Craftsman 917.388391 User Manual

Owner's Manual

CRAFTS[MAN"

6.0 HORSEPOWER 21" MULTI-CUT

ROTARY LAWN MOWER

Model No.

917.388391

• Safety

• Assembly

• Operation

• Maintenance

• Espa_ol

• Repair Parts

CAUTION:

Read and follow all Safety Rules and Instructions

before operating this equipment

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

Visit ourCraftsman website: www.sears.com/craftsman

Warranty 2 Product Specifications 11

Safety Rules 2 Service and Adjustments 13

Assembly 4 Storage 14

Operation 6 Troubleshooting 15 Maintenance Schedule 10 Repair Parts 34 Maintenance 10 Parts Ordering Back Cover

LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER For two years from date of purchase, when this Craftsman Lawn Mower is maintained,

lubricated, and tuned up according to the operating and maintenance instructions in the owner's manual, Sears will repair free of charge any defect in material or workman-

ship. If 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 retuming 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, ROEBUCKAND CO., D/817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179

Safety standards require operator presence control to minimize the risk of injury. Your unit is equipped with cuch 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 how to operate your mower

propedy. 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 described 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 not recommended by the manufac-

turer. Use of such attachments may be hazardous.

• The blade tums 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 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 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 footing - keep a

firm hold on the handles and walk.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under

rotating pads. 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, walks,

reads, 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 repair-

ing 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 your mower if you hit a foreign object. Follow the procedure outlined above, then repair any damage before restarting and

operating your mower.

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

• Do not operate your mower if it vibrates abnormally. Excessive 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 dangerous.

• 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 AND STORAGE:

• Check the blade and the engine

mounting bolts often to be sure they are tightened propedy.

• Check all bolts, nuts and screws at frequent intervals for proper tightness to

be sure mower is in safe working condition.

• 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 deteriora- tion 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.

ALook for this symbol to point out important safety precautions. It means

CAUTIONIH BECOMEALERTI!! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

/I, CAUTION: Always disconnect spark plug wire and place wire where it cannot

contact spark plug in order to prevent accidental starting when setting up,

transporting, adjusting or making repairs.

_t,WARNING: The engine exhaust from

this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer,

birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced. They are not

shipped with your mower, They are also available at most Sears retailoutletsand service

centers. Most Sears stores can also order repair parts for you, when you providethe model

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

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE

CUPPING DEFLECTOR

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

MULCHER KITS

STABILIZER

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

MUFFLERS AIR FILTERS

BELTS BLADES BLADE ADAPTERS WHEELS

Read these instructions and this manual in

its entirety before you attempt to assemble or operate your new lawn mower.

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped

WITHOUT OILOR GASOLINE in the

engine.

Your new lawn mower has been as-

sembled at the factory with the exception of

those pads left unassembled for shipping

purposes. 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 neces-

sary to ensure proper tightness. All parts such as nuts, washers, belts, etc., neces- sary to complete the assembly have been placed in the pads bag.

FOR

SIDE DISCHARGE

GRASS CATCHERS

LAWN MOWERS

GAS CANS

SPARK PLUGS

ENGINE OiL

TO REMOVELAWNMOWERFROM

CARTON

• Remove loose parts included with

mowsr,

• Cut down two end comers 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 thoroughly for additional loose

pads.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN Operatorpresence

MOWER control bar TO UNFOLD HANDLE

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

• Raise lower handle section to operating position and squeeze the bottom ends

of lower handle towards each other until the pin in handle can be inserted

into one of the three height adjustment holes.

• Remove protective padding, raise upper

handle section into place on lower handle and tighten both handle knobs.

• Remove any packing material from

around control bar.

• Your handles may be adjusted for your mowing comfort. Refer to Service and

Adjustments section of this manual.

Upper

Lower handle

3-posiUon

Handle

asjustment

bracket

Mowing position

Handle pin

TO INSTALLATTACHMENTS

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a mulcher. To convert to

bagging of discharging, see "To convert mower" in the OPERATION section of this

manual.

KNOWYOUR LAWN MOWER

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

locationof various controls and adjustments. Save this manual forfuture reference.

These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the

product. Learn and understand their meaning.

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

OR WARNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAY

Operator presence control bar

Starter

Handle

Grass catcher

Gasoline filler cap

Engine zone control cable

Engine oil cap

,"with dipstick

Mulcher door Lawn mower housing

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OILOR GASOLINE inthe Wheel adjuster

en_line. (on each wheel)

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Sears rotanj walk-behind power lawn mowers conformto the safety standards of the American

National Standards instituteand the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commiss'_n. The blade turns when the engine is running.

Operator Presence Control Bar- must be held down to the handle to startthe engine.

Release to stop the engine.

Primer - pumps addrtionalfuel from the

carburetor to the cylinderfor use when

starlinga cold engine. Starter Handle - used for startingthe engine.

can resultin foreign objects thrown

The operation of any lawn mower

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 spectacles or standard safety glasses.

HOWTO USEYOUR LAWN MOWER ENGINE SPEED CONTROL

The engine speed was set at the factory for

optimum performance. Speed isnot adjust-

able.

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

_I=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 control. The blade turns when the engine is running.

• Your lawn mower is equipped with an

operator presence control bar which requires the operator to be positioned

behind the lawn mower handle to start and operate the lawn mower.

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT

• Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for highcut.

• Adjust cutting height to suit your require-

ments. Medium positionis best for most lawns.

• To change cuttingheight, squeeze adjuster lever toward 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 insertsinto hole in lever. Also, 9- position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever

to be positionedbetween the plate tabs.

REAR BAGGING

• Liftrear door of the lawn mower and place

the grass catcher frame hooks onto the door pivotpins.

• To convert to mulching or discharging operation, remove grass catcher and close

rear door.

Pivot pins

SIDE DISCHARGING

• Rear door must be closed.

• Open mulcher door and install discharge

deflector under guard as shown.

• Mower is now ready for discharging operation.

• To convert to mulching or bagging operation, discharge deflector must he removed and mulcher door must he

closed.

SIMPLE STEPS TO REMEMBER

WHEN CONVERTING YOUR LAWN

MOWER

FOR MULCHING -

• Rear door dosed.

• Muicher door closed.

FOR REAR BAGGING-

• Grass catcher installed.

• Muicher door dosed.

FOR SIDE DISCHARGING -

• Rear door closed.

• Side discharge deflector installed.

Lower Wheels for High Cut

Raise Wheels for Low Cut

TOCONVERTMOWER

Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a mulcher. To convert to hagging or

discharging:

ACAUTION: Do not runyour lawn mower without rear door closed or approved grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the

lawn mower with the rear door removed or propped open.

door

Open Mulcher _

Discharge

deflector

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE OIL

Your lawn mower is shipped without oil inthe engine.

• Be sure mower is level and area around oil flitis clean.

• Remove engine oil cap and fillto the full line on the dipstick.

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

• Engine holds 20 ozs. of oil. For type and

grade of oilto use, see =ENGINE" in Maintenance section of this manual.

• Pour oilslowly. Do not over fill

• Check oil level before each use. AdO oil if needed. Fill to full line on dipstick.

• To read proper level, tighten engine oHcap each time.

• Reinstallengine 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 conci'dons.

GAS

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

the tank.

• Fillfuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87

octane. Do not mix oHwith gasoline. Purchase fuel in quantitiesthat can be used within 30 days to assure fuel

AIN_d_I41NG: Experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract

moisturewhich leads to separation and

formation of acids duringstorage. Acidc gas can damage the fuel system of an engine

while in storage. To avoid engine problems,

the fuel system should be emptied before storage of 30 days or longer. Drain the fuel

tank, start the engine and let it rununtilfuel

lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instructionsfor additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products infuel tank or permanent damage may occur.

ACAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank

filler neck. Do not overfill. Wipe off any

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

Gasoline filler Engine oil cap cap

(Discard

debris plug

inside)

TO START ENGINE

• To start a cold engine, push primerthree

(3) times before tryingto starLUse a firm push. This step is not usually necessary

when starting an engine which has already

runfor a few minutes.

• Hold operator presence control bar down to the handle and pull starter handle

quicldy.Do not allow starter rope to snap back.

• To stop engine, release operator presence

control bar.

NOTE: In cooler weather itmay be necessa_ to repeat pdming steps. In warmer weather over priming may cause flood=ngand engine willnot starL Ifyou do floodengine, wait a few

minutes before attempting to start and do not

repeatprmngstep

MOWINGTIPS

• Under certain conditione, such as very tall grass, it may be necassary to raise the

height of cutto reduce pushing effort and to keep from ovedoading the engine and

leaving dumps of grass clippings. It may also be necessary to reduce ground speed and/or run the lawn mower over the area a

second time.

• For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut by overlapping previouslycut

path and mow slowly.

• For better grass begging and most cutting conditions,the engine speed should be set

in the fast position.

• Pores in cloth grass catchers can become filledwith dirtand dust with use and

catchers will collectless grass. To prevent this, regularly hose catcher offwith water and let dry before using.

• Keep top of engine around starter clear

and clean of grass clippings and chaff.

This will help engine air flow and extend

engine life.

MULCHING MOWINGTIPS IMPORTANT: For best perfom'Bnce, keep

mower housing free of buiR-upgrass and trash. Clean UNDERSIDE OF MOWER

HOUSING after each use. See "Cleaning"in

MAINTENANCE section ofthis manual.

• The special mulching blade will recurthe grass clippings many times and reduce

them in size so that as they fallonto the lawn they w'_ldisperse into the grass and

not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will biedegrade quicldyto provide nutrientsfor the lawn. Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best recurringaction of the blades.

• Avo'KIcuttingyour lawn when it is wet. 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 heightso that the lawn mower cuts

oft only the top one-third of the grass blades. If the lawn is overgrown itwill be necessary to raise the height of cut to

reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving clumps of mulched grass. For extremely heavy mu_ing, reduce your width of cut,

mow slowly and raise the rear of the lawn

mower one wheel adjuster setting higher than the front.

* Cedain typas of grass and grass conddJons

may require that an area be mulched a

Secondtime to completely hkle the

clippings.When doing a second cut, mow

across or paqoondicular to the firstcut path.

• Change your cuttingpattem from week to

week. Mow northto south one week thon

change to east to weet the next week. This

wiUhelp prevent rnatting and graining of

the lawn.

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