Craftsman 917.378920 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

ROTARY LAWN MOWER

6.75 Horsepower
Power-Propelled
21" Multi-Cut

Model No.

917.378920

• Español, p. 19

CAUTION:

Read and follow all
Safety Rules and In struc tions
before operating this equipment

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Warranty...................................................2

Safe ty Rules ..........................................2-4

Prod uct Spec i fi ca tions .............................. 4

Assembly / Pre-Operation ........................6

Op er a tion.............................................7-11

Maintenance Sched ule...........................12

Maintenance......................................12-15

Ser vice and Ad just ments...................15-16

Stor age..............................................16-17

Trou ble shoot ing .................................17-18

Re pair Parts.......................................36-43

Sears Service .......................... Back Cov er

WARRANTY

LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTS MAN POWER MOWER
For two years from date of purchase, when this Crafts man Lawn Mower is maintained,

lubricated, and tuned up according to the operating and maintenance in struc tions in the
owner’s manual, Sears will repair free of charge any defect in material or work man ship.

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 neg li gence, including bent crank­ shafts and the failure to main tain the equipment according to the instructions con­ tained in the owner’s manual.

Warranty service is available by re turn ing the Craftsman power mower to the near est Sears
Parts & Repair Center in the United States. This war ran ty ap plies only while this product
is used in the United States.

This Warranty gives you specifi c legal rights, and you may also have other rights which
vary from state to state.

Sears, Roebuck And Co., D/817 WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179

SAFETY RULES

IMPORTANT: This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throw-

ing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious
injury or death.

Look for this symbol to point out
im por tant safety precautions. It means
CAU TION!!! BECOME ALERT!!!
YOUR SAFE TY IS INVOLVED.

WARNING: In order to prevent ac­ ci den tal starting when setting up, trans­ port ing, ad just ing or making repairs,
always dis con nect spark plug wire and
place wire where it can not come in con­tact with plug.

WARNING: Engine exhaust, some of its
constituents, and certain vehicle com po ­nents contain or emit chem i cals known
to the State of Cal i for nia to cause can cer
and birth defects or oth er re pro duc tive
harm.

WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and

related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the State
of Cal i for nia to cause can cer and birth
defects or oth er re pro duc tive harm. Wash

hands after handling.

CAUTION: Muffl er and other engine

parts become extremely hot during
operation and remain hot after engine has
stopped. To avoid severe burns on contact,
stay away from these areas.

2

I. GENERAL OPERATION

• Read, understand, and follow all

in struc tions on the machine and in the
manual(s) before starting. Be thor ough ly
familiar with the controls and the proper
use of the machine before starting.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under

rotating parts. Keep clear of the dis­ charge opening at all times.

• Only allow responsible individuals, who

are familiar with the in struc tions, to oper­ate the machine.

• Clear the area of objects such as rocks,

toys, wire, bones, sticks, etc., which
could be picked up and thrown by the
blade.

• Be sure the area is clear of other people

before mowing. Stop ma chine if anyone
enters the area.

• Do not operate the mower when bare-

foot or wearing open sandals. Al ways
wear substantial foot wear.

• Do not pull mower backwards unless

absolutely nec es sary. Always look down
and behind before and while moving
backwards.

• Do not operate the mower without

proper guards, plates, grass catcher or
oth er safety protective devices in place.

• See manufacturer’s instructions for

proper operation and installation of
accessories. Only use accessories ap­proved by the manufacturer.

• Stop the blade(s) when crossing grav el

drives, walks, or roads.

• Stop the engine (motor) whenever you

leave the equip ment, before clean ing the
mower or unclogging the chute.

• Shut the engine (motor) off and wait until

the blade comes to complete stop before
removing grass catcher.

• Mow only in daylight or good artifi cial

light.

• Do not operate the machine while under

the infl uence of alcohol or drugs.

• Never operate machine in wet grass.

Always be sure of your footing: keep a
fi rm hold on the handle and walk; never
run.

• Disengage the self-propelled mech-

a nism or drive clutch on mowers so
equipped before starting the engine
(motor).

• If the equipment should start to vi brate

abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and
check immediately for the cause. Vibra­tion is generally a warning of trouble.

• Always wear safety goggles or safe ty

glasses with side shields when op er at ing
mower.

II. SLOPE OPERATION

Slopes are a major factor related to slip
and fall accidents which can result in
severe injury. All slopes require extra cau­tion. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not
mow it.

DO:

• Mow across the face of slopes: nev er
up and down. Exercise extreme caution
when changing direction on slopes.

• Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc.

• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall
grass can hide obstacles.

DO NOT:

• Do not trim near drop-offs, ditches or
embankments. The operator could lose
footing or balance.

• Do not trim excessively steep slopes.

• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced foot­ing could cause slipping.

III. CHILDREN

Tragic accidents can occur if the op er a tor
is not alert to the presence of children.
Children are often attracted to the ma chine

Never

and the mowing activity.
that children will remain where you last
saw them.

• Keep children out of the trimming area
and under the watchful care of an oth er
re spon si ble adult.

• Be alert and turn machine off if chil dren
enter the area.

• Before and while walking back wards,

down

look behind and

• Never allow children to operate the ma­chine.

• Use extra care when approaching blind
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects
that may obscure vision.

for small chil dren.

assume

IV. SERVICE

• Use extra care in handling gasoline and
other fuels. They are fl ammable and
vapors are explosive.

- Use only an approved container.

- Never remove gas cap or add fuel
with the engine running.

Allow engine to cool before refueling.
Do not smoke.

- Never refuel the machine indoors.

- Never store the machine or fuel
container inside where there is an
open fl ame, such as a water heater.

• Never run a machine inside a closed area.

• Never make adjustments or repairs with
the engine (motor) running. Dis con nect the
spark plug wire, and keep the wire away
from the plug to prevent ac ci den tal starting.

3

• Keep nuts and bolts, especially blade
attachment bolts, tight and keep equip­ment in good condition.

• Never tamper with safety devices. Check
their proper operation reg u lar ly.

• Keep machine free of grass, leaves, or
other debris build-up. Clean oil or fuel spill­age. Allow machine to cool before storing.

• Stop and inspect the equipment if you
strike an object. Repair, if nec es sary,
before restarting.

• Never attempt to make wheel height adjust­ments while the engine (mo tor) is running.

• Grass catcher components are sub ject
to wear, dam age, and de te ri o ra tion,
which could expose moving parts or
allow objects to be thrown. Frequently
check com po nents and replace with
man u fac tur er’s recommended parts,
when necessary.

• Mower blades are sharp and can cut.
Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves, and
use extra caution when ser vic ing them.

• Do not change the engine governor set­ting or overspeed the engine.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Serial Number:
Date of Purchase:
Gasoline Capacity / Type: 1.6 Quarts (Unleaded Regular)
Oil Type (API-SF-SJ): SAE 30 (above 32°F); SAE 5W-30 (below 32°F)
Oil Capacity: 20 Ounces
Spark Plug (Gap: .030") Champion RJ19LM or J19LM
Blade Bolt Torque: 35-40 ft. lbs.

• The model and serial numbers will be found on a decal on the rear of the lawn mower
housing. Record both serial number and date of purchase in space provided above.

Repair Protection Agreements

Congratulations on making a smart pur­chase.

designed and manufactured for years of
dependable operation. But like all prod­ucts, it may require repair from time to
time. That’s when having a Repair Protec­tion Agreement can save you money and
aggravation.

Your new Craftsman® product is

Purchase a Repair Protection Agreement
now and protect yourself from unexpected
hassle and expense.

Here’s what’s included in the Agreement:

• Expert service by our 12,000 profe-

sional repair specialists.

• Unlimited service and no charge for

parts and labor on all covered repairs.

• Product replacement if your covered

product can’t be fi xed.

• Discount of 10% from regular price of

service and service-related parts not
covered by the agreement; also, 10%
off regular price of preventive mainte­nance check.

• Fast help by phone – phone support

from a Sears technician on products
requiring in-home repair, plus conve­nient repair scheduling.

Once you purchase the Agreement, a
simple phone call is all that it takes for you
to schedule service. You can call anytime
day or night, or schedule a service ap­pointment online.
Sears has over 12,000 professional repair
specialists, who have access to over 4.5
million quality parts and accessories.
That’s the kind of professionalism you can
count on to help prolong the life of your
new purchase for years to come. Purchase
your Repair Protection Agreement today!

Some limitations and exclusions apply.
For prices and additional information
call 1-800-827-6655.

Sears Installation Service

For Sears professional installation

appliances, garage door openers, water
heaters, and other major home items, in
the U.S.A. call 1-800-4-MY-HOME®.

of home

4

ACCESSORIES

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. Some of these accessories may not apply to your lawn mower.

5

ASSEMBLY / PRE-OPERATION

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 as­ sem bled at the factory with the excep­tion of those parts left unassembled for
shipping pur pos es. To ensure safe and
proper op er a tion of your lawn mower, all
parts and hard ware you assemble must be
tight ened securely. Use the correct tools
as nec es sary to ensure proper tightness.
All parts such as nuts, wash ers, bolts, etc.,
nec es sary to complete the as sem bly have
been placed in the parts bag.

TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM
CARTON

1. Remove loose parts included with

mower.

2. Cut down two end corners of carton

and lay end panel down fl at.

3. Remove all packing materials except

padding be tween upper and lower
handle and padding holding operator
presence control bar to upper handle.

4. Roll lawn mower out of carton and

check carton thor ough ly for additional
loose parts.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN
MOW ER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE
IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so

as not to pinch or damage con trol cables.

1. Raise handles until lower handle sec-

tion locks into place in mowing position.

2. Remove protective padding, raise up-

per handle sec tion into place on lower
handle and tighten both handle knobs.

3. Remove handle padding holding

operator pres ence control bar to upper

handle.
Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted
for your mowing comfort. Refer to “AD­ JUST HANDLE” in the Service and Adjust­ments section of this manual.

Operator presence
control bar

Upper handle

LIFT
UP

LIFT UP

Mowing
position

Lower handle

TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCH ER

1. Put grass catcher frame into grass bag
with rigid part of bag on the bottom.
Make sure the frame handle is outside
of the bag top.

2. 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.

Catcher
frame
handle

Vinyl
bindings

Frame

opening

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be
used as a mulcher. To convert mower to
bagging or discharging, see “TO CON­ VERT MOWER” in the Operation section
of this manual.

6

OPERATION

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALL SAFETY RULES BEFORE OP ER AT ING
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.

These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the
product. Learn and understand their meaning.

Operator presence control bar

Drive
control
bar

Handle knob

Starter
handle

Grass
catcher

Gasoline fi ller cap

Air fi lter

Mulcher door

Wheel adjuster (on each wheel)

Engine oil cap with dipstick

Primer

Muffl er

Drive cover

Housing

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 Com­ mis 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.

Starter handle – used for starting engine.
Mulcher door – allows con ver sion to

discharging or bagging operation.

Drive control bar – used to engage
power-pro pelled forward mo tion of mower.
Primer – pumps additional fuel from the
carburetor to the cylinder for use when
starting a cold engine.

7

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 ad just ments or repairs. We recom­mend a standard safety glasses or wide
vision safety mask worn over spectacles.

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 re quire

an engine control to be installed on this
lawn mower in order to minimize the
risk of blade contact injury. Do not un der
any circumstances attempt to de feat the
func tion of the operator con trol. The blade
turns when the engine is running.

• Your lawn mower is equipped with an

operator pres ence control bar which
requires the operator to be positioned
behind the lawn mower handle to start
and operate the lawn mower.

DRIVE CONTROL

• Self-propelling is controlled by hold-

ing the operator presence control bar
down to the handle and pulling the drive
control bar up to the handle. The closer
to the handle the bar is pulled, the faster
the unit will travel.

• Forward motion will stop when either the

operator presence control bar or drive
control bar are released. To stop forward
motion without stop ping engine, re lease
the drive control bar only. Hold op er a tor
presence control bar down against handle
to con tin ue mowing without self-propelling.

NOTE: If after releasing the drive control
the mower will not roll backwards, push
the mower forward slightly to disengage
drive wheels.

• To keep drive control engaged when

turning corners, push down on the
handle to lift the front wheels off the
ground while turning lawn mower.

Operator presence control bar

Thumb­screw

DRIVE
CONTROL
ENGAGED

Drive
control bar

DRIVE

CONTROL

DISENGAGED

DRIVE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT

Over time, the drive control system may
become “loose”, resulting in decreased
speed. There is a thumbscrew on the
un der side of the drive control housing to
increase tension on the drive cable. Pro­ ceed as follows:

1. Turn unit off and disconnect spark plug
wire from spark plug.

2. Rotate thumbscrew counter-clockwise
to tighten the drive cable.

3. Operate mower to test drive speed.

4. If condition fails to improve after the
above steps (forward speed remains
the same), your drive belt is worn and
should be re placed.

NOTE: If mower begins to "creep" forward,
the drive cable is too tight. Rotate thumb­screw clockwise to loosen drive cable.

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT

Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels
for high cut, adjust cutting height to suit
your requirements. Me di um position is
best for most lawns.

• To change cutting height, squeeze ad­juster lever to ward wheel. Move wheel
up or down to suit your re quire 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.

LEVER BACKWARD
TO LOWER MOWER

LEVER FORWARD TO RAISE MOWER

Plate tab

Lever

8

TO CONVERT MOWER

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

REAR BAGGING

• Lift rear door of the lawn mower and
place the grass catcher frame hooks
onto the door pivot pins.

• To convert to mulching or dis charg ing
operation, remove grass catch er and
close rear door.

Open mulcher door

Pivot pins Grass

Catcher frame hook

Rear
door

catcher

handle

SIDE DISCHARGING

• Rear door must be closed.

• Open mulcher door and install dis­ charge defl ector under door as shown.

• Mower is now ready for discharging
operation.

• To convert to mulching or bagging
operation, dis charge defl ector must be
removed and mulcher door must be
closed.

SIMPLE STEPS TO REMEMBER WHEN
CONVERTING YOUR LAWN MOWER

FOR MULCHING -

1. Rear door closed.

2. Mulcher door closed.

FOR REAR BAGGING -

1. Grass catcher installed.

2. Mulcher door closed.

Discharge
defl ector

FOR SIDE DISCHARGING -

1. Rear door closed.

2. Discharge defl ector installed.
CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

with out rear door closed, clipping defl ector
or ap proved grass catcher in place. Never
at tempt to op er ate the lawn mow er with
the rear door re moved or propped open.

9

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

1. Lift up on grass catcher using the

frame han dle.

2. Remove grass catcher with clippings

from under lawn mower han dle.

3. Empty clippings from bag using both

frame handle and bag handle.

NOTE: Do not drag the bag when empty­ing; it will cause unnecessary wear.

Grass

catcher

frame

handle

Bag
handle

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

ADD OIL

Your lawnmower is shipped without oil in
the engine. For type and grade of oil to
use, see “EN GINE” in the Maintenance
section of this manual.

CAUTION: DO NOT overfi ll engine with

oil, or it will smoke heavily from the muffl er
on startup.

1. Be sure lawnmower is level.

2. Remove oil dipstick from oil fi ll spout.

3. You receive a container of oil with the

unit. Slowly pour the entire container
down the oil fi ll spout into the engine.

NOTE: Initial oil fi ll requires only 18 oz.
due to residual oil in engine from the
manufacturers 100% quality testing. When
changing oil you may need 20 oz.

4. Insert and tighten dipstick.

IMPORTANT:

• Check oil level before each use. Add oil
if needed. Fill to full line on dipstick.

• Change the oil after every 25 hours of
operation or each season. You may
need to change the oil more often
under dusty, dirty conditions. See “TO
CHANGE ENGINE OIL” in the Mainte­nance section of this manual.

ATTACH FUEL CAP CARTRIDGE

Your mower is equipped with a special

FRESH START

fuel preserver cartridge. See the infor­mation and instructions packed with the

FRESH START

TM

fuel cap and continuous

TM

cartridge.

1. Snap cartridge into bottom of fuel cap.
NOTE: Do not remove the silver foil seal
on the side of cartridge that snaps into
fuel cap.

2. Grasp the white peel tab and pull to
remove the entire seal.

3. Screw fuel cap onto fuel tank after fi ll­ing tank with gasoline.

Replace cartridge when empty (about
once a season). Check preserver level
visually.

DANGER: Cartridge fl uid is HARMFUL

OR FATAL IF SWALLOWED. Avoid contact
to eyes, skin, or clothing. Do not take
internally. Do not inhale fl uid vapor. Keep
out of reach of children. If swallowed, call
a physician immediately.

ADD GASOLINE

• Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank fi ller neck.

Do not overfi ll. Use fresh, clean, regular
unleaded gasoline with a minimum of
87 octane. Do not mix oil with gasoline.
Purchase fuel in quan ti ties that can be
used within 30 days to assure fuel fresh­ness.
CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or

fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline
near an open fl ame.

CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels

(called gasohol or using ethanol or metha­nol) can attract moisture which leads to
separation and for ma tion 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 stor age of 30
days or longer. Empty 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 In struc tions for
additional information. Never use engine
or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel
tank or permanent damage may occur.

Engine

oil cap

Gasoline
fi ller cap

Primer

10

TO STOP ENGINE

• To stop engine, release operator pres­ence con trol bar.

TO START ENGINE

NOTE: Due to protective coatings on the

engine, a small amount of smoke may be
present during the initial use of the prod­uct and should be considered normal.

1. To start a cold engine, push primer

three (3) times before trying to start.
Use a fi rm push. This step is not
usually necessary when starting an
engine which has already run for a few
minutes.

2. Hold operator presence control bar

down to the han dle and pull starter
handle quickly. Do not allow starter
rope to snap back.

NOTE: In cooler weather it may be neces­sary to repeat priming steps. In warmer
weather over priming may cause fl ooding
and engine will not start. If you do fl ood
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 nec es sary 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 re­ duce ground speed and/or run the lawn
mower over the area a sec ond time.

• For extremely heavy cutting, re duce the
width of cut by over lap ping previously
cut path and mow slowly.

• For better grass bagging and most cut­ting conditions, the engine speed should
be set in the FAST po si tion.

• Pores in cloth grass catchers can be­come fi lled with dirt and dust with use
and catchers will collect less grass. To
prevent this, reg u lar ly 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 fl ow and extend
engine life.

MULCHING MOWING TIPS

IMPORTANT: For best performance,

keep mower housing free of built-up
grass and trash. See “CLEANING” in the
Maintenance section of this manual.

• The special mulching blade will recut
the grass clip pings 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 bio de grade quick ly
to provide nu tri ents 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 clumps and
in ter feres with the mulch ing action. The
best time to mow your lawn is the early
afternoon. At this time the grass has
dried, yet the newly cut area will not be
exposed to direct sunlight.

• 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 over grown it
will be nec es sary to raise the height of
cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep
from over load ing the engine and leaving
clumps of mulched grass. For ex tremely
heavy grass, reduce your width of cut
by overlapping previously cut path and
mow slowly.

MAX 1/3

• Certain types of grass and grass
con di tions may re quire that an area be
mulched a second time to com pletely
hide the clip pings. When doing a sec­ ond cut, mow across (perpendicular) to
the fi rst cut path.

• Change your 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.

11

MAINTENANCE

Check for Loose Fasteners
Clean / Inspect Grass Catcher *
Check Tires
Check Drive Wheels ***
Clean Lawn Mower ****
Clean under Drive Cover ***
Check Drive Belt / Pulleys ***
Check / Sharpen / Replace Blade
Lubrication
Clean and Recharge Battery **

Check Engine Oil level
Change Engine Oil
Clean Air Filter
Inspect Muffler
Replace Spark Plug
Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge
Empty fuel system or add Stabilizer

(if so equipped)

*

Electric-Start mowers

**

Power-Propelled mowers

***

Use a scraper

****

to clean under deck

BEFORE

EACH

USE

1 - Change more often if operating under a heavy load or in high outdoor temperatures.
2 - Service more often if operating in dirty or dusty conditions.
3 - Replace blades more often when mowing in sandy soil.
4 - Charge 48 hours at end of season.
5 - And after each 5 hours of use.

AFTER

EACH

USE

EVERY

10

HOURS

EVERY

25 HOURS

OR SEASON

EVERY

100

HOURS

BEFORE

STORAGE

GENERAL REC OM MEN DA TIONS

The warranty on this lawn mower does not
cover items that have been sub ject ed to
operator abuse or negligence. To receive
full value from the warranty, operator must
maintain unit as in struct ed in this manual.
Some adjustments will need to be made
periodically to properly maintain your unit.
At least once a season, check to see if
you should make any of the adjustments
described in the Service and Ad just ments
section of this manual.

• At least once a year, replace the spark
plug, clean or replace air fi lter element
and check blade for wear. A new spark
plug and clean/new air fi lter element
assure proper air-fuel mix ture and help
your engine run bet ter 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 “LU BRI CA TION CHART”).

LUBRICATION CHART

➀

adjuster (on

each wheel)

Engine oil

➁

Mulcher

➀

door hinge

Rear door

➀

Handle bracket mounting pins

➀

Spray lubricant

➀

See "ENGINE" in Maintenance section.

➁

IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease plastic
wheel bearings. Viscous lu bri cants will
attract dust and dirt that will short en the life of
the self-lu bri cat ing bearings. If you feel they
must be lu bri cated, use only a dry, pow dered
graphite type lubricant spar ingly.

12

Wheel

hinge

pin

LAWN MOWER

Always observe safety rules when per­ form ing any main te nance.

TIRES

• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect
control chemi cals which can harm rubber.

• Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp
objects and other hazards that may
cause tire damage.

DRIVE WHEELS

Check front drive wheels each time be fore
you mow to be sure they move freely.
The wheels not 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, be
sure to clean both front wheels.

1. Remove hubcaps, locknuts & washers.

2. Remove wheels from wheel ad just ers.

3. Remove any trash or grass cuttings

from inside the dust cover, pinion and/
or drive wheel gear teeth.

4. Put wheels back in place.

NOTE: If after cleaning, the drive wheels
do not turn freely, contact a Sears or other
qualifi ed service center.

BLADE CARE

For best results, blade must be kept sharp.
Re place a bent or dam aged blade.

TO REMOVE BLADE

1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.

2. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make

sure air fi lter and carburetor are up.

3. Use a wood block between blade and

mower hous ing to prevent blade from
turning when re mov ing blade bolt.

NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves
and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.

4. Remove blade bolt by turning counter-

clockwise.

5. Remove blade & attaching hard ware

(bolt, lock wash er & hardened wash er).

TO REPLACE BLADE

1. Position blade on the blade adapter

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

2. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (oppo-

site sharp edge) is up toward the engine.

3. Install the blade bolt with the lock

washer and hardened washer into
blade adapter and crankshaft.

4. 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. lbs.

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated.
If bolt needs replacing, replace only with
approved bolt shown in the Repair Parts
section of this manual.

Crankshaft

Blade adapter

Blade

Blade
bolt

Blade adapter

Key

Lockwasher

Hardened
washer

Trailing edge

TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharp en ing
the blade - but if you do, be sure the blade
is balanced.
Care should be taken to keep the blade bal­anced. An un bal anced blade will cause even­tual damage to lawn mower or engine.

• The blade can be sharp ened with a fi le
or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while on the mower.

• To check blade balance, drive a nail into
a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of
the straight nail ex posed. Place center
hole of blade over the head of the nail.
If blade 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.

GRASS CATCHER

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

• Check your grass catcher often for dam­age or de te ri o ra tion. Through normal
use it will wear. If catcher needs replac­ing, replace only with ap proved replace­ment catcher shown in the Repair Parts
section of this manual. Give the lawn
mower model number when ordering.

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 is fi lled 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 Elf Mul­tis EP00. Do not substitute.

13

keyway

Crank

shaft

ENGINE

LUBRICATION

Use only high quality detergent oil rated with
API service classifi cation SF-SJ. Select the
oil's SAE viscosity grade according to your
expected operating temperature.

SAE VISCOSITY GRADES

SAE 30

5W-30

-10

32

60

10

20 30 40

100

80

-20 0 30 40

F
C

-30

TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE

-20 0

NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils
(5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in
cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils will
result in in creased oil consumption when
used above 32°F. 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 orat least once a year if the mower
is not used for 25 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before
starting the engine and after each fi ve (5)
hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug
securely each time you check the oil level.

TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to drain

oil, empty fuel tank by running engine until
fuel tank is empty.

1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.

2. Remove engine oil cap; lay aside on a
clean surface.

3. Tip lawn mower on its side as shown
and drain oil into a suitable container.
Rock lawn mower back and forth to re­move any oil trapped inside of engine.

6. Stop adding oil when you reach the
FULL mark on the dipstick. Wait a
minute to allow oil to settle.

7. Continue adding small amounts of oil,
rechecking the dipstick until oil level
settles at FULL. DO NOT overfi ll, or
engine will smoke heavily from the
muffl er on startup.

8. Always be sure to retighten oil dipstick
before starting engine.

9. Re con nect spark plug wire to spark plug.

AIR FILTER

Your engine will not run properly and
may be damaged by using a dirty air
fi lter. Replace the air fi lter cartridge every
100 hours of op er a tion or every season,
which ev er occurs fi rst. Service air cleaner
more often under dusty conditions.

TO CLEAN AIR FILTER

1. Loosen screw and tilt cover to re move.

2. Carefully remove cartridge.

3. Clean by gently tapping on a fl at sur­face. If very dirty, replace car tridge.

CAUTION: Pe tro leum solvents, such

as ker o sene, are not to be used to clean
car tridge. They may cause de te ri o ra tion
of the cartridge. Do not oil car tridge. Do
not use pres sur ized air to clean or dry
car tridge.

4. Install cartridge, then replace cover
making sure the tabs are aligned with
the slots in the back plate. Fasten
screw securely.

Back plate

Slots

Lip

Container

4. Wipe off any spilled oil from lawn
mower or side of engine.

5. Slowly pour oil down the oil fi ll spout,
stopping every few ounces to check the
oil level with the dipstick.

Cartridge Cover

MUFFLER

Inspect and replace corroded muffl er as it
could create a fi re hazard and/or dam age.

SPARK PLUG

Replace spark plug at the beginning of
each mowing season or after every 100
hours of operation, whichever occurs
fi rst. Spark plug type and gap setting
are shown in the “PROD UCT SPEC I FI C­A TIONS” section of this manual.

14

Cover

tabs

CLEANING

IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep

mower housing free of built-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 plug.

• Clean the underside of your lawn mower

by scraping to remove build-up of grass
and trash.

• Clean engine often to keep trash from

accumulating. A clogged engine runs
hotter and shortens engine life.

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS

WARNING: To avoid serious injury,

before performing any service and
adjustments:

1. Release control bar and stop engine.

2. Make sure the blade and all moving
parts have completely stopped.

3. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.

• Keep fi nished surfaces and wheels free
of all gasoline, oil, etc.

• We do not recommend using a garden
hose to clean lawn mower unless the
elec tri cal system, muffl er, air fi lter 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.

Drive
cover

Belt keeper

Belt

LAWN MOWER

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT

See “TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT” in
the Operation sec tion of this manual.

REAR DEFLECTOR

The rear defl ector, attached between the
rear wheels of your mower, is provided to
minimize the possibility that objects will
be thrown out of the rear of the mower
into the operator mowing position. If the
defl ector becomes dam aged, it should be
replaced.

TO REMOVE DRIVE BELT

1. Remove drive cover and belt keeper.

2. Remove belt from gearcase pulley by
push ing down on pulley and rolling belt
off it.

3. Turn lawn mower on its side with air
fi lter and car bu re tor down.

4. Remove blade and debris shield.

5. Remove belt from engine pulley on
crankshaft.

TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT

1. Install new belt on engine pulley.

2. Reinstall debris shield and blade.

3. Return mower to upright po si tion.

4. Install new belt on gearcase pulley.

5. Reinstall belt keeper and drive cover.

NOTE: Always use factory approved belt
to assure fi t and long life.

PUSH DOWN

TO ADJUST HANDLE

The handle can be mounted in a high or
low position. The mounting holes in the
bottom of lower handle are off center for
raising or lowering the handle.

1. Remove upper handle and wire tie(s)
securing cable(s) to lower handle.

2. Remove hairpin cotters from lower
handle bracket mount ing pin.

3. Squeeze lower handle in to remove it
from mounting pins.

4. Turn lower handle over to raise or
lower handle.

5. Squeeze lower handle in and po si tion
holes onto mount ing pins on handle
bracket.

6. Reassemble upper handle and all
parts removed from lower handle.

Hairpin
cotter

Mounting
pin

15

Mowing
position

Handle
bracket

Mowing
position

HIGH POSITIONLOW POSITION

Lower
handle

R OTAT E

ENGINE

ENGINE SPEED

Your engine speed has been factory set.
Do not attempt to increase en gine speed

STORAGE

or it may result in personal injury. If you
believe that engine is running too fast or
too slow, take your mower to a Sears or
other qualifi ed service cen ter for repair
and ad just ment.

CARBURETOR

Your carburetor is not adjustable. If your
engine does not operate properly due to sus­pected carburetor problems, take your lawn
mower to a Sears or other qualifi ed service
center for repair and/or ad just ment.
IMPORTANT: Never tamper with the
engine governor, which is factory set
for proper engine speed. Over speed ing
the engine above the factory high speed
setting can be dangerous. If you think
the engine-governed high speed needs
adjusting, contact a Sears or other
qualifi ed service center, which has proper
equip ment and ex pe ri ence to make any
nec es sary adjustments.

Immediately prepare your lawn mower for
storage at the end of the season or if the
unit will not be used for 30 days or more.

LAWN MOWER

When lawn mower is to be stored for a
period of time, clean it thor oughly, remove
all dirt, grease, leaves, etc. Store in a
clean, dry area.

1. Clean entire lawn mower (See
“CLEANING” in the Maintenance sec­tion of this manual).

2. Lubricate as shown in the Main te nance
section of this manual.

3. Be sure that all nuts, bolts, screws, and
pins are securely fas tened. Inspect
moving parts for damage, breakage
and wear. Replace if necessary.

4. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint
surfaces; sand lightly before painting.

HANDLE

You can fold your lawn mower handle for
storage.
NOTE: The upper handle has an “anti-fold”
bracket located on the right side of the
handle. This bracket prevents the upper
handle from folding forward, which helps
protect control cable(s) from damage.

1. Squeeze the bottom ends of the lower
handle toward each other until the
lower handle clears the handle bracket,
then move handle forward.

2. Loosen upper handle mounting bolts
enough to allow upper handle to be
folded back.

IMPORTANT: When folding the handle for
storage or transportation, be sure to fold
the handle as shown or you may damage
the control cables.

• When setting up your handle from the
storage position, the lower han dle will
automatically lock into mow ing position.

SQUEEZE

TO FOLD

Lower handle

Operator presence
control bar

Upper handle

Lower
handle

FOLD
FORWARD
FOR
STORAGE

Mowing
position

16

ENGINE

FUEL SYS TEM
IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent

gum deposits from forming in essential
fuel system parts such as carburetor, fuel
fi lter, fuel hose, or tank during storage. Also,
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.

• Empty the fuel tank by starting the en­gine and letting it run until the fuel lines
and car bu re tor are empty.

• Never use engine or carburetor cleaner
prod ucts in the fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.

• Use fresh fuel next season.

NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable al­ternative in min i miz ing the formation of fuel
gum deposits during stor age. Add stabilizer
to gasoline in fuel tank or storage container.
Always follow the mix ratio found on stabilizer
container. Run engine at least 10 min utes
after adding stabilizer to allow the stabilizer to
reach the carburetor. Do not empty the gas
tank and carburetor if using fuel stabilizer.

NOTE:
cartridge system automatically drips con­centrated fuel preserver into your fuel tank
and is an acceptable alternative to adding
fuel stabilizer.

FRESH START

TM

fuel cap and

ENGINE OIL

Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace
with clean engine oil. (See “ENGINE” in
the Maintenance section of this man ual).

CYLINDER

1. Remove spark plug.

2. Pour one ounce (29 ml) of oil through
spark plug hole into cylinder.

3. Pull starter handle slowly a few times
to dis trib ute oil.

4. Replace with new spark plug.

OTHER

• Do not store gasoline from one season

to another.

• Replace your gasoline can if your can

starts to rust. Rust and/or dirt in your
gasoline will cause problems.

• If possible, store your unit indoors and

cover it to protect it from dust and dirt.

• Cover your unit with a suitable pro tec -

tive cover that does not retain mois ture.
Do not use plastic. Plastic cannot
breathe, which allows condensation to
form and will cause your unit to rust.

IMPORTANT: Never cover mower while
engine and exhaust areas are still warm.

CAUTION: Never store the lawn mower

with gaso line in the tank in side a build ing
where fumes may reach an open fl ame
or spark. Allow the engine to cool before
storing in any enclosure.

TROUBLESHOOTING - See appropriate section in manual unless directed
to a Sears Service Center.

PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION

Does not start 1. Dirty air fi lter. 1. Clean/replace air fi lter.

2. Out of fuel. 2. Fill fuel tank.

3. Stale fuel. 3. Empty fuel tank and refi ll tank
with fresh, clean gasoline.

4. Water in fuel. 4. Empty fuel tank and refi ll tank
with fresh, clean gasoline.

5. Spark plug wire is 5. Connect wire to plug.
disconnected.

6. Bad spark plug. 6. Replace spark plug.

7. Loose blade or broken 7. Tighten blade bolt or
blade adapter. replace blade adapter.

8. Control bar in released 8. Depress control bar to
position. handle.

9. Control bar defective. 9. Replace control bar.

10.Fuel valve lever (if so 10.Turn fuel valve lever
equipped) in OFF position. to the ON position.

11.Weak battery (if equipped). 11.Charge battery.

12.Disconnected battery 12.Connect battery to engine.
connector (if equipped).

17

TROUBLESHOOTING - See appropriate section in manual unless directed
to a Sears Service Center.

PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION

Loss of power 1. Rear of mower housing or 1. Raise cutting height.

blade dragging in grass.

2. Cutting too much grass. 2. Raise cutting height.

3. Dirty air fi lter. 3. Clean/replace air fi lter.

4. Buildup of grass, leaves, 4. Clean underside of mower
and trash under mower. housing.

5. Too much oil in engine. 5. Check oil level.

6. Walking speed too fast. 6. Cut at slower walking speed.

Poor cut – 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 1. Replace blade. Tighten
uneven blade bolt.

2. Wheel heights uneven. 2. Set all wheels at same
height.

3. Buildup of grass, leaves 3. Clean underside of
and trash under mower. mower housing.

Excessive 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 1. Replace blade. Tighten
vibration blade bolt.

2. Bent engine crankshaft. 2. Contact a Sears or other
qualifi ed service center.

Starter rope 1. Engine fl ywheel brake is on 1. Depress control bar to
hard to pull when control bar is released. upper handle before

pulling the starter rope.

2. Bent engine crankshaft. 2. Contact a Sears or other
qualifi ed service center.

3. Blade adapter broken. 3. Replace blade adapter.

4. Blade dragging in grass. 4. Move lawn mower to cut
grass or to hard surface.

Grass catcher 1. Cutting height too low. 1. Raise cutting height.
not fi lling 2. Lift on blade worn off. 2. Replace blade.
(If so equipped) 3. Catcher not venting air. 3. Clean grass catcher.

Hard to push 1. Grass is too high or wheel 1. Raise cutting height.

height is too low.

2. Rear of mower housing or 2. Raise rear of mower housing
blade dragging in grass. one (1) setting higher.

3. Grass catcher too full. 3. Empty grass catcher.

4. Handle height position not 4. Adjust handle height to suit.
right for you.

Loss of drive 1. Belt wear. 1. Check/replace drive belt.
or slowing of 2. Belt off of pulley. 2. Check/reinstall drive belt.
drive speed 3. Drive cable worn or broken. 3. Replace drive cable.

4. “Loose” drive control system. 4. Adjust drive control.

18

e

Get it fixed, at your home or ours!

Your Home

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no matter who made it, no matter who sold it!

For the replacement parts, accessories and

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For repair of carry-in products like vacuums, lawn equipment,

and electronics, call or go on-line for the nearest

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®

Our Hom

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© Sears, Roebuck and Co.

® Registered Trademark /
® Marca Registrada /

MC

Marque de commerce / MD Marque déposée de Sears, Roebuck and Co.

TM

Marca de Fábrica / SM Marca de Servicio de Sears, Roebuck and Co.

(U.S.A.)

SM

TM

Trademark /

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(Canada)

Au Canada pour service en français:

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Service Mark of Sears, Roebuck and Co.

MC

189319 Rev. 4 02.09.04 BY Printed in U.S.A.