Craftsman 917377351 Owner’s Manual

SWAINS

CRIIFTSMIIN°

MODEL NUMBER 917.377351 OWNER'S MANUAL

. Assembly

• Operation

• Customer

Responsibilities

° Service ° Adjustments

° Repair Parts

Caution: Read and Follow

all Safety Rules and Instructions

Before Operating This Equipment

159810 02.10,97 VBL

Printed in US A.,

SAFETY RULES

_Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Mowers

IMPORTANT: 'tHtS CUTTING MACHINE IS CAPABLE OF AMPUTATING HANDS AND FEET AND THROWING OBJECTS.

FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT tN 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 Ihls operator'smenual carefully Become familiar w_lh the conlrots and know how lo operate your mower prapedy Learn haw to quickly stopmower

* Do not allow chtldrentousa your mower Never allow adulls

to usa mower withoutproper Instrucltons.

Keep the area of operation clear of all parsons, especially small childrenand pets

Use mower only as the manufacturer intended and as de- scrlbedinthlemanual,

. Do not operate mower If ithas been dropped or damaged In

any manner, Always have damage repaired before using your mower

° Do not useaccessory attachmentsthat are notrecommended

by the manufacturer Use of such at|achmente may be hazardous

, The blade turnswhen the engine ts running PREPARATION:

• Atwaysthoroughlycheckthearea to be mowed andclearttof all stones, sticks_ wires,bones, and other foreign objects.

These objects wil! be thrown by the blade and can cause severeinjury

,, Always wear safety glasses or eye shields whenstarling and

while using your mower. Dress properly, Do not operate mower when barefoot or

wearing open sandals Wear only solidshoes withgood trastton when mowing

• Check fue_tank before starling engine Do not fill gas tank indoors,whentheengine Isrunningorwhentheengine ishot

Allow the engine !o coolforseveral minutes before ftiiingthe gas tank Clean off any spilled gasoline before startingthe

engine,

,, Always make wheel height adjustmentsbefore starling your

mower, Never attempt to dothis while the engine Is running,

• Mow only Indaylight or good ad]flcial light.

OPERATION:

,' Keep youreyesand mind on your mower andthe areabeing

cut Do not let other Interasls distract you

" Do notmow wet orslippery grass, Never runwh_laoperating

your mower, Always be sureofyour fooling- keep afirmhold on the handles and walk.

. Do not puthands or test near orunder rotatingpads Keep

sleet of the discharge opening at all times, Always stop Ihe engine whenever you leave orare notusing

your mower, or before crossing driveways, walks, roads,and any gravel-covered areas

. Never direct discharge of material Ioward byslandars nor

allow anyonenear the mower while you are operating it.

• Belorecleaning, inspecting,orrepaldng yourmower, stopthe engine and make absolutelysure the blade and all moving

pads have stopped. Then disconnect thespark plugwire and keep It away from the spark plug to prevent accidental

starting

° Do not continue to run your mower if you hit a foreign object.

FotIow the procedure outtlned above, then repair any dam-

age before restarting and operaling you mower Do not change r the governor settings or overspeed the

angina Engine damage or personal tnjury may resWl Do not oparale your mower if tt vibrates abnormaf{y Exces..

siva vibration Is an indication of damage; slop the engine, safely check for the cause of vibration and repair as required

. Do not run lhe engine Indoors Exhaust fumes are danger..

cue.

• Never cut grass by pulling the mower towards you Mow across the face of slopes, never up and down or you might Ioseyourfaotlng Donotmowexcessivetysteepstepes Use

caution when operal_ng the mower on uneven terrain orwhen changing directions - maintain good fooling,

• Never operate your mower without proper guards, plates, grass catcher or other safety devices in place

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE:

• Check the blade and Ihe engine mounting bolls often to be sure they are tightened propedy

Check all bolls, nuts and screws al frequent inlervals for proper lfghlness to be sure mower Is In safe working condl..

t[on

Keep all safely devices In place and working

• To reduce flre hazard, keep the engine free of grass, _eavas or excessive grease and olt

• Check grass catcher often lot deterioration and wear and rap]aceworn bags Use only replacement bags that are

recommended by and comply with specifications of the manufaclurer of your mower

•, Always keep a sharp blade on your mower

,, Allow engine to coot before storing in any enclosure

• Never store mower wilh fuel in the tank inside a building where luTes may reach an open flame or an ignflion source such as a hot water heater, apace heater, dolhes dryer, etc.

portan! safety preeautlons, tt means

i _ Lookfor this symbol to point out Im-

The engine exhaust from this product con- tains chemicals Known to the State of Califor-

nia to cause cancer, birth defects, or other

CAUTIONHI BECOMEALERTUI YOUR

SAFETY !S INVOLVED •

CAUTION: Always disconnect spark

not contact spark plug in order to pre- plug wire and place wire where it can- vent accidental starting when setting

up, transporting, adjusting or making

repairs.

WARNING A I

reproductive harm.

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a Sears Lawn Mower_ t _as been designed, engineered and mamJfac-.

lured to give you the best possibie dependability and performance.

Should you experience any problem you cannel easity remedy, please contact your nearest Sears Authorized

Service Center/Department. We have competent, wall-

trained technicians and the proper tools to sarv{ce or repair this lawn mower.

Piease read and retain tn;s manual The instructions will

enable you to assemble and maintain your lawn mower properly Always observe the "SAFETY RULES",

MODEL NUMBER 917..377351

SERIAL NUMBER

DATE OF PURCHASE THE MODELAND SERIAL NUMSERSWEL BE FOUND

ON A DECAL ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE LAWN MOWER HOUSING

YOU S NOULD RECORD BOTH SERIAL NUMBER AND DATE OF PURCHASE AND KEEP IN A SAFE PLACE

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE,

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 6 25

DISPLACEMENT: 'f2 56 CU IN

GASOLINE CAPACITY 15 QUARTS AND "TYPE: UNLEADED REGULAR

OIL TYPE (API-SF/SG): SAE 30 (ABOVE 32"F)

SAE 5W-30 (below 32°F)

iO{L CAPACITY: 20 OZS SPARK PLUG: CHAMPiON RJ19LM

(GAP: 030")

VALVE CLEARANCE: INTAKE: 008'

EXHAUST: 008"

SOLID STATE iGNITION AiR GAP; ,0125 IN

BLADE BOLT TORQUE: 35440FT LBS

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

A Sears Maintenance Agreement is available on this product. Contact your nearest Sears store for details°

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Read and observe the safety rules

• Fot_'owa regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and using your lawn mower

• Fo{low the instructions under "Customer Responsibilities" and "Storage" sectlons of this owner's manual,

ilul,i, illl .................... i ii i ii illl illll i, ii i i, u,,,,

LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER

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

according to the operating and maintenance _nstructions in the owner's manual, Sears w{_lrepair free o! charge any defect in material or workmanship

If {his,Craftsman Lawn Mower is used for commercial or rentat purposes, INs warranty applies for only g0 days from the date of purchase.

This Warranty does not cover:

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

• Repairs necessary because of operatorabuse or negligence includingbent crankshafts and the Iailure to maintain

the equ pment according to the {nstructions contained in the owner's manual

WARRANTY SERVICE iS AVAILABLE BY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER TO THE NEAREST SEARS SERVICE CENTERtDEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATE& THiS WARRANTY APPLIES ONLY WHILE TH_S PRODUCT IS tN USE IN THE UNITED STATES.

This Warranty gives you specific lega_ rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SAFETY RULES ................................................ ,,........;... 2

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

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ..................... 3, 12..14

WARRANTY ..................... _............................................ 3

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

OPERATION ......................................................................... 8

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ...................................... 12

INDEX

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

Adjustments:

Carburetor .............................. 15

Drive Beit ............ ......................... 15

Engine Speed ..............................15

Handie Height ............................ 15

Height of Cut ........................... 9

Air Filter.'

Replacement ...............................14

Service ................................ 14

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

Blade:

Sharpening ...................... t3

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

Controls:

Drive Control ....................... 8

Engine Zone Control ............ 8

Engine Speed Control ............ B

Operator Presence

Control Bar ........................... 8

Customer Responstbiffties 3, 12-14

Air Filter ................................. 14

Blade Care/Replacement ..... 13

Drive Wheels ........................ 13

Engine ............................ 14

Lubrication ............. : ...................14

Spark Plug ................................. I4

Cutting Levels .................................. 9

Engine:

Air Filter .................................... 14

OII Change .......................... 14

Oil Level .................................... 14

Oil Type .......................... 14

Starting .............................. !0

Slopping ..................................... 10

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

Fuel:

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

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

Type ............... 10

HandleAdjustment:

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

Cutting Height ................. 15

Lubrication:

Engine ....................................14

LawnMower .............................12

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

Maintenance Schedule ................. 12

Mowing Tips ............................. 10

Oth

Engine ................._.................. 12

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

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS .................................. 15

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

TROUBLESHOOTING ...................................... ,,.............. 17

REPAIR PARTS - LAWN MOWER ........................ 1B-23

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

PARTS ORDERING/SERVICE ...........................................28

Operation:

Ddve Control ...................... 9

Engine Contro! ................ 9

Grass Catcher ................ 9

Mower ............................. 9

Operator Presence

Conlrol Bar ......................... g

Options:

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

Repair Pads:

Engine ..................... 25-27

Lawn Mower ....... 18-23

Responsibilities, Customer. 3, t2-14

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

Service and Adjuslmenls ...... 15

Carburetor ................ 15

Drive Belt ............. 15

Engine Speed .................. 15

Handle ......................... 1 5

Spark Plug ....................... 14

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

Speed Control:

I_ngtne .............................. 8

Starting Ihe Engine ................... to

Stepping the Engine ................. Io

Storage ................................. I6

Trouble Shooting Chart ............... 17

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

LAWN MOWER ACCESSORIES

,1, , , 11 ......................... 11,1 11

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

and service centers Most Sears sEorescan also order repair pads for you, when you provide the model number of your lawn mower, Some of these accessories may not apply to your {awn mower.

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

....111,111,11 111

MULCHER KITS

STABILIZER

FOR

__ GRASS CATCHERS

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

MUFFLERS

BLADES

FOR

S{DE DISCHARGE

GRASS CATCHERS

LAWN MOWERS

AIR FILTERS

BLADE ADAPTERS WHEELS

GAS CANS

SPARK PLUGS

ENGINE OIL

ASSEMBLY

Read these instructions and the manue! in its enttrety before you attempt 10 assemble or operate your new lawn

mower Y0ur new lawn mower has been assembled at the factory with the exception of those parts left unassembled

tot shipping purposes. All parts such as nuts, washers,

bolts, etc_, necessary to comptele the assembty have been placed in the parts bag To ensure safe arid proper

operatfen of your fawn mower a}l parts and hardware you assemble must be tightened securely t.se the correct

tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness.

TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM CARTON

• Remove loose pards included with mower

• Cul down two end corners of carton and lay end panel down flat.

• Remove all packing materials except padding between upper and lower handle and padding holding operator presence control bar to upper handle.

• Rott lawn mower out of carton and check carton thor- oughly for additional loose parts

HOWTO SET UPYOUR LAWN MOWER TO UNFOLD HANDLE (See Fig, 1A)

_MPORTANT: UNFOLD HANDLE CAREFULLY SO AS NOT TO P_NCH OR DAMAGE CONTROL CABLES.

• Raise lower handle sectton to operating position and squeeze the bottom ends of lower handle towards

each other unlit the pin in hand{e can be inserted Into one et the three height adjustment holes

, Raise upper handle section to operating position, re-

move protective padding and tighten handle knobs securely.

• Remove any packing materiel from aro und control bar

• Your handles may be adjusted for your mowing corn- tort Refer to Service and Adjustments seolion of this

manual.

i ii lllllllllllll i, ,

OP_RATORPRESENCE

CONTROLBAR

UPPER HANDLE

UFTUP

LOWER HANDLE

MULCHERPLUG

FIG. 1A

MOWING POSITION

3-POSITION HANDLE ADJUSTMENT

eRACKE_

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

(See Fig, 1B) Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a

mulcher To convert to bagglag or discharging:

• Open rear door and remove muncherplug. Store mutcher plug ina safe place

• You can nowInstallcatcher or optionalctippingdeflec- tor

• To returnto mu$chlngoperation, installmulcher plug intodischarge opening of mower,

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

without mulcher plug in place or ap* proved clipping deflector or grass catcher in place. Never attempt to op-

erate the lawn mower with the rear door

removed or propped open.

TO PREPARE BATTERY (See Fig. 2)

NOTE: Your battery must be charged before you can start

your lawn mower

• Disconnect engine battery (male) from battery cormac- tor (female)

FIG,, 1B

• Connect battery charger connector (ma_e) to battery connector (female),

• Plug battery charger into 1!0 volt A.C. outlet.

• Leave battery charger connected for 24 hours before slarting your engine for the first time Alter charging, connect engine connector (mate) to

baltery connector (female).

Your engine has an integral alternator for partial charging Connect your battery charger te charge battery as re-

quired. IMPORTANT: THE ENGINE ALTERNATOR WILL NOT

CHARGE A DISCHARGED BATTERY At the end of the mowing season the battery should be

charged for 48 hours to protect the battery during winter storage

I CAUTION: Always disconnect the en- I _, glne connector (male) from the battery

! A_J_, connector(female)topreventecctden- ! _ tal starting when transporting or stop

! "J"="_ lag your lawn mower after the season_

ENGINE

CONNECTOR

(MALE)

BATtERy CONNECTOR (FEMALE)

ASSEMBLY

BATTERY

3ER

CHARGER CONNECTOR

(MALE)

r,,,J,ttt,t,, i ,i

FIGo 2

TO ASSEMBLE AND ATTACH GRASS CATCHER (See Figs, 3A thru 4)

• Insert leg of tubular frame through front opening of grass catcher and thread frame into sewn hem of bag

NOTE: Keep bag hem gatllered on the straight leg of the

tubular (rame

• When frame comes out the other end of sewn hem, lmmed{atefy work the end of frame down Inside the bag

as shown in inset,

• Slide sewn hem evenly around the tubular frame until both ends of frame are exposed out of the front open-

ing Assemble tower frame to tubular frame as shown Be

sure handle {s outside of bag and frames are fully seated as shown in inset,

• Slip vinyl bindings over frame,

NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold them in warm

water for a few minutes, If bag gets wet, let if dry before

using, '

• Close Ih_ f!iplid Flip lid must be closed while operating lawn mower,

• Lift the rear door on the mower housing and place Ihe grass catcher frame onto the formed tabs on U_erear

door hinge bracket. The grass calcher is secured to the lawn mower

housing when Ihe rear door is lowered onto the grass catcher Irame.

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower i without clipping deflector or approved I

grass catcher in p|aceo Never atlempt I to operatethe lawn mowerwith the rear |

,1 ,,ni, i1 im_lJ, ,u,Ju_

door removed or propped open. i

SEWNHEM FLIPLID

FIG. 3A

FRAME

CJ"

- li I 11 ,o,.t,,2oo,o,)

FIG. 3B

LOWERFRAMEHANDLE _ _/

FIG. 3C

BRACKET

GRASS CATCHER FRAME

FORMED

TABS

7 FIG. 4

OPERATION

i, iJ i,iiJ, JJ,l_Jt ,llUU,i, i i i ii

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER° Compare the Illustrations with your tawn mower to familiarize yourself wtti_ 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

OPERATORPRESENCECONTROLBAR

" DRIVE CONTROL LEVER

AUXILIARY STARTER HANDLE

HANDLE_NOB

CABLE CUPS

GRASS CATCHER

GASOLINE CAP

(ON EACH WHEEL)

MULCRER PLUG

ENGINE O}L CAP WtDIPST[OK

HOUSING

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

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

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL - must be held down to the handle to start the engine, Release to slop the engine,

PRIMER - pumps additional fuet from the carburetor to the cylinder for use when starting a cold engine,

STARTER HANDLE - used for starting the engine.

ELECTRIC START KEY _ used for starting the engine DRIVE CONTROL LEVER - used to engage power-pro-

pelled forward motion o[ Iawn mower.

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL - located on the side of the

engine which allows you to select either fast (_) or slow (,,_) engine speed

MULOHER PLUG- must be removed to convert to bagging

or dlscharglng operation

OPERATION

The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects thrown Intothe eyes, which can

resuft in _evere eye damage Always wear safety glasses or eye shields white operating your Iawn mower or performing any adjustments or repalrs We recommend a wlde vision safety

mask over the speclactes or standard safety glasses

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without mutcherplate in place end door

_ closed or without en approved clipptng

ENGINE SPEED (See Fig. 5)

The engine speed Is controlled by a lever located on the

s_deof the engine. Fast (,'_) posilion is for starttng engine, normal culling and better grass bagging Slow (,,,_.)

position is for iight cutting, ldmming and fuel econofny

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

* _'oui lawn mower Is equipped with an operator pres-

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT (See Fig. 6)

• Raise wheels for low cut and towerwheels for high cr,!l.

• Wheefs are sel tn Iow cut for shipping Adjust cutting

• To change cutting height, squeeze adjusfer (ever to-

NOTE: Ad uster is properly positioned when plate tab inserts into hole in tever. Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped) aIIow lever to be positioned between the plate

tabs

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER (See Fig. 7)

* To remove grass catcher, release operator presence

. Lift up rear door and remove the gross catcher by the

• Do not drag the bag when emptying; i!lwill cause

deflector or grasscatcher in place.

Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear door removed or

propped open°

, ,, ,,,,1 u,, H,=,H,

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 con- trol, The blade turns when the engine is

................

ence cor}trol bar which requires the operator to be positioned behind the lawn mower handle to start and

operate the lawn mower

height to suit your requirements Medium position is best for most lawns

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

contro! bar t.ostQp engine,

handle,

unnecessary wear.

LOWER WHEELS FOR HIGH CUT

RAISE WHEELS FOR LOW CUT

PLATE TAB

_LEVER

FIG. 6

FIG. 7

+ 19 hidden pages

Craftsman 917377351 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual