Craftsman 944.365450 User Manual

Owner's Manual

JCRAFTSMAN® IMOWER

ROTARY LAWN

5.5 Horsepower Power-Propelled

21" Multi-Cut

Model No.

944.365450

CAUTION:

Read and follow all Safety Rules and Instructions

before operating this equipment Sears Canada, Inc., Toronto, Ontario M5B 2B8

Warranty .................................................. 2

Safety Rules ......................................... 2-3

Product Specifications ........................... 4

Assembly/Pre-Operation ...................... 4-5

Operation ............................................ 6-10

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

LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER

For Two years from date of purchase Sears Canada, Inc. will repair or replace at Sears

option free of charge parts which are defective as a result of material or workmanship.

COMMERCIAL OR RENTAL USE:

Warranty on Power Mower (Gas) will be ninety (90) days from date of purchase if used for commercial or rental purposes.

This Warranty does NOT cover:

• Pre-delivery set-up. • In-home service

• 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 crank- shafts and the failure to maintain the equipment according to the instructions con-

tained in the owner's manual.

Warranty service is available by returning the Craftsman Power Mower to the nearest Sears Service Centre/Department in Canada. This warranty applies only while this prod-

uct is used in Canada.

Maintenance ..................................... 11-14

Service and Adjustments .................. 14-15

Storage ............................................. 16-17

Troubleshooting ................................ 18-19

Repair Parts ...................................... 20-27

Sears Service .......................... Back Cover

This warranty is in addition to any statutory warranty and does not exclude or limit legal

rights you may have but shall run concurrently with applicable provincial legislation. Fur-

thermore, some provinces do NOT allow limitation on how long an implied warranty will

last so the above limitations may not apply to you.

Sears Canada, Inc., Toronto, Ontario M5B 2B8

IMPO RTANT: This cutting machine iscapable of amputating hands and feet and throwing ob-

jects. Failu re to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

_kLook for this symbol to point out im- I. GENERAL OPERATION portant safety precautions. It means

CAUTION!!! BECOME ALERT!!! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED.

_kWARNING: In order to prevent accidental starting when setting up, transporting, ad- justing or making repairs, always disconnect

spark plug wire and place wire where itcannot come in contact with plug.

A CAUTION: Muffler and other engine

parts become extremely hot during operation and remain hot after engine has

stopped. To avoid severe burns on contact,

stay away from these areas.

• Read, understand, and follow all

instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before starting. Be thoroughly

familiar with the controls and the proper

use of the machine before starting.

• Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts. Keep clear of the dis- charge opening at all times.

• Only allow responsible individuals, who are familiar with the instructions, to

operate the machine.

• Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire, bones, sticks, etc., which could be picked up and thrown by blade.

• Be sure the area is clear of other people before mowing. Stop machine if anyone

enters the area.

Do not operate the mower when bare-

foot or wearing open sandals. Always

wear substantial foot wear.

• Do not pull mower backwards unless

absolutely necessary. Always look down and behind before and while moving

backwards.

• Never direct discharged material toward anyone. Avoid discharging material

against a wall or obstruction. Material

may richochet back toward the operator. Stop the blade when crossing gravel

surfaces.

• Do not operate the mower without

proper guards, plates, grass catcher or other safety protective devices in place.

• See manufacturer's instructions for proper operation and installation of

accessories. Only use accessories ap- proved by the manufacturer.

• Stop the blade(s) when crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads.

• Stop the engine (motor) whenever you

leave the equipment, before cleaning

the mower or unclogging the chute.

• Shut the engine (motor) off and wait

until the blade comes to complete stop before removing grass catcher.

• Mow only in daylight or good artificial

light.

• Do not operate the machine while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Never operate machine in wet grass.

Always be sure of your footing: keep a firm hold on the handle; walk, never run.

• Disengage the self-propelled mech-

anism or drive clutch on mowers so equipped before starting the engine.

• If the equipment should start to vibrate

abnormally, stop the engine (motor) and check immediately for the cause. Vibra- tion is generally a warning of trouble.

• Always wear safety goggles or safety

glasses with side shields when oper- ating mower.

II. SLOPE OPERATION Slopes are a major factor related to slip&

fall accidents which can result insevere

injury.All slopes require extra caution. If

you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it.

DO:

• Mow across the face of slopes: never up and down. Exercise extreme caution

when changing direction on slopes.

• Remove obstacles such as rocks, tree limbs, etc.

• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall grass can hide obstacles.

DO NOT:

• Do not trim near drop-offs, ditches or

embankments. The operator could lose

footing or balance.

• Do not trim excessively steep slopes.

• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced footing could cause slipping.

IlL CHILDREN

Tragic accidents can occur if the operator

is not alert to the presence of children.

Children are often attracted to the ma-

chine and the mowing activity. Neveras-

sume that children will remain where you last saw them.

• Keep children out of the trimming area and under the watchful care of another

responsible adult.

• Be alert and turn machine off if children enter the area.

• Before and while walking backwards, look behind and down for small children.

• Never allow children to operate the

machine.

• Use extra care when approaching blind

corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects

that may obscure vision.

IV. SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE

Use extreme care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely flammable and the

vapors are explosive.

• Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes

and other sources of ignition.

• Use only an approved container.

• Never remove gas cap or add fuel with

the engine running. Allow engine to

cool before refueling.

• Never refuel the machine indoors.

• Never store the machine or fuel contain- er where there is an open flame, spark or pilot lightsuch as a water heater or

on other appliances.

• Never fill containers inside a vehicle, on a truck or trailer bed with a plastic liner.

Always place containers on the ground away from your vehicle before filling.

• Remove gas-powered equipment from the truck or trailer and refuel it on the

ground, if this is not possible, then refuel such equipment with a portable

container, rather than from a gasoline dispenser nozzle.

• Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or container opening at all times until fueling is complete. Do

not use a nozzle lock-open device.

• If fuel is spilled on clothing, change clothing immediately.

• Never overfill fuel tank. Replace gas cap and tighten securely.

V. GENERAL SERVICE

• Never run machine inside a closed area.

• Never make adjustments or repairs with

the engine (motor)running.Disconnectthe

spark plug wire, and keep the wire away fromthe plugtoprevent accidentalstarting.

• Keep nuts and bolts, especially blade

attachment bolts, tight and keep equip-

ment in good condition.

• Never tamper with safety devices. Check their proper operation regularly.

• Keep machine free of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean oil orfuel spill-

age. Allow machine to cool before storing.

• Stop and inspect the equipment if you strike an object. Repair, if necessary,

before restarting.

AWARNING: This lawn mower is equipped with an internal combustion engine and

should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the engine's exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator. A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest Sears Service Centre

(See the REPAIR PARTS section of this manual).

• Never attempt to make wheel height adjustments while the engine is running.

• Grass catcher components are subject to wear, damage, and deterioration, which could expose moving parts or

allow objects to be thrown. Frequently check components and replace with

manufacturer's recommended parts, when necessary.

• Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves, and use extra caution when servicing them.

• Do not change the engine governor set- ting or overspeed the engine.

• Maintain or replace safety and instruc- tion labels, as necessary.

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 OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine.

Your new lawn mower has been assem- bled at the factory with the exception of

those parts left unassembled for shipping

purposes. All parts such as nuts, wash-

ers, bolts, etc., necessary to complete the

assembly have been placed in the parts bag. 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 neces- sary to ensure proper tightness.

TO REMOVE MOWER FROM CARTON

1. Remove loose parts included with mower.

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

3. Remove all packing materials except padding between upper and lower

handle and padding holding operator

presence control bar to upper handle.

4. Roll mower out of carton and check

carton thoroughly for additional loose parts.

HOWTO SET UPYOUR LAWN MOWER

TO UNFOLD HANDLE

IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so

as not to pinch or damage control cables.

1. Raise lower handle section to operat- ing position and align hole in handle

with one of three height positioning

holes.

2. Insert handle bolt through handle and bracket and secure with knob.

3. Repeat for opposite side of handle.

4. Remove protective padding, raise up- per handle section into place on lower handle and tighten both handle knobs.

5. Remove any packing material from around control bar.

Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted for your mowing comfort. Refer to "AD-

JUST HANDLE" in the Service and Adjust-

ments section of this manual.

Operator control bar

Handle

bracket

MOWING

POSITION

Upper

handle

Handle

knob

Lower handle

TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCHER

1. Put grass catcher frame into grass bag with rigid part of bag on the bottom.

Make sure the frame handle is outside

of the bag top,

2. Slip vinyl 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.

Knob

Vinyl bindings

Frame

opening

TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be

used as a mulcher. To convert to bag- ging, see "TO CONVERT MOWER" in the

Operation section of this manual.

KNOWYOUR LAWN MOWER

READTHIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALL SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATINGYOUR 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 inliterature supplied with the product.

Learn and understand their meaning.

CAUTION ENGINE ENGINE FAST SLOW CHOKE FUEL OIL DANGER,KEEPHANDS

OR WARNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAY

Drive

control

lever

Starter Gasoline filler cap

-Operator presence controlbar

-landle knob

Grass Fuel valve lever

Spark plug

Air

Mulcher plug

Single point heig adjuster handle

Engine oil fill q

tousing

IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped Mulcher WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine, door

MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conform to the safety standards of the

American National Standards Instituteand the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Com- mission. The blade turns when the engine is running.

Operator presence control lever - must be held down to the handle to start the

engine. Release to stopthe engine. Drive control bar - used to engage

power-propelled forward motion of mower. Single point height adjuster - used to adjust cutting height of lawn mower.

Starter handle - used for starting engine. Mulcher door - allows conversion to

discharging or bagging operation. Mulcher plug - located at the rear dis- charge opening. Must be removed when

converting to bagging operation.

Theoperation 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 recom-

mend standard safety glasses or a wide vision safety mask worn over spectacles.

presence control bar

control

TO lever

Adjustment ENGAGE DRIVE

button (on DRWE CONTROL underside) CONTROL DISENGAGED

HOWTO USEYOUR LAWN MOWER ENGINE SPEED

The engine speed was set at the factory for optimum performance. Speed is not adjustable.

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 isequipped 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.

DRIVE CONTROL

• Self-propelling is controlled by hold- ing the operator presence control bar down to the handle and pulling the drive

control lever rearward to the handle.

The farther toward the handle the lever

is pulled, the faster the unit will travel.

• Forward motion will stop when either the operator presence control bar or

drive control lever are released. To stop

forward motion without stopping engine,

release the drive control lever only. Hold operator presence control bar down against handle to continue mowing without self-propelling.

NOTE: If after releasing the drive control the mower will not roll backwards, push the mower forward slightly to disengage

drive wheels.

• To keep drive control engaged when turning corners, push down on the

handle to lift the front wheels off the ground while turning lawn mower.

DRIVE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT

Over time, the drive control system may be- come "loose", resulting in decreased speed.

There is abutton onthe underside ofthe drive control housing to increase tension on the

drive cable. Proceed as follows:

1. Turn unit off and disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug.

2. Pull out button on underside of drive

control, then push button back in.

3. Operate mower to test drive speed.

If condition becomes worse after the above steps (forward speed has

become slower), your system was not "loose". Repeating the above steps will

return your unit to the proper adjust- ment and speed.

4. If condition fails to improve after the

above steps (forward speed remains the same), your drive belt is worn and

should be replaced.

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT All four wheels are adjusted by a single

lever.

• Pull adjuster lever toward wheel. To

raise mower, move lever forward to

desired position. To lower mower, move the lever toward the rear.

LEVER BACKWARD

TO LOWER

MOWER Height J

adjuster lever

LEVER FORWARD

TO RAISE

MOWER

TO ATTACH GRASS CATCHER

1. Lift the rear door of the lawn mower and place the grass catcher frame side

hooks onto the door pivot pins,

2. The grass catcher is secured to the lawn mower housing when the rear

door is lowered onto the grass catcher

frame.

_CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

without mulcher plug, clipping deflector or approved grass catcher in place. Never at- tempt to operate the lawn mower with the

rear door removed or propped open.

Rear

Grass

catcher

handle

TO CONVERT MOWER Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be

used as a mulcher. To convert to bagging or discharging:

REAR BAGGING

• Open rear door and remove mulcher plug. Store mulcher plug in a safe place.

• You can now install the grass catcher or optional clipping deflector.

• To convert to mulching or discharging operation, install mulcher plug into rear

discharge opening of mower.

Catcher frame hook

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER

1. Lift up on grass catcher using the

frame handle.

2. Remove grass catcher with clippings

from under lawn mower handle.

3. Empty clippings from bag. NOTE: Do not drag the bag when emp-

tying; itwill cause unnecessary wear.

'_k/ \ Grass

kJ_.--_ catcher

Mulcher plug

SIDE DISCHARGING

• Mulcher plug must be installed into rear discharge opening of mower.

• Open mulcher door and install dis- charge deflector under door as shown.

• Mower is now ready for discharging

operation.

• To convert to mulching or bagging

operation, discharge deflector must be removed and mulcher door closed.

SIMPLE STEPS TO REMEMBER WHEN CONVERTINGYOUR LAWN MOWER

FOR MULCHING -

1. Rear mulcher plug installed.

2. Mulcher door closed. FOR REAR BAGGING -

1. Rear mulcher plug removed.

2. Grass catcher installed.

3. Mulcher door closed.

FOR SIDE DISCHARGING -

1. Rear mulcher plug installed.

2. Discharge deflector installed.

_CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without mulcher plug, clipping deflector or approved grass catcher in place. Never

attempt to operate the lawn mower with

the rear door removed or propped open.

rOpen mulcher door

Discharge

deflector

_1_CAUTION: DO NOT overfill engine with oil, or it will smoke on startup.

1. Be sure lawnmower is level.

2. Remove oil fill cap/dipstick from oil fill spout.

3. You recieve a container of oil with the unit. Slowly pour the entire container

down the oil fill spout into the engine.

4. Insert and tighten oil fill cap/dipstick.

IMPORTANT"

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

• 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. See 'q-O

CHANGE ENGINE OIL" in the Mainte-

nance section of this manual.

ADD GASOLINE

• Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank filler neck. Do not overfill. Use fresh, clean, regular

unleaded gasoline with a minimum of

87 octane. Do not mix oil with gasoline.

Purchase fuel inquantities that can be used within 30 days to assure fuel fresh-

ness,

A CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oilor fuel. Do not store, spillor use gasoline

near an open flame.

CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels

(called gasohol or using ethanol or metha- nol) 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 storage of 30

days or longer. Empty the gas tank, start

the engine and let it run until the fuel lines

and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel

next season. See Storage Instructionsfor

additional information. Never use engine

or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel

tank or permanent damage may occur.

BEFORE STARTING ENGINE

ADD OIL Your lawnmower is shipped without oil in

the engine. For type and grade of oil to use, see "ENGINE" in the Maintenance section of this manual.

Oil fill cap / Gasoline

filler cap

Upper mark mark

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