Craftsman 917377522 Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual

[RRFTSMRN°

5.0 HORSEPOWER

22" REAR, DISCHARGE ROTARY LAWN MOWER

Model No.

917.377522

• Safety

• Assembly

•_ Operation ° Maintenance

• Espafiol

, Repair Parts

CAUTION:

Read and follow all: Safety Rules and Instructions

before operating this equipment

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

Warranty 2 Product Specifications 11 Safety Rules _.. 2 Service and Adjustments t4

Assembiy .... 4 Storage 16

Operation 6 Troubleshooting 17 Maintenance Schedule 10 Repair Paris 37 Maintenance 10 Parts Ordering Back Cover

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 instructions In the

owner's manual, Sears wiil repair free of charge any defect in material or workmanship.

If this Craftsman Lawn Mower ts used for commercial or rental purposes, this 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, blade adapters, belts, air cleaners and spark plug.

- Repairs necessary because of operator abuse or negligence, including bent crank- shafts and the failure to maintain the equipment according to the instructions con-

tained in the owner's manual.

Warranty service is avai}able 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 Un!ted States. This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights whtch vary from state to state.

SEARS, ROEBUCKAND CO., D/817 WA_ HOFF'MAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179

Safety standard's "requite operator presence controls to mimimize 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, especially small children and pets.

• Use mower only as the manufacturer intended and as described in this manual.

° Do not operate mower if ft has been

dropped or damaged in any manner.

Always have damage repaired before

using your mower.

° Do not use accessc_ry attachments that

are not recomrn_€led by the manufac- turer. Use of such attachments may be

hazardous.

• The blade turns when the engine is running,

PREPARATION;

• Alway_ 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 Dressproperly.Donotoperatemower

whenbarefootorWearingopensandals. Wearonlysolidshoeswithgoodtraction

whenmowing.

• Checkfueltankbeforestartingengine. Donotfillgastankindoors,whenthe engineisrunningorwhentheengineis hot.AllowtheenginetOcoolforseveral minutesbeforefillingthegastank,Clean offanyspiltedgasolinebeforestartingthe engine.

° Alwaysmakewheelheightadjustments

beforestartingyourmower,Never attempttodothiswhiletheengineis

running.

• Mowonlyindaylightorgoodartificial light.

OPERATION:

• Keepyoureyesandmindonyourmower

andtheareabeingcut.Donottetother interestsdistractyou,

• Donotmowwetorslipperygrass.Never runwhileoperatingyourmower.Always besureofyourfooting- keepafirmhold

onthehandlesandWalk.

° Donotputhandsorfeetnearorunder

rotatingparts.Keepclearofthedischarge openingatalltimes,

, Alwaysstoptheenginewheneveryou

leaveorarenotusingyourmower,or beforecrossingdriveways,Walks, roads,

and any graver-covered areas,

• Never direct discharge of material toward

bystanders nor allow anyone near the

mower while you are operating it.

• Before cleaning, 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 .k_.!!; away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting.

• Do not continue to run your mower if you hit a foreign object. Follow the procedure outlined above, then repair any damage

before restarting and 0pera!ing your mower.

° Do not change the governor settings or

overspeed the er_gine. Engine damage or personal injury may resu{t,

• Do not operate y0ui mower if it vibrates abnormally. Excessive v]bration 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 dangerous,

- Never cut grass by pulling the mower towards you. Mow across the face of slopes, never up and down or you might lose your footing. Do not mow exces-

sively 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 tn place.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE:

• Check the blade and the engine mount- ing bolts often to be sure they are

tightened properly.

• Check all bolts, nuts and screws at frequent intervals for proper tightness to

be sure mower is in safe working condition.

• Keep all saiety devices in place and working.

• To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, leaves or excessive grease

and oil.

° Check grass catcher often for deteriora-

tion 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.

• Allow engine to coot before storing in any enclosure.

° Never store mower with fuel in 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, etc.

•.CAUTION: Always disconnect spark

plug wire and place wire where it cannot contact spark plug in order to prevent accidental starting when setting up, transporting, adjusting or making repairs,

WARNING

The engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of

California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

whenthislawn mower was produced, They are also

available at nlost Sears retail outlets and service centers, Most Sears stores can also order repair parts for you r when you provide the model number of your lawn mower. Some of these

accessories may not apply to your lawn mower.

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

'-'- \

cuPPz.QDEFLECTOR

FOR,,REARDISC,ARGELAwNMOWERS

GRASSCATCHERS

FOR

REARDISCHARGE

LAWNMOWERS

L_i,,

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

MUFFLERS

BELTS BLADES

Read these instructionsand this manual in its

entirety before you _,ttempt 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. Aft parts such as nuts,

washers, bolts, etc,, necessary to complete the

assembly have _en placed inthe parts beg,

To ensure safe and proper operat!0nof your

lawn mower, a_lpartsand 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 includedwP,h mower,

• Cut down two end comers of carton and lay

end panel down flaL

• Remove all packing materials except

padding between upper and lower handle

and padding holding operator presence

control bar to upper handie°

BLADE ADAPTERS WHEELS

MULCHER KiTS

SIDE DISCHARGE

GRASS CATCHERS

LAWN MOWERS

AIR FILTERS

FOR

STAeIL,fZr'R

GAS CANS

SPARK PLUG8

ENGINE OiL

• Rt_tllawn mowerout of carton and check carton thoroughlyfopadditionallooseparts.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE

IMPORTANT: Unfold handlescarefullysOas notto pinch Ordamage controlcables

• Raisehandles untillower handlesection locks intoplace inmowing position,

• Remove protectivepadding,raiseut_per handlesection intoplaceonlowerhandle and tighten bothhandle knobs. '

• Remove handle padding holding operator presencecontrol bar to upperhandle,

• Your lawnmower handle canbeadjusted foryourmowingcomfort. Referto "Adjust

Handle"inthe Serviceand Adjustment sec_onofthismanual,

Operator presence controi bar

Lilt u

Lowerhandle

Mowing position

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

Your !awn mower was Shippedready to be used as a mulcher. To convertto,bagging or

discharging:

• Open rear door and remove rnulcher plug. Store mulcher plug ina safe place_

• You can now install catcher or optional dipping deflector.

• To return to mulching operation, install mulcher plug into discharge opening of

mower.

Mutcher plug

A_.CAUTION: Do not run your lawn

mower without mutcher plug in place or

approved clipping deflector or grass catcher tn place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear door

removed or propped open.

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OVVNER'S MANUAL AND S_.FETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER. :Compareth e |llust_'ations with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself

with the tocation of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future

._ ..... * ........ z .... I

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

product. Learn and under,stand their meaning.

CAUTION F-.NGtNE EJqGtNE FAST SLOW CHOKE FUEL O_L DANGER= KEEPHANOS

OR WARNING ON OFF , AND FEET AWAY

• ii, ,i, ,11_11

Enginezone controlcabie presencecontrolbar

Drive control lever

Starter handle

Handle knob

Engine oil cap w/dipstick

Housing

Mulcher plug

Primer

, Whe#l adjuster

_LI,L................ ............. i f"l ......... ! Jl ....

(on every 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 UoSoConsumer Product Salety Commis-

sion. 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.

Primer - pumps additional fuel from the carburetor to the cylinder for use when

starting a cofd engine,

Drive control lever - used to engage power-prOpelled forward motion of lawn mower.

Mulcher plug - must be removed to

convert to bagging or discharging opera-

tion,

Starter handle- used for starting the

engine.

Theopei'atonofar_ylawnm,0wer.can

resultinforeignobjectsthrowniniothe eyes,whichcanresultinsevereeye

damage.A wayswearsafetyglassesor

eye shields while .operating your awn mower or performing any adjustments or repairs, We recommend a wide vision safety mask over spectacles or standard salety glasses.

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER ENGINE SPEED

The engine speed Was set at the factory

for optimum performance. Speed is not adjustable.

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

_,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 ts 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,

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

adjuster lever toward wheel. Move wheel up or down to suit your require-

ments, Be sure a I wheels are in the same setting°

NOTE; Adjuster IS pi'_ii_Q_lt!oned

when plate tab inserts ir_6' hSie in lever, Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped)

allow lever to be positioned between the plate tabs.

TO ATTACH GRASS CATCHER

, Close the flip lid. Flip lid must be closed

while operating lawn mower.

• Lift the rear door on the mower housing and place the grass catcher frame onto the formed t_bs on the rear door hinge

bracket.

- The grass catcher is secured to the lawn mower housing when the rear door is

lowered onto the gross catcher frame.

,_CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without clipping deflector or

approved grass catcher in place. Never

attempt to operate the lawn mower with

the rear door removed or proppe d Open.

Hinge Grasscatcher bracket frame

tabs

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

, = To remove grass catcher, release

operator Presence ¢_0ntrol bar to stop engine.

- Lift up rear door and remove the grass catcher by the handle,

NOTE: Do not drag the bag when empty-

ing; it wi!l cause unnecessary wear.

Lower Wheels for High Cut Plate Tab

Raise Wheets for Low Cut

DRIVE CONTROL

• 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 drive

control lever,

- Forward motion will stop when the operator presence control bar is released. To stop

forward motion without stopping engine, release the operator presence control bar

slighlty until the drive control disengages. Hold operator presence control bar down to

handJe to con_nue mowing _thout self- propelling.

• To keep drive control engaged when turning comers, push down on handle and liftfront wheels off ground while turning lawn

mower.

Operalor presence control bar ",,,

.'=- t m

To engage Drive control drive control disengaged

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE OIL

Your lawn mower is shipped without oll In the engine.

° Be sure mower is level and area around oil

fill is dean.

• Remove engine oil cap and lilt to the full _lne on the dipstick.

, Use 20 ozs. of oil. For type and grade of oil

to use, see "ENGINE" in Maintenance

section of this manual.

o Pour oit slovAy, Do not over fill.

• Check oi1level before each use, Add oil if needed. Filt to ful! line on dipstick,

• To read proper level, tighten engine oti cap each time,

• ReinstaIl englne 0jl cap and tighten,

° Change the 0it after every 25 hours of

operation or eacF_:seas0n.You may need to

change the oil more often under dusty, dirty cond_'ons.

GAS

• Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. Do not mix oilwith gasoline, Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used

within 30 days to assure fuel freshness.

WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels (called gasohoror using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to separation and forTnation of acids during

storage, Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an engine wh!le in st0rage, To avoid engine problems, the fuel system should be emptied before storage of 30 days or longer, Drain the gas tank, start the engine and let it

run until the fue! 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,

TO START ENGINE

• 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 whk;h has already run for

a few minutes.

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

Do not allow starter rope to snap back,

• To stop engine, release operator presence control bar,

NO'fE: In cooler weather it may be necessary to repeat pdming steps, In warmer 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.

Gasolinefiiler cap Engine oilcap

MOWING TIPS o Under certain conditions, such as very

t_tll grass, it may be necessaryto raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and tc keep from overloading the engine

and leaving clumps of grass clippings. It may also be necessa_ to reduce

ground speed and!or run the lawn mower over the area a second time.

- 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.

° When using a rear discharge lawn

mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps of cut grass may not enter the grass

catcher, Reduce ground speed (push- ing speed)and/or run the lawn mower

over the area a second time.

= If a trail-of clippings is left on the right

side of a rear discharge mower, mow in a clockwise direction with a small

overlap to collect the clippings on the next pass.

° Pores in cloth grass catchers can

become filled with dirt and dust with use

and catchers will collect less grass,_ To prevent this, regularly hos_'catcher off with water and le! dry bef0re using.

o Keep top cf engine around starter clear

and clean of grass clippings and chaff. This will help engine air flow and extend

engine life.

MULCHING MOWING TIPS IMPORTANT: Forbest performance, keep

mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. See "Cleaning" in MAINTENANCE

section of this manual.

= The special rnulching blade will recur the

grass clippings many times and reduce them in size so thatas they fall onto the

lawn they will disperse intothe grass and not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will blodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this wl!l provide the best recuttlng action of the blades.

o Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet. Wet

grass tends toform clumps and interferes with the mulching action. The best t_meto

mow your lawn Is the early afternoon. At this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area will 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-thirdof the grass blades.

If the lawn is overgrown it will be necessary to raise the height 0f cut to reduqe pushing effort and to keep from overloading the

engtne and leaving clumps of mu_ched grass. For extremely heavy mulching, reduce your width cf cut by cverfapping

previously cut path and mow slowly.

o Certain types of grass and grass conditions

may require thatan area be mulched a second time to completely hide the clippings. When doing a second cut, mow across or perpend{cular to the first cut path.

• Changeyour cutting pattern from week to week. Mow north to south one week then

change to east to west the next week. This wilt help prevent matting and graining of the

lawn.

Max, 1/3

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

FILL IN DATES AS YOU COMPLETE REGULAR SERVICE

Chepkfor Loose Fas!eneFs _ i

C|ean/tnspect Grass Catcher

,(ifEq,uipped) ...... I,/ IV#

M CleanLawn Mower _ iJ_-.

iO Clean Under DriveCover

IM (P°wer"Pr°pelied Mowers) ....

:_ Check drivebeiVpulIeys.

iR _d Mowers3

Chec_,$harpeNRepleceBlade .....

LubricationChad " IV/ V' ................

_ry/Recharge

t/' I-

SERVICE DATES

(Electric,,slsrtMow_,_) ,, .,,, V' v'4

°E Check Engine, Olt Level J

. , , , ,

N ChangeEngineOil ............

G Clean Air Fiiler _ 2

| inspecIMuffler J ' J i i

N 'Ciean or ReplaceSpark Plug "' ___

E Repiac Pap,B ,C dd ge .........V'=

I - Cha."_gomore often whenopem'Jngund_,_'t=he_,y toad orlnhighambient ternpotat'Jrr_s,

2 - S8_/TIOT_, organ when i:)por a_r'_g _ ditt_ or dusty c=3rtdffJo;18

3 - Replace blades more citronwhenmoving in_ndy _1],

4- ch_,,o4,,o_.._ o._o_-ooo.- LU BRICATION CHART

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS )Wheel Adjuster 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 mower as instructed in this manual.

Some adjustments will need to be made periodically to properly maintain your unit. All adjustments in the Service and

Adjustments section of this manual should be checked at least once each season.

o Once a year, replace the spark plug,

replace air filter element and check blade for wear, A new spark pIug and '_ Rear door

clean/new air fitter element assures (_ Handle bracket hinge proper aiPfuel mixture and helps your mounting pin

engine run better and last 10r_ger;.

,, Follow the maintenanceschedule tn this (_) Spay tubdoant

manual. (_) Referto MAINTENANCE'ENGINE"

BEFORE EACH USE, section.

- Check engine oil level.

• Check for loose fasteners, IMPORTANT; Do not oil or grease LUBRICATION plastic wheel bearings, Viscous lubricants

Keep unit well lubricated (See "LUBRICA- will attract dust and dirt that will shorten T!ON CHART"). the life of the self lubricating bearings. If

you feel they must be lubricated, use only a dry, powdered graphite type lubricant

sparingly.

10 "

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

MODEL NUMBER 917.377522 SERIAL NUMBER

DATE OF PURCHASE

HORSEPOWER: 5,0

DISPLACEMENT: 11.6 CU. IN. GASOLINE CAPACITY/TYPE: I.6QUARTS

UNLEADED REGULAR

OIL TYPE (API-SFiSG/SH): SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F)

SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32"F)

OIL CAPACITY: 20 OZS,

SPARK PLUG(GAP: .030") CHAMPIONR JI9LM OR J19LM VALVE CLEARANCE: INTAKE: .005" _ .007"

EXHAUST: .007" - .009"

SOLID S½ATE IGNITION

AIR GAP: .010 IN.

BLADE BOLT TORQUE: 35-40 FT, LBS.

The model and serial numbers will be found on a decal attached to the rear of the

lawn mower housing,Record both serial number and date of purchase in space provided above,

LAWN MOWER

Always observe safety rules when performing any maintenance.

TIRES

• Keep ttres 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.

BLADE CARE

For best results, mower btade must be kept sharp, Replace bent or damaged

blades.

TO REMOVE BLADE

• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

plug and place wlre where it cannot come in contact with spark plug,

• Turn lawn mower on its side. Make sure

air filter and carburetor are up.

° Use a wood block between blade and

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

• Protect your hands wlth gloves and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth,

. Remove blade bolt by turnfng counter-

clockwise.

• Remove blade and attaching hardware (bolt, lock washer and 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

properIy. Replace adapter if damaged.

TO REPLACE BLADE

• Position the blade adapter on the engine crankshaft. Be sure key in adapter and

crankshaft keyway are aligned. '

• Position blade on the b!ade adapter aligning the two (2) ho!es in the blade

with the raised lugs on the adapter."

° Be sure the trailing edge of blade

(opposite sharp edge) is up toward the engine.

• Install the blade bolt with the lock washer and hardened washer into blade

adapter and crankshaft.

° 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: Bladeboltis grade8heat treated.

TOSHARPENBLADE NOTE: Wedonotrecommendsharpen-

ingblade- but if you do, be sure the blade

is balanced. Care should be taken to keep the blade

balanced. An unbalanced blade wilt cause eventual damage to lawn 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, ddve a nail into

a beam or walt. Leave about one inch of the straight nail exposed. Place center

h01e of blade over the head of the nail. If blade is balanced, it should remain In

a horizontal position, tf elther end of the blade moves downward, sharpen the

heavy end until the blade is balanced.

GRASS CATCHER

Crank-

Blade shaft

ada >ter keyway

Blade Ke_....,_ _

• Remove hubcaps, hairpin cotters ahd washers.

• Remove wheels from wheel adjusters.

o Remove any trash or grass cuttings from

inside the dust cover, pinion and/or drive wheel gear teeth_

, Put wheels back in place.

° If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not

turn freely, contact your nearest

authorized 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 ts 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 Texaco

Starplex Premium 1 Grease, Part No.

750369. Do not substitute.

ENGINE LUBRICATION

Use only high quality detergent oil rated with

API service classification SF, SG or SH°

Select the oil's SAE viscos_ grade according to your expec!ed operating temperature.

washer edge adapter

• The grass catcher may be hosed with water, but must be dry when used.

° Check your grass catcher often for

damage or deterioration. Through normal use it wil! wear. If catcher needs

replacing, replace only with a manufac- turer approved replacement catchei': '_:` Give the lawn mower model number when ordering.

DRIVE WHEELS

Check front drive wheels each time before you mow to be sure they move freely°

The wheels not turning freely means t[ash, grass cuttings, etc. are in the df_ve wheel

area and must be cleaned to free drive wheels.

If necessary to clean the drive wheels,

check both front wheels.

NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30,

10W30 etc,) improve sta_ng in cold weather, these multi-viscosity 0its_ll resultinincreased oil c,_nsumpti0n when :used above &?.oF; :

Check your engine oil level more frequently to avoid possible engine damage from running '

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 olt plug securely each _Jmeyou check the oil level.

TOCHANGEENGINEOIL NOTE:Beforetippinglawnmowertodrain

oi!,drainfueltankbyrunningengineuntilfuel tankisempty,

° Disconnectsparkplugwire fromsparkplug

andplacewirewhereitcannotcomein contactwithSparkplug.

° Removeengineoilcap;layasideonaclean

surface.

• Tiplawnmoweronitssideassfiownand drain0ilintoasuitablecontainer.Rocklawn

mowerbackandforthtoremoveanyoil trappedinsideofengfne.

• Wipeoffany spilled oil on lawn mower and

on side of engine,

• Fill engine with oil. Fill only to the "FULL"line on the dipstick. DO NOT overfill..

° Replace engine oli cap.

• Reconnect spark plug wire to spark plug.

Container

AIR FILTER

Your engine will not run properly and may be damaged by using a dirty air filter. Replace the air filter every year, more often if you mow in very dusty, dirty

conditions,

TO CLEAN AIR FIL]"ER

• Loosen screw and tilt cover to remove.

• Carefully remove cartridge,

• Clean by gently tapping on a flat surface, If very dirty replace cartridge,

,'_CAUTION" Pet_:oieum ,solvents, such

as kerosene are not to becaused to clean cartridge. They may cause deterioration of

the cartridge. Do not oil cartridge, Do not use pressurized air to clean or dry

cartridge. ° Install cartridge, then replace cover

making sure the tabs are aligned with

the slots in the back plate. Fasten screw securely.

Back

Slots _la!e

Cover

tabs

Cartridge Cover

MUFFLER

Inspect and replace corroded muffler as it

could create a fire hazard and/or damage. SPARK PLUG

Change your spark plug each year to make your engine start easier and run

better. Set spark plug gap at ,030 Inch,

CLEANING IMPORTANT: Forbest performance, keep

mower housing free of built-up grass and

trash. Clean the underside of your mower after each use.

,_,CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire

from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with the spark plug,

° "rum lawn mower on its side. Make sure air

filter and carburetor are up. Clean the underside of your lawn mower by scraping

to remove buildup of grass and trash,

• Clean engine often to keep trash from accumulating. A_clogged engine runs hotter and shortens engtne 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 buildup of trash or grass on underside of drive cover.

,_I, CAUTION: BEFORE PERFORMING

ANY SERVICE OR ADJUSTMENTS:

• Release control bar and stop engine. ° Make sure the blade and all moving

parts have completely stopped.

° Disconnect spark plug wire from

spark plug and place 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, attach_ed between the

rear wheels of your lawn mower, is provided to minimize the possibility that objects will be thrown out the rear ol the

lawn mower into the operator's mowing position: Ifothe rear deflector becomes

damaged, it should be replaced,

TO REMOVE/REPLACE DRIVE BELT o Remove drive cover. Remove belt by

pushlng down on gear case pulley and roiling belt off it,

° Turn lawn mower on its side with

carburetor and fuel cap up,

• Remove blade,

• Remove debris shield, ° Remove belt from engine puiley on

crankshaft.

° Install new belt by reversing above

steps.

, Always use factory approved belt to

assure fit and long life,

° To change from medium low to medium

high position, the upper and lower handle

sections willhave to be turned over,

° Remove the cable clips.

• Remove the controls and operator presence control bar from the upper handle.

• Remove the starter rope guide from the upper handle.

° Remove hairpin cotters, ° Disconnect the lower handle from the

handle brackets.

° Turn the handle over and reassemble the

hairpin cotters that have been removed,

• Reassemble the starter rope guide.

° Reassemble lhe controls and theoperator _resence control bar to the upper handle.

CAUTION; The operator presence control bar must pivot freely to permit blade brake engagement when control bar is released° Do not over tighten the fasteners holding the controls to the upper

handle. ° To change from medium low to high

posltton only the upper handle section

will have to be turned over.

o To change from medium low to !ow

position, only the lower handle section will have to be turned over,

Shipping position

Medium low Medium high

Drivo

Cover

Push

down

TO ADJUST HANDLE

Your lawn mower handle can be raised or lowered for your mowing comfort. Four

(4) positions are available: high, medium high, medium low and low. Handles are shipped mounted in the medium low

position.

Low

Lowerhandle Lower Frame

Squeeze to

remove

Handle bracket

Hairpin cotter

TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCHER o Insert leg of tubular frame through front

opening of grass catcher and thread

frame into sewn hem of bag. NOTE: Keep bag hem gathered on the straight leg of the tubular frame.

• When frame comes out the other end of

sewn hem, Immediately work the end of

frame down inside the bag as shown tn

Inset. , Slide sewn hem evenly around the

tubular frame until both ends of frame

are exposed out of the front opening,

° Assemble lower frame to tubular frame

as shown, Be sure handle is 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 it dry before using.

• Close the flip lld. Fllp lid must be closed

while operating lawn mower,

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn

mower without clipping deflector or approved grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with

the rear door removed or propped open.

Sewn

Tubular frame _ [_

Flip lid

(Frames must be fully seated)

Tubular

Frame

Lowerframe handle

ENGINE ENGINE SPEED

Your engine speed has been factory set.

Do not attempt to increase engine speed or it may result in personal injury. If you

believe that the engine is running too fast or too slow, take your lawn mower to an

auth0rized Service centei" for repair and adjustment.

CARBURETOR Your carburetor isnot adjustable. If your

engine does not operate properly due to suspectedcarburetor problems, takeyour

lawn mower to an authorized service

center for repairand/or adjustment. IMPORTANT; Never tamper with the

engine governor,which is factory set for properengine speed. Overspeedtng the engineabove the factory high speed

setting can be dangerous, Ifyou thinkthe engine-governedhigh speed needs

adjusting, contactyour nearest AUTHORIZED service center, which has

proper equipment and experience to make any necessary adjustments.

+ 33 hidden pages

Craftsman 917377522 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual