Craftsman 917380542 Owner’s Manual

®

MODEL NUMBER 917.380542 OWNER'SMANUAL

Convertible

oAssembly
oOperation

oCustomer

Responsibilities

oService
oAdjustments

oRepair Parts

Caution:

Read and Follow

all Safety Rules
and Instructions

Before Operating

This Equipment

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SAFETY RULES

PLUG TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL STARTINGWHENSETTING UP,TRANSPORTING, ADJUSTING OR MAKING
CAUTION: ALWAYS DISCONNECTSPARK PLUGWlREANDPLACEWIREWHERE tTCANNOT CONTACTSPARK

REPAIRS.. IMPORTANT

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 CIRCUM*
STANCES°

TRAINING:

• Read this operator's manual carefully Become familiar with
the controls and know how to operate your mower properly
Learn how to quickly stop mower

• Do not altow 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 onfy as the manufacturer intended and as de-

scribed 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 notrecommended
by the manufacturer Use of such attachments may be

hazardous,
Be aware that the mower blade turns when the engine is

running

PREPARATION:

'. Always thoroughly check the area to be mowed and clear it of

all stones, sticks, wires, bones, and other foreign objects
These objects will be thrown by the blade and can cause
severe injury.

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

,, Dress properIy Do not operate mower when barefoot or

wearing open sandals Wear only solid shoes with good
traction when mowing

• Check fuel tank before starting engine Do not fill gas tank
indoors, when the engine is running or when the engine is hot,
Allow the engine to cool for several minutes before filling the
gas tank_ Clean off any spilled gasoline before starting the
engine

• Always make wheel height adjustments before starting your
mower Never attempt to do this while the engine is running

. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light

OPERATION:

" Keep your eyes and mind on your mower and the area being

cut, Do not let other interests distract you

• Do not mow wet or slippery grass Never run while operating
your mower. Always be sure of your fooling -keep a firm hold
on the handles and walk

Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts Keep

clear of the discharge opening al all times

• Always stop the engine whenever you leave or are not using
you r mower, or befo re crossing ddveways, walks, roads, and
any gravel-covered areas,,

* Never direct discharge of material toward bystanders nor

allow anyone near the mower while you are operating it

. Before cleaning, inspecting, or repairing your mower, stop

the engine and make absolutely sure the blade and all
moving parts have stopped. Then disconnect the spark plug
wire and keep it away from the spark plug to prevent
accidental starting

. Do not continue to run yourmower if you hit a foreign object

FoFIowthe procedure outlined above, then repair any dam-
age before restarting and operating you mower.

• Do not chang e the governor settings or overspeed the
engine Engine damage or personal injury may resutt_

• Do not operate your mower ifit vibrates abnormally Exces-
sive vibration is an indication of damage; stop the engine,

safely check for the cause of vibration and repair as required
Do not run the engine indoors. Exhaust fumes are danger-

ous
Never cut grass by pulling the mower towards you Mow

across the face of slopes, never up and down or you might
lose your footing Do not mow 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 ANDSTORAGE:

• Check the blade and the engine mounting bolts often to be

sure they are tightened properly

• Check all bolts, nuts and screws at frequent intervals for
proper tightness to besure mower isin safe working condi-

tion,

* 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 deterioration and wear and

replace worn bags Use onty repEacement bags that are
recommended by and comply with specifications of the
manufacturer of your mower

• Always keep a sharp blade on your mower

• Allow engine to cool before storing in any enclosure

. Never store mower with fuel in the tank inside a building

where fumes may reach an open flame or an ignition source
such as a hot water heater, space heater, clothes dryer, etc

LOOK FOR THIS SYMBOL TO POINT OUT IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. I
IT MEANS - ATTENTION!!! BECOME ALERT!!! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED, !

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CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a Sears Lawn
Mower,, It has been designed, engineered and manufac-

tured to give you the best possible dependability and
performance,

Should you experience any problem you cannot easily

remedy, please contact your nearest Sears Authorized

Service Center/DepartmenL We have competent, well-
trained technicians and the proper tools to service or repair

this lawn mower.,

Please read and retain this manual,, The instructions will

enable you to assemble and maintain your lawn mower
properly., Always observe the "SAFETY RULES",

MODEL
NUMBER 917,,380542

SERIAL

NUMBER

PRODUCT SPECSRCATDONS

HORSEPOWER: 4.0
DISPLACEMENT: 11,5CU IN
GASOLINE CAPACITY 1,,5QUARTS

AND TYPE: UNLEADED REGULAR
OIL TYPE (API-SG): SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F)

SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F)

OIL CAPACITY: 20 OZ&
SPARK PLUG: CHAMPION RJ19-LM

(GAP: ,030") STD361458
VALVE CLEARANCE: INTAKE: ..008

EXHAUST: ,B08

SOLID STATE iGNITION
AIR GAP: o0125IN.

DATEOFPURCHASE

THE MODEL AND SERIAL NUMBERS WILL BE FOUND
ON A DECAL ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE

LAWN MOWER HOUSING
YOU SHOULD RECORD BOTH SERIAL NUMBER AND

DATE OF PURCHASE AND KEEP IN A SAFE PLACE
FOR FtJTURE REFERENCE_

BLADE BOLT TORQUE: 35-40 FT_LBS,

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

A Sears Maintenance Agreement is available on this product° Contact your nearest Sears store for details,

CUSTOMER RESPONSiBILiTiES

o Read and observe the safety rules,
° Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and using your lawn mower.

. Follow the instructions under "Customer Responsibilities" and "Storage" sections of this owner's manual.,

LtMITED 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 instructionsin the owner's manual, Sears will repair free of charge any

defect in material or workmanship.,
If this Craftsman Lawn Mower is used for commercial or rental purposes, this warranty applies for only 90 days from

the date of purchase..

This Warranty does not cover:

o 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 manuaf,

WARRANTY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE BY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER TO THE NEAREST
SEARS SERVICE CENTER/DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES,, THIS WARRANTY APPLIES ONLY WHILE

THIS PRODUCT IS IN USE IN THE UNITED STATES,
This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO. DI817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SAFETY RULES ............................................................ 2

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS ....................................... 3

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ..................... 3, 10-12

WARRANTY ................................................................... 3

ASSEMBLY ..................................................................... 5

OPERATION ................................................................... 6

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ...................................... 10

I DEX

A

Accessories ................................................5

Adjustments:

Carburetor ....................................13

Engine Speed ...............................t 3

Handle Height ...............................13

Height of Cut ....................................7

Air Filter:

Replacement .....................................12

Service ................................................12

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

B

Blade:

Sharpening .....................................11

Replacement ...................................11

C

Controls:

Drive Controf .....................................6

Engine Zone Control ........................7

Engine Speed Control ................6

Operator P/esence

Control Bar o........................................6

Customer Responsibilities ....3, 10-12

Air Filter .........................................12

Blade Care/Replacement ...........1t

Engine ..............................................12

Lubrication ................................ 12

Spark Plug ......................................12

Cutting Levels ..............................................7

Engine:

Air Fitter .......................................................12

Oil Change ............................................12

Oil Level ......................................................12

Oil Type .......................................................12

Starting .......................................................8

Stopping .....................................................8

Storage ....................................................14

Fuel:

Capacity ....................................................3

Storage .......................................................14

Type ................................................................8

Handle Adjustment:

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

Cutting Height ........................................I3

Lubrication:

Engine ...................................................12

Lawn Mower ......................................10

Maintenance Agreement ...................3

Maintenance Schedule .......................10

Mowing T!ps .................................................9

Oil:

Engine ......................................................12

Storage .....................................................14

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS ..... :........................... 13

STORAGE .................................................................... 14

TROUBLESHOOTING .................................................. 15

REPAIR PARTS., LAWN MOWER ........................ 16-17

REPAIR PARTS- ENGINE .................................... 18-20

PARTS ORDERING/SERVICE ................ BACK COVER

E

F

H

L

O

Operation:

Engine Control .....................................7

Grass Catcher, ......................................11

Mower .............................................................7

Operator Presence

Control Bar. ...........................................7

Options:

Accessories .....................................5

R

Repair Parts:

Engine ...........................................18-20

Lawn Mower. ...............................16-17

Responsibilities, Customer ..3, I 0-t2

S

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

Service and Adjustments ..........................13

Carburetor ...............................................13

Engine Speed .....................................13

Handle ...................................................13

Spark Plug ........................................................12

Specifications .............,,....................................3

Speed Control:

Engine ................................................13

Starting the Engine ......................................8

Stopping the Engine .............................8

Storage ....................................................14

T

Trouble Shooting Chart ...............................15

W

Warranty ............................................................3

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LAWN MOWER ACCESSORIES

These accessories were available when this fawn mower was produced. They are also available at most Sears retail outlets
and service centers° Most Sears stores can also order repair parts for you, when you provide the model number of your lawn

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

ENGINE

SPARK PLUG MUFFLER AIR FILTER GAS CAN ENGINE OIL STABILIZER

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

BELT BLADE BLADE

ASSEMBLY

Read these instructions and this manual in its entirety
before you attempt to assemble or operate your new lawn

mower. Your new lawn mower has been assembled at the
factory with the exception of those parts left unassembled

for shipping purposes.. All parts such as nuts, washers,
bolts, etc,.,necessary to complete the assembly have been

placed in the parts bag,. To ensure safe and proper
operation of your lawn mower, all parts and hardware you

assemble must be tightened securely,. Use the correct
tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness_

TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM
CARTON

• Remove loose parts included with mower.,

- Cut down two end corners of carton and lay end panel
down flat.,

° Remove all packing materials except padding between

upper and lower handle and padding holding operator

presence control bar to upper handle.

° Roll lawn mower out of carton and check carton thor-

oughly for additional loose parts.

HOWTO SET UPYOUR LAWN MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE (See Fig. 1)

IMPORTANT: UNFOLD HANDLES CAREFULLY SO AS
NOT TO PINCH OR DAMAGE CONTROL CABLES,

WHEELS LAWN MOWER

ADAPTER

OPERATOR PRESENCE
CONTROLBAR

UPPER HANDLE

LOWER HANDLE

FIG. 1

. Raise handles until lower handle section locks into

place in mowing position.

° Raise upper handle section intoplace on lower handle,

remove protective padding and tighten both handle
knobs.

o Remove handle padding holding operator presence

control bar to upper handle.

o Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted for your

mowing comfort° Refer to "Adjust Handle" in the
Service and Adjustments section of this manual.,

COVER

MOWING POSITION

OPERATUON

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER,, Compare the
illustrations with your lawn mower to familiarize yoursetf with the location of various controls and adjustments, Save this

manual for future reference,,

OPERATOR PRESENCE
CONTROLBAR

UPSTOPBRACKET

ENGINE ZONE

CONTROLCABLE

STARTER
HANDLE

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL LEVER

PRIMt

DISCHARGE

MULCHER PLATE

HANDLE KNOB

CABLE CLIP

ENGINE OIL CAP
WITH DIPSTICK

FILL CAP

AIR

WHEEL ADJUSTER LAWN MOWER HOUSING
(ON EACH WHEEL)

FIG. 2

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers confoi'm 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,.

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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._

STARTER HANDLE - used for starting the engine,.
ENGINE SPEED CONTROL LEVER - located on the side

of the engine which allows you to select either fast (,_) or
slow (,._) engine speed.

MULCHER PLATE - Located at the discharge opening
must be removed when converting to bagging or discharg-

ing operation,.

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OPERAON

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL (See Fig. 3)

The engine speed is controlled by a lever located on the

side of the engine,, Fast (,¢_) position is for starting engine,
normal cutting and better grass bagging, Slow (,_v_)

position is for light cutting, trimming and fuel economy,

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

CAUTION: Federal regulations require
an engine control to be installed on this

lawn mower in order to minimize the

risk of blade contact injury. Do notunder any circumstances attempt to
defeat the function of the operator con-
trol. The blade turns when the engine is
running,

o 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,,

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT (See Fig. 4)

- Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for high cut,,
= Wheels are set in low cut for shipping,. Adjust cutting

height to suit your requirements_ Medium position is
best for most 1awns,

- To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster lever to-
ward wheel° Move wheel up or down to suit your

requirements,, Be sure all wheels are in the same
setting_

Your lawn mower has been shipped ready for mulching
operation° To convert to discharging or bagging operation:

TO CONVERT TO DISCHARGING MOWER

(See Fig. 5)

Your mower is shipped ready to be used as a mulchen To
convert to bagging or discharging:

= Lift discharge guard and remove mulcher plate.
, Mower can now be used for side discharging or op-

tional grass catcher can be attached,

° To return to mulching operation, simply reinsta!l mutcher

plate as shown,,

ENGINE SPEED
CONTROLLEVER

PRIMER

FIG. 3

LOWER WHEELS RAISE WHEELS
FOR HIGHCUT _ _ FOR LOW CUT

t)?P

FIG. 4

DISCHARGE GUARD

MULCHER

'_"-TAB '

FIG. 5

without discharge guard, approved

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
grass catcher or mulcher plate in place.

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OPERATnON

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

OIL (See Fig. 6)

Your' lawn mower is shipped without oil in the engine°
* Be sure mower' is level and area around oil fill is clean.

o Remove engine oil cap w/dipstick and fill to the full line

on the dipstick.

° Use 20 ozs. of oil. For type and grade of oil to use, see

"ENGINE" in Customer' Responsibilities section of this
manual.

° Pour oil slowly_ Do not over fill.

• Check oil level before each use_ Add oil ifneeded. Fill
to full line on dipStick°

° To read proper level, tighten engine oil cap each time_

• Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten.

= After the first two (2) hours of mowing, change the oil,

and every 25 hours thereafter° You may need to
change the oilmore often under dusty, dirty condition&

GAS (See Fig. 6)

° Fill gasoline tank with fresh, clean, unleaded gasoline°

DO NOT USE PREMIUM GASOLINE. BE CAREFUL
NOT TO OVER FILL TANK.

WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended
fuels (called gasoho! 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 stor-
age of 30 days or Ionger_ Drain the fuel tank, start the

engine and Iet it run until fuel Iines and carburetor are
empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instruc-

tions for additional information. Never use engine or
carburetor cleaner products in fuel tank or permanent

damage may occur°

GASOLINE FILLER CAP

ENGINE OIL CAP W/DIPSTICK

FIG. 6

TO START ENGnNE

To start acold engine, push primer five (5) times before
trying to start, Use afirm push. This step is not usually

necessary when starting an engine which has already
run for a few minute&

o Move engine speed control lever' to fast (,_) position.
° Hold operator presence control bar down to the handle

and pull starter handle quickly. Do not allow starter

rope to snap back,
, 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. Ifyou do flood engine wait

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

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