35-40 ft.dbs.

MAmNTENANCEAGREEMENT

A Sears Maintenance Agreement is available on .fhis producL Contact your nearest Sears store for details_

CUSTOMERRESPONSIBILITIE$

• Read and observe the safety rules. Fallow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and using your lawn mower.

Foltow the instructions under "Maintenance" and "Storage" sections of this Owner's Manual°

TWOYEARLIMITEDWARRANTYON CRAFT. MANPOWERMOWER

For two years from the date of purchase, when this Cra_sman Lawn Mower is maintained, Jubricated and tuned-

up according to the instructions in the owner's manual, Sears will repair, free of charge, any defect in material and workmanship.

if this Craftsman Lawn Mower is used for commercial or renta! purposes, this warranty applies for only 90 days from the date of purchase.

This warranty does not cover:

Expendable items which become worn during normal use, such as rotary mower blades, blade adapters, belts, air cleaners and spark plug.

Repairs necessary because of operator abuse or negligence, including bent crankshafts and the failure to maintain the equipment according to the instruct'ons conta°ned °n the owner's manual

WARRANTY SERVICE iS AVAILABLE BY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER TO THE NEAREST SEARS SERVICE CENTER/DEPARTMENT iN THE UNITED STATES_ THIS WARRANTY APPLIES

ONLY WHILE THiS PRODUCT IS IN USE IN THE UNITED STATES. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may a_so have other rights which may vary from state

to state.

Sears_. Roebuck and Company, D/731CRoW, Sears Tower, Chicago, IL 60684

TABLEOF CONTENTS

SAFETYRULES................................................ 2

PRODUCTSPECIFICATIONS............................. 3

CUSTOMERRESPONSIBIUTIES......................... 3

WARRANTY.................................................... 3

LAWN MOWER ACCESSORIES........................ 5

ASSEMBLY...................................................... 6

OPERATION .............................................. 7-10

MAINTENANCE ....................................... 11-13

INDEX

Accessories............................................ 5

Adjustments:

Carburetor.................................. 14

HandleHeight............................. I 5

HeightofCut................................. 8

Air Filter:.

Replacement............................... 13

Assembly:

Handle ......................................... 6

GrassCatcher............................... 6

Blade:

Sharpening................................. 11

Replacement............................... 11

Controls:

EngineZoneControlCable ............ 9

OperatorPresenceControlBar......7

CustomerResponsibilities..................... 3

Engine:

Oil Cap......................................... 7

Oil Change................................. 12

Oil Level....................................... 9

oil Type........................................9

Starting....................................... 10

Storage....................................... 16

Fuel:

Type............................................. 9

Storage....................................... T6

Handle:

Adiustment................................. | 5

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

Bracket....................................... 16

Knob ............................................ 7

Lubrication:

Engine........................................ |7

BrakeSpringBrackets................. 17

HandleBracketMountingPins..... 17

RearDoorHinge......................... !7

WheelAdjusters.......................... 17

Maintenance................................. 14-! 7'

Agreement.................................... 3

Air Filter..................................... 13

BladeCare/Replacement............. ! 1

Engine........................................ 1:2

GearCase .................................. 12

GrassCatcher............................. 12

Lubrication.................................. 17

SparkPlugs................................ 13

MowingTips...................................... 10

Oil:

Engine.......................................... 9

Storage....................................... 16

Operation:

OperatingLawnMower ...........7-10

OperatorPresenceControlBar .............7

Options:

Attachments.................................. 5

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS ................... 14-25

STORAGE ..................................................... 16

SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS ...................... 17

TROUBLESHOOTING ..................................... 18

REPAIR PARTS- LAWN MOWER ............... 20-24

REPAIR PARTS - ENGINE .......................... 25-27

PARTS ORDERING/SERVICE .......... BACK COVER

Repair/ReplacementParts............. 20-24

Responsibilities,Customer.................... 3

SafetyRules......................................... 2

Serviceand Adjustments:

Carburetor.................................. 14

Handle ....................................... 15

ServiceRecommendations.................. 17

SparkPlugs....................................... !3

Specifications.................................. '... 3

Startingthe Engine:

StarterHandle............................. 10

Stoppingthe Engine........................... 10

Storage.............................................. 16

TroubleShootingChart....................... 18

Warranty............................................. 3

Wheels:

WheelAdiusters............................ 8

These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced. They are also available at most Sears

retail outlets, catalog and service centers. Most Sears stores can order repair parts for you, when you provide

the model number of your lawn mower. Some of these accessories may not apply to your lawn mower.

ENGINE

SPARKPLuG

If lawn mower is an electric start

LAWNMOWERPERF!

MUFFLER

_RMANCE

REARBAG

OPTIONAL

REPLACEMENT

BAGFORREAR

DISCHARGE

LAWNMOWERS

AIR FILTER GASCAN ENGINEOIL STABILIZER

DUSTSHIELD

LEAFCATCHER

PERMANEXCATCHER

BATTERY __

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

OPTIONAL

SIDEDISCHARGECATCHER

CATCHERFOR

SIDEDISCHARGE

LAWNMOWER

LAWNMOWERMAINTENANCE

WHEELS LAWNMOWER COVER

ASSEMBLY

Your lawn mower has been assembled at the fac- tory except for the Grass Catcher Bag and the Grass

Catcher Frame.

TOREMOVELAWNMOWERFROMCARTON

* Cut down the corners of the carton and lay ends

and sides down flat.

= Cut the plastic wrapping and remove from over

Handles and lawn mower.

= Remove Catcher Frame, Fabric Bag and Oil Bot-

tle from top of lawn mower.

* Lift lawn mower off of shipping base and check

carton for loose parts.

HOWTOSET-UPYOURLAWNMgWER

TOUNFOLDHANDLE

Remove Handle Padding holding Operator

Presence Controt Bar to Upper Handle. Raise Handles until Lower Handle section locks

into place in mowing position ISee Fig. 1}.

Raise Upper Handle section into place on Lower Handb and tighten one i1) Handle Knob.

* Your lawn mower has been shipped with Protec-

tive Handle Pads placed between the upper and

lower sections otthe Handle° For best lawn mower performance these Pads need to be

discarded after the Handle isplaced inthe mow-

ing position.

* Once the Handle is in the mowing position,

remove the Handle Knob, Handle Bolt and Pro- tective Pad from the side with the loose Handle

Knob. (Make sure the other side is tight to sup- part the Upper Handle).

* Discard the Pad and reinstall the Handle Bolt and

Knob--Tighten securely.

o Loosen and remove the Handle Knob, Handle

Bolt and Protective Pad from the other side and discard the Pad.

o Reinstall the Handle Bolt and Knob-'Tighten

securely, Now your Handles should be clamped together without the Protective Pads.

o Your Lawn Mower Handle can be adjusted for

your mowing comfort. Refer to "Adjust Handle" in the Service and Adjustment Section of this

manual.

TOASSEMBLE& ATI'ACHGRASSCATCHER

• PutGrass Catcher Frameinto Grass Bag with stiff part of Bag on the bottom.

• " Stip vinyl bindings over Frame ISee Fig. 2).

NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold them in warm water for a few minutes, ff Bag gets wet, let

it dry before using.

OPERATOR £RESENCE

CONTROL BAR

LIFT UP /////,'

GRASS CATC FRAME

- Liftthe Rear Door on the Lawn Mower Housing and place the Grass Catcher Frame onto the form- ed up Tabs on the Rear Door Hinge Bracket (See Fig. 3).

• The Grass Catcher is secured to the Lawn Mower Housing when the Rear Door islowered onto the

Grass Catcher Frame.

LIFT UP

_,//t

MOWING POSITtON

DOOR

FIG. 3

- CASH YoueLAWHMOW_e

__ oRA_ROVeD[

_ T.ELAWNMOWERW_HT,_[

OPERATION

KNOWYOURLAWNMOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER. Com-

pare the illustrations with your Lawn Mower to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future reference.

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL

DRIVE CONTROL LEVER

ENGINE ZONE

CONTROL

_TARTER HANDLE

CABLE CLIP

GRASS CATCHER ---4_

PRIMER

AIR FILTER

WHEEL ADJUSTER

(ON EACH WHEEL)

HANDLE KNOB

;ABLE CLIP

ENGINE OIL CAP

_CAP

COVER

HOUSING

FIG. 6

MEETSCPSCSAFETYREQUIREMEHTS

Sears Rotary Walk-Behind Power Lawn Mowers conform to the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The blade turns when the engine

is running.

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL BAR - must be DRIVE CONTROL LEVER - used to engage power- held down to the handle to start the engine. Release propelled forward motion of lawn mower. to stop the engine.

PRIMER _pumps additional fuel from the carburetor to the cylinder for use when starting a cold engine.

STARTER HANDLE - used for starting the engine.

DRIVECONTROL

• Self-propelling is controlled by holding the operator presence control bar down to the han-

dle and pushing the drive control lever forward until it clicks; then release the lever (See Fig. 7).

o Forward motion will stop when the operator

presence control bar is released. To stop forward motion without stopping the engine, release the

operator presence control bar slightly until the drive control disengages. Hold operator presence controt bar down tohandle to continue mowing

without self-propelling°

To keep drive control engaged when turning cor-

ners, push down on handle and lift front whee&

off ground while turning tawn mower.

\ \ OPERI TOR PRESENCE

\ "_COflTROL BAF \

_ ..... . _ _ CONTROL--4_

DRIVE CONTROL DISENGAGED

FIG. 7

_0 EMPTYGR._SSCATCHER

o To remove Grass Catcher, release Operator

Presence Contro! Bar to stop engine°

o Lift up Rear Door and remove the Grass Catcher

by the Handle lSee Fig_ 6). Lift up Rear Door and remove the Grass Catcher by the Handle (See Fig. 6).

• Do no_drag the Bag when emptying; it will cause unnecessary wear.

TO ADJUSTCUTTINGHEIGHT

* Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for

high cut.

* Wheels are set in low cut for shipping. Adiust cut-

ting height to suit your requirements. Medium

position is best for most lawns.

" To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster lever

toward wheel. Move wheel up or down to suit your requirements. Be sure all wheels are in the

same setting (See Fig. 8).

FIG. 8

LOWER WHEELS " RAISE WHEELS

FOR HIGH CUqr -- -_.I"_'_ "-'P'' FOR LOW CUT

FIG. 9

BEFORESTARTINGENGINE

01L: GASOUNEF_LLERCAP

A 20 oz. bottle of Pennzoil SAE 30 Oi! is included with your new lawn mower. * Remove engine oil cap with dipstick (See Fig. 10)

and fiJ! to the FULL line on the dipstick.

" Use 20 ozs. of SAE 30 oil. SAE 10W 30 oil can

also be used. DO NOT use SAE lOW 40 oil.

, POUR OIL SLOWLY. DO NOT OVER FILL. ® Check oil level before each use. Add oil if need-

ed. Fill to FULL line on dipstick.

® To read proper level, tighten engine oi! cap each

time.

o Replace engine oil cap with dipstick and tighten.

After the first two (2) hours of mowing, change

the oil, and every 25 hours thereafter. You may

need to change the oil more often under dusty, dirty conditions.

GAS:

* Fill gasoline tank with fresh, clean unleaded

gasoline. DO NOT USE PREMIUM GASOLINE.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERFILL TANK (SEE

FIG. 10). WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blend- ed fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an engine while in storage. To avoid engine problems, the fuel system should be emptied before storage for 30 days or longer. Drain the gas tank, start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh rue) next season. See Storage Instructions for addifiona_

information.

Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in

the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.

ENGINEZONECONTROL

CAUTaON:FEDERALREGULATIONSREQUIREAN ENGINECONTROLTO BE INSTALLEDON THIS

LAWN MOWER tN ORDERTO M|NIMIZE THE ElSE OF BLADECONTACTINJURY. DO NOT

UNDERANY CIRCUMSTANCESATTEMPTTO DE-FEAT. THE FUNCTION OF THE OPERATOR CONTROL.THEBLADETURNSWHENTHEENGINE

!S RUNNING.

Your lawn mower is equipped with an Operator

Engine Control Bar which requires the operator to be positioned behind the lawn mower handle to start and operate the lawn mower.

+ 19 hidden pages

Craftsman 917372490 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual