Craftsman 917375610 Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual

CRRFTSMRN°

ROTARY LAWN MOWER

550 Series Briggs & Stratton Engine

Power-Propelled

22" Side Discharge

Model No.

917.375610

• EspaSol, p. 18

CAUTION:

Read and follow all

Safety Rules and Instructions before operating this equipment

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

Visit our Craftsman website: www.sears.com/craftsman

U.S.A.

Warranty ................................................... 2

Safety Rules .......................................... 2-4

Product Specifications .............................. 4

Assembly / Pre-Operation ........................ 6

Operation ............................................. 7-10

Maintenance Schedule ........................... 11

Maintenance ...................................... 11-13

Service and Adjustments ................... 14-15

Storage .............................................. 16-17

Troubleshooting ................................. 17-18

Repair Parts ....................................... 36-43

Sears Service .......................... Back Cover

2-YEAR FULL WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN LAWN MOWER

If this Craftsman Lawn Mower fails due to manufacturer defects in material or

workmanship within two years from the date of purchase, return it to any Sears store,

Parts & Repair Center or other Craftsman outlet for free repair (or replacement if repair proves impossible).

This warranty applies for only 90 days from the date of purchase if this Lawn Mower is ever used for commercial or rental purposes.

This warranty does not cover:

• Expendable items that 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 crackshafts and the failure to assemble, operate or maintain this Lawn Mower according to all supplied product instructions.

This warranty applies only while this product is used in the United States. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which

vary from state to state.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

IMPORTANT: This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throw- ing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

_,Look for this symbol to point out impor- tant safety precautions. It means

CAUTIONH! BECOME ALERTN!

YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

_i, WARNING: In order to prevent ac-

cidental starting when setting up, trans- porting, adjusting or making repairs, always disconnect spark plug wire and place wire where it cannot come in contact

with plug.

_WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its

constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or emit chemicals known to the State

of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

AWARNING: Battery posts, terminals and

related accessories contain lead and lead compounds, chemicals known to the State

of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash

hands after handling.

A CAUTION: Muffler and other engine

parts become extremely hot during

operation and remain hot after engine has stopped. To avoid severe burns on contact,

stay away from these areas.

I. GENERAL OPERATION

• Read, understand, and follow all

instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before starting. Be thoroughly

familiar with the controls and the proper

use of the machine before starting.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under

rotating parts. Keep clear of the dis- charge opening at all times.

• Only allow responsible individuals, who

are familiar with the instructions, to oper- ate the machine.

• Clear the area of objects such as rocks,

toys, wire, bones, sticks, etc., which could be picked up and thrown by blade.

• Be sure the area is clear of other people

before mowing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

• Do not operate the mower when bare-

foot or wearing open sandals. Always wear substantial foot wear.

• Do not pull mower backwards unless

absolutely necessary. Always look down and behind before and while moving

backwards.

• Never direct discharged material toward

anyone. Avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction. Material may richochet back toward the opera- tor. Stop the blade when crossing gravel

surfaces.

• Do not operate the mower without

proper guards, plates, grass catcher or other safety protective devices in place.

• See manufacturer's instructions for

proper operation and installation of accessories. Only use accessories ap- proved by the manufacturer.

• Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel

drives, walks, or roads.

• Stop the engine (motor) whenever you

leave the equipment, before cleaning the mower or unclogging the chute.

• Shut the engine (motor) off and wait until

the blade comes to complete stop before removing grass catcher.

• Mow only in daylight or good artificial

light.

• Do not operate the machine while under

the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Never operate machine in wet grass.

Always be sure of your footing: keep a

firm hold on the handle; walk, never run.

• Disengage the self-propelled mech-

anism or drive clutch on mowers so equipped before starting the engine.

• If the equipment should start to vibrate

abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause. Vibra-

tion is generally a warning of trouble.

• Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields when operating

mower.

II. SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to slip & fall accidents which can result in severe in-

jury. All slopes require extra caution. If you

feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it.

DO:

• Mow across the face of slopes: never

up and down. Exercise extreme caution

when changing direction on slopes.

• Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree

limbs, etc.

• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall grass can hide obstacles.

DO NOT:

• Do not trim near drop-offs, ditches or embankments. The operator could lose footing or balance.

• Do not trim excessively steep slopes.

• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced foot-

ing could cause slipping.

III. CHILDREN

Tragic accidents can occur if the operator

is not alert to the presence of children.

Children are often attracted to the machine and the mowing activity. Never assume

that children will remain where you last saw them.

• Keep children out of the trimming area

and under the watchful care of another responsible adult.

• Be alert and turn machine off if children enter the area.

• Before and while walking backwards,

look behind and down for small children.

• Never allow children to operate the ma-

chine.

• Use extra care when approaching blind

corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects

that may obscure vision.

IV. SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE Use extreme care in handling gasoline.

Gasoline is extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.

• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes

and other sources of ignition.

• Use only an approved container.

• Never remove gas cap or add fuel with the engine running. Allow engine to cool

before refueling.

• Never refuel the machine indoors.

• Never store the machine or fuel contain- er where there is an open flame, spark

or pilot light such as a water heater or on other appliances.

• Neverfill containersinsidea vehicle,on atruckortrailerbedwitha plasticliner.

Alwaysplacecontainersonthe ground

awayfromyourvehiclebeforefilling.

• Removegas-poweredequipmentfrom thetruckortrailerandrefuel iton the

ground. Ifthis is notpossible,then refuelsuchequipmentwith a portable container,ratherthanfromagasoline dispensernozzle.

• Keepthenozzlein contactwith the rim ofthe fueltank or containeropeningat

alltimes untilfueling iscomplete. Do notusea nozzlelock-opendevice.

• Iffuel isspilledonclothing,change clothingimmediately.

• Neveroverfillfuel tank. Replacegas capandtightensecurely.

V. GENERAL SERVICE

• Neverruna machineinsideaclosed area.

• Nevermakeadjustmentsor repairswith theengine(motor)running.Disconnect thesparkplugwire,and keepthewire awayfromthe plugto preventaccidental starting.

• Keepnutsand bolts,especiallyblade attachmentbolts,tight and keepequip- mentin goodcondition.

• Nevertamperwithsafetydevices.Check theirproperoperationregularly.

• Keepmachinefreeofgrass,leaves,or otherdebrisbuild-up.Cleanoil or fuel spillage.Allowmachineto coolbefore storing.

• Stopandinspectthe equipmentifyou strikean object.Repair,ifnecessary,

beforerestarting.

• Neverattemptto makewheelheight adjustmentswhiletheengineisrunning.

• Grasscatchercomponentsaresubject towear,damage,anddeterioration, whichcouldexposemovingpartsor

allowobjectstobe thrown.Frequently checkcomponentsandreplacewith manufacturer'srecommendedparts,

whennecessary.

• Mowerbladesare sharpand cancut. Wrapthe blade(s)orweargloves,and

useextra cautionwhenservicingthem.

• Donot changetheenginegovernorset- tingor overspeedtheengine.

• Maintainor replacesafetyand instruc- tion labels,as necessary.

AWARNING: This lawn mower is equipped with an internal combustion engine and

should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator. In the state of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California

Public Resources Code). Other states may have similar laws. Federal laws apply on

federal lands. A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest Sears

Parts & Repair Center (See the REPAIR PARTS section of this manual).

Serial Number: Date of Purchase:

Gasoline Capacity / Type: 1.6 Quarts (Unleaded Regular) Oil Type (API SG-SL): SAE 30 (above 32°F); SAE 5W-30 (below 32°F) Oil Capacity: 20 Ounces Spark Plug (Gap: .030") Champion RJ19LM or J19LM Blade Bolt Torque: 35-40 ft. Ibs.

• The model and serial numbers will be found on a decal on the rear of the lawn mower housing. Record both serial number and date of purchase in space provided above.

Repair Protection Agreements

Congratulations on making a smart pur- chase. Your new Craftsman® product is

designed and manufactured for years of dependable operation. But like all prod-

ucts, it may require repair from time to

time. That's when having a Repair Protec- tion Agreement can save you money and aggravation.

Purchase a Repair Protection Agreement

now and protect yourself from unexpected

hassle and expense.

Here's what's included in the Agreement:

• Expert service by our 12,000 profe- sional repair specialists.

• Unlimited service and no charge for parts and labor on all covered repairs.

• Product replacement if your covered product can't be fixed.

• Discount of 10% from regular price of service and service-related parts not

covered by the agreement; also, 10% off regular price of preventive mainte-

nance check.

• Fast help by phone- phone sup- port from a Sears representative on products requiring in-home repair, plus convenient repair scheduling.

Once you purchase the Agreement, a simple phone call is all that it takes for you

to schedule service. You can call anytime day or night, or schedule a service ap- pointment online. Sears has over 12,000 professional repair specialists, who have access to over 4.5 million quality parts and accessories. That's the kind of professionalism you can count on to help prolong the life of your

new purchase for years to come. Purchase your Repair Protection Agreement today! Some limitations and exclusions apply. For prices and additional information

call 1-800-827-6655.

Sears Installation Service

For Sears professional installation of home appliances, garage door openers, water heaters, and other major home items, in

the U.S.A. call 1-800-4-MY-HOIMIE®.

These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced. They are not shipped with your mower. They are also available at most Sears retail outlets and

service centers. Some of these accessories may not apply to your lawn mower.

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

CLIPPING

DEFLECTORS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

STABILIZER

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

SIDE DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

MUFFLERS

AIR FILTERS

SPARK PLUGS

BELTS BLADES

BLADE ADAPTERS

WHEELS

ENGINE OIL

Read these instructions and this manual in its entirety before you attempt to assemble

or operate your new lawn mower.

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped

WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine.

Your new lawn mower has been as- sembled at the factory with the excep-

tion of those parts left unassembled for shipping purposes. To ensure safe and

proper operation of your lawn mower, all parts and hardware you assemble must be

tightened securely. Use the correct tools

as necessary to ensure proper tightness.

All parts such as nuts, washers, bolts, etc.,

necessary to complete the assembly have been placed in the parts bag.

TO REMOVE MOWER FROM

CARTON

1. Remove loose parts included with mower.

2. Cut down two end corners of carton and lay end panel down flat.

3. Remove all packing materials except padding between upper and lower

handle and padding holding operator presence control bar to upper handle.

4. Roll lawn mower out of carton and check carton thoroughly for additional

loose parts.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so

as not to pinch or damage control cables.

1. Raise handles until lower handle sec- tion locks into place in mowing position.

2. Remove protective padding, raise up- per handle section into place on lower handle and tighten both handle knobs.

3. Remove handle padding holding operator presence control bar to upper

handle.

Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted

for your mowing comfort. Refer to "AD-

JUST HANDLE" in the Service and Adjust- ments section of this manual.

Operator MOWING I POSITION control bar

Upper

UP handle

Handle

knob

Lower handle

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a mulcher. To convert to bag- ging or discharging, see "TO CONVERT MOWER" in the Operation section of this

manual.

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALL SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING

YOUR LAWN MOWER. Compare the illustrations with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for

future reference.

These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the

product. Learn and understand their meaning.

CAUTION ENGINE ENGINE FAST SLOW CHOKE FUEL OIL DANGER, KEEP HANDS

OR WARNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAY

Operator presence control bar

Handle knob

Drive control

bar

Engine oil cap

with dipstick

Starter handle

Air filter

Muffler

Gasoline filler ca

Wheel

adjuster

(on each

wheel)

Mulcher door

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR Housing

GASOLINE in the engine.

Spark plug

Drive cover

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS 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 Com-

mission. The blade turns when the engine is running. Operator presence control bar - must

be held down to the handle to start the

engine. Release to stop the engine.

Mulcher door - allows conversion to

discharging or bagging operation.

Starter handle - used for starting engine.

Primer - pumps additional fuel from the carburetor to the cylinder for use when starting a cold engine.

Drive control bar - used to engage power-propelled forward motion of mower.

The operationof any lawn

SAFETYGLASSESmowercan resultin foreign

objectsthrownintotheeyes,

which can result in severe

eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while oper- ating your lawn moweror performingany

adjustmentsor repairs.We recommenda standardsafetyglassesorwidevisionsafety maskwornoverspectacles.

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED The engine speed was set at the factory for

optimum performance. It is not adjustable.

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

AI:_,CAUTION: Federal regulations require

an engine control to be installed on this lawn mower in order to minimize the

risk of blade contact injury. Do not under any circumstances attempt to defeat the

function of the operator control. The blade

turns when the engine is running.

• Your lawn mower is equipped with an

operator presence control bar which requires the operator to be positioned

behind the lawn mower handle to start and operate the lawn mower.

LEVER BACKWARD TO LOWER MOWER

LEVER FORWARD TO RAISE MOWER Lever TO CONVERT MOWER

Your mower was shipped ready to be used as a mulcher. To convert to side discharging:

• Open mulcher door and install dis- charge deflector under door as shown.

• Mower is now ready for discharging

operation.

• To convert to mulching operation, dis- charge deflector must be removed and

mulcher door must be closed. _,

Plate tab

Open

,mulcher

door

TO OPERATE DRIVE SYSTEM

• To start forward motion, lift drive con- trol bar up to handle.

• To stop forward motion, release drive control bar.

IMPORTANT: Always keep drive control

fully engaged against handle when in use.

Operator presence control bar

DRIVE DRIVE

CONTROL CONTROL

ENGANGED DISENGAGED

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT

Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels

for high cut, adjust cutting height to suit your requirements. Medium position is

best for most lawns.

• To change cutting height, squeeze ad-

juster lever toward wheel. Move wheel up or down to suit your requirements. Be

sure all wheels are in the same setting.

NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned when plate tab inserts into hole in lever. Also, 9- position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever

to be positioned between the plate tabs.

Discharge deflector

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

ADD OIL

Your lawnmower is shipped without oil in the engine. For type and grade of oil to

use, see "ENGINE" in the Maintenance

section of this manual. _i, CAUTION: DO NOT overfill engine with

oil, or it will smoke heavily from the muffler on startup.

1. Be sure lawnmower is level.

2. Remove oil dipstick from oil fill spout.

3. You receive a container of oil with the

unit. Slowly pour the entire container down the oil fill spout into the engine.

NOTE: Initial oil fill requires only 18 oz.

due to residual oil in engine from the

manufacturers 100% quality testing. When changing oil you may need 20 oz.

4. Insert and tighten dipstick. IMPORTANT:

• Check oil level before each use. Add oil

if needed. Fill to full line on dipstick.

• Change the oil after every 25 hours of

operation or each season. You may need to change the oil more often under dusty, dirty conditions. See "TO

CHANGE ENGINE OIL" in the Mainte- nance section of this manual.

ADD GASOLINE

• Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank filler neck.

Do not overfill. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. Do not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30 days to assure fuel fresh-

ness.

A CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline

near an open flame.

CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels

(called gasohol or using ethanol or metha- nol) 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 of 30 days or longer. Empty the gas tank, start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines

and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instructions for additional information. Never use engine

or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.

Engine

oil cap

Primer

Gasoline

filler cap

TO STOP ENGINE

• To stop engine, release operator pres- ence control bar.

TO START ENGINE

NOTE: Due to protective coatings on the engine, a small amount of smoke may be present during the initial use of the product

and should be considered normal.

1. To start a cold engine, push primer three (3) times before trying to start.

Use a firm push. This step is not usually necessary when starting an engine which has already run for a few

minutes.

2. Hold operator presence control bar down to the handle and pull starter

handle quickly. Do not allow starter rope to snap back.

NOTE: In cooler weather it may be neces- sary to repeat priming steps. In warmer

weather over priming may cause flooding

and engine will not start. If you do flood engine, wait a few minutes before attempt- ing to start and do not repeat priming steps.

MOWING TIPS

CAUTION: Donotusede-thatcher

bladeattachmentsonyour mower.Such

attachmentsarehazardous,willdamage your mowerandcouldvoidyourwarranty.

• Undercertainconditions,suchas very tallgrass,it may benecessaryto raise theheightof cutto reducepushing effortandto keepfromoverloadingthe engineandleavingclumpsof grassclip- pings.It mayalsobe necessaryto re- ducegroundspeedand/orrunthe lawn

mowerovertheareaa secondtime.

• Forextremelyheavycutting,reducethe

widthof cutby overlappingpreviously

cutpathandmowslowly.

• Forbettergrassbaggingandmostcut- tingconditions,theenginespeedshould beset inthe FASTposition.

• Forsidedischargelawnmowers,cutting in a counter-clockwisedirection,start-

ingattheoutsideof theareato be cut, spreadsgrassclippingsmoreevenly andputslessloadon theengine.To keepclippingsoff ofwalkways,flower beds,etc.,makethe first cuts ina clock-

wisedirection.

• Poresinclothgrasscatcherscanbe- comefilledwithdirt anddustwith use

andcatcherswillcollectlessgrass.To preventthis,regularlyhosecatcheroff

withwaterand letdry beforeusing.

• Keeptopof enginearoundstarterclear andcleanofgrassclippingsand chaff. Thiswill helpengineair flowandextend enginelife.

MULCHING MOWING TIPS IMPORTANT: For best performance,

keep mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. See "CLEANING" in the

Maintenance section of this manual.

• The special mulching blade will recut the grass clippings many times and

reduce them in size so that as they fall onto the lawn they will disperse into the grass and not be noticed. Also, the

mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always

mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best recut-

ting action of the blades.

• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet grass tends to form clumps and

interferes with the mulching action. The best time to mow your lawn is the early

afternoon. At this time the grass has dried, yet the newly cut area will not be

exposed to direct sunlight.

• For best results, adjust the lawn mower

cutting height so that the lawn mower

cuts off only the top one-third of the grass blades. If the lawn is overgrown it will be necessary to raise the height of

cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving

clumps of mulched grass. For extremely

heavy grass, reduce your width of cut

by overlapping previously cut path and

mow slowly.

1/3

• Certain types of grass and grass conditions may require that an area be mulched a second time to completely hide the clippings. When doing a sec-

ond cut, mow across (perpendicular) to the first cut path.

• Change your cutting pattern from week

to week. Mow north to south one week then change to east to west the next

week. This will help prevent matting and graining of the lawn.

SCHEDULE

Check for Loose Fasteners

I Clean / Inspect Grass Catcher*

_ Check Tires

N Check Drive Wheels ***

Clean Lawn Mower ....

M Clean under Drive Cover *** O Check Drive Belt / Pulleys ***

_ Check / Sharpen / Replace Blade

R Lubrication

Clean and Recharge Battery ** Check Engine Oil level

Change Engine Oil

N Clean Air Filter

_ Inspect Muffler

N Replace Spark Plug

Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge Empty fuel system or add Stabilizer

* (if so equipped)

** Electric-Start mowers

*** Power-Propelled mowers

**** Use a scraper

to clean under deck

1 - Change more often if operating under a heavy load or in high outdoor temperatures. 2 - Service more often if operating in dirty or dusty conditions. 3 - Replace blades more often when mowing in sandy soil. 4 - Charge 48 hours at end of season.

5 - And after each 5 hours of use.

BEFORE AFTER EVERY EVERY EVERY

EACH EACH 10 25HOURS 100 BEFORE

USE USE HOURS OR SEASON HOURS STORAGE

v' v'

v' v'3

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty on this lawn mower does not

cover items that have been subjected to operator abuse or negligence. To receive full value from the warranty, operator must

maintain unit as instructed in this manual.

Some adjustments will need to be made

periodically to properly maintain your unit.

At least once a season, check to see if you should make any of the adjustments described in the Service and Adjustments

section of this manual.

• At least once a year, replace the spark plug, clean or replace air filter element

and check blade for wear. A new spark plug and clean/new air filter element

assure proper air-fuel mixture and help your engine run better and last longer.

• Follow the maintenance schedule in this manual.

BEFORE EACH USE

• Check engine oil level.

• Check for loose fasteners.

LU BRICATION Keep unit well lubricated

(See "LUBRICATION CHART").

LUBRICATION CHART

adjuster (on

each wheel)

"-- -- -- _ Engine oil

I\ /

_ Spray lubricant

See "ENGINE" in Maintenance section.

IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease plastic

wheel bearings. Viscous lubricants will

attract dust and dirt that will shorten the life of the self-lubricating bearings. If you feel they

must be lubricated, use only a dry, powdered

11graphite type lubricant sparingly.

j Discharge

.,) guard hinge

Handle bracket mounting pins

Wheel

LAWN MOWER

Always observe safety rules when per- forming any maintenance. TIRES

• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect control chemicals which can harm rubber.

• Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp objects and other hazards that may

cause tire damage.

DRIVE WHEELS Check front drive wheels each time before

you mow to be sure they move freely. The wheels not turning freely means trash, grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive

wheel area and must be cleaned to free drive wheels.

If necessary to clean the drive wheels, be

sure to clean both front wheels.

1. Remove hubcaps, Iocknuts & washers.

2. Remove wheels from wheel adjusters.

3. Remove any trash or grass cuttings

from inside the dust cover, pinion and/ or drive wheel gear teeth.

4. Put wheels back in place. NOTE: If after cleaning, the drive wheels

do not turn freely, contact a Sears or other qualified service center.

GEAR CASE

• To keep your drive system working

properly, the gear case and area around the drive should be kept clean and free

of trash build-up. Clean under the drive cover twice a season.

• The gear case is filled with lubricant to

the proper level at the factory. The only time the lubricant needs attention is if

service has been performed on the gear case.

• If lubricant is required, use only ELF

Multis EP00. Do not substitute.

BLADE CARE For best results, mower blade must be kept

sharp. Replace a bent or damaged blade. _I, CAUTION: Use only a replacement

blade approved by the manufacturer of

your mower. Using a blade not approved

by the manufacturer of your mower is hazardous, could damage your mower and

void your warranty. TO REMOVE BLADE

1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with plug.

2. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make

sure air filter and carburetor are up.

3. Use a wood block between blade and

mower housing to prevent blade from turning when removing blade bolt.

NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.

4. Remove blade bolt by turning counter- clockwise.

5. Remove blade and attaching hardware (bolt, lock washer, hardened washer).

NOTE: Remove the blade adapter and check the key inside hub of blade adapter. The key must be in good condition to work properly. Replace adapter if damaged.

TO REPLACE BLADE

1. Position the blade adapter on the en- gine crankshaft. Be sure key in adapter

and crankshaft keyway are aligned.

2. Position blade on the blade adapter aligning the two (2) holes in the blade

with the raised lugs on the adapter.

3. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (oppo- site sharp edge) is up toward engine.

4. Install the blade bolt with the lock

washer and hardened washer into

blade adapter and crankshaft.

5. Use block of wood between blade and lawn mower housing and tighten the

blade bolt, turning clockwise.

• The recommended tightening torque is

35-40 ft. Ibs.

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated.

If bolt needs replacing, replace only with

approved bolt shown in the Repair Parts section of this manual.

Blade adapter

Lockwasher _

bolt Hardened

washer

TO SHARPEN BLADE NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening

blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause

eventual damage to mower or engine.

• The blade can be sharpened with a file

or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower.

• To check blade balance, drive a nail into

a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of

the straight nail exposed. Place center

hole of blade over the head of the nail. If blade is balanced, it should remain in

a horizontal position. If either end of the blade moves downward, sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced.

Key Crankshaft

Trailing'edge Crankshaft

GRASSCATCHER (Ifpurchasedas anaccessory)

• Thegrasscatchermaybe hosedwith water,but mustbedrywhen used.

• Checkyourgrasscatcheroftenfor dam-

ageor deterioration.Throughnormal useitwill wear.If catcherneedsreplac- ing,replaceonlywith approvedreplace- mentcatchershownintheRepairParts

sectionof this manual. Givethe lawn mowermodelnumberwhenordering.

ENGINE LU BRICATION

Use only high quality detergent oil rated with

API service classification SG-SL. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade according to your

expected operating temperature.

-20 0 30 32 40 60 80 100

I; SAE VISCOSITY GRADES

i i i i i i i i

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40

TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OiL CHANGE

NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30 etc.)improve starting in

cold weather, they will result in increased

oil consumption when used above 32°F.

Check your engine oil level more frequently

to avoid possible engine damage from run-

ning low on oil. Change the oil after every

25 hours of operation or at least once a year

if the lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in one year. Check the crankcase oil level

before starting the engine and after each five (5) hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug

securely each time you check the oil level. TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL

1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with plug.

2. Be sure lawn mower is on level sur- face.

NOTE: Oil will drain more freely when

warm. Catch oil in a suitable container.

3. Remove bottom oil drain plug.

4. After oil has drained completely, replace oil drain plug and tighten se- curely.

5. Fill engine with oil. (See "ADD OIL" in the Operation section of this manual).

6. Reconnect spark plug wire to spark plug.

Drain plug _--

AIR FILTER Your engine will not run properly and may

be damaged by using a dirty air filter. Clean the element after every 25 hours of operation or every season. Replace the air filter every 100 hours of operation or every season, whichever occurs first.

Service air cleaner more often under dusty conditions.

TO CLEAN AIR FILTER ELEMENT

1. Remove screw.

2. Remove air cleaner carefully to prevent dirt from entering carburetor.

3. Take air cleaner apart and clean air filter element.

4. Wash filter element in liquid detergent and water.

5. Wrap filter element in cloth and squeeze dry.

6. Lightly coat filter element with clean engine oil. Squeeze in towel to remove

excess oil. Do not saturate.

7. Reassemble parts and put back on carburetor.

Screw ASSEMBLE ONE OF THESE LOW POINTS

TOWARDS NARROW EDGE OF ELEMENT

Lip Element Cup

ASSEMBLE SO LIP EXTENDS OVER EDGE OF AIR CLEANER

BODY LIP WILLFORM

PROTECTIVE SEAL WHEN COVERISASSEMBLED

MUFFLER

Inspect and replace corroded muffler as it could create a fire hazard and/or damage.

SPARK PLUG Replace spark plug at the beginning of each

mowing season or after every 100 hours of

operation, whichever occurs first. Spark

plug type and gap setting are shown in the "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS" section of

this manual.

CLEANING IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep

lawn mower housing free of built-grass and

trash. Clean the underside of your lawn

mower after each use.

AI_CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it

cannot come in contact with plug.

• Clean the underside of your mower by scraping to remove build-up of grass/

trash.

• Clean engine often to keep trash from

accumulating. A clogged engine runs hotter and shortens engine life.

• Keep finished surfaces and wheels free of all gasoline, oil, etc.

• We do not recommend using a garden

hose to clean lawn mower unless the

electrical system, muffler, air filter and

carburetor are covered to keep water out.

Water in engine can result in shortened engine life.

CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER Clean under drive cover at least twice a

season. Scrape underside of cover with putty knife or similar tool to remove any build-up of trash or grass on underside of

drive cover.

A(;_WARNING: To avoid serious injury,

before performing any service or adjust- ments:

1. Release control bar and stop engine.

2. Make sure the blade and all moving parts have completely stopped.

3. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with plug.

LAWN MOWER

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT

See "TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT" in

the Operation section of this manual.

REAR DEFLECTOR

The rear deflector, attached between the

rear wheels of your mower, is provided to minimize the possibility that objects will

be thrown out of the rear of the mower into the operator's mowing position. If the

deflector becomes damaged, it should be

replaced.

TO REMOVE DRIVE BELT

1. Remove drive cover.

2. Remove belt from gearcase pulley by pushing down on arm and rolling belt off pulley.

3. Turn lawn mower on its side with air filter and carburetor down.

4. Remove blade, engine pulley and debris shield.

5. Remove engine pulley and belt from debris shield.

PUSH

Drive

cover

Pulley

Engine pulley

DISCHARGE GUARD

The discharge guard, attached to the discharge opening of your lawn mower, is

provided to prevent the possibility of injury resulting from objects being thrown out of

the discharge opening into the operator

mowing position. If the discharge guard becomes damaged, it should be replaced.

Drive belt

Belt

retainer

14 Debris shield

+ 30 hidden pages

Craftsman 917375610 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual