Craftsman 917.37709 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

ROTARY LAWN MOWER

6.5 Horsepower
Power-Propelled
21" Multi-Cut

Model No.

917.37709

CAUTION:

Read and follow all
Safety Rules and In struc tions
before operating this equipment

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

Safe ty Rules ..........................................2-4

Prod uct Spec i fi ca tions .............................. 4

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

Op er a tion............................................ 7-11

Maintenance Sched ule...........................12

Maintenance......................................12-15

Ser vice and Ad just ments...................15-17

Stor age..............................................17-18

Trou ble shoot ing .................................18-19

Sears Service .......................... Back Cov er

WARRANTY

LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTS MAN POWER MOWER
For two years from date of purchase, when this Crafts man Lawn Mower is maintained,

lubricated, and tuned up according to the operating and maintenance in struc tions in the
owner’s manual, Sears will repair free of charge any defect in material or work man ship.

If this Craftsman Lawn Mower is used for commercial or rental 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 neg li gence, including bent crank­ shafts and the failure to main tain the equipment according to the instructions con­ tained in the owner’s manual.

Warranty service is available by re turn ing the Craftsman power mower to the near est Sears
Parts & Repair Center in the United States. This war ran ty ap plies only while this product
is used in the United States.

This Warranty gives you specifi c legal rights, and you may also have other rights which
vary from state to state.

Sears, Roebuck And Co., D/817 WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

SAFETY RULES

IMPORTANT: This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing ob-

jects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

Look for this symbol to point out im por tant
safety precautions. It means CAU TION! BE­COME ALERT! YOUR SAFE TY IS INVOLVED.

WARNING: In order to prevent ac ci den tal
starting when setting up, trans port ing, ad­ just ing or making repairs, always dis con nect
spark plug wire and place wire where it can not
come in contact with plug.

WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its
constituents, and certain vehicle com po nents
contain or emit chem i cals known to the State
of Cal i for nia to cause can cer and birth defects
or oth er re pro duc tive harm.

WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the State
of Cal i for nia to cause can cer and birth
defects or oth er re pro duc tive harm. Wash

hands after handling.

CAUTION: Muffl er 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
in struc tions on the machine and in the
manual(s) before starting. Be thor ough ly
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, familiar
with the in struc tions, to operate the machine.

2

• 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 ma chine if anyone
enters the area.

• Do not operate the mower when bare­ foot or wearing open sandals. Al ways
wear substantial foot wear.

• Do not pull mower backwards unless ab­solutely nec es sary. 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 operator. Stop the
blade when crossing gravel surfaces.

• Do not operate the mower without
proper guards, plates, grass catcher or
oth er safety protective devices in place.

• See manufacturer’s instructions for
proper operation and installation of
accessories. Only use accessories ap­proved by the manufacturer.

• Stop the blade(s) when crossing grav el
drives, walks, or roads.

• Stop the engine (motor) whenever you
leave the equip ment, before clean ing 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 / good artifi cial light.

• Do not operate the machine while under
the infl uence of alcohol or drugs.

• Never operate machine in wet grass.
Always be sure of your footing: keep a
fi rm hold on the handle; walk, never run.

• Disengage the self-propelled mech­ a nism or drive clutch on mowers so
equipped before starting the engine.

• If the equipment should start to vi brate
abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and
check immediately for the cause. Vibra­tion is generally a warning of trouble.

• Always wear safety goggles or safe ty glass­es with side shields when op er at ing mower.

II. SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to slip &
fall accidents which can result in severe in­jury. All slopes require extra caution. If you
feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it.

DO:

• Mow across the face of slopes: nev er
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 foot­ing could cause slipping.

III. CHILDREN

Tragic accidents can occur if the op er a tor
is not alert to the presence of children.
Children are often attracted to the ma chine

Never

and the mowing activity.
that children will remain where you last
saw them.

• Keep children out of the trimming area
and under the watchful care of an oth er
re spon si ble adult.

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

• Before and while walking back wards,

down

look behind and

• Never allow children to operate mower.

• Use extra care when approaching blind
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects
that may obscure vision.

for small chil dren.

assume

IV. SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE

Use extreme care in handling gasoline.
Gasoline is extremely fl ammable 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 contain­er where there is an open fl ame, spark
or pilot light such as a water heater or on
other appliances.

• Never fi ll containers inside a vehicle, on
a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner.
Always place containers on the ground
away from your vehicle before fi lling.

• Remove gas-powered equipment from
the truck or trailer and refuel it on the
ground. If this is not possible, then
refuel such equipment with a portable
container, rather than from a gasoline
dispenser nozzle.

• Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim
of the fuel tank or container opening at
all times until fueling is complete. Do not
use a nozzle lock-open device.

• If fuel is spilled on clothing, change
clothing immediately.

• Never overfi ll fuel tank. Replace gas cap
and tighten securely.

3

V. GENERAL SERVICE

• Never run machine inside a closed area.

• Never make adjustments or repairs with
the engine (motor) running. Dis con nect the
spark plug wire, and keep the wire away
from plug to prevent ac ci den tal starting.

• Keep nuts and bolts, especially blade
attachment bolts, tight and keep equip­ment in good condition.

• Never tamper with safety devices. Check
their proper operation reg u lar ly.

• Keep machine free of grass, leaves, or
other debris build-up. Clean oil or fuel spill­age. Allow machine to cool before storing.

• Stop and inspect the equipment if you
strike an object. Repair, if nec es sary,
before restarting.

WARNING: This lawn mower is equipped with an internal com bus tion engine and
should not be used on or near any un im proved forest-covered, brush-covered or
grass-cov ered 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 muffl er is available through your nearest Sears
Parts & Repair Center (See the REPAIR PARTS section of this manual).

• Never attempt to make wheel height
adjustments while the engine is running.

• Grass catcher components are sub ject
to wear, dam age, and de te ri o ra tion,
which could expose moving parts or
allow objects to be thrown. Frequently
check com po nents and replace with
man u fac tur er’s recommended parts,
when necessary.

• Mower blades are sharp and can cut.
Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves, and
use extra caution when ser vic ing them.

• Do not change the engine governor set­ting or overspeed the engine.

• Maintain or replace safety and instruc­tion labels, as necessary.

Serial Number:
Date of Purchase:
Gasoline Capacity / Type: 1.6 Quarts (Unleaded Regular)
Oil Capacity: 20 Ounces

Oil Type (API SG–SL): SAE 30 (above 32°F); SAE 5W-30 (below 32°F)

Spark Plug: Champion RJ19HX (Gap: .030")
Blade Bolt Torque: 35-40 ft. lbs.

• 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.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

4

Repair Protection Agreements

Congratulations on making a smart pur­chase.

designed and manufactured for years of
dependable operation. But like all prod­ucts, it may require repair from time to
time. That’s when having a Repair Protec­tion Agreement can save you money and
aggravation.

Your new Craftsman® product is

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 fi xed.

• Discount of 10% from regular price of

service and service-related parts not
covered by the agreement; also, 10%
off regular price of preventive mainte­nance check.

• Fast help by phone – phone support
from a Sears technician 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 ap­pointment 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

appliances, garage door openers, water
heaters, and other major home items, in
the U.S.A. call 1-800-4-MY-HOME®.

of home

ACCESSORIES

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.

5

ASSEMBLY / PRE-OPERATION

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 sem bled at the factory with the exception of those
parts left unassembled for shipping pur pos es. To ensure safe and proper op er a tion of
your lawn mower, all parts and hard ware you assemble must be tight ened securely. Use
the correct tools as nec es sary to ensure proper tightness. All parts such as nuts, wash­ ers, bolts, etc., nec es sary to complete the as sem bly 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 fl at.

3. Remove all packing materials except
padding be tween upper and lower
handle and padding holding operator
presence control bar to upper handle.

4. Roll lawn mower out of carton and
check carton thor ough ly for additional
loose parts.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN MOW ER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE
IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so

as not to pinch or damage control cables.

1. Raise lower handle section to operat­ing position and align hole in handle
with one of the height positioning holes
in handle bracket.

2. Insert handle bolt through handle and
bracket and secure with knob.

3. Repeat for opposite side of handle.

4. Remove protective padding, raise up­per handle section into place on lower
handle and tighten both handle knobs.

5. Remove any packing material from
around control bar.

Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted
for your mowing comfort. Refer to “AD­ JUST HANDLE” in the Service and Adjust­ments section of this manual.

Operator
presence
control bar

LIFT

UP

MOWING

POSITION

Knob

Handle
bracket

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be
used as a mulcher. To convert mower to
bagging or discharging, see “TO CON­ VERT MOWER” in the Operation section
of this manual.

Bolt

LIFT
UP

Upper

handle

Handle

knob

Lower handle

6