Craftsman 917.37945 User Manual

Owner's Manual

ICRRFTSMAN'I

6.0 HORSEPOWER 22" REAR DISCHARGE

POWER PROPELLED

ELECTRIC START

ROTARY LAWN MOWER

Model No.

917.379450

• Safety

• Assembly

• Operation

• Maintenance

• Espa_ol

• Repair Parts

CAUTION:

Read and follow all

Safety Rules and Instructions before operating this equipment

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

VIsttourCraftsmanwebsite:www.sears,com/craltsman

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

Safety Rules ......................................... 2

Assembly .............................................. 5

Operation .............................................. 7

Maintenance Schedule ...................... 11

Maintenance ....................................... 11

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 workman-

ship.

If thisCraftsman 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

crankshafts and the failure to maintain the equipment according to the instructions contained 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.

Product Specifications ........................ 13

Service and Adjustments .................... 15

Storage ............................................... 17

Troubleshooting ................................. 18

Repair Parts ........................................ 38

Parts Ordering ..................... Back Cover

This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other dghts which

vary fromstate to state.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., D/817 WA, Hoffman Estates,Illinois 60179

IMPORTANT: This cutting machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects. Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in

serious injury or death.

hGENERAL OPERATION •

• Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the

manual(s) before starting. Be thor- oughly 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

discharge opening at all times. *

• Only allow responsible individuals, who

are familiar with the instructions, 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. 2

Besure the area is clear of other people before mowing. Stop machine if

anyone enters the area. Do not operate the mower when barefoot or wearing open sandals. Always wear substantial foot wear. Do not pull mower backwards unless absolutely necessary. Always look

down and behind before and while moving backwards.

Do not operate the mower without proper guards, plates, grass catcher or other safety protective devices in place.

See manufacturer's instructions for

proper operation and installation of

accessories. Only use accessodes approved by the manufacturer.

• Stoptheblade(s)whencrossinggravel drives,walks,orroads.

• .Stoptheengine(motor)wheneveryou leavetheequipment,beforecleaning

themoweroruncloggingthechute.

• Shuttheengine(motor)offandwait untilthebladecomestocompletestop

beforeremovinggrasscatcher.

• Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

• Do not operate the machine while

under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Never operate machine in wet grass. Always be sure of your footing: keep a

firm hold on the handle and walk; never

run.

• Disengage the self-propelled mecha-

nism or drive clutch on mowers so equipped before starting the engine

(motor).

• If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the engine (motor)

and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.

• Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields when

operating 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: never 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.

II1. CHILDREN Tragic accidents can occur if the operator

is not alert to the presence of children.

Children are often attracted to the

machine and the mowing activity. Never assume that children will remain where

you last saw them.

• Keep chiidran out of the trimming area

and under the watchful care of another responsible adult.

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

• Before and while walking backwards, look behind and down for small children.

• Never allow children to operate the machine.

• Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects

that may obscure vision.

IV. SERVICE

• Use extra care in handling gasoline and other fuels. They are flammable

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 flame, such as a water heater.

• Never run a machine inside a closed

area.

• Never make adjustments or repairs with the engine (motor) running. Disconnect

the spark plug wire, and keep the wire

away from the plug to prevent acciden- tal starting.

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

• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly.

• 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 necessary,

before restarting.

• Never attempt to make wheel height adjustments while the engine (motor) is

running.

• Grass catcher components are subject to wear, damage, and deterioration,

which could expose moving parts or

allow objects to be thrown. Frequently

check components and replace with

manufacturer's recommended parts,.

when necessary.

• Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves, and

use extra caution when servicing them.

• Do not change the engine governor

setting or overspeed the engine.

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

CAUTION!!! BECOME ALERT!!! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

ACAUTION: In order to prevent accidental starting when setting up,

transporting, adjusting or making repairs, always disconnect spark plug wire and place wire where it cannot contact spark

plug.

AWARNINO: Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle

components contain or emit chemicals

known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

AWARNING: Battery posts, terminals and related accessories contain lead and lead

compounds, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth

defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.

ACAUTION: Muffler 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.

These accessories were availablewhen this lawnmower was produced, They are not shipped with your mower. They are also available at most Sears retailoutletsand service

centers. Most Sears storescan alsoorder repairparts for you, when you providethe model

numberof your lawn mower. Some ofthese accessodasmay not applyto your lawnmower.

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

FOR

nEAR DISCHARGE

GRASS CATCHERS

LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

MUFFLERS

BELTS BLADES

MULCHER KITS

FOR

SIDE DISCHARGE

GRASS CATCHERS

LAWN MOWERS

AIR FILTERS

BLADE ADAPTERS WHEELS

STABILIZER

GAS CANS

SPARK PLUGS

ENGINE OIL

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- sembled at the factory with the exception of those parts left unassembled for shipping purposes. All parts such as nuts,

washers, bolts, etc., necessary to com-

plete the assembly have been placed in the parts bag. To ensure safe and proper operation of your lawn mower, an 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

1. Remove loose parts included with mower.

2. Cut down two end comers of carton

and lay and panel down flat.

3. Remove all packing materials except

padding between upper and lower

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

4. Roll lawn mower out of carton and

check carton thorougly for additional loose parts.

HOWTO SET UPYOUR LAWN MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE

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

1. Raise handles until lower handle

section locks into place in mowing position.

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

3. Remove handle padding holding operator presence control bar to upper handle.

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

Handle" in the Service and Adjustments

section of this manual.

Operator presence control bat

Upper

Liftup

Mowing

_rhandle

TO PREPARE BATTERY NOTE; Your battery must be charged

before you can start your lawn mower.

1. Disconnect engine battery connector (male) from battery connector (female)

2. Connect battery charger connector

(male) to batten/connector (female).

3. Plug battery charger into 110 volt A.C. outlet.

4. Leave battery charger connected for

24 hours before starting your engine for the first time.

5. After charging, connect engine

connector (male) to battery connector

(female).

Your engine has an integral alternator for partial charging. Connect your battery charger to charge battery as required.

IMPORTANT: The engine alternator will not charge a discharged battery.

At the end of the mowing season the battery should be charged for 48 hours to

protect the battery during winter storage. ACAUTION: Always disconnect the

engine connector (male) from the battery connector (female) to prevent accidental

starting when transporting or storing your

lawn mower after the season.

Engine connector

(Male)

Battery

charger

Bakery charger

connector

(Male)

Battery connector (Female)

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to

be used as a mulcher. To convert to bagging or discharging:

Open rear door and remove mulcher

plug. Store mulcher plug in a safe place. You can now install catcher or

optionat clipping deflector.

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

of mower.

_I,CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without mulcher plug in place or approved clipping deflector or grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate

the lawn mower with the rear door

removed or propped open.

Mulcher plug

K_IOWYOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER. Compare the illustrations with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself

with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the

product. Learn and understand their meaning.

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

OR WARNING ON OFF ANO FEET AWAY

Operator controlbar

start switch

Throttle control control

Auxiliary

Grass catcher,,

lever

Handle knob

oil cap w/dipstick

Mulcher plug

Gasolinefiller

cover

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped without oil or gasoline in the engine. (on every 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 Commis- 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. Primer - pumps additional fuel from the

carburetor to the cylinder for use when starting a cold engine.

Auxiliary starter handle- used for starting the engine,

Key start switch- 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. Throttle control - Used for starting the

engine and allows you to select either fast or slow engine speed,

The operation of any lawn mower can result in

foreign objec{s i;. .,:, 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 USEYOUR LAWN MOWER ENGINE SPEED

The engine speed is controlled by a throttle located on the side of the upper

handle. Fast position is for starting, normal cutting, trimming and better grass

bagging. Slow position is for light cutting,

trimming and fuel economy.

,tl

s!Ow

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

ACAUTION: Federal regulations require an engine control 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

tums when 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 stad

and operate the lawn mower.

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for high cut, adjust cutting height

to suit your requirements. Medium position is best for most lawns.

• To change cutting height, squeeze

adjuster lever toward wheel. Move wheel up or down to suit your require-

ments. Be sure all wheels are in the same setting.

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

Also, 9*position adjusters (if so equipped) allow laver to be positioned between the plate tabs.

PlateTab

LowerWheelsfor High Cutr._,_

Raise Wheels for Low Cut

TO ATFACH GRASS CATCHER

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

side hooks onto the door pivot pins.

2. The grass catcher is secured to the lawn mower housing when the rear

door is lowered onto the grass catcher

frame.

_I,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.

Pivotpins Rear door

Grass

catcher handle

Catcher % frame hook

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

1. Lift up on grass catcher using the frame handle.

2. Remove grass catcher with clippings from under lawn mower handle.

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.

_rass

frame

ndle

Bag

handle

DRIVE CONTROL

• Self-propelling is controlled by holding

-the operator presence control bar down to the handle and pushing the drive

control lever forward until it clicks; then

releasing the lever.

• Forward motion will stop when the operator presence control bar is released. To stop forward motion

without stopping engine, release the

operator presence control bar slightly until the drive control disengages. Hold

operator presence control bar down against handle to continue mowing

without self-propelling.

• To keep drive control engaged when

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

turning lawn mower.

Operatorpresence controlbar

Toengage Drive control drive control disengaged

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE ADD OIL Your lawnmower is shipped without oil in

the engine. Engine holds 20 oz. of oil.

For type and grade of oi! to use, see

"ENGINE" in Maintenance section of this

manual.

1. Be sure lawnmower is level and area

around oil fill is clean.

2. Remove engine oil cap and fill to the full line on the dipstick. Pour oil slowly.

Do not over fill.

NOTE: Allow oil to settle down into engine for accurate dipstick reading. To read

proper level, tighten engine oil cap, then remove itto read the dipstick.

3. Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten.

• 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.

ADD GASOLINE

NOTE: Before filling fuel tank, remove and discard the debris plug that is inside

the tank.

• Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular

unleaded gasoline with a minimum of

87 octane. Do not mix oil with gaso-

line. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30 days to assure

fuel freshness.

_WARNING: Experience indicates that

alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract

moisture which leads to separation and formation of acids during storage. Acidic

gas can damage the fuel system of an engine while in storage. To avoid engine problems, the fuel system should be emptied before storage of 30 days or

longer. Drain the gas tank, start the

engine and let it run until the fuel lines

and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instructions for additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.

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

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

Gasoline • • filler cap_ EngIneodcap

(Discard

debris plug

inside) __'_

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 firm push. This step is not usually necessary when starting an engine which has already run for a

few minutes.

2. Move handle mounted throttle control

lever to fast position.

3. Hold operator presence control bar

down to the handle.

4. Turn electric start key clockwise to

crank engine.

IMPORTANT:Donot crank engine more

than five continous seconds between

each time you try to start. Wait 5 to 10 seconds between each attempt.

1. To start engine using the auxiliary

starter handle, follow the steps above.

Exchange the use of the start key for

starter handle. Pull starter handle

quickly. Do not allow starter rope to snap back.

TO STOP ENGINE

• To stop engine, release operator

presence control bar.

NOTE: In cooler weather it may be necessary to repeat priming steps. In

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

do flood engine wait a few minutes before attempting to start and do not repeat priming steps.

MOWINGTIPS

• Under certain conditions, such as very

tail grass, it may be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing

effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving clumps of grass

clippings. It may also be necessary to

reduce ground speed and/or run the

lawn mower over the area a second time.

• For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly.

• For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions, the engine speed

should be set in the fast position.

• When using a rear discharge lawn mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps of

cut grass may not enter the grass catcher. Reduce ground speed (pushing speed) and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time.

• If a trail of clippings is left on the dght side of a rear discharge mower, mow in

a clockwise direction with a small ovedap to collect the clippings on the

next pass.

• Pores in cloth grass catchers can become filled with dirt and dust with

use and catchers will collect less grass. To prevent this, regularly hose catcher off with water and let dry before using.

• Keep top of engine around starter clear and clean of grass clippings and chaff.

This will help engine air flow and extend engine life.

MULCHING MOWING TIPS IMPORTANT: For best performance,

keep mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. See "Cleaning" in

MAINTENANCE section of this manual.

• The special mulchingblade will reoutthe

grass clippingsmany times and reduce them insize so thatas they fall ontothe

lawnthey will disperseinto the grassand notbe noticed.Also, the mulched grass will

biedegradequicklyto provk:lanutrientsfor

the lawn.Always mulch withyour highest

engine (blade) speed as this will provide

the best recuttJngactionof the blades.

• Avoidcuttingyour lawnwhen itis wet. Wet

grass tendsto formclumpsand interferes withthe mulchingaction.The best time to

mow your lawn isthe earlyaftemcon. At this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area will not be exposed to the direct

sun.

• For best results,adjust the lawn mower cuttingheightso thatthe lawn mower cuts off onlythe top one-thi,'d of the grass

blades. Ifthe lawn isovergrown it will be necessary to raisethe height ofcut to

reduce pushingeffortand to keep from

overloading the engine and leaving clumps of mulchedgrass. For extremely

heavy mulching,reduce your width of cut

by overlappingpreviouslycut path and

mow slowly.

• Certain types of grass and grass condi- tions may require that an area be mulched

a second time to completely hide the

clippings. When doing a second cut, mow

across or perpendicular to the firstcut path.

• Change your cutting pattem from week to

week. Mow nor_ to south one week then change to east towest the next week. This

will help prevent matting and grainingof

the lawn.

Max. 1/3

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

FILL IN DATES

AS YOU COMPLETE _ERVICE DATES

REGULAR SERVICE

Check for Loose Fasteners !1/ V/

Clean/Inspect Grass Catcher

Clean Lawn Mower

Clean Under ndve Cover

(Power-Propelled Mowers) _/ Check drive belt/ ulleys

lPower. Propall_lP Mowers) t/ Check/Sharpen/Replace Blade I/3

Lubricalton Chart _ it/

Clean Battery/Rechar_rge fElectdc Start Mowers !

Check Engine Oi_ Level

Change Engine Oil I/1,2 Clean Air Filter I_ 2

Inspect Muffler I_

Clean or Redlace Spark Plug Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge t/2

1 - Cha_je mote oilen when operating under a heavy k)ador in high ambient temperatures,

2 - Ser_ce more often when operatlr_gindin7 or dustyconditions, 3 - Replace blades more often when mowing in sandy SOil,

4-C..r_,_ _o._=.,_ of_o.. LUBRICATION CHART

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS The warranty on this lawn mower does

(_Wheel Adjuster

not cover items that have been subjected to operator abuse or negligence. To

receive full value from the warranty, operator must maintain mower as

/; _ _.._) Engineoil

instructed in this manual.

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

' i i

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, clean or 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

t. Check engine oil level.

2. Check for loose fasteners.

LUBRICATION Keep unit well lubricated(See "LUBRI-

CATIONCHART").

mounting pin

Refer to maintenance "Engine" section,

(_ Spray lubricant

IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease

plastic wheel bearings, viscous lubri-

cants 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

11 graphite type lubricant sparingly.

bracket

Rear door hinge

+ 23 hidden pages