Craftsman 917377200 Owner’s Manual

MODEL NUMBER 917.377200 OWNER'S MANUAL

oAssembly oOperation

oCustomer

Responsibilities

oService oAdjustments

oRepair Parts

Caution: Read and Follow

all Safety Rules and Instructions

Before Operating

This Equipment

156515 Rev. 1 05,19o97 VBL/KFSW

" ,"r"I ni""' I"l'lI''

Printed in UoS.A.

SAFETY RULES

_Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Mowers

IMPORTANT: THIS CUTTING MACHINE IS CAPABLE OF AMPUTATING HANDS AND FEET ANDTHROWlNG OBJECTS FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH

SAFETY STANDARDS REQUIRE OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROLS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF INJURY. YOUR UNiT iS

EQUIPPED WITH SUCH CONTROLS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT THE FUNCTION OF THE OPERATOR PRESENCE

CONTROLS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

TRAINING:

', Read this operator's manual carefully. Become familiar with

the controls and know how to operate your mower properly,

Learn how to quickly stop mower

• Do not allow children to use your mower Never allow adults to use mower without proper instructions

• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, especlaIly small children and pets.

. Use mower only as the manufacturer intended and as de-

scribed in this manual

- Do not operate mower if it has been dropped or damaged in any manner Always have damage repaired before using

your mower,+

- Do not use accessory attachments that are not recommended by the manufacturer, Use of such attachments may be

hazardous

. The blade turns when the engine is running

PREPARATION;

• Always thoroughly check the area to be mowed and clear it of

all stones, sticks, wires, bones, and other foreign objects

These objects will be thrown by the blade and can cause

severe injury.

• Always wear safety glasses or eye shields when starting and while using your mower.

o Dress properly Do not operate mower when barefoot or

wearing open sandals_ Wear only solid shoes with good traction when mowing

• Check fuel tank before starting engine., Do not fill gas tank indoors, when the engine is running orwhen the engine is hot.

Allow the engine to cool for several minutes before fining the gas tank,. Clean off any spilled gasoline before starting the engine.

. Always make wheel height adjustments before starting your

mower Never attempt to do thls while the engine is running

o Mow only in daylight or good artificial light

OPERATION:

o Keep your eyes and mind on your mower and the area being

cuL Do net let other interests distract you+

o Do not mow wet or slippery grass., Never run while operating

your mower, Always be sure ofyour footing - keep a firm hold on the handles and walk,,

• Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts Keep clear of the discharge opening at all times

o Aiways stop the engine whenever you leave or are not using

your mower, or before crossing driveways, walks, roads, and

any gravel+covered areas,,

,, Never direct discharge of material toward bystanders nor

allow anyone near the mower while you are operating it.

o Before cteaning, inspecting, or repairing your mower, stop the

engine and make absolutely sure the blade and all moving parts have stopped. Then disconnect the spark plug wire and

keep it away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting

. Donot continue to run your mower if you hit a foreign object,,

Fotlow the procedure outlined above, then repair any dam-

age before restading and operating you mower.

- Do not change the governor settings or overspeed the engine, Engine damage or personal injury may result,

- Do not operate your mower if it vibrates abnormally. Exces + sive vibration is an indication of damage; stop the engine,

safely check for the cause of vibration and repair as required

. Do not run the engine indoors. Exhaust fumes are danger-

ous.

,, Never cut grass by pufling the mower towards you+ Mow

across the lace of slopes, never up and down or you might toseyour footing. Do not mow excesslvety steep slopes+ Use

caution when operating the mower on uneven terrain or when changing directions - maintain good footing

° Never operate your mower without proper guards, plates,

grass catcher or other safety devices in place+

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE:

• Check the blade and the engine mounting bolts often to be sure they are tightened properly.

. Check all botts, nuts and screws at frequent intervals for

proper tightness to be sure mower is in safe working condi-

tion,,

• Keep all safety devices in place and working+

o To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, leaves

or excessive grease and oil

,, Check grass catcher often for deterioration and wear and

replace worn bags, Use only replacement bags that are recommended by and comply with specifications of the

manufacturer of your mower,

° Always keep a sharp blade on your mower

• Altow engine to cool before storing in any enclosure,

• Never store mower with ,fuelin the tank inside a building where fumes may reach an open flame or an ignition source

such as a hot water heater, space heater, clothes dryer, ete

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CAUTION: Always disconnect spark 1 plug wire and place wire where it can-

not contact spark plug in order to pre- vent accidental starting when setting

up, transporting, adjusting or making

repairs. ,...... ......

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WARNING

The engine exhaust from this product con- tains cnemicals known to the State of CadTor-

nia to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm+

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a Sears Lawn Mower. It has been designed, engineered and manufac-

tured to give you the best possible dependability and performance°

Should you experience any problem you cannot easily remedy, please contact your nearest Sears Authorized Service CentedDepartmenL We have competent, well-

trained technicians and the proper tools to service or repair this lawn mower°

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 917,377200

SERIAL NUMBER

DATEOFPURCHASE THE MOD EL 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,

___J

PRODUCT SPECDFgCATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 5.5 DISPLACEMENT: 11,5 CU. IN. GASOLINE CAPACITY 1.5 QUARTS

AND TYPE: UNLEADED REGULAR OIL TYPE (API-SF/SG/SH): SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F)

OIL CAPACITY: 20 OZS. SPARK PLUG: CHAMPION RJ19LM

GAP: ,030")

VALVE CLEARANCE: INTAKE: _004_,008

SOLID STATE IGNITION AIR GAP: .0125 IN_

JBLADE BOLT TORQUE: 35-40 FT, LBS.

SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F)

EXHAUST: .004 - .008

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

A Sears Maintenance Agreement is available on this producL Contact your nearest Sears store for details,

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Read and observe the safety rules.

• Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and using your lawn mower. , Fellow the instructions under "Customer Responsibilities" and "Storage" sections of this owner's manual

LiMiTED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER

For two (2) years from date of purchase, when this Craftsman Lawn Mower is maintained, lubricated, and tuned up

according to the operating and maintenance i0structions in the owner's manual, Sears will repair free of charge any defect in material or workmanship,

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 negligence includingbent crankshafts and the failure to maintain

the equipment according to the instruct ons contained in 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 rghts, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state,

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO. D/817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179

' LII' i"l"' _ i _,l ....

TABLE: OF CONTENTS

SAFETY RULES ............................................................ 2

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS ...................................... 3

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ....................... 3_9-11

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

ASSEMBLY ................................................................... 5

OPERATION .................................................................. 6

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ........................................ 9

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

Adjustments:

Carburetor ............................... 13

Drive Belt ....................................12

Engine Speed .............................13

Handle Height ...............................13

Height of Out ..................................7

Air Filter:

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

Service ........................................... 11

Assembly .......................................... 5

Blade:

Sharpening ............................. 10

Replacement ...................................10

Controls:

Drive Control .............................. 6

Engine Zone Control ................ 6

Engine Speed Control ...................6

Operator Presence

Control Bar .........................................6

Customer Responsibilities ..... 3, 9-11

Air Filter ................................. 11

Blade Care/Replacement ...... 10

Drive Wheels ......................... 10

Engine ..........................................t 1

Lubrication ................................. 9

Spark Plug .......................................11

Cutting Levels ..........................................7

Engine:

Air Filter .................................... 11

Oil Change ............................. 11

Oil Level .............................................11

Oil Type .................................... 11

Starting ...................................... 8

Stopping ..........................................8

Storage .............................................14

Fuel:

Capacity ...........................................3

Storage ...........................................14

Type .............................................. 8

Handle Adjustment:

Assembly ......................................... 5

Cutting Height .......................... 13

Lubrication:

Engine .................................... 11

Lawn Mower ............................ 9

Maintenance Agreement ...................3

Maintenance Schedule ..................... 9

Mowing Tips ................................... 8

Oil:

Engine .............................................11

Storage ........................................14

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS ................................. 12

STORAGE ................................................................... 14

TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................. 23

REPAIR PARTS- LAWN MOWER ........................ 15-19

REPAIR PARTS., ENGINE .................................... 20-22

PARTS ORDERING/SERVICE .................................... 24

Operation:

Drive Control ................................ 7

Engine Control ..............................7

Grass Catcher ........................... 7

Mower .......................................... 7

Operator Presence

Control Bar ....................................7

Options:

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

Repair Parts:

Engine ................................. 20-22

Lawn Mower ....................... 15-t9

Responsibilities, Customer .... 3, 9-11

Safety Rules .............................................2

Service and Adjustments ...................t2

Carburetor ...................................t3

Drive Belt .........................................12

Engine Speed ........................... 13

Handle ........................................ 13

Spark Plug ........................................ 11

Specifications ................................... 3

Speed Control:

Engine ................................................7

Starting the Engine ........................... 8

Stopping the Engine ............................8

Storage ........................................... .......... 14

Trouble Shooting Chart .................. 23

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

LAWN MOWER ACCE$SORNE$

............. ;i_11"111 ........

'These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced. They are also available at most Sears retail outlets and service centers. Most Sears stores can also 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.

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

iiiii i iiiii i i

i i , i ,, , ,, ,,,,, ,

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

MULCHERKITS

STABILIZER

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

irll,i i i,,lll,,i,i,

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

, i i,iii ii illl, i

MUFFLERS

BEi,TS

i i, ,i,,, i,i i

BLADES

BLADEADAPTERS

...... i,i,

Read these instructions and this manual in its entirety before you attempt to assemble or operate your new lawn

mower_ Your new lawn mower has been assembled at the factory with the exception of those parts left unassembled for shipping purposes. All parts such as nuts, washers, bolts, etc., necessary to complete the assembly have been

placed in the parts bag, 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,,

TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM CARTON

• Remove loose parts included with mower.

= Cut down two end corners of carton and lay end panel

down flat.

= Remove all packing materials except padding between

upper and lower handte and padding holding operator presence control bar to upper handle°

° Roll lawn mower out of carton and check carton thor-

oughly for additional loose parts°

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN

MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE (See Fig. 1)

IMPORTANT: UNFOLD HANDLE CAREFULLY SO AS NOT TO PINCH OR DAMAGE CONTROL CABLES,

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

SiDE DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

GAS CANS

AIR FILTERS

WHEELS

OPERATORPRESENCE

CONTROLBAR

UPPER

LIFT UP

LOWER HANDLE

SPARK PLUGS

ENGINEOIL

MOWING POSITION

)

FIG. !

° Raise handles until lower handle section locks into

place in mowing position_

= Raise protective padding raise upper handle section

into place on lower handle and tighten both handle knobs°

o Remove handle padding holding operator presence

control bar to upper handle_

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.

OPERATION

L ............... ,ill .... ....

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND 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.

, Nil r , r llil • I ==MH Nil II

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

OR WARNING ON OFF

OPERATOR PRESENCECONTROLBAR

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL CABLE

STARTER HANDLE

HANDLEKNOB

ENGINE OIL CAP WITH DIPSTICK

FUEL O_L DANGER, KEEP HANDS

DRIVE CONTROL LEVER

DRIVECONTROL

GASOLINE FILL CAP

AND FEET AWAY

PRIMER

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL LEVER

i ill =

DRIVE COVER

MULCHERDOOR

WHEEL ADJUSTER HOUSING

ii I ,, i i, ,1111, iii ..... iiiiii1,,,,,i,ii ii i iii iiii ,i

(ON EACH WHEEL)

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conform to the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission The blade turns when the engine is running,

H i=.............

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL - must be held down

to the handle to start the engine. Release 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 engineA

, = N,=l,Is =IH= I I=

DRIVE CONTROL LEVER - used to engage power-pro-

pelled forward motion of lawn mower.

MULCHER DOOR - allows conversion to discharge or bagging operation,

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL LEVER - must be in the fast (,_) position for starting and mowing_

OPERATION

........... ,,,,, ,,,,1, ,, ,J, ,

The operation of any lawn mower can result inforeign objectsthrown into the eyes, which can

result in severe eye damage, Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your lawn mower or performing any adjustments or repairs° We recommend a wide vision safety mask over the spectacles or standard safety glasses_

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL (See Fig. 2)

The engine speed is controlled by a lever located on the side of the engine. Fast position is for starting the engine,

normal cutting and better grass bagging. Slow position is for _ightcutting, trimming and fuel economy

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL

FIG. 2

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

_-, ,,,,11,,,i,,,,,i,,111 ,,, i,

CAUTION: Federal regulations require lawn mower in order to minimize the

an engine control to be installed on this

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

defeat the function of the operator con-

trol. The blade turns when the engine is

running.

',,=_,',,'.... ,,,1....... ,........

• Your lawn mower is equipped with an operator pres- ence control bar which requires the operator to be

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

DRIVE CONTROL (See Fig. 3)

, Self-propelling is controlled by holding the operator

presence control bar down to the handle and pushing

the drive control lever forward until it clicks; then

release the lever_

• Forward motion wilt stop when the operator presence control bar is released. To stop forward motion without

stopping engine, release the operator presence control bar slightly until the drive control disengages. Hold

operator presence control bar down to handle to con- tinue mowing without self*propelling_

To keep drive control engaged when turning corners, push down on handle and lift front wheels off ground

_ while turnina lawn mower.

OPERATOR PRESENCE

CONTROLBAR

DRIVE

TO ENGAGE

DRIVE CONTROL

FIG. 3 7

DRIVE CONTROL

PlSENGAGED

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT (See Fig. 4)

= Raise wheels for low cut and !owe rwheels for high cuL

- Adjust cutting height to suit your requirements° Me- dium position is best for most lawns.

o To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster lever to-

ward 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,

LOWER WHEELS PLATE TAB

-'OR HIGH CUT

RAISE WHEELS FOR LOW CUT

FIG. 4

NOTE: Your lawn mower has been shipped ready for mulching operation. To convert to discharging operation, you must install the discharge deflector attachment in- cluded with your mower.

TO INSTALL DISCHARGING DEFLECTOR

(See Fig. 5)

o Liftdoor upward onit'shinge until the deflector frame can

be hooked over the door mounting bracket as shown. ° Release the door to rest against defIeetor frame. = To returnto mulching operation, reverse the above steps

and be sure door isin closed position.

MULCHERDOOR

FIG, 5

I _ CAU'ri'o'N: Do not operate your lawn I

A A mower without mulcher door in closed I

position, discharge deflector in place, I or approved grass catcher in place. J

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE OIL (See Fig. 6)

Your lawnmower is shipped withoutoilin the engine.

• Be sure mower is level and area around oil fill is clean° , Remove engineoilcapw/dipstickand fill tothe full line on

the dipstick,

OPERATION

Use 20 ozs. of oi!, For type and grade of oil to use, see

• ° Keep top.of engine around starter clear and clean of "ENGINE" in Customer Responsibilities section of this

manual

• Pour oil slowly, Do not over fill

o Check oil level before each use, Add oil if needed, Fill to

fuli line on dipstick

. To read proper levet, tighten engine oil cap each time,, . Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten o 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.

GAS (See Fig. 6)

. Fill gasoline tank with fresh, clean, unleaded gasoline,

DO NOT USE PREMIUM GASOLINE. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER FILL TANK_

WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended 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 stor-

age of 30 days or tonger, Drain the fuel tank, start the engine and let it run until fuel lines and carburetor are

empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage instruc t tions for additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in fuel tank or permanent damage may occur_

TO START ENGINE

- To start a cold engine, push primerfive (5) times before trying to start Use a firm push. This step is not usually

necessary, when starting an engine which has already _unfor a few minutes.

• Hold operator presence contro! bar down to the handle and pull starter handle quickly, DO NOT allow starter

rope to snap back.

o To STOP engine, release operator presence control

bar.

NOTE: In cooler weather it may be necessary to repeat

priming steps, inwarmer weather over priming may cause flooding and engine will not start. If you do flood engine, wait a few minutes before attempting to start and DO NOT

repeat priming steps°

MOWING TIPS

. Under certain conditions, such as very tall grass, it may

be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine

and leaving clumps of grass clippings,

• For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly.

• For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions, the engine speed should be set in the fast position.

° For side discharge lawn mowers, cutting in a counter-

clockwise direction, starting at the outside of the area to be cut, spreads grass clippings more evenly and puts less load on the engine,, To keep clippings off of waikways, flower beds, etc,, make the first cuts in a

clockwise direction.

• Pores in cloth grass catchers can become filled with dirt and dust with use and catchers will collect less grass. Toprevent this, regularly hose catcher off with water andlet dry before using,,

8 FIG, 7

grass clippings and chaff. This will help engine airflow and extend engine life.

GASOLINE FILLER CAP

ENGINE O_L CAP

W/DIPSTICK

FIG. 6

MULCHING MOWING TIPS

IMPORTANT: FOR BEST PERFORMANCE, KEEP MOWER HOUSING FREE OF £,UILT-UP GRASS AND TRASH. SEE

"CLEANING" IN CUSTOMER RESPONSIBIUTIES SECTION OF THIS MANUAL.

• The special mulching blade will recur the grass clip- pings 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 recutting action of the

blades.

• Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet grass tends to form clumps and interferes with the mutching action.

The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon. At this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area wilt not be exposed to the direct sun.

o 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 (See Fig. 7). If the lawn is over- grown 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 mulching, reduce your width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly.

° Certain types of grass and grass conditions may re-

quire that an area be mulched a second time to com- pletely hide the clippings, When doing a second cut, mow across or 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.

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