Craftsman 917.377582 User Manual

Owner's Manual

£RRFTSMRN°

6.75 HORSEPOWER
22" REAR DISCHARGE

POWER PROPELLED
ROTARY LAWN MOWER

Model No.

917.377582

• 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

Warranty

Safety Rules

Assembly
Operation

Maintenance Schedule

Maintenance

I

2 Product Specifications 11
2 Service and Adjustments 14

4 Storage 16
6 Troubleshooting 17

10 Repair Parts 37
10 Parts Ordering Back Cover

LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER

For two years from date of 15umhase, when this Craftsman Lawn Mower is maintained,
lubricated, and tuned up acCording to the operating and maintenance instructions in the

owner's manual, Searsiwill _'epa r free of charge any defect n mater a or workmanship
If th=s Craftsman Lawn Mower is used for commerc=al or rental purposes, this warranty

applies for only 90 days fro_ the date of purchase.

This Warranty does not cover:

• Expendable items which become worn during normal use, such as rotary mower
blades, blade adapters, I_elts, a=rcleaners and spark plug.

• Repairs necessary b,bca_se 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 byr_tuming 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 spec fic ega 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 pres-

ence controls to minimize the risk of injury.

Your unit is equipped with such controls.

Do not attempt to defeat the function of the

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 tums 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.

2

• Dressproperly.Donotoperatemower
whenbarefootorwearingopensandals.
Wearonlysolidshoeswithgoodtraction

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 discharge
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

fu_ ara dan_raus.

• 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 in 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 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 deteriora-
tion and wear and replace worn bags.

Use only replacement begs that are
recommended by and comply with

spec'ifications 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.

ACAUTION: 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.

3

Theseaccessorieswereavailablewhenthislawnmowerwasproduced. They are alsoavaH_d:)io

at most Sears retailoutlets and service centers. Most Sears stores can also order i_ir parts for

you, when you provide the model number of your lawn mower. Some of these accessories may

not apply toyour lawn mower.

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

FL

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

MUFFLERS AIR FILTERS SPARK PLUGS

BELTS BLADES BLADE ADAPTERS WHEELS ENGINE OIL

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 pads bag. To ensure

safe and proper operation of your lawn

mower, all parts and hardware you as-

semble must be tightened securely. Use the
correct tools as necessary to ensure proper

tightness.

MULCHER KITS

FOR

J SIDE DISCHARGE

GRASS CATCHERS

LAWN MOWERS

STABILIZER

GAS CANS

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
handle and padding holding operator
presence control bar to upper handle.

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

pads.

4

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN
MOWER

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
handles 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" in the Service and

Adjustment section of this manual.

Operator presence
controlbar

up

Uft up

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

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 retum to mulching operation, install

mulcher plug into discharge opening of

mower.

Mulcher plug_

ACAUTION: Do not mn 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.

Lower
handle

Mowing

position

5

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER
READTHIS OWNER"SMANUALAND SAFETYRULES BEFORE OPERATINGYOUR LAWN

MOWER. Comparethe illustrationswithyourlawnmowertofamiliarize yourselfwiththe location
ofvariouscontrolsandadjustments.Savethismanualforfuture reference.

These symbols may appear onyour lawn mower or in literature suppliedwiththe
product. Learn and understand their meaning.

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

OR WARNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAY

Operator presence controlbar

Starter handle

Mulcher plug

Gasoline filler cap

\

Drivecontrollever

Engine oilcap

withdipstick

Drive cover

Primer

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conform to the safety standards of the American
National Standards Instituteand the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The blade
lures when the enRi,"he is running.

Operator Presence Control Bar- must be
held down to the handle to start the engine.

Release to stop the engine.
Palmer - pumps additional fuel from the

carburetor to the cylinder foruse when starting
a cold engine.
Starter Handle - used for starting the engine.

Wheel adjuster
(on each wheel)

Drive Control Lever-- used toengage

power-propelledforwardmotionof lawn

mower.

Mulcher Plug - locatedatthe discharge
opening must be removed when convert-

ing tobagging or dischargingoperation.

Lawn mower housing

The operationofany lawn mower can reeultin
foreign objectsthrownintothe eyes,whichcan
resultinsevereeye damage. Alwayswear
safetyglassesoreye shieldswhileoperating
yourlawnmoweror performinganyadjust-
mentsor _alm. We recommenda wide

visionsafety maskoverspectaclesorstandard
safety glasses.

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL
The engine speed was set at the factory

for optimum performance. Speed is not
adjustable.

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL
ACAUTION: Federal regulations require

an engine control to be installed onthis
lawn mower inorder to minimize the risk of

blade contact injury.Do not under any
circumstancesattempt to defeat the
functionof the operator control.The blade

turns when the engine is running.

• Your lawnmoweris equippedwithan

operatorpresencecontrolbarwhich

requirestheoperatorto be

behindthe lawn mowerhandletostadand
operatethe lawnmower.

TO ADJUST CUTnNG HEIGHT

• Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels

for high cut.

• Adjust cuttingheight to suityour require-
ments. Medium position is best formost

lawns.

• To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster
lever toward wheel.Move wheel up ordown

to suit your requirements. Be sure all wheels
are in the same satUng.

NOTE: Adjuster is properly pesitk)ned when
plate tab inserts intohole in lever. Also, 9-
position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever
to be positioned between the plate tabs.

LowerWheels for High Cut

TO A'rrACH GRASS CATCHER

• cleee itip FRp be

while operating lawn mower.

• Liftthe rear door on the mower housingand

place the grass catcher frame onto the
formed tabs on the rear door hinge bracket.

• The grass catcher issecured to the lawn
mower housing when the rear door is

lowered ontothe grass 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 propped open.

Hinge door
bracket

Formed

tabs

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

• To removegrasscatcher,reteaseoperator

presencecontrolbarto stopengine.

• Liftupreardoorand removethe grass

catcherbythehandle.

NOTE: Do notdragthe bag when emptying;
itwillcauseunnecessarywear.

Grass catcher

Raise Wheels _ P_

for LowCut _ _ Lever

)RIVE CONTROL

Self-propelling iscontrollid by holding the
operator presence control bar down to the

handle and pushing the drive control liver

forward until it clicks; then release the liver.

Forward motion willstop when the operator
presence control bar is released. To stop
forward motion without stopping engine,

release the operator presence control bar
slightlyuntilthe drive control disengages.

Hold operator presence control bar down to

handle to continue mowing without self-

propelling.

. To keep drive control engaged when turning

comers, push down on handle and lift front

wheels oftground while tuming lawn

mower.

)perator presence Drive

control bar_ \ _ _ -- "ontrol

\_ \_, Drivecontrol

TOengage x, \x _i_...... ,_

drive control

dl_l lyctyt_u

3EFORE STARTING ENGINE
OIL

_'ourlawn mower is shipped without oilinthe
=.ngine.

, Be sure mower is level and area around oil

flUis clean.

, Remove engine oilcap and fillto the full line

on the dipstick.

, Use 27 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. Fillto full line on dil_tick.

• To read proper level, tighten engine oilcap
each {ime.

• Reinstall engine oilcap and tighten.

• Change the oilafter every 25 hours of

operation or each season. You may need

to change the oil more often under dusty,

dirtyconditions.

GAS

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

octane. Do not mix oilwith gasoline.

Purchase fuel in quantities thatcan be used

within 30 days to assure fuel freshness.

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 storage of 30 days or

longer. 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 Instructions for additional
information. Never use engine or carbure-
tor cleaner products in fuel tank or

permanent damage may occur.

Engine oil cap

fillercap

Gasoline _

TO START ENGINE

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

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

a few minutes.

• Hold operator presence controlbar down to
the handle and pullstarter handle quickly.

Do not allow starter rope to snap back.

• To stop engine, release operator presence

controlbar.

NOTE: In cooler weather itmay be necessary

to repeat priming steps. In warmer weether

over priming may cause flooding and engine
will not start. If you do flood engine, wait a few
minutes before attempting to startand 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 MOWING TIPS
IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep

mower housing free of built-up grass and

trash. Clean UNDERSIDE OF MOWER

HOUSING after each use. See "Cleaning" in
MAINTENANCE section ofthis manual.

• 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 it is wet. Wet
grass tends to form dumps and interferes

with the mulching action. The best time to

mow your lawn is the early aftemoon. At this
time the grass has dried and the newly cut
area will not be exposed 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 it willbe necessary
to raise the height of cutto reduce pushing
effort and to keep from overloading the
engine and leavingclumps of mulched

grass. For extremely heavy mulching,

reduce your width ofcut, mow slowly and

raise the rear of the lawn mower one wheel

adjuster setting higher than the front.

• Certain types of grass and grass conditions

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 firstcut path.

• Change your cutting pettem 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 grainingof the

lawn.

9