Craftsman 917.377544 User Manual

Owner's Manual

CRnFTSMnN

6.5 HORSEPOWER! 22" REAR DISCH_

POWER PROPELLED

ROTARY LAWN MQ_/_E_

Model No.

917.377544

• Safety

• Assembly

• Operation

• Maintenance

• Espa_ol

• Repair Parts

CAUTION:

Read and follow all Safety Rules and Instructions

before operating this equipment

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

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

Warranty 2 Product Specifications 11 Safety Rules 2 Service and Adjustments 14 Assembly 4 Storage 16 Operation 6 Troubleshooting 17 Maintenance Schedule 10 Repair Parts 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 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, 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 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 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

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, especially small children and pets.

• Use mower only as the manufacturer intended and as described 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 manufac- turer. 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. Dress properly. Do not operate mower

when barefoot or wearing open sandals.

Wearonlysolidshoeswith good traction

when mowing.

• Check fuel tank before starting engine.

Do not fill gas tank indoors, when the engine is running or when the engine is hot. Allow the engine to cool for several minutes before filling 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 this while the engine is

running.

• Mow only in daylight or good artificial

light.

OPERATION:

• Keep your eyes and mind on your

mower and the area being cut. Do not let other interests distract you.

• Do not mow wet or slippery grass. Never run while operating your mower. Always be sure of your 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 dis-

charge opening at all times.

• Always 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.

• 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 keep it 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 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. Excessive 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 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 excessively 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 bolts, nuts and screws at

frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure mower is in safe working

condition.

• Keep all safety 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 detedora- 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 cool 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.

ALook for this symbol to point out important safety precautions. It means CAUTION!!! BECOMEALERT!!! YOUR

SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

_I,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.

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. Most Seam 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

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

I LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

MUFFLERS

BELTS BLADES BLADE ADAPTERS

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 assembled

at the factory with the exception of those pads

left unassembled for shipping purposes. All parts such as nuts, washers, belts, 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.

MULCHER KITS

FOR

SIDE DISCHARGE

GRASS CATCHERS

AIR FILTERS

WHEELS

STABILIZER

GAS CANS

SPARK PLUGS

ENGINE OIL

TO REMOVE LAWNMOWER FROM CARTON

• Remove loose parts included with mower.

• Cut down two end comers 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.

• Roll lawn mower out of carton and check carton thoroughly for additional loose parts.

HOWTO SET UPYOUR LAWNMOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE

IMPORTANT: Unfold handles carefully so as not to pinch or damage control cables.

• Raise handles until lower handle section locks into place in mowing position.

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

• Remove handle padding holding operator

presence control bar to upper handle.

• Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted for your mowing comfort. Refer to "Adjust

Handle" inthe Service and Adjustment

section of thismanual.

Operator presence control bar

Upper handle

Lift up up

TO INSTALL ATrACHMENTS

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

• Open rear door and remove mulcher plug. Store mulcher plug in a safe place.

• You can now install catcher or optional

clipping deflector.

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

mower. Be sure all tabs are seated pmpedy.

Mulcher pluc

Lower handle

Mowing

position

_,CAUTION: Do not run your lawn

mower without mulcher plug in place or approved clipping deflector or grass

catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear

door removed or propped open.

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUALAND 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.

symbolsmayappearonyourlawnmowerorinliteraturesuppliedwiththeproduct.Learnandunderstand

themmeaning.

A I"o,I

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

OR WARNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAY

Engine zone control cable

-_ Operator presence control bar Drive control lever

Starter handle

Handle knob

Grass catcher

Mulcher plug

Engine oil cap w/

dipstick

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine.

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conform to the safety standards of the American

National Standards Institute and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. 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 cold engine. Starter handle - used for starting the 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 operation.

Gasoline cap

Primer

Housing

Wheel adjuster

(on each wheel)

The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign

objects thrown 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 spectacles or standard safety 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 Hinge lawn mower in order to minimize the risk

of blade contact injury. Do not under any circumstances attempt to defeat the function of the operator control. The blade

turns when the engine is running.

• Your lawn mower is equipped with an operator presence control bar which

requires the operator to be positioned Formed

behind the lawn mower handle to start tabs

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 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. Plate Tab

Lower Wheels for High Cut_

TO A'I'rACH GRASS CATCHER

• Close the lift top lid. Lift top lid must

be closed while operating lawn mower.

• Lift the rear door on the mower

housing and peace the grass catcher frame onto the formed tabs on the rear

door hinge bracket.

• The grass catcher is secured to the

lawn mower housing when the rear

ACAUTION: 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.

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

• To remove grass catcher, release

• Lift up rear door and remove the grass

NOTE: Do not drag the bag when

emptying; it will cause unnecessary wear.

door is lowered onto the grass catcher frame.

Rear door

Grass catcher

frame

operator presence control bar to stop engine.

catcher by the handle.

Raise Wheels for Low Cut

.o or

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 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 slightly until the drive control disengages. Hold operator presence control bar down to handle to continue mowing without self- propelling.

• To keep drive control engaged when

turning corners, push down on handle and lift front wheels off ground while

turning lawn mower.

Operator presence control bar

Drive

"_ control

To engage drive Drive control control disengaged

ADD GASOLINE

• Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87

octane. Do not mix oil viith gasoline.

Purchase fuel in quantities that can be

used within 30 days to assure fuel freshness.

AWARNING: 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 storage of 30 days or longer, Drain the gas tank, start the engine and let it run until the

fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage

Instructions for additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in

the fuel tank or permanent damage may

occur,

ACAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank filler neck. Do not overfill. Wipe off any

spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline near an open flame.

Engine oil cap

Gasoline filler cap

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

OIL

Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in the

engine.

• Be sure mower is level and area around oil fill is clean.

• Remove engine oil cap and fillto the full

line on the dipstick.

NOTE: Allow oil to settle down into engine

for accurate dipstick reading.

• Engine holds 20 ozs. of oil. For type and

grade of oil to use, see "ENGINE" in Maintenance section of this manual.

• Pour oil slowly. Do not over fill.

• Check oil level before each use. Add oil if

needed. Fill to full line on dipstick.

• To read proper level, tighten engine oil cap each time.

• Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten.

• Change the oil alter every 25 hours of

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

TO START ENGINE

• To start a cold engine, push primer five (5) times before trying to start. Use a firm push.

This step is not usually necessary when starting an engine which has already run

for a few minutes.

• 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.

NOTE: In cooler weather it may be

necessary to repeat priming steps. In

warmer weather over priming may cause flooding and engine will not start. If you

do flood engine, wait a few minutes before 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 it

may also be necessary 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 hose catcher off

with water and let dry before using.

• Keep top of engine around starter clear

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

MULCHING MOWINGTIPS

IMPORTANT: For bestperformance,keep mower housingfree of built-upgrassand trash See "Cleaning" in Maintenancesection

of thismanual

• The special mulching blade will recut the

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

lawn they will disperse into the grass and not be noticed Also, the mulched grass

will biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients

for the lawn Always mulch with your

highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best recutting action of the

blades

• Avoid cutting your lawn when itis wet Wet grass tends to form clumps and interferes

with the mulching action The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon At

this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area will not be eN:_sed to the direct

sun.

• 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. Ifthe lawn is overgrown itwill 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 condi- tions may require that an area be mulched

a second time to completely hide the clippings When doing a second cut, mow

across or perpendicular to the first cut path

• Change your cutting pattem 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

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

FILL IN DATES AS YOU COMPLETE REGULAR SERVICE

Check for LooseFasteners I_ "Ik/

ClaarYlnspectGrass Catcher (If Equipped) _ _ _'

a Clean Lawn Mower

Clean Under Drive Cover

Check drivebelt/pulleys

W {Power-Propelled Mowers) !/

(Power-PropelledMowers) I_

R Check/Sharpen/Replace Blade 1_3

LubricationChart I/

Clean Battery/Recharge

IElectric Start Mowers/ I_/ I/'4

E Check En_]ineOilLevel !##

Change EngineOil q_1,2

Inspect Muffler

GI Clean Air Filter _ 2

N Clean or Replace Spark Plug

ReplaceAir Filter Paper Cartridge I/'2

1 - Change more often when operating under a heavy load or In high ambient temperatures.

2 - Service more often when operating In dirtyor dusty co_ditions. 3 - Replace blades more often when mowing In sandy soil. 4 - Charge 48 hours at end of season.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty on this lawn mower does not cover items that have been subjected to operator abuse or negligence, To receive

full value from the warranty, operator must

maintain 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.

• Once a year, replace the spark plug,

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

clean/new air filter element assures proper air-fuel mixture and helps your

engine run better and last longer.

• Follow the maintenance schedule in this

manual.

BEFORE EACH USE

• Check engine oil level.

• Check for loose fasteners.

LUBRICATION Keep unit well lubricated (See "LUBRICA-

TION CHART").

(_ Wheel

(_Handle bracket

(_ Spraylubricant

IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease plastic wheel bearings. Viscous lubricants will attract

dust and dirt that will shorten the life of the self

lubricating beadngs. If you feel they must be lubricated, use only a dry, powdered graphite

3ERVICE DATES

LUBRICATION CHART

adjuster (_) Engine

oil

(_) Brake

spring bracket

(_ Rear door

hinge

mounting pin

Refer to Maintenance "ENGINE"

SeCtion.

lOl,/!_ lubdcant s_adngly.

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