Craftsman 917387000 Owner’s Manual

° AssembUy oOperation

oCustomer

Responsibinities

oService

917,387000

OWNER'S MANUAL

oAdjustments oRepair Parts

Caution: Read and Follow

all Safety Rules and Instructions

Before Operating

This Equipment

156683 REV_2 06o12,97 VBLiKFSW

Printed in U.S,,Ao

IIII11..........................................

SAFETY RULES

_k 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 carefuliyo Become familiar with the controls and know how 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 properinstructions.

• 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 it tlas been dropped or damaged in

any manner.. Always have damage repaired before using

your moweL

• Donot use accessory attachmentsthatare not recommended

by the manufacturer. Use of such attachments may be

hazardous

• The blade turnswhen the engine is running°

PREPARATION:

• Always thoroughlycheck the area to be mowed and clearitof 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 oreye shields when startingand

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 runningorwhen theengineishot. Allow the engine to cool for severa! minutesbefore filling the

gas tank. Clean off any spilled gasolinebefore 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' interestsdistract you..

• Do not mow wet or slippery grass_ Never run while operating your mower. Always be sure of your footing- keep afirm hold

on the handles and walk

° 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 or are notusing

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 it.

• Before cleaning, inspecting, or repairing your mower, stop the engine and make absolutely sure the blade and all moving

parts havestoppedo Then disconnect the sparkplug wire and

keep it away from the spark plug to prevent accidental

starting.

° Do not continueto run your mower ifyou hit a foreignobjecL

Follow the procedure outlined above, then repair any dam- age before restartingand operating you mower,

° Do not change the governor settings or overspeed the

engine. Engine damage orpersonal injury may result.

• Do not operate your mower if it vibrates abnormalfy_ 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 orwhen changing directions* maintain good footing,

° Never operate your mower without proper guards, plates,

grass catcher orother safety devices in place.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE:

° 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 be sure mower is in 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 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.

• Al!ow 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.

........................................... i ,i [L it[ I IIII

Look for this symbol to point out im- CAUTIONtt[ BECOMEALERTI!t YOUR

portant safety precautions, It means SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

, ................... ................... ii i,i

CAUTION: Always disconnect spark

plug wire and place wire where it can- not contact spark plug in order to pre-

I _ :,,,,_,, , ,,,_ i iuJ iL,u,,,i,

......... re,pairs.

vent accidental starting when setting up, transporting, adjusting or making

, ""IIIIIIIL

"WARNING

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

nia to cause cancer, birth defects, or other

reproductive harm.

........... ............ i ' IIJ!lJl]l III

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 easity

remedy, please contact your nearest Sears Authorized Service Center/Department, We have competent, well-

trained technicians and the proper tools to service or repair this lawn mower.

Piease 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..387000

SERIAL NUMBER

DATE OF PURCHASE

THE MODELAND 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: 3°5

DISPLACEMENT: 905 CU, IN. GASOLINECAPACITY 1.25QUARTS

AND TYPE: UNLEADED REGULAR

OILTYPE(API-SF/SG/SH): SAE 30 (ABOVE32°F)

SAE 5W-30 (BELOW32°F)

OiL CAPACITY: 20 OZSo SPARKPLUG: CHAMPIONJ19LM, RJ19LM

(GAP: _030") STD361458

VALVE CLEARANCE: INTAKE: .008 IN,

EXHAUST: ,.008IN.

SOLIDSTATEIGNITION

AIR GAP: ..0125IN.

BLADEBOLT TORQUE: 35-40 FToLBS.

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

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

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

o Read and observe the safety ruleso

• Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and using your lawn mower, ° Follow the instructionsunder "Customer Responsibilities" and "Storage" sections of this owner's manual°

LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER

For one year 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, includingbent 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.

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

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS ....................... 2

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ........ 3, 9-11

WARRANTY ................................................... 2

SAFETY RULES ............................................. 3

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

OPERATION ................................................ 6-8

INDEX

Adjustments:

Carburetor .................................. 12

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

Air Filter:

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

Assembly:

Handle .......................................... 5

Blade:

Sharpening ................................ 10

Replacement .............................. 10

Controls:

Engine Zone Control ................ 6,7

Customer Responsibilities ....... 3, 9-11

Air Filter ..................................... tl

Blade Care/Replacement .......... 10

Engine ........................................ 1t

Lubrication ............................. 9,11

Spark Plug ................................. 11

Mowing Tips ................................. 8

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

Engine:

Controls ....................................... 7

Oil Filler Plug ............................... 6

Oil Change ................................. 11

Oil Level .................................. 7,1t

Oil Type ........................................ 7

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

Storage ....................................... 13

Fuel:

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

Storage ....................................... 13

Handle:

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

Height, Cutting ............................ 7

Lubrication:

Engine .......................................... 9

Wheel Adjusters .......................... 9

Discharge Guard Hinge Pin ....... 9

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS .................. 12

STORAGE .................................................... 13

REPAIR PARTS-LAWN MOWER ........... 14-15

REPAI R PARTS-ENGI NE ....................... 16-18

TROUBLESHOOTING .................................. 19

PARTS ORDERING ...................................... 20

Oil:

Engine ...................................... 7,11

Storage ....................................... 13

Operation:

Operating Lawn Mower. ........... 6-8

Operator Presence Control .. 9,11

Repair/Replacement Parts .......... 14-18

Responsibilities, Customer ...... 3, 9-11

SafelPjRules ........................................ 2

Service and Adjustments:

Carburetor ................................. 12

Spark Plug .......................................... 11

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

Speed Control:

Engine ............................................. 7

Starling the Engine ..................... 8

Starter Handle ............................. 8

Storage .............................................. 13

Trouble Shooting Chart ................... 19

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

LAWN R ACCESSORmES

These accessories were available when thislawnmower was produced° They are also available at most Sears retailoutlets

and service centers,,Most Sears stores can also order repairparts for you, when youprovidethe model number ofyourlawn mower. Some of these accessories may not apply to your lawn mower_

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS MULCHER KITS

ii I.l==HH II I .I I I ll= = II I | = lll ll

GRASS CATCHERS A/ GRASS CATCHERS

FOR /' FOR

REAR DISCHARGE SiDE DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

MUFFLERS AIR FILTERS SPARK PLUGS

BELTS BLADES BLADE ADAPTERS WHEELS ENGINE OIL

i LI I II I I.I. HH...I I,H.HH,.H,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 at the

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

bolts, etc,, necessaryto complete theassembly 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 flato

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 of carton and check carton

thoroughly for additional loose parts.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE (See Fig. 1)

IMPORTANT: UNFOLD HANDLE CAREFULLY SO AS

NOT TO PINCH OR DAMAGE CONTROL CABLES.

• Raise handles until lower handle section locks into

place in mowing position,.

STABILIZER

GAS CANS

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROLBAR

UPPER HANDLE

LIFT UP

MOWING POSITION

LOWER HANDLE

FIG. 1

Remove protective padding, raise upper handle sec- tion into place on lower handle and tighten both handle

knobs.

° Remove handle padding holding operator presence

control bar to upper handler

• Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted for your mowing comfort° Refer to "Adjust Handle" in the

Service and Adjustments section of this manual.

................ iii iiii ...................................

OPERATION

I I III LIIIII I IIIIII lJlll ................................... i I IIIIII I I I LI I I I IIIIII :

KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER

READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER, Compare the illustrationswith your lawn mower to familiarize yourselfwith the location of variouscontrolsand adjustments. Save this

manual for future reference.

ij, _ i _lJlUUUlJiiiNiiii

These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the product. Learn and understand their meaning.

i\l

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

OR WARNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAy ........

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

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL, BAR

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL CABLE

STARTER HANDLE

HANDLE KNOBS

FILLER CAP

OIL FILLER PLUG

PRIMER

DtSCHARGE GUARD

HOUSING

WHEEL ADJUSTER

FIG, 2 (ONEACHWHEEL)

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

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conformtothe safety standards of theAmerican National Standards institute and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The blade turns when the engine is running.

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

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

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL, BAR - must be held downtothe handle to start the engine, Release to stopthe

engine.

STARTER HANDLE - used for startingthe engine.

PRIMER -.pumps additional fuel from the carburetor to the

cylinderfor use when starting a cold engine.

OPERATmON

in,,ll,U....

The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your lawn mower or performing any adjustments or repairs. We recommend a wide vision safety

mask over the spectacles or standard safety glasses,

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED

The engine speed was set at the factory for optimum

performance. Speed is not adjustable.

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

CAUTION: Federal regulations require an engine control to be installed onthis

lawn mower in order to minimize the

Your lawn mower is equipped with an operator pres- ence control bar which requires the operator to be

positionedbehindthe lawn mower handleto start and operate the lawn mower,

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT (See Fig. 3)

= Raisewheels for low cut and lower wheelsfor high cut, ° Adjust cutting height to suit your requirements. Me-

dium positionis best for most tawns_

• 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_

NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned when plate tab inserts into hole in lever_ Also, 9-position adjusters (if so

qbUsipped)allow lever to be positioned between the plate

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.

1,1,1,11111,1i,i , _ _1,,111,,,11 II Hn lu,nnlll,ll,,,,,,,,,,,lll,

_lllllIHHn I I I I

,Hlu, i _u i i u ul 'M,H"II'""II'I I I I I

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE OIL (See Fig. 4)

Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in the engine.

• Besure mower islevel and area around oil fill isclean. ° Remove engine oil cap w/dipstick and fill to the full line

on the dipstick.

° Use20oz& of oil. For type and grade of oilto use, see

"ENGINE" in Customer Responsibilities section of this manual.

o Pour oil slowly° Do not over fill, ° Check oil level before each use_ Add oil if needed. Fill

to full line on dipstick.

o To read proper level, tighten engine oil cap each time. o Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten,

° Change the oil after every 25 hours of operation or

each season, You may need to change the oil more often under dusty, dirty conditions°

GAS (See Fig. 4)

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

gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. Do not mix oil with gasoline. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be

used within30 days to assure fuel freshness_

GASOLINE FILLER CAP

LOWER WHEELS FOR HIGH CUT

RAISE WHEELS FOR LOW CUT

FIG, 3

PLATE TAB

OIL FILLER PLUG

FIG. 4

WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended

fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leadsto 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,

ATION

TO START ENGINE

° To start a cold engine, push primer five (5) timesbefore

trying to start. Use a firm push. This step isnot usually necessary when starting an engine which has already

run for a few minutes.,

° Hold operator presence control bar down tothe 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 primingsteps, inwarmer 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

• Under certain conditions, such as very tall grass, itmay be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce

pushingeffortand to keep from overloadingtheengine and leaving clumpsof grass clippings.

• Forextremelyheavycutting,reduce thewidthofcutby

overlapping previouslycut path and mow siowly.,

• Forbetter grass bagging and most cuttingconditions,

the enginespeed should be set inthe fast (_) position°

• For side discharge lawn mowers, cutting in a counter_

clockwise direction, starting at the outside of the area to be cut, spreads grass clippings more evenly and

puts less load on the engine° To keep clippingsoff of

walkways, flower beds, etc., make the first cuts in a clockwise direction_

o Poresincloth grass catchers can become filtedwithdirt

and dust with use and catchers will collect less grass., Toprevent 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 lifeo

_"_O_,_'_._ _p_'..-_" S ERVt O E DATES

Chec!_:fO_o-o-se_asten ers. .......... : tf ........................

clean/Inspect Grass Catcher

(If Equ.!pped) ................. 6/ 6/' if

M .Clean Lawn. Mower. 6/'

(Power-Propelled Mowers) $f

_/V Clean Under Drive Cover

Checkdriv bei puiieys..... II ' '............'....

(Power-Propelled Mowers) II If

Chec_ShaipenlRepiace Blade ......................."' i 0 . 1_.3

Lubrication Chart If

_ciean BatterylRechari e .......................

(Electric Start Mowers .,,, ..................

E Check Engine Oil Level If

Change Engine Oil t_1.2

.Clean Air Filter if

InsPect Muffler if

Clean or Replace Spark Plug ...........

Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge !_2

I-

Change more often when operating under s heavy load or In high ambient temperalures,

Service more often when operating in dirty or dusty conditions,,

Replace blades more often when mowing tn sandy soil,,

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 thewarranty, operator must maintain mower as instructed in this manual.

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

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 forwear, A newspark 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

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

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

LUBRICATION CHART

i_) ENGINE OIL (_ WHEEL

(_ HANDLE BRACKET (_) DISCHARGE

MOUNTING PIN HINGE PIN

(_ SPRAY LUBRICANT

(_) REFERTO CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ENGINE SEC-

TION.

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, IF YOU

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

ADJUSTER

BRAKE SPRING BRACKET

GUARD

ii *!

CUSTOMER R

BILITIES

LAWN MOWER

Always observe safety rules when performing any mainte- nance,

TIRES

. Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, orinsectcontrot 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, mowerblade must be kept sharp. Replace

bent or damaged blades. TO REMOVE BLADE (See Fig. 5)

• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with spark plug_

• Turn lawn mower on itsside. Make sure air filter' and carburetor are up.

• Use a wood block between blade and mower' housing to prevent blade from turning when removing blade bolt.

° Protect your hands with gloves and/or wrap blade with

heavy cloth°

° Remove blade bolt by turning counter-clockwise,, Use

a 9/16" box or open-end wrench.

° Remove blade and attaching hardware (bolt, lock

washer and hardened washer).

NOTE: Remove the btade 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, 5)

o Position the blade adapter on the engine crankshaft.

Be sure key in adapter' and crankshaft keyway 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 of blade (opposite sharp

edge) isup toward the engine°

° Installthe blade bolt with the Iockwasher and hardened

washer into btade adapter and crankshai't

° Use block of wood between blade and lawn mower

housingandtighten the blade bolt, turningclockwise.

• The recommended tighteningtorqueis 35_40 ft. Ibso

IMPORTANT: BLADEBOLT ISGRADE 8 HEATTREATED. NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening blade -but ifyou

do, be sure the blade is balanced.

BLADE ADAPTER ,..,

KEY

BI B(

LOCK WASHER EDGE

HARDENED WASHER

TRA|LING

,CRANK-

SHAFT KEYWAY

CRANK- SHAFT

BLADE ADAPTER

FIG. 5

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 a file or on a grinding

wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower,

. To check blade balance, drive a naUinto a 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

(If purchasedas an accessory)

• 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.

ENGINE

LUBRICATION

Use only high quality detergent oil rated with API service classification SF, SG or SHo Select the oil's SAE viscosity

grade according to your expected operating temperature°

SAE VfSCOStTY GRADES

Bllml mRlil

] {

_F -2o_ 0" 30• 32" 4o= 6o" 80" _0o_....

°c .3o, -20" .1'oo o. ;o= _0:L _0° 40"

TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTiCiPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE

NOTE; Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils

witl result in increased oil consumption when used above

32°F. Check your engine oil level more frequently to avoid possible engine damage from running lowon oil

Change the oil after every 25 hours of operation or at least once a year ifthe lawn mower is not used for25 hours inone year.

Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine and after each five (5) hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug securely each time you check the oil level

TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL (See Fig 6)

• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place

wire where it cannot come in contact with spark plug.

• Be sure lawn mower is on level surface = Oil will drain more freely when warm

° Catch oil in a suitable container

• Remove bottom oil drain plug. = After oil has drained completely, replace oil drain plug

and tighten securely.

° Refill engine with oil. Pour slowly. Do not over fill.

° Fill to top of slot inside of filler holeo = Reconnect spark plug wire to spark plug

AIR FILTER

Your engine will not run properly and may be damaged by using a dirty air filter° Clean the element after every 25

hours of operation, more often if tractor is used in very dusty, dirty conditions.

TO CLEAN AIR FILTER ELEMENT (See Fig. 7)_ o Remove the air filter cover by lifting on edge of cover

° Remove filter element carefully to prevent dirt from

entering carburetor,

- Clean the inside of the cover and the body to remove

any dirt accumulation. ° Wash filter element in liquid detergent and water ° Wrap filter element in cloth and squeeze dry. . Lightlycoat filterelementwithcleanengineoiL Squeeze

in towel to remove excess oil. Do not saturate, ° Install filter element into filter body°

o Install filter cover and press down to snap into place

MUFFLER

Inspect and replace corroded muffler as it could create a

fire hazard and!or damage°

OIL DRAIN PLUG

FIG. 6

AIRFILTERCOVER

LIFT COVER

AIR FILTER ELEMENT

AIR RLTER BODY

FIG. 7

SPARK PLUG

Change the spark plug once a yearto make the engine run

better and easier to start. Set spark plug gap at .030'L

CLEANING

IMPORTANT; FOR BEST PERFORMANCE, KEEP

MOWER HOUSING FREE OF BUILT-UP GRASS AND TRASH_ CLEAN THE UNDERSIDE OF YOUR MOWER AFTER EACH USE°

from spark plug and place wire where it

',,._ CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire

• Turn lawn mower on its side. Make sure air filter and

carburetor are up. Clean the underside of your lawn mower by scraping to remove build-up of grass and

trash°

° Clean engine often to keep trash from accumulating. A

clogged engine runs hotter and shortens engine life.

• Keep finished surfaces and wheels free of all gasoline,

oil,etc_

• We do not recommend using a garden hose to clean

lawn mower unless the electrical system, muffler, air

filter and carburetor are covered to keep water out°

Water in engine can result in shortened engine life.

cannot come in contact with the spark

plug.

.i i

+ 25 hidden pages

Craftsman 917387000 Owner’s Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual