Craftsman 917377590 Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual

I:RnFT, M N °

6=75 HORSEPOWER 22" REAR DISCHARGE

POWER PROPELLED

ROTARY LAWN MOWER

Model No.

917.377590

* Safety , Assembly

Operation

o Maintenance o Espadoi

= Repair Parts

CAUTION:

Read and follow all

Safety Rules and Instructions before=operating this equipment

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, 1/.60179

Warranty 2 Product Specifications 11 Safety Rules 2 Service and Adjustments 14

Assembly 4 Storage 15 Operation 6 Troubleshooting 16

Maintenance Schedule 10 Repair Parts 35 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 Ihe 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

TRAINING: ,, Read this operator's manual carefully.

Become familiar with the controls and know how to operate your mower

propedy. Learn how to quickly stop mower.

o 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-.

lurer. 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 he 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 weadng open sandals. Wear only solid shoes with good traction

when mowing.

= Check fuel tank before starting engine.

Do not fill gas tank Indoors, when the

engine is running or when the engine is

hot.Allowtheenginetocoolforseveral minutesbeforefillingthegastank,Clean offanyspilledgasolinebeforestartingthe engine,

,, Alwaysmakewheelheightadjustments

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

interes!s distract you,

. Do not mow wet or slippery grass, Never

run while operating your mower, Always be sure of your tooting -- 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 el! moving

parts have stopped, Then discen_oect the spark Plug wire and keep it away from the

spark plug to prevent accidental starting,

o 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. Eidgine damage or personal injury may resulL

° 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 ere 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 in place.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE:

° Check the blade and the engine mount-

ing bolts often to be sure they are

tightened propedy,

• Check all bolts, nuts and screws at frequent intewals 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 of!on 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 cool before storing in any enclosure,

o Never store mower with fuel in the tank

inside a building where fumes may reach an open flame or an ignition sol.]rce 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 ac,cldental starting when setting up, transporting,

adjusting or making repairs. WARNING The engine exhaust from this product

contains chemLcals 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 also available at most Sears retail outlets and service centers, Most Sears stores can also order

repair parts for you, when you provide the model number of your lawn mower. Some of these

accessories may not apply to your lawn mower.

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

MULCHER KITS

SIDE DISCHARGE

GRASS CATCHERS

LAWN MOWERS

STABILIZER

FOR

GAS CANS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

AIR FILTERS

BELTS • BLADES BLADE ADAPTERS WHEELS ENGINE OIL

, , L •

SPARK, PLUGS,,

Read these instructionsand this manual in its ,, Roll lawn mower out of carton and'check 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 tocomplete the

as§embly have been placed in the parts bag.

To ensure safe and proper operation of your

lawn mower, all parts and hardware you assemble must be tightened securely. Use the

correct tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness. TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM

CARTON

• Remove lbose parts Included with mower. o Cut down two end comers of carton and lay

end panel down flat.

carton thoroughly for additional loose parts.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE

iMPORTANT: Unfold handles carefuUy so as

not to pinch or damage control cables.

,, Raise handles until iower 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,

o Remove handle padding holding operator

presence control bar to upper handle,

• Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted foryour mowing comfort. Refer to "Adjust Handle" in the Service and Adjustment

sectionof thismanual.

° Remove all packing matedals except

padding between upper and lower handle and padding holding operator presence

control bar to upper handle,

NOTE: Forshippingpurposes,therear wheelsonyourlawnmowerarenotadjusted tothesamepositionasthefrontwheels.

Beforeoperatingmoweradjustallwheelsto thesamecuttingheightposition.

Operator presence centre I bar

Uppper handle ..._+,....

Lift up

Mowing position

Lower handle

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS Your lawn mower was shipped ready tObe

used as a mulcher, To convert to bagging or discharging:

+ Open rear dool and remove mutcher plug.

Store mulcher plug in a safe place.

• You can now install catcher or optional dipping deflector.

. To retum to mulching operation, install

mulcher plug into discharge opening of mower, Be sure all tabs are seated

propedy.

Mulcher plug_

CAUTION: D_Jnot run your lawn mower without mulcher plug in place or approved

dipping deflector or grass catcher in place, Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with

the rear door removed or propped open+

KNOWYOURLAWNMOWER READTHISOWNER'SMANUALANDSAFETYRULESBEFOREOPERATINGYOURLAWN MOWER.Comparetheillustrationswith your lawn mower to familiarize yourself with 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

producL Learn and understand these meaning,

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

OR WARNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAY

Engine zone control cable

-_ presence control bar Drive control lever

Starter handle

Handle knob

Mulcher plug Engine oil cap w/dipstick

Housing

t cover

Gasoline cap

F Wheel adjuster

'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

(on each wheel)

turnswhen the engineis running_ ()perator presence control bar - must be

helddown tothehandle to start the engine.

Releaseto stoptheengine. Primer- pumps additionalfuel fromthe carburetorto the cylinderfor usewhen starting

Starter handle-used for starting the engine. Drive control lever- used to engage power-

propetled forward motion of lawn mower.

Mulcher plug - must be removed to convert to

bagging or discharging operation.

a coldengine,

Tileoperationof 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 the spectacles or standard safety glasses.

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

without rnulcher plate in place and door closed or without an approved clipping deflector or

grasscatcher in place. Never attemptto operate the lawn mower with the rear door

removed or propped open. ENGINE SPEED

'The eng!ne speed was set at the factory for optimum performance, Speed is not

adjustable, ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

CAUTION; Fedora! _egulations require an engine control to be installed on th[s 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,

o Your lawn mower is equipped with an

opei'at6r pre_ence 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

• Raisewheels for lowcut and lowerwheels for highcut.

. Adjustcutting heightto suityour require-

ments. Medium positionis bestfor most

lawns,

= Tochange Cuttingheight,squeeze adjuster

levertoward wheel, Move wheel up or downto suit your requirements Be sure all

wheelsare inthe same setting

NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned when plate tab inserts into hole in lever,

Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever t0 be positioned between the

plate tabs,

Plate Tab

Lower Wheels for High Cut _ ,_

ver_ ' ' i"'_t

Raise Wheels for Low Cut

TO ATTACH GRASS CATCHER

o 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 tabs on the rear door hinge bracket,

° The grass catcher is secured to the lawn

mower housing when the rear door is

lowere d onto the 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

Reardoor

Formed

tabs

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

. To remove grass catcSer, release Operator

presence control bar to stop engine.

• Lift up rear door and remove the gress catcher by the handle.

= Do not drag the bag when emptying; itwill

cause unnecessary wear.

DRIVECONTROL

o Self-propellingiscontrolledbyholding

theoperatorpresencecontrolbardown tothehandleandpushingthedrive

controlleverforwarduntilit clicks; then

release the lever.

o 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- propeiting,

° To keep drive control engaged when

turning comers, push down on handle

and lift front wheels off ground While

turning lawn mower.

Operator presence control bar

To engage drive control

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE OIL

Your lawn mower Is shipped without oil in the

engine,

* Be sure moweris level and area around oil

fill is clean.

o Remove engine oil cap w/dipstick and fill to

the full line on the dipstick.

o Use 27 ozs. of oil. For type and grade of oil

to use, see "ENGINE" in Customer Responsibilities section of thi._manual.

o 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.

o Change the oil after every 25 hours of

operation oreach season. You may need to change the oil more often under dusty,

dirty conditions,

Drive

Ddve cont_l desengaged

ADD GASOUNE ,, Fill fuel tank, Use fresh, clean, regular

unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. Do not mix oil with gasoline.

Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used

within 30 days to assure fuel freshness, IMPORTANT_ When operating in temperatures below 32°F(0°C), use fresh, clean winter grade gasoflne to help insure good cold weather starting,

WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol

or methan01) can attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of acids dudng

storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an engine while in storage. ]b 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,

CAUTION: RII 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.

filler cap Entine oil cap w/

dipstick

TO START ENGINE

• To start a cold engine, push prfmer five (5) times before trying to start. Use a fin'n push.

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

a few minutes.

• Hold operator presence control bar down to

the handle and pull starter handle quicldy. Do not allow starter rope to snap back.

o To stop engine, release operator presence

control bar.

NOTE: Incoolerweatheritmaybeneces- sarytorepeatprimingsteps Inwarmer weatheroverprimingmaycausefloodingand

enginewillnotstart.Ifyoudofloodengine, waitafewminutesbeforeattemptingtostart anddenotrepeatprimingsteps,

MOWINGTIPS . Undercertainconditions,suchasverytall

grass,Itmaybenecessarytoraisethe heightofcuttoreducepushingeffortandto

keepfromoverloadingtheengineand leavingclumpsofgrassclippings,

o Forextremelyheavycutting,rec[ucethe

widthofcutandraisetherearofthelawn

mowerhousingone(1)wheeladjuster settinghigherthanthefrontforbetter dischargeofgrass°

• Whenusingareardischargelawnmowerin moist,heavygrass,clumpsofcutgrass maynotenter'thegrasscatcher.Reduce

groundspeed(pushingspeed)and/orrun lhelawnmowerovertheareaa second

time,

o Ifatrailofgrassclippingsisleftontheright

sideofareardischargelawnmower,mow inaclockwisedirectionwithasmalloverlap

tocollecttheclippingsor1thenextpass.

• Keeptopofenginearoundstarterclearand cleanofgrassclippingsandchaff.Thiswill

helpengineairflowandextendenginelife.

, Poresinclothgrasscatcherscanbecome

filledwithdirtanddustwithuseand catcherswillcollectlessgrass,Toprevent

this,regulariyhosecatchersoffwithwater

andletdrybeforeusing

MULCHING MOWING TIPS IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep

mower housing free of built-,upgrass and

trash, See "Cleaning" in CUS'f©MER RESPONSIBILITIES section of this manual

. The special mulching blade will recur 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 recutUng action of the blade&

. Avoid culling your lawn when it is wet. Wet

grass tends to form clumps and interferes with the mulching action. The best time to

mow your lawn is the early afternoon. A'_ 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.

If the lawn is overgrown it will be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving clumps of mulched grass For extremely heavy mulching, reduce your width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly°

,, Certain types of grass and grass conditions

may require that an area be mulched a second time to completely hide the clippings. When doing a second c_4,mew

across or perpendicular tOthe 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

will help prevent matting and graining of the lawn,

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE .,,,_'_O_.._ _..._ _'_. _--_'_'_'_

F'LL 'NDATES /___

REGULAR SERVICE ,,

Check far Loose Fasteners

Clean/Inspect Grass Catcher (If Equipped)

M Clean Lawn Mower

O Clean Under DriveCover!Power-Propelled Mowers)

Checkddvebelt/pulleys

R_ _elied Mowere'_

Check/Sharpen/Replace Blade

Lubrication Chart

Clean Battety/Recher{_e (Electric Start Mowers!

E Check EngineOilLevel

v" V' v'

v" v"

v'4

N Chan_e EngineOil

G Clean Air Fiiler

I inspect Muffler

U CleBn or ReplaceSpark Plug

i E Replace Air FilterPaper Cartridge

1- Charge more olte_ whon opora_ag undora heavy load or in high ambient Iomperatut_s

2 _Servic_ rnor_ often when operalJng]n dirty or dusty conditions

3 - Replace hi,dos rnom oll_n when mowing in snndy _oU 4 * Ch_rgo 48 h_urs Qt and ofr_ _,_on

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 neec! 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"),

v' v'

v'2

LUBRICATION CHART

(_) Wheel

adjuster

(_ Handie b_:acket Rear door

mounting pin hinge

(_) spray lubricant ® Reter to CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

"ENGINE" section.

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 bearings_ If you feel they must be lubricated, use only a dry, powdered graphite

0type lubricant sparingly.

PRODUCT SPECiFiCATiONS

MODEL. NUMBER 9t 7,377590 'SERIAL NUMBER

DATE OF PURCHASE HORSEPOWER; 6.75 DISPLACEMENT: 12,560 CU, IN. GASOLINE CAPACITY/TYPE: 1.5 QUARTS

UNLEADED REGULAR

OIL TYPE (APFSF/SG/SH): SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F)

SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F)

OIL CAPACITY: 27 OZS. SPARK PLUG(GAP: .030") CHAMPION RJ19LM OR J19LM

VALVE CLEARANCE: INTAKE: .004" - .008"

EXHAUST: ,004" -.008" SOLID STATE IGNITION AIR GAP: .0125 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 obse#e safety rules when performing any maintenance,

TIRES

• Keep tires free of gasoline, el!, or Insect contrbl chemicals which can harm rubber.

= Avoid stumps, stones, deep nJts, sharp

objects and other hazards that may cause tire damage.

BLADE CARE For best results, mower blade must be kept

sharp. Replace bent or damaged blades. TO REMOVE BLADE

o Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug

and place wire where it cannot come in

contact with spark plug.

•Tum lawn mower on its side, Make sure air tilter and carburetor are up.

• Use a wood bbck between blade and

mower housing to prevent blade from

turning when removing blade bolt.

. Protect your hands with gloves and/or wrap

blade with heavy cloth.

• Remove blade bolt by turning counter- clockwise, Use a 9/16" box or open-end wrench,

• Remove bladeand attaching"_- (b01t,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 properly. 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 blade adapter aligning

the two (2) holes in the blade with the raised lugs on the adapter.

o Be sure the trailing edge of blade (opposite

sharp edge) is up toward the engine,

o Install the blade bolt with the lock washer

and hardaned Washer into blade adapter and crankshaft.

° Use block of wood between blade and lawn

mower housing and tighten the blade bolt,

turning clockwise,

o The recommended tightening torque is 35-

40 ft, Ibs,

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat

treated.

NOTE: Wedonotrecommendsharpening blade_butifyoudo,besuretheblade

isbalanced. TOSHARPENBLADE Careshouldbetakento keeptheblade

balanced.Anunbalancedbladewill

cause eventual damage to lawn mower or engine.

o The blade can be sharpened with a file or

on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower.

o To check blade balance, drive a nail Into a

beam or wall. Leave about one inch of the straight nail exposed, Place center hole of

blade over the head of the nail, Ifblade is balanced, it should remain in a horizontal position. If either end of the blade moves

downward, sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced,

Blade

bolt sh_t

Lock Blade washer HaVened edge adapter

Washer

GRASS CATCHER o The grass catcher may be hosed with

water, but must be dry when used.

o Check your grass catcher often for damage

or deterioration. Through normal use it will wear. If catcher needs replacing, replace

only with a manufaclurer appmyed replacement catcher, Givethe lawn mower

model number when ordering.

DRIVE WHEELS Check front drive wheels each time before

you mow to be sure they rfiove freely, The wheels rot turning freely means trash,

grass cuttings, etc, are in the drive wheel area and must be cleaned to free drive

wheels. If necessary to clean the drive wheels,

check both front wheels. ° Remove hubcaps, hairpin cotters and

washers,

• Remove wheels from wheel adjusters.

Crank shaft keyway

Crank

o Remove any trash or grass cuttings from

inside the dust cover, pinion and/or drive

wheel gear teeth ° Put wheels back in place. o If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not

turn freely, contact your nearest

authorized service center. GEAR CASE

o 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.

o The gear case is 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.

750355. 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 viscosity grade accord..

ingtoyour expectedoperatingtemperature,

S,_ ViSCOSiTY GRADE$

qOTE: Although rnuiti-viscosity oils (5W30,

10W30 etc.) Improve starting in cold weather,

these multi-viscosity oils will result in increased oll consumption when used above 32°Fo Check your engine oil level more frequently to avoid possible engine damage from running low on oil

Change after the first 25 hours of operation at

least once a year ifthe 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 oil plug securely each time you check the all level.

TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL

NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to drain oil, drain fuel tank by running engine until fuel

tank is empty.

• Disconnectsparkplugwirefromsparkp!ug andplacewirewhereitcannotcomein

contactwithsparkplug.

o Removeengineoilcap;layasideonaclean

surface.

• Tiplawnmoweronitssideasshownand

drainoilintoasuitablecontainerRocklawn mowerbackandforthtoremoveanyoil

trappedinsideofengine.

• Wipeoffanyspilledoilonlawnmowerand onsideofengine°

o Fillenginewithoil Fillonlytothe"FULL"

lineonthedipstick.DONOToverfill.

. Replaceengineoilcap.

• ReconnectspaAplugwiretosparkplug.

Container

AIR FILTER Your engine will not tun 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. Do not wash air filter.

TO CHANGE AIR FILTER

- Loosen coverknob_ , Swing cover down and remove from hinge.

• Pull paper filter out of air cleaner body.

. Clean air cleaner cover and body.

• Install a new paper filter.

, Reinstall cover to aircleanerbody. Be sure

hinge is assembled properly.

• Swing cover up and tighten cover knob.

(Do not overtighten)o

Air filter cover

Cover knob

CAUTION; Petroleum solvents, such as kerosene, are not to be used to dean cartridge, They may cause deterioration of the cartridge, Do not oil cartridge. Do not use

pressurized air to clean or dry cartridge.

MUFFLER

Inspect and replace corroded muffler as it

could create a lire hazard and/or damage, SPARK PLUG

Change your spark plug each year to make your engine start easier and iun better, Set

spark plug gap at .030 inch,

CLEANING

IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep mower housing free of buiif-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.

o Turn lawn moweron its side. Make sure air

filter and carburetor are up_ Clean the

underside of your lawn mower by scraping to remove buUd-up of grass and trash.

, Clean engine often to keep trash from

accumulating_ A clogged engine tuns hotter and shortens engine life.

o Keep finished surfaces and wheels free of

all gasoline, oi],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 build-up of

trash or grass on underside of drive cover.

Paper tilter

CAUTION: Beforeperforminganly o Remove the starter rope guide from the

service or adjustments, lower handle,

- Release control bar.

• 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 seclion of this manual.

REAR DEFLECTOR

The rear deflector, attached between the rear wheels of your lawn mower, is provided to

minimize the possibility that objects will be

thrown out the rear of the lawn mower into the eperatoCs mowing position. If the rear

deflector becomes damaged, it should be

replaced.

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

pushing down on gear case pulley and roll belt off,

• Turn lawn mower on its side with carburetor and fuel cap up.

o Remove blade. o Remove debris shield:

• Remove belt from engine pulley on crankshaft,

o Install new belt by reversing above steps,

• Always use factory approved belt to assure fit and long life.

Ddve cover

Belt

Push

down

° Remove hairpin cotters_ o Disconnect the lower handle from the

handle brackets,

° Turn the handle over and reassemble the

hai_!n cotters that have been removed,

° Reassemble the starter rope guide.

• Reassemble the controls and the operator presence control bar to the upper handle,

CAUTION: The operator presence control

bar must p!vot 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 position only the upper handle section will

have to be turned over.

o To change from medium low to low position.

only the lower handle section wilt have to be tumed over.

Shipping position

Medium low

urn high

High

Low

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. ° To change from medium low to medium

high position, the upper and lower handle sections will have to be turned over.

° Remove cable clips.

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

Lower handle

Squeeze to remove

Hairpin clip Handle

bracket

+ 30 hidden pages

Craftsman 917377590 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual