Craftsman 917.386620 User Manual

MODEL NUMBER 917.388620

oAssembly

oOperation oCustomer

Responsibilities Service

OWNER'S MANUAL

oAdjustments

oRepair Parts

Caution: Read and Follow

all Safety Rules and instructions

Before Operating

This Equipment

153511 1228.95 ks

Printed in U_S,A,

SAFETY RULES

_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._

TRAINING:

• Read this operator's manual carefully..Become familiar with the controls and know hew to operate your mower properly.

Learn how to quickly stop mower..

• Do not allow 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 de- scribed in this manual.

° Do not operate mower if ithas been dropped ordamaged in

any manner_ Always have damage repaired before using

your mower.

• Donot useaccessoryattachments thatarenot recommended

by the manufacturer: Use of such attachments may be

hazardous

* Thebtadeturnswhentheengineisrunning

PREPARATION:

° Always thoroughlycheck thearea to be mowed and clear itof

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 propedy, Do not operate mower when barefoot or

weadng open sandals Wear only solid shoes with good traction when mowing.

° Check fuet tank before starting engine. Do not fill gas tank

indoors, when the engine is running orwhen the engine ishot.

Allow the engine to cool for several minutes before fillingthe

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.

° Donot mow wet or slippery grass. Never runwhile operating

your mower. Always be sure of your footing -keep a firm hold on the handles and walk.

• Do not put handsor feet near or under' rotating parts.. Keep

clear of the discharge opening at all times

• Always stop the engine whenever you leave or are not using

your mower, or before crossing driveways,waiks, roads, and any graveFcovered 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 disconnectthe spark plugwire and keep it away from the spark plug to prevent accidental

starting._

• Do notcontinue to run your mower' if you hit aforeign object. Foltow the procedure outlined above, then repair any dam-

age before restarting and operating you mower_

• Do not change the governor settings or overspeed the

engine, Engine damage or personaf injury may result

° Do not operate your mower if it vibrates abnormally° Exces-

sive v_bration is an indicationof damage; stop the engine, safely check for the cause ofvibration and repairas required.

- Do not run the engine indoors. Exhaust fumes are danger-

OUS,

* Never cut grass by pulling the mower towards you Mow

acmes the face of slopes, never up and down oryou might loseyourfooting. Do not mow excessively steep slopes. Use

cautionwhenoperatingthe mower on uneventerrainerwhen changingdirections- 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 to be surethey 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 aUsafety devices inplace and working.

• 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 worn 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 ignition source such as a hot water heater, space heater, clothes dryer, etc..

portant safety precautions. It means CAUTION!!! BECOMEALERTt!! YOUR

Look for this symbol to point out im- SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

illlllllllllllllllllllllllll i i i iiill i i ii i i i

CAUTION: Always disconnect spark

not contact spark plug in order to pre-

plug wire and place wire where it can- vent accidental starting when setting

up, transporting, adjusting or making repairs,

H =w/w=l,/uulu=Jill lull1=

WARNING A

The engine exhaust from this product con- tains chemicals known to the State of Califor-

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

=lllllllll

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a Sears Lawn

Mower° It has been designed, engineered and manufac-

tured to give you the best possible dependabilit'y and

performance° Should you experience any problem you cannot easily

remedy, please contact your nearest Sears Authorized Service Center/Departmento We have competent, well- trained technicians and the propertools to service or repair

this lawn mower..

Please read and retain this manual.. The instructions wilt

enable you to assemble and maintain your lawn mower

properly. Always observe the "SAFETY RULES"r

MODEL NUMBER

SERIAL NUMBER

DATE OF PURCHASE

THE MODEL AND SERIAL NUMBERS WILL BE FOUND

ON A DECAL ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE LAWN MOWER HOUSING

YOUSHOULDRECORDBOTHSERIALNUMBERAND DATE OF PURCHASE AND KEEPIN A SAFE PLACE

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE..

917.386620

PRODUCT SPECiFiCATiONS

HORSEPOWER: 440 DISPLACEMENT: 11.5CU_IN

GASOLINE CAPACITY 15 QUARTS

ANDTYPE: UNLEADED REGULAR

OILTYPE(API-SFiSG): SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F)

SAE 5W_30(BELOW32°F)

OILCAPACITY: 20 OZSo SPARKPLUG: CHAMPIONJ19LM,RJ19LM

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

EXHAUST: _008

SOLID STATE IGNITION

AIR GAP: ,.0125IN_

BLADEBOLTTORQUE: 35-40 FT. LBS.

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

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

CUSTOMER RESPONSiBILITiES

• 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

.............. H .................................................................

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 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 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 INTHE 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.., D/817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i ii tJllU illllll ii

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

PRODUCT SPEClRCATIONS ...................................... 3

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

WARRANT',( .................................................................. 3

ASSEMBLY' ................................................................... 6

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

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

i n i Ill I I

INDEX

II Illll Illllll III ....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adjustments:

Carburetor _............................... 14

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

Handle Height ............................ 14

Height of Cut .............................. 9

Air Filter:

Replacement ..................................13

Service ................................... 13

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

Blade:

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

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

Controls:

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

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

Operator Presence

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

Customer Responsibilities .....3, 11-13

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

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

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

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

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

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

Engine:

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

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

Oi! Level ........................................13

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

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

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

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

Fuel:

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

Operation:

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

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

Mower',...........................................9

Operator Presence

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

Options:

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

Repair'Parts:

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

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

Responsibilities, Customer .o3, 11-13

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 ................................................15

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

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

These accessories were available when 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 to your lawn mower,

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

MULCHER KITS

STABILIZER

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

MUFFLERS

BELTS BLADES

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

SIDE DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

AIR FILTERS

BLADE ADAPTERS WHEELS

GAS CANS

SPARK PLUGS

ENGINE OIL

...... i iiii1,1,1 ii ii i ii iiiii i H IIIIIIIIIIIIIII

ASSEMBLY

................................................ IIIII I I I I I II II IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIII [111 II I[

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 atthe

factory with the exception of those parts left unassembled for shipping purposes, All parts such as nuts, washers,

bolts, etc. necessary tocomplete 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 layend panel down fiat°

• Remove all packing materials except padding between upper and lowerhandle 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..

• Raise handles until lower handle section locks into place in mowing position°

• Raise upper handle section intoplaceon lower'handle,

remove protective padding and tighten both handle knobs.

• 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 Adjustment section of this manual.

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS

(See Fig, 2) Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a

rnulcher, To convert to bagging or discharging:

o Open rear door' and remove mulcher plug. Store

muicher plug in a safe place.

• You can now install catcher or optional dipping deftec- toro

° To return to mulching operation, install mulcher plug

into discharge opening of mower,. Be sure all tabs are seated properly_

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL BAR

UPPER HANDLE

LIFT UP

LOWER HANDLE

MULCHER PLUG

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I I I IIL ILIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIII1 I LII II

CAUTION: Donot runyour lawn mower proved clipping deflector or grass

catcher in place. Never attempt to op-

without mulcher plug in place or ap- erate the lawn mower with the rear door

removed or propped open.

MOWING POSITION

FIG, 1

FIG. 2

AI lILY

TO ASSEMBLE AND ATTACH GRASS

CATCHER (See Figs. 3A thru 4)

• Insert leg of tubular frame through front opening of

grass catcher and thread frame intosewn hem of bag.

NOTE: Keep bag hem gathered on the straight leg of the

tubularframe.=

• When frame comes out the other end of sewn hem, immediately work the end offrame down insidethe bag

as shown in inset,,

° Slide sewn hem evenly around the tubular frame until

both ends of frame are exposed out of the front open- ing

. Assemble lower frame to tubular frame as shown_ Be

sure handle is outside of bag and frames are fully

seated as shown in inset,

° Slip vinyr 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.

• Close the flip lid,,Flip lid must be closed while operating lawn mower°

° Lift the rear door on the mower housing and placethe

grass catcher frame onto the formed tabs on the rear

door hinge bracket°

o The grass catcher is secured to the lawn mower

housing when the rear door is lowered onto the grass catcher frame,,

i ,,ll ......

_"2 "_ LOWER

t,,__ FRAME

l J!l

7"-°

FIG. 3B

LOWERFRAMEHANDLE

FIG. 3C

without clipping deflector or approved

_ CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

TUBULAR FRAME

SEWN HEM

grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear door removed or propped open.

SEWN t

FLIP LID

FIG. 3A

BRACKET

REARDOOR

GRASS CATCHER

FRAME

FORMED

TABS

FIG. 4

OPERATION

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 yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this

manual for future reference.

These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or tn 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 AND FEET AWAY

OPERATOR PRESENCECONTROLBAR

ENGINE

HANDLE KNOB_

GRASS CATCHER

MULCHER PLUG

ENGINE OIL CAP WITH DIPSTICK

GASOLINE FILLER CAP

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL LEVER

FILTER

LAWN MOWER HOUSING

WHEEL ADJUSTER (ON EACH WHEEL)

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears rotarywalk-behindpower lawn mowers conformtothe safety standards of theAmerican NationalStandards Institute

and the U,S, Consumer ProductSafety Commission. The blade turnswhen the engine is running,

liE I IIII II Illllllllllll II ............................

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL BAR - must be held

downto the handle to start the engine, Release tostop the engine.

PRIMER - pumpsadditional fuel from the carburetortothe cylinder'for use when startinga coldengine,,

STARTER HANDLE - usedfor starting the engine,,

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL - located on the side of the

engine which allows you to select either fast (,#j_)or slow

(-_) engine speed. MULCHER PLUG - located at the discharge opening must

be removed when converting to bagging or discharging operation.

H,,i,i ,11...... i ,,,_l illl,i......... M''I .....

OPERATNON

........ ......ll,,,i ,,i, _1 _ ,,,llll i ii .........................

The operation of any lawnmower can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which can result insevere 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

.................. ,,ir,,11.,, i,ii,i i • .........

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED CONTROL (See Fig, 5)

The engine speed is controlledby a lever located on the

side of the engine, Fast (,#_) positionis for starting the CONTROLLEVER engine, normal cutting, and better grass bagging, Slow ('_) position isfor lightcutting, trimming and fueleconomy,,

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 not under any circumstances attempt to

defeat the function of the operator con- trol, The blade turns when the engine is

running.

II....

• 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 cut and lower wheels for high cuL o Wheels are set in towcut for shipping, Adjust cutting

height to suit your requirements, Medium position is

best for most lawns,

o 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)

• Lift up on grass catcher using the frame handle,, , Remove grass catcher with clippings from under lawn

mower handle,

• Empty clippings from bag using both frame handle and bag handle.

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

mask over the spectacles or standard safety glasses.

LOWER WHEELS

FOR HIGH CUT RAISE WHEELS

PRIMER

FIG, 5

FOR LOW CUT

FIG, 6

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

OIL

Your lawn mower isshipped without oil inthe engine, . Be sure mower is leveland area around oil fill is clean.

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

on the dipstick,,

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

"ENGINE" inCustomer Responsibilities section of this manual,,

• Pour oil s{owly,, Do not over flit,

FIG. 7

• Check oil level before each use. Add oitif needed. Fil{

to ful! line on dipstick.

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

° Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten_ o After the first two (2) hours of mowing, change the oii,

and every 25 hours thereafter_ You may need to change the oilmore often under dusty, dirtyconditions

OPERATION

GAS

• Fill fuel tank° Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded

gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane_ (Use of leaded gasoline will increase carbon and lead oxide deposits and reduce vatve life) Do not mix oil with gasoline.

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 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 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°

TO START ENGINE

• To start acold engine, push primerfive (5) times before trying to start, Use afirm push. This step isnot usually

necessary when starting an engine which hasalready run for a few minutes°

• Push engine speed control leverto fast (,_) position.

o Hold operator presence control bar down to thehandle

and pull starter handle quickly° Do not allow starter

ropeto snap back.

• To stop engine, releaseoperator presence control bar.,

NOTE: In cooter 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.

MOWING TIPS

o Under certain conditions, such asvery tallgrass, 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 (!)

wheel adjuster setting higher than the front for better

discharge of grass.

• For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions,

the engine speed should be set in the 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 runthe lawn mower over theareaa second time_

• Ifa trail ofgrass clippings isleftonthe rightside ofa rear discharge lawn mower, mow in a clockwise direction with asmall overlap to collect the clippings on the next

pass

° Keep top of engine around starter clear and clean of

grass clippings and chaff. This will help engine air flow and extend engine life.

MAX t/3

FIG. 8

• Pores incloth grass catchers can become filled withdirt and dust with use and catchers willcollect lessgrass.

To prevent this, regularly hose catchers off with water and let dry before using

MULCHING MOWING TIPS

IMPORTANT: FOR BEST PERFORMANCE, KEEP

MOWER HOUSING FREE OF BUILT-UP GRASS AND

TRASH, CLEAN UNDERSIDE OF MOWER HOUSING

AFTER EACH USE, SEE "CLEANrNG" IN CUSTOMER

RESPONSIBILITIES SECTION OF THIS MANUAL,

• The special mulching blade will recut the grass clip- pings manytimes and reduce them in size so that as

theyfall ontothe lawn they willdisperse intothe grass

and not be noticed° Also, the mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn.

Always mulch with your' highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best recutting action of the

blades.

° Avoid cutting your lawnwhen itiswet, Wet grass tends

to form clumps andinterferes with the mulching action. The best time to mow your lawn isthe 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 btades (See Fig. 8). If the lawn is

overgrown itwillbe necessary to raise the height ofcut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading

the engine and leaving clumps of mulched grass. For extremely heavy mulching, reduce your width of cut,

mow slowly and raise the rear of the lawn mower one wheel adjuster setting higher than the fronL

• 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 weekto week. Mow

north tosouth one week then change to east to west the

next week, This will help prevent matting and graining

of the lawn,

Check forLoose Fasteners V_'

Clean/Inspect Grass Catcher (if Equipped) _/ Ctean Lawn Mower

Clean Under Drive Cover (Self-Propelled Mowers) _#'

ChecWSharpen/Replace Blade _ _ 3 Lubrication Chart

Clean'"Battery/Recharge

(Electric Start Mowers) ................................_........-,_

Check Engine Oil Level _'

Clean Air Filter . M/2

Inspect Muffler ............

Clean or Replace Spark Plug

E i Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge

I - Change more often when operating under a heavy load or in high ambient lemperatures

2 - Service more often when operaltng in dirty ordusly conditions 3 - Replace blades more often when mewing insandy soil, 4 - Charge 48 hours at end of season

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty onthis lawn mower does notcover items that have been subjected to operator abuse or negtigence_ To

receive full value fromthe warranty, operator mustmaintain

mower as instructed in this manual.,

Some adjustments wilt 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.

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

element and check blade for wear,. A new spark piug 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..

LUBRICATION CHART

WHEEL ADJUSTER

(_)BRAKE

(_ ENGINE OIL

SPRING BRACKET

BEFORE EACH USE

• Check engine oil level.. ° Check for loose fasteners.

LUBRICATION

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

_'_HANDLEBRACKET REAR

MOUN_NGPIN DOOR

(_ SPRAY LUBRICANT

(_) SAE30 MOTOR OIL REFER TO ENGINE- CUSTOMER RESPON-

SIBILITIES SECTION,,

IMPORTANT: DO NOT OIL OR GREASE PLASTIC WHEEL BEARINGS, VISCOUS LUBRICANTS WILL ATTRACT

DUST AND DlRT THAT WILL SHORTEN THE LIFE OF THE SELF LUBRICATING BEARINGS. IF YOU FEELTHEY

MUST BE LUBRICATED, USE ONLYA DRY, POWDERED GRAPHITE TYPE LUBRICANT SPARINGLY°

HINGE

.............................. lib L

.................. i ILl lllJllUlllllll

........................... ,,, ,, ,, ,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,

CUSTOMER NSIBILITIES

LAWN MOWER

Always observe safety rules when performing any mainte- nance.

TIRES

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

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

other hazards that may cause tire damage.

BLADE CARE

Forbest results, mower blade must be kept 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 incontact 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-clockwiseo 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)

• Position the blade adapter on the engine crankshaft. Be sure key in adapter and keyway in crankshaft are aligned.

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

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

- Instaltthe blade bolt with the lockwasher andhardened 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 tightening torque is 35-40 ftoIbs..

IMPORTANT: BLADE BOLT ISGRADE 8 HEATTREATED.

BLADE .CRANK_

KEY

BLADE

HARDENED WASHER

LOCK WASHER EDGE BLADE ADAPTER

TRAILING

FIG. 9

SHAFT KEYWAY

CRANK-

SHAFT

NOTE: Wedonot recommend sharpening blade -but if you

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 with afile oron a gdnding wheel. Do notattempt to sharpen while on the mower.

° To check blade balance, drive a nail into a beam or wail

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 hea_r_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 ordeterio-

ration. Through normal use it will wear. If catcher

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

model number when ordering°

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