Sears 917.38783 User Manual

MODEL

• AssembRy oOperation

oCustomer

ResponsibiBnties

o Service

917.387830

OWNER'S MANUAL

oAdjustments oRepair Parts

Caution:

Read and Follow all Safety Rules

and Instructions Before Operating

This Equipment

159054 032597 REV2

................................. _ ................................................. ii

VBL 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 carefuUy 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 proper instructions.

° Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, especia!ly

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 or damaged in

any manner., Always have damage repaired before using your mower.

o Do not use accessory attachments that are not recommended

by the manufacturer.. Use of such attachments may be hazardous.

, The blade turnswhenthe engine is running

PREPARATION:

o Always thoroughly check the area tobe mowed and clear it of

aU 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 isrunning orwhen 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 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, 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 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 dam-

age before restarting and operating you mower.

° Do not change the governor settings or overspeed the

engine. Engine damage or personal injury may resutt

• Do not operate your' mower if it vibrates abnormally. 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 or other safety devices in place.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE: o 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 isin 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 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 Look for this symbol to point out im-

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

CAUTION: Always disconnect spark

plug wire arid place wire where it can-

not contact spark plug in order to pre- vent accidental starting when setting

up, transporting, adjusting or making repanrs.

WARNING

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.

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 easily remedy, please contact your nearest Sears Authorized

Service CentedDepartment. We have competent, well- trained technicians and the proper tools to service or repair

this lawn mower. Please read and retain this manual° The instructions will

enable you to assemble and maintain your lawn mower properly° Always observe the "SAFETY RULES".

MODEL NUMBER 917.387830

SERIAL NUMBER

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

HORSEPOWER: 4_5 DISPLACEMENT: 1t.5 CUoIN,

GASOLINE CAPACITY 1,5 QUARTS

AND TYPE: UNLEADED REGULAR

OIL TYPE(API-SF/SG): SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F)

SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F)

OIL CAPACITY: 20 OZSo SPARK PLUG: CHAMPION J19LM.

(GAP: ,030") VALVE CLEARANCE: INTAKE: 008

EXHAUST: .008

SOLID STATE IGNITION AIR GAP: ,O125IN,

DATEOFPURCHASE

THE MODEL AND SERIAL NUMBERS WILL BE FOUND

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

YOU SHOULD RECORD BOTH SERIAL NUMBER AND DATE OF PURCHASE AND KEEP IN A SAFE PLACE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE,

BLADE BOLTTORQUE: 35-40 FT, LBS.

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT

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

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES

o Read and observe the safety rules. ,, Follow a regular schedule in maintaining, caring for and using your lawn mower. o Follow the instructions under "Customer Responsibilities" and "Storage" sections of this owneCs manual.

LmMITED 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 accordipg 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 SERVlCE 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 11"4USE 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/8t7 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179

TA LE OF CONTENTS

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

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

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ..................... 3, 11=13

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

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

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

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

Engine:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fue!:

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 ................................. 13

Blade Care/Replacement ...... 12

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Handle Adjustment:

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

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

Lubrication:

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

Lawn Mower', .....................................11

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

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

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

Oi!:

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

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

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

STORAG E ................................................................... 15

TROU BLESHOOTING ................................................. 21

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

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

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

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 e,,3, 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 .............................t0

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

Storage ........................................... ! 5

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

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

LAWN

These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced° They are also available 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°

E ACCESSORIES

LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE _......................

CLIPPING DEFLECTOR

FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS

LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE

i i i iiuiH,i ill ill,ill=

GRASS CATCHERS

REAR DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

i i iml,, ,,,,,, ,, ,,,,,,,,, ,,i ll,lul,i,

MUFFLERS

BELTS

FOR

BLADES

MULCHER KITS

AIR FILTERS

BLADE ADAPTERS

GRASS CATCHERS

FOR

SIDE DISCHARGE

LAWN MOWERS

WHEELS

STABILIZER

GAS CANS

,,L

SPARK PLUGS

ENGINE OIL

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. All parts such as nuts, washers, bolts, etc. necessary to complete 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 lay end panel down flaL

o Remove all packing materials except padding between

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

o Roll lawn mower out of carton and check carton thor-

ougHy for additional loose parts_

HOW TO SET UP YOU R 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 into place on lower handle,

remove protective padding and tighten both handle knobs..

,, Remove handle padding holding operator presence

control bar to upper handle.

o 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

mulcher, To convert to bagging or discharging: o Open rear door' and remove mulcher plug, Store

mulcher plug in a safe place,

You can now install catcher or optional clipping deflec- tor.

To return to mulching operation, install mulcher plug

into discharge opening of mower,.

MULCHER PLUG

FIG. 2

CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without mulcher plug in place or ap-

proved clipping deflector or grass catcher in place, Never' attempt to op-

erate the lawn mower with the rear door removed or'propped open.

OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROLBAR

UPPER HANDLE

LIFT UP

LOWER HANDLE

MOWING POSITION

FIG. t

BLY

,u,ii ,111,,11,,i,,, ,,,,i,i,iii1,11

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 into sewn hem of bag,

NOTE: Keep bag hem gathered on the straight leg of the tubular frame,

o When frame comes out the other end of sewn hem,

immediately work the end of frame down inside the bag as shown in inset°

o Slide sewn hem evenly around the tubular frame until

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

o 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 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.

• Close the flip lid,, Flip lid must beclosed while operating lawn mower.

o Lift the rear door on the mower housing and place the

grass catcher frame onto the formed tabs on the rear door hinge bracket,,

, The grass catcher is secured to the lawn mower

housing when the rear door is lowered onto the grass

catcher frame,,

s _

TUBULAR

FRAME

LOWER FRAME HANDLE

FIG. 3B

FIG, 3C

LOWER FRAME

(Frames must be fully seated)

without clipping deflector or approved

A AUTION: Do not run your lawn mower

grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear

door removed or propped open,

TUBULAR FRAME SEWN

SEWN HEM

HEM

FLIP LID

FIG, 3A

HI BRACKET

REAR DOOR

GRASS

CATCHER

FRAME

FORMED TABS

FIG. 4

+ 15 hidden pages

Sears 917.38783 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual