Craftsman 917379380 Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual

5.5 HORSEPOWER 22" REAR DRSCHARGE POWER PROPELLED

ROTARY LAWN MOWER

Model No.

917.379380

o Safety

Assembly Operation

Maintenance o EspaSol o Repair Parts

CAUTION:

Read and follow all

Safety Rules and Instructions before operating this equipment

Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL60179

Visit our Craftsman Webstte: www sears.corn/craftsman

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

Assembly 4 Storage 16

Operation 6 Troubleshooting 17 Maintenance Schedule I0 Repair Parts 37 Maintenance !0 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 Lip according to the operating and maintenance instructions in the

owner's manual, Seal's wil! 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 becorne worn during normal use, such as rotary mower blades, blade adapters, belts, air cleaners and spark plug_

o Repairs necessary because of operator abuse or negfigence, including bent crank-

shafts and the failure to rnaintain the equipment according to the instructions con- rained 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 white

this product is in use in the United States. This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which

vary from state to state° SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO., D/817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179

Safety standards require operator presence controls to minimize the

risk of injury. Your unit is equipped with such controls. Do not attempt to defeat the function of the operator

presence controls under any circumstances.

TRAINING:

• Read this operator's manual carefully. Become familiar with the controls and

know how to operate your mower properly, Learn how to quickly stop

mower_

o Do not a{low children to use your mower.

Never allow adults to use mower without proper instructions.

,, Keep the area of operation clear of all

persons, especially small children and pets°

° Use mower only as the manufacturer

intended and as described in this manual°

• Do not operate mower if it has been dropped or damaged in any manner

Always have damage repaired before

using your mower.

,, Do not use accessory attachments that

are not recommended by the manufac-

turer. Use of such attachments may be

hazardous.

• The blade turns when the engine is running°

PREPARATION:

• Always thoroughty check the area to be mowed and clear it of all stones, sticks,

wires, bones, and other foreign objects° These objects wil! be thrown by the

blade and can cause severe injuJ¥.

• Always wear safety glasses or eye shields when starting and while using

your mower.

,, Dress properly. Do not operate mower

when barefoot or wearing open sandals.

Wear only solid shoes with good traction

when mowing,

• unecK [uet _anK _e[ore stanmg 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 rntnutes 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: o Keep your eyes and mind on your

mower and the area being cuL 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 part& Keep clear of tile dis- charge opening at all times,

. Always stop the engine whenever you

leave or are not using your mower, or before crossing driveways, walks, roads,

and any gravel---covered areas.

. Never direct discharge of material

toward bystanders nor aflow anyone near the mower while you are operating

it.

o 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

tile 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

mowe r,

• 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 ctleck for the cause of vibration and repair as required,

,, Do not run the engine ]ndoors, Exhaust

fumes are dangerous,

° f'_ever cut grass L_ypumng me mower

towards you. Mow across the face of slopes, never up and down or you might lose your footing.. Do not mow excessively steep slopes. Use caution

when operating the mower on uneven

terrain or when changing directions

maintain good footing.

,' Never operate your mower without

proper guards, plates, grass catcher or

other safety devices in place. MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE: o Check the blade and the engine

mounting bolts often to be sure they are

tightened properly_

', Check alI bolts, nuls 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 bags that are recommended by and comply with

specifications of the manufacturer of

your mowen

• Always keep a sharp blade on your mower.

° Allow engine to coot before storing in

any enclosure.

° Never store mower with fuel in the tank

inside a building where fumes may reach an open flame or an ignition

source such as a ho! water heater, space heater, clothes dryer, etc.

&Look for this symbol to point out important safety precautions. It means

CAUTIONH! BECOMEALE_T!!! YOUR

SAFETY IS INVOLVED, &CAUTION: Always disconnect spark

plug wire and place wire where it cannot contact spark plug in order to prevent

accidental starting when setting up, transporting, adjusting or making repairs.

_WARNING

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

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

These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced. They are not shipped with your mower. They are also available at most Sears retail outlets and service

centers° Most Sears stores can also order repair pads for you, when you provide the model

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

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

BLADE ADAPTERS WHEELS

Read these instructions and this manual in its entirety before you attempt to assemble or

operate your new fawn mower. IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped

WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine, Your new lawn mower has been assembled

at the factory with the exception of those parts left unassembled for shipping purposes. All parts such _.s nuts, washers, bolts, etc.,

necessa)¥ to complete the assernbfy have been placed in the parts bag. To ensure safe and proper operation of your la_m mower, all

parts and hardware you assemble must be tightened securely, Use the correct tools as

necessary to ensure proper tightness.

MULCHER KITS

SIDE DISCHARGE

GRASS FORCATCHERS

LAWN MOWERS

STABILIZER

GAS CANS

AIR FILTERS

TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM

CARTON

* Remove loose parts included with mower. o 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.

o Roll tawn mower out of carton and check

carton thoroughly for additional loose parts,

SPARK PLUGS

............. i,

ENGINE OIL

nUVV |U_)_ I UP Tt,./UFI L,J_VVI_t lVlv_./vvr'r'_

TO UNFOLD HANDLE IMPORTANT: Unfold handles carefully so as

not to pinch or damage control cables. ° Raise handles until lower handle section

locks into place in mowing position°

• Remove protective padding, raise upper handle section into place on lower handle

and tighten both handle knobs.

• Remove handle padding holding operator" presence control bar to upper handle°

o "four lawn mower handle can be adjusted

for your mowing comfort, Refer' to "Adjust Handle" in the Service and Adjustrnent section of this manual

Operator presence bar

Upper handle "--,..,..

Lift up

ift up

' Mowing

position

1 I..I !1'_1',,.-;1I i'_1..i... P_ i S #'_L_! IIVII,;I'_I I ',.,i1

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a mulchel; To convelt to bagging or discharging:

, Open rear door and remove mulcher plug,

Store mulcher plug in a safe placer

• You can now install catcher or optional clipping deflector.

• To return to mulching operation, install

mutcher plug into discharge opening of

rnower, Be sure all tabs are seated properly,

Mutcher plug

_CAUT!ON: Do not run your lawn mower without mulcher plug in place or

approved clipping deflector or grass catcher in place, Never a_tempt Io operate the lawn mower with the rear

door removed or propped open

Lower handle

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER READ THIS OWNER'S MANUALAND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN

MOWER, Compare the illustrations with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adiustments Save this manual for future reference,

These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or tnliterature supplied with _hepreducto Learn and understand there meaning+

CAUTION ENG+NE

OR WARNING ON

ENGINE FAST SLOW CHOKE FUEL OIL DANGER, KEEP HANDS

OFF AND FEET AWAY

Engine zone control cable Operator presence control bar

Drive controi lever

Starter handle

Handle knob

Grass catcher

Mulcher plug

Gasoline cap

Housing

Drive cover

Engine oil cap w/ dipstick

Primer

IMPORTANT," This lawn mower is shipped Wheel adjuster WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE inthe engine+ (on each wheel)

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

National Standards Institute and the U,S+ Consumer Product Safety Commission, The blade

turns when the engine is running.

Operator presence control bar +must be held down to the handle ,tostart the engine,

Release to stop the engine, Primer- pumps additional fuel from the

carburetor to the cylinder for use when

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

propelled forward motion of lawn mower.

Mulcher plug +must be removed to convert to

bagging or discharging operation.

slarting a cold engine,

mower can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes,

which can result in severe eye damage.

Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your lawn mower or

performing any adjustments or repairs.. We recommend a wide vision safety mask

over spectacles or standard safety glasses.

HOWTO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER ENGINE SPEED

The engine speed was set at the factory for optimum performance. Speed is nol

adjustable. ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

&CAUTION; .Federal regulations re.quire an engine conu°ol to be installed on this

lawn mower in order to minimize the risk

of blade contact injury. Do not under any circumstances attempt to defeat the

function of the operator control. The blade turns wtlen the engine is running.

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

requires the operator to be positioned

behind the lawn mower handle to start and operate the lawn rnower,

TO ADJUST ClJTI'ING HEIGHT

• Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for high cut.

,, Adjust cutting height to suit your require-

ments. Medium position is best for most lawns,

• To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster lever ioward wheel Move wheel up or

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

NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned when plate tab Inserts into hole in lever_ Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever to be positioned between the plate tabs.

Plate Tab

• Lift the rear door of the lawn mower and place the grass catcher frame

hooks onto the door pivot pins.

. The grass catcher is secured to the

lawn mower housing when the rear

door is lowered 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.

.jRdar door

Pivot pins

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

o Lift up on grass catcher using the frarne

handle.

• Remove grass catcher with clippings from under lawn mower handle,

° Ernpty clippings from bag using both

frame handle and bag handle.

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

Bag handle

Grass catcher

flame

handle

Lower Wheels for High Cut _ 1 ,_

Raise Wheels for Low Cut

DRIVE CONTROL

,, Self-propelling is controlled by holding

timeoperator presence control bar down to the handle and pushing time drive

control lever forward until it clicks; then release the lever.

o Fotward motion will stop when the

operator presence control bar is released. To stop forward motion

without stopping engine, release the operator presence control bar slightly

until the drive control disengages° Hold

operator presence control bar down to handle to continue mowing without self- propelling.

• To keep drive control engaged when turning corners, push down on handle

and lift front wheels off ground while turning lawn mower.

Operator presence control bar

/,. Drive

k\ ,X... ooo rot

To engage drive Drive control control disengaged

ADD GASOLINE ,, Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular

unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87

octane, Do not rnix oil with gasoline.

Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30 days 1o assure fuel

freshness.

,_WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or

using ethanol or metlTanol) can attlact moisture which leads to separation and

formation of acids during stolage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an engine while in storage. To avoid engine problems,

the fuel system should be emptied before storage of 30 days or longer'. Drain the gas

tank, start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use

fresh fue! next season. See Storage Instructions for additional infon'uation. Never

use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may

occur.

f&,CAUTION: Fillto bottom of gas tank

tiler necK. uo noi overfill, Wipe off any

spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or

use gasoline near an open flame

Engine oi! cap

Gasoline filler cap

o ¢o 03

ILl

.d I11

O O

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE OIL

Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in the

engine°

,, Be sure mower is level and area around oil

fil! is clean.

o Remove engine oil cap and fill to the full

line on the dipstick,

NOTE: Allow oil to seltfe down into engine for accurate dipstick reading+

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

grade of oil to use, see "ENGINE" in

Maintenance section of this manual°

o Pour oil slowly. Do not over fill. o Check oil level before each use. Add oil if

needed. Fill to full line on dipstick,

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

,, Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten. " Change the oil after every 25 hours of

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

dirty conditions,

TO START ENGINE ° To start a cold engine, push primer three

(3) times before trying to stalt_ Use a firm push., This step is not usually necessary

when starlfng an engine which has already run for a few minutes.

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

quickty. Do not allow starter rope to snap back>

o To stop engine, release opetator presence

control bar_

NOTE: hi cooler weather it may be necessary to repeat prirning steps, hi

warmer weather over priming may cause f!ooding and engir_e will not starL If you

do flood engine, wait a few minutes before attempting to stud and do not

repeat priming steps.

rt' Ill

,.J

IVIUVVII_tU IIt'_ IVlULt.,,nlt_l_ IVlUVViI'_,,._ I Ir',,._

• 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 tile engine

and leaving clumps of grass clippings, tt o may also be necessary to reduce ground speed and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time.

o 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 chaffi This will help engine air flow and extend engine tife.

IMPORTANT: Forbest performance, keep mower housing free of built-up grass and

trash_ See "Cleaning" in Maintenance section of this manual.

The special mulching blade wilt recul tile 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 wilt

biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn. Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as Ibis wilt provide the

best recurring action of the blades Avoid cutting 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. At

this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area ,MI! 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

tf the lawn is overgrown it will be necessary

to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from oveltoading tile

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 mulci_ed a second time to completely hide the

clippings_ When doing a second cut, mow

across or perpendicular to the first cut path° Change your cutting pattern flora week to

week. Mow north to south one week then change to east to west the next week. This

will help prevent marling and graining of the

lawn.

Max !/3

: _.,/ • : , Ll_,JZ,

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE _'__o_/'_-_ "

O_ O_ o o ,£.g O_:

AS YOU COMPLETE O_ _ _:Jt%_ _ u .

FILL IN DATES __

REGULAR SERVICE

..... SERVICE DATES

Check (orLoose Fasteners

'Cleanlh}specl GraSs'ca.icher

(If Equipped)

iVii Clean Lawn Mower

(Power-Propelled Mowers)

Clean Under Drive Covet'

:Check drive bettfputleys

_R !LPower'pr°pe_ledM°we[s) --_

ChecldSharpen./Replace Blade

Lubrication Chart

Clean Battery/Recharge

_. kEleclr!c Start Mowers)

E Check Engine Oi! Level N Ct_angeEng!ne Ol! G Clean Air Filter

I Inspect Muffler

N Clean 0r Replace Spark Plug ............ t/

E Replace Air Filler Paper Cartridge 6/'2

! • Change more often when operailng under a heavy load or Jn|'_tgha.mblenl lemperalures

2.o Service more ellen when operating in dirly or dusly conditions

3 - Repface hi,des more often when mowing In sandy soil

4 ,,Charge 48 hours at end of season,

.................. J _,,2

v', t/

......................v'........................

: ........

,, ,,,,,

:v "......................................,:,_

I/ I

= .., , :

t/ 1/

_/ !/4

GEN ERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Tl_e warranty on this lawn mower does not cover items that have been subjected to

operator abuse or negligence. To receive full value from the warranty, operator must

maintain mower as instructed in this manual.

Some adjustments will need to be made periodically to properly maintain your unit.

All adjustments in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual should

be checked at feast once each season,

o Once a year, replace tt_e spark plug,

replace air filter element and check

blade Forwear. A new spark plug and clean/new air filter element assures

proper air-fuel mixture and helps your engine run better and fast longer.

o Follow the maintenance schedule in this

rnanual°

BEFORE EACH USE ,, Check engine oil level.

o Check for loose fasteners, LUBRICATION

Keep unit well lubricated (See "LUBRICA-

TION CHART").

Handle b_acket mounting pin

k'_ Spray lubricant (_ Refer to Maintenance "ENGINE" section.

IMPORTANT: Do not oii 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 dr,:/,powdered graphite type lubricant sparingfy.

Rear door hinge

11)

rr"

IZl :3

Z .J

LU 13 0

Engine oil

l.U 0 Z

l'l'lli#lTVl.1 I ,_.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.-IPF--.,lli'i FIVillltl I IVltl._l

SERfALNUMBER DATE OF PURCHASE

GASOLINE CAPACITY/TYPE:

:OIL TYPE (API-SF!SG!SH):

OIL CAPACITY:

SPARK PLUG (GAP: .030',) VALVE CLEARANCE:

SOLID STATE IGNITION AIR GAP: .0125 fN,

BLADE BOLT TORQUE: 35-40 FTo LBS.

• _T5i_ ni0det and s'erial numbers will be found on a de_,a attached to the rear 6fthe lawn mower housing.Record both serial number and date of purchase in space

provided above.

1.5 QUARTS

UNLEADED REGULAR SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F)

SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F ) ...............

20 OZS.

CHAMPION RJ19LM OR J19LM INTAKE: .004 - ,008

EXHAUST: .004 - .008

LAWNMOWER Always obseive safety rules when performing

any maintenance.

TIRES

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

o Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp

objects and other hazards lhat may cause tire damager

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.

', Turn lawn mower on its side. Make

sure air filter and carburetor are up.

,, Use a wood block between blade and

mower housing to prevent blade from

turning when removing blade bolt.

° Protect your hands with gloves and/or

wrap blade with heavy cloth.

• Remove blade bolt by turning counter- clockwise.

o Remove blade and attaching hardware

(bolt, lock washer and hardened

washer).

NOTE: Remove the blade adapter and check the key inside hub of blade adapter. The key must be in good condition to work

properly. Replace adapter if damaged. TO REPLACE BLADE

• PositJon the blade adapter on the engine crankshaft° Be sure key in

adapter and crankshaft keyway are aligned.

• Position blade on time blade adapter aligning the two (2) holes in the blade

with the raised ILIgS on the adapter_

• Be sure the trailing edge of blade (opposite sharp edge) is up toward tile

engine.

,, Install the blade bolt with the lock

washer and hardened washer into

blade adapter and crankshaft°

o Use block of wood between blade and

lawn mower housing and tighten the

blade bolt, turning clockwise.

° The recommended tigl_tening torque is

35-40 fL Ibs.

IMPORTANT: Blade bott is grade 8 heat treated.,

TO SHARPEN BLADE

NOTE: We do not recommend sharpem

ing blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is balanced.

Care should be taken to keep the blade balanced An unbalanced blade will

cause eventual damage to lawn rnower or engine.

o Ttle blade can be sharpened with a file

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

,, To check blade balance, drive a nail

into a bearn or' wall, Leave about one inch of the straight nail exposed, 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,. Crank shaft

Blade keyway

Key

Blade

/ !

Blade Crank bolt shaft

Lock ]'railing Blade

washer Hardened edge adapter

washer

GRASS CATCHER

,, The grass catcher may be hosed with

water, but must be dry when used.

,, Check your grass catcher often for

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

replace only with a manufacturer approved replacement catciqer. Give the lawn

mower model number when ordering.

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

The wheels not turning freely rneans 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.

o Remove wheels from wheel adjusters.

o Remove any trash or grass cuttings

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

° Put wheels back in place.

• tf after cleaning, the drive wheels do not turn freely, contact your nearest

authorized service center,

GEAR CASE

• To keep your drive system working properly, the gear case and area

around the drive should be kept clean and free of trash build-up. Clean under

the drive cover twice a season. The gear case 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 Prernium 1 Grease, Part No.

750369. Do not substitute.

ENGINE

LUBRICATION Use only high quality detergent oil rated

with API ser¢ice classification SF, SG or SH. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade

according to your expected operating temperature°

SA,EVISCOSITY GRADES

[ TEMPERATURE' RANG_ ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE

NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30 etc,)improve starling in

cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils will result in increased oil consumption

when used above 32_'R Check your engine oil level rnore frequently to avoid

possible engine damage from running low on oil.

Change the oil after every 25 hours of operation or at least once a year if the

lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in one year.

Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine and after each five (5)

hours of continuous use, Tighten oi] plug securely each time you check the oil

level,

NOTE: Before tipping fawn mower to drain oil, drain fuel tank by running

engine until fuel tank is empty° ,, Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

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

• Remove engine oil cap; lay aside on a clean surface,

, 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.

° Wipe off any spilled oil on .lawn mower

and on side of engine.

,, Fill engine with oil. Fiii only to the

"FULL.." line on the dipstick. DO NOT overfill.

• Replace engine oil cap.

,' Reconnect spark plug wire to spark

plug,

Container

AIR FILTER

Your engine will not run properly and

may be damaged by using a di_ty air

filter,

Replace the air filter every year, more

often if you mow in very dusty, didy conditions. Do not wash air filter.

TO CHANGE AIR FILTER

• Remove the air filter by turning counterclockwise to the stop and pull away from collar.

,, Remove filter from inside of cover.

• Clean the inside of the cover and the collar to remove any dirt accurnulation,

° Insert new filter into cover, o Put air filter cover and filter into collar

aligning the tab with the sloL

" Push in on cover and turn clockwise to

tighten..

Collar

Clip

Slot

counter _ clockwise to remove

Tab/

Air filter

MUFFLER Inspect and replace corroded muffler as

it could create a fire hazard and/or damage.

SPARK PLUG Change your spark plug eaoh year to

make your engine start easier and run better. Set spark plug gap at ,030 inch.

CLEANING IMPORTANT: For best performance,

keep mower housing free of built-up

grass and trash Clean the underside of your mower after each use,

,&CAUTION; Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with the spark

ptugo

• Turn lawn mower on its side, Make

sure air filter and carburetor are up. Clean the underside of your tawn

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

• Clean engine often to keep trash frorn

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

', Keep finished surfaces and wheels

free of all gasoline, oil,etc.

,, We do not recommend using a garden

hose to clean lawn mower unless the electrical system, muffler, air filter and

carburetor are covered to keep water out, Water in engine can result in

shortened engine life.

CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER

CIean 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.

Air filter cover

Turn clockwise to tighten

_CAUTtON' Before performing any

service and adjustments:

• Release control bar and stop engine.

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

• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark

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

LAWN MOWER

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT See "TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT" in the Operation section of this manual.

REAR DEFLECTOR The rear deflector, attached between the rear

wheels of your lawn mower, is provided to

minimize the possibility that objects will be thrown out the rear of [he lawn mower into the

operator's mowing position, If the rear

deflector becomes damaged, it should be replaced.

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

pushing down on gear case pulley and roll belt off.

• Turn lawn mower on its side with carbure-

tor 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 factor,/approved belt to assure

fit and long life.

TO ADJUST HANDLE

The handle can be mounted in a high or tow position. Tile mounting holes in the

bottom of lower handle are off center for raising or lowering the handle.

,, Remove upper handle and all parts

attached to !ower handle.

o Remove hairpin cotters from lower

handle bracket mounting pin°

° Squeeze !ower handle in to remove it

from mounting pins,

° Turn lower handle over to raise or lower

handle.

,, Squeeze lower handle in and position

holes onto mounting pins on handle bracket.

• Reassemble upper handle and all parts removed from lower handle,

Mowing ,_. Mowing /(i'

position :- position ;,_

Low position High position

, t

Drive

cover

Belt

Push down

Rotate

o Put grass catcher frarne into grass bag

with rigid part of bag on.the bottom. Make sure tile frame handle is outside

of the bag top.

• 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.

,_CAUT1ON: 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.

r i_i%._Iii'_I.r- v',3r F__...,_r::_I,,./

Your engine speed has been factory set Do not attempt to increase engine speed or it may result in personal injury° If you

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

authorized service center for repair and adjustment CARBURETOR

Your carburetor Ilas a non-adjustable

fixed main jet for mixture control. If your engine does not operate properly due to

suspected carburetor problems, take your lawn mower to an authorized service

center for repair and/or adjustment.

IrgPORTANT: never tamper with the

engine governor, wMch is factory set for proper engine speed. Overspeeding the engine above the factory high speed

setting can be dangerou& if you think the engine-governed high speed needs adjusting, contact your nearest authorzed service center, wMch has proper

equipment and experience to make any necessary adjustments.

Frame

opening

+ 33 hidden pages

Craftsman 917379380 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual