Craftsman 917382840 Owner’s Manual

MODEL NUMBER 917.382840 OWNER'S MANUAL

Convertiblle

@

®

oAssembly
®Operation

oCustomer

Responsibilities
Service

Adjustments

+Repair Parts

Caution:

Read and Follow

all Safety Rules
and Instructions

Before Operating

This Equipment

149379 Rev+ 1 07°25.95

Printed in U.S_A.

Safe Operation Practices for Walk-Behind Mowers

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

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.

SAFETY RULES

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 allow children to use your mower. Never allow adults

to use mower without proper instructions,,

o Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, especially

small children and pets.

• Use mower only as the manufacturer intended and as de-
scribed in thismanual

° Do not operate mower ifit 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 manufacturer. Use of such attachments may be
hazardous.

• The blade turns when the engine is running°

PREPARATION:

° Always thoroughly check the area to be mowed and clearit 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 properly. 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 theengine ishot.

Allow the engine tocoo! for'several minutes before filling the
gas tank. Clean off any spilledgasoline before starting the

engine_

° Always make wheel height adjustments before starting your

mower. Never attempt to do this whilethe engine is running

° Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.

OPERATION:

• Keep your eyes and mind onyour mower and the area being
cut. Do not let other interests distract you,

• Do not mow wet or slipperygrass. Never run while operating
your mower_ Always be sure of your footing- keep a firm hold

on the handles and walk.

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

clear of the discharge opening at all times.

• Always stop the engine whenever you leave orare not using
your mower, or before crossing driveways, walks, roads, and
any gravel-covered areas°

° Never direct discharge of material toward bystanders nor

allow anyone near the mower while you are operating iL

° Before cleaning, inspecting,orrepairingyour mower, stopthe

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

starting..

• Do not continueto runyour mower if you hit a foreign objecL
Foflow the procedure outlined above, then repair any dam-

age before restarting and operatingyou mower.

• Do not change the governer settings or overspeed the
engine. Engine damage or personal injury may result.

• Do not operate your mower if it vibrates abnormaUy. Exces-
siv_ vibration ts 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 onuneven terrain orwhen

changing directions - maintain good footing.,

, Never operate your mower without proper guards, plates,

grass catcher or other safety devices in place.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE:

• Check the blade and the engine mounting bolts often tobe
sure they are tightened properly°

° Check all bolts, nuts and screws at frequent intervals for

proper tightness to be sure mower is in safe working condi-

tion.

• Keep all safety devices inplace and working.

o To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, Eeaves

or excessive grease and oil,

° Check grass catcher often for deterioration and wear and

replace wom bags° Use only replacement bags that are
recommended by and comply with specifications of the
manufacturer of your mower_

° Always keep a sharp blade on your' mower.

- Allow engine to cool before storing in any enclosure,

= Never store mower with fuel in the tank Inside a building

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

portant safety precautions. It means
Look for this symbol to point 0ut ira'

CAUTIONH! BECOME ALERT!!! YOUR

SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

CAUTION: Always disconnect spark I
plug wire and place wire where it can- |

not contact spark plug in order to pro- |
vent accidental starting when setting I

up, transporting, adjusting or making i

repairs. ........... !

........ ,, ,,,,,H lllll i llIHH,,ll lllll ill Hi"

A WARNING A

The engine exhaust from this product .c.on.

ins cnemicais known to the State of Catimr

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

,i l lll lI,HIIllL I

2

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase ofa 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 CenteriDepartmento We have competent, well-
trained technicians and the proper toots 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 917.382840

SERIAL
NUMBER

DATEOF PURCHASE
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 FUTURE REFERENCE.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 50
DISPLACEMENT: 11,5CU,,IN.
GASOLINECAPACITY to5QUARTS

AND TYPE: UNLEADEDREGULAR

OILTYPE (API-SF/SG): SAE30 (ABOVE32°F)

SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F)

OILCAPACITY: 20 OZS,
SPARKPLUG: CHAMPIONJIgLM, RJ19LM

(GAP: 030") STD361458
VALVECLEARANCE: INTAKE: ,,008

EXHAUST: .008

SOLIDSTATEIGNITION
AIR GAP: _0t25IN.,

BLADEBOLTTORQUE: 35-40 FT, LBS.

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

A Sears Maintenance Agreement is available on thisproduct. Contact yournearest Sears store for details.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

° Read and observe the safety rules..
= Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and using yourlawn mower.

o Followthe instructionsunder "Customer Responsibilities"and "Storage" sections of this owner's manual

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 tothe operatingand maintenance instructionsinthe owner's manual, Sears will repair free of charge any
defect in material orworkmanship_

Ifthis Craftsman Lawn Mower is used for commercialorrentalpurposes,this warrantyapplies 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 rotarymower blades, blade adapters, belts,

air cleaners and spark ptugo

o Repairsnecessary because ofoperatorabuse or negligence,includingbent crankshaftsand the failure tomaintain

the equipment according to the instructionscontained inthe owner's manual..

WARRANTY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE BY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER TO THE NEAREST
SEARS SERVICE CENTER/DEPARTMENT tN 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 rightswhich vary from state to state_

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.., D/817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

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

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ..................... 3, 11-13

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

ASSEMBLY ................................................................... 6

OPERATION .................................................................. 8

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ..................................... 11

Engine:

Air Filter ................................................13

Oil Change .............................................13

Oil Level ................................................13

Oil Type ...............................................13

Starting .................................................10

Stopping ...............................................10

Storage ..........................................15

Fuel:

B

Blade:

Sharpening ....................................12

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

C

Controls:

Engine Zone Control ..................9

Engine Speed Control .................8

Operator Presence

Control Bar.................................. 8

Customer Responsibilities .....3, 1t-13

Air Filter .....................................13

Blade Care/Replacement ............12

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

Lubrication ...................................13

Spark Plug ..................................13

Cutting Levels ..............................................9

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

Storage ..................................................15

Type .....................................................9

Handle Adjustment:

Assembly ......................................6

Cutting Height ..............................14

Lubrication:

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

Lawn Mower .............................11

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

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

Mowing Tips .......................................10

Oil:

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

Storage .............................................15

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS ................................ 14

STORAGE ................................................................... 15

TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................. 21

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

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

PARTS ORDERING/SERVICE ................................... 22

E

F

H

L

M

O

Operation:

Engine Control ........................... 9

Grass Catcher. ........................... 9

Mower ......................................... 9

Operator Presence

Control Bar................................. 9

Options:

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

R

Repair Parts:

Engine ..........................................t8-20

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

Responsibilities, Customer ...3, 11-13

S

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

Service and Adjustments ................14

Carburetor ......................................14

Engine Speed .............,................14

Handle .................................................14

Spark Plug ................................................13

Specifications ...........................................3

Speed Control:

Engine ...............................................14

Starting the Engine ..........................10

Stopping the Engine ....................... 10

Storage .....................................................t5

T

Trouble Shooting Chart ..................21

W

Warrar_ty ............................................ 3

4

LAWN MOWER ACCESSORUES

These accessories were availablewhen this lawn mower was produced. They are alsoavailable 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 toyour lawn mower_

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

.................. ill lllllI.HuLLllll...I

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

MULCHER KITS

t GRASS CATCHERSFOR

SIDE DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

STABILIZER

GAS CANS

_AWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

...................................................... i iill,i iii

BELTS

,, ,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,

MUFFLERS

BLADES

AIR FILTERS

BLADE ADAPTERS

WHEELS

SPARK PLUGS

i ill lllll

ENGINE OIL

5

LY

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., To ensure safe and proper opera-
tion of your lawn mower; all parts and hardware you
assemble must be tightened securely. Use the correct

tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness_ All parts

such as nuts, washers, bolts, etc,, necessary to complete
the assembly have been placed in the parts bag.

TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM

CARTON

o Remove loose parts included with mower,_

• Cut down two end corners of carton and lay end
panel down fiat.

o Remove all packing materials except padding be-

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

. Roll lawn mower out o[ carton and check carton

thoroughly for additional loose parts.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN

MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE (See Figs. 1 & 2)

IMPORTANT: UNFOLD HANDLE CAREFULLY SO AS

NOT TO PfNCH OR DAMAGE CONTROL CABLES,.

• Raise lower handle section to operating position and

align hole inhandle with one of three height positioning
holes.

° Insert handle bolt through handle and bracket and

secure with knob°

• Repeat for opposite side of handle,

° Raise upper handle section to operating position, re-

move protective padding and tighten handle knobs

securely_

• Remove any packing material from around control bar,.

• Your handles may be adjusted for your mowing com-
fort, Refer to Service and Adjustments section of this

manual

OPERATOR PRESENCE
CONTROL BAR

UPPER HANDLE

LIFT UP

MOWING POSITION

LOWER HANDLE

FIG. 1

HANDLE
ADJUSTMENT

BRACKET

J

FIG. 2

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS (See Fig. 3)

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

. Open rear door and remove mulcher plate,, Store

mulcher plate in a safe place.

= You can now install catcher or optional clipping deflec-

tor,

• To return to mulching operation, install mulcher plate
into discharge opening of mower,, Be sure alt tabs are
seated properly,.

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
without mulcher plate in place or ap-
proved clipping deflector or grass
catcher in place. Never attempt to op-

erate the lawn mower with the rear door

removed or propped open.

TO ASSEMBLE & ATTACH GRASS

CATCHER (See Figs. 4A & 4B)

° Put grass catcher frame intograss bag with rigid part of

bag on the bottom, Make sure the frame handle is
outside of the bag top.

. Slipvinyl bindings over frameo
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.
° Lift the rear door on the mower housing and place the

grass catcher frame side hooks onto handle bracket

hooks.

o The grass catcher is secured to the lawn mower

housing when the rear door is lowered onto the grass

catcher frame.

CATCHER

FRAME

HANDLE

CATCHER FRAME

SLOTS

FIG. 3

FIG. 4A

MULCHER PLATE

TABS

FRAME

OPENING

REAR DOOR

GRASS
CATCHER

NDLE

HANDLE

BRACKET
HOOK

FIG. 4B

7

OPERATION

......................................... i/

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 famil|arize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this
manual for future reference.

i_ illlll i i illlillllll i lll i i ii "_........... ii I ...... ::"

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,KEEPHANDS

ORWARNING .......ON.......... OFF ....... AND FEETAWAY

OPERATORPRESENCECONTROLBAR

....... ,,,,,,,, iii ill II illl

ENGINE

HANDLE KNOB

GRASS CATCHER

MULCHER PLATE _

ENGINE OIL CAP

WITH DIPSTICK

GASOLINE FILLER CAP

WHEEL ADJUSTER
(ON EACH WHEEL)

DLE

PRIMER

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL LEVER

J_

LAWN MOWER HOUSING

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conform to thesafety standards of the American National Standards Institute
and the U,,S.Consumer Product Safety Commission. The blade turns when the engine is running,

: IlL .......

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_

........................ : ............ ::.................. ill ii ill illllllll

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL - 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 removedwhen convertingtobagging ordischarg-
ingoperation_

8

OPERATION

.............. l lll um, , ,,ll iiinl ............. ........................................................

The operationof any lawn mower can result in foreign objects thrown intothe eyes, which can I

resutt in severe eye damage., Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your I

mask over the spectacles or standard safety g{asses_

lawn mower or performing any adjustments or repairs_ We recommend a wide vision safel IY

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL (See Fig. 5)

The engine speed is contro!!ed by a lever located on the
side of the engine. Fast (,_) positionis for starting the
engine, normal cutting, and better grass bagging.. Slow
(,=_) position isfor lightcutting, trimming and fueteconomy.

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

• 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. 6)

° Raise wheels for low cutand lowerwheelsfor highcut..
° Wheels are set in iow cut for shipping, Adjust cutting

height to suit your requirements. Medium position is
best for most !awns.

• 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.

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER (See Fig. 7)

• Liftupon grass catcher using the frame handle,,

• Remove grasscatcher with clippingsfrom under lawn
mower handle.,

° Empty clippings from bag using both frame handle and

bag handle.

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

CONTROL LEVER

LOWER WHEELS
FOR HIGH CUT RAISE WHEELS

PRIMER

FIG. 5

FOR LOW CUT

FIG. 6

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

OIL

Your lawn mower is shipped withoutoil in the engine.
o Be sure mower is level and area around oil fill isclean..

, Remove engine oil cap w/dipstick and fil! tothe full tine

on the dipstick.

° Use2Oozsoof oil. Fortypeand grade of oilto use, see

"ENGINE' in Customer Responsibilities section of this

manual.

- Pour oil slowly, Do not over fie

FIG. 7

° Checkoil 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 conditions.

OPERATION

GAS

• Fitlgasoline 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 (catted 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 longer° Drain the fuel tank, start the

engine and let it run until fuel lines and carburetor' are
empty, Use fresh fue! next season., See Storage Instruc-

tions for' additional information.. Never use engine or

carburetor cleaner products in fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.

TO START ENGINE

o Tostart acold engine, push prfmer five (5) tfmes before

trying to start,. Use a firm push_ This step is not usually

necessary when starting an engine which has already

runfor a few minutes..

° Push engine speed control lever tofast (,t_) position_

- Hold operator presencecontrol bardown to the handle
and pull starter handle quickly. Do not allow starter

rope to snap back..

• To stop engine, releaseoperator presence contro! bar.

NOTE: In cooler weather it may be necessary to repeat

priming steps. In warmer weather over priming may cause
flooding and engine wilt not start, if you do flood engine,
wait a few minutes before attempting to start and do not

repeat priming steps.

MOWING TIPS

o Undercertain conditions,such asvery tall grass, itmay

be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce
pushing effort andto keep from overloading the engine
and leaving clumps of grass clippings.

• For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut
and raise the rear"of the lawn mower' housing one (1)

wheel adjuster setting higher than the front for better
discharge of grass..

o For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions,

the engine speed should be set inthe fast (_) posi-
tion_

• 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 thearea a secondtime..

° tfatrail of grass clippings isleft on theright side ofa rear

discharge ;awn mower, mew in a cJockwise d_rection

with a small overlap to collect the clippings on the next

pass.

o Keep top of engine around starter clear and clean of

grass clippings and chaff.. This will help engine airflow
and extend engine life.

° Pores incloth grass catchers canbecome filled with dirt

and dust with use and catchers will collect less grass_

To prevent this, regutar(y hose catchers off with water
and let dr,/before using_

MAX 1/3

FIG. 8

MULCHING MOWING TIPS

IMPORTANT: FOR BEST PERFORMANCE, KEEP
MOWER HOUSING FREE OF BUILT-UP GRASS AND

TRASH CLEAN UNDERS}DE OF MOWER HOUSING
AFTER EACH USE. SEE "CLEANING" tN CUSTOMER

RESPONSIBILITIES SECTION OF THIS MANUAL
= The special mulching blade wilfrecut the grass clip-

pings many times and reduce them in size so that as
they fall ontothe lawn theywill 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 highestengine (blade) speed

as this will provide the best recurring action of the
blades.

. Avoid cutting your lawn when it iswet. 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
will not be exposed to the direct sun.

° For best results, adjust the lawn mower cutting height

so that the lawn mower cuts off only the top one-third
of the grass blades (See Fig° 8). If the lawn is

overgrown it willbe necessary to raisethe height of cut
to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading

the engine and leaving clumps of mulched grass. For

extremeiy heavy mu_ching, reduce your width of cut,

mow slowly and raise the rear of the fawn mower one

wheel adjuster setting higher than the front,.

• Certain types of grass and grass conditions may re-
quire that an area be mulched 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 from week to week. Mow
north to south one week then change toeast towest the

next week. This will help prevent matting and graining
of the lawn.,

10

ii1_11 • ii, iii,ii,n, I I.............. :.........................:' : :: ,_,, Ull,ii ii ii,lul ...............

CUSTOMER RESPONSm LUTUES

.................................................. i ii i ,111, ulllu,,,,,,i ,u,,,i

ASY OU COMPLETE
REGULAR SERVICE TES

,_.......Che'ckfor Loose Fasteners _

tVt ciea_inspect Grass catcher .........

(IfEquipped) 6/ _ _,1

_!ean Lawn Mower.. : :

E Clean Under Drive Cover

R Checkisharl3eniRePlaCe(SelfPr°pelledMowers) Blade ........... i 6/ t_ ...........................3

Lubdcation Cha_.... V P V'i

cieuanB&tterylReCharge

(Electric Start Mowers) V' .......... V'41 ......................

E Check Engine Oil Level :

N Change EngineOil ...... &/ ..... _1,2 ,,,

G Clean Air Filter _2 I

I InspectMuffler ......................... t_

.................. .............. = ,, , .....,,

N c.!.eanor Replace Spark Plug .............. i' ..................

E Replace Air Fiiter Paper Cartridge 6/2

I - Change more often when operating under a heavy load or in high ambient temperatures.
2 - Service more often when operating in dirty or dusty conditions..

3 - Replace blades more often when mowing tn sandy soil
4 - Charge 48 hours at end of season

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty on this lawn mower does notcover 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 least once each season.

, Once a year, replace the spark plug, replace air filter

element and check blade for wear. A new spark plug
and clean/new air filter element assures proper air4uet

mixture and helps your engine run better and last

longer_

• Follow the maintenance schedule in this manual.

v' v'

LUBRICATION CHART

WHEEL

ADJUSTER

_) ENGINE OIL

/

(_) BRAKE

SPRING

BRACKET

BEFORE EACH USE

• Check engine oil level.

• Check for loose fasteners,

LUBRICATION

Keep unit well lubricated (See "LUBRICATION CHART").

(_ HANDLE BRACKET _REAR

MOUNTING PIN DOOR

(_) SPRAY LUBRICANT
(_) SAE 30 MOTOR OILoREFER TO ENGINE- CUSTOMER RESPON-

SIBILITIES SECTION.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT OIL OR GREASE PLASTIC WHEEL

BEARINGS_ VISCOUS LUBRICANTS WILL ATTRACT
DUST AND DIRT THAT WILL SHORTEN THE LIFE OF

THE SELF LUBRICATING BEARINGS, 1FYOU FEEL THEY

MUST BE LUBRICATED, USE ONLY A DRY, POWDERED
GRAPHITE TYPE LUBRICANT SPARINGLY,

HINGE

11

LAWN MOWER

Afways observe safety rules when performing anymainte-

nance.

TIRES

° Keep tires free ofgasoline, oil, or insectcontrol chemi-

cals which can harm rubber-.

° Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp objects and

other hazards that may cause tire damage.

BLADE CARE
For'best results,mower blade must bekept sharp. Replace

bent or damaged blades°

TO REMOVE BLADE (See Fig. 9)

• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plugand place
wire where it cannot come in contact with spark plug.

- Turn lawn mower on its side. Make sure airfilter 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-ciockwiseo Use

a 9/16" box or open-end wrench°

. 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 (See Fig. 9)
o Position the blade adapter on the engine crankshaft.

Be sure key in adapter' and keyway in crankshaft are
aligned_

• Position blade onthe blade adapter aligning the two (2)
holes in the blade with the raised lugs on the adapter_

o Be sure the trailing edge is up toward the engine.

• Install theblade bolt with thelockwasher and hardened
washer into blade adapter and crankshaft.

= Use block of wood between blade and lawn mower

housing and tighten the blade bolt, turning clockwise..

° The recommended tighteningtorque is 35-40 ft,,lbs.
IMPORTANT: BLADE BOLT ISGRADE 8 HEATTREATED.

BLADE CRAN_
ADAPTER SHAFT

KEY

BLADE

HARDENED
WASHER

LOCK WASHER EDGE

TRAILING

BLADE ADAPTER

KEYWAY

"CRANK-

SHAFT

FIG. 9

NOTE: We donot recommend sharpening blade- but ifyou

do, be sure the blade is balanced.
TO SHARPEN BLADE

Care should be taken to keep the blade balanced_ An
unbalanced blade will cause eventual damage to lawn
mower or engine_

• The blade can be sharpened witha file or on a grinding
wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower.

° To check blade balance, drive a nailintoa beam 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

GRASS CATCHER

° The grass catcher may be hosed with water, but must

be dry when used.

• Check your grass catcher often for damage or deterio-

ration. Through normal use it wil! wear. If catcher

needs replacing, replace onty with a manufacturer
approved replacement catcher. Give the lawn mower'

model number' when ordering.

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