Craftsman 944.363391 Owner's Manual page 7

TO CONVERT MOWER
Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be
used as a mulcher. To convert to bagging:
• Lift rear door of the lawn mower and
place the grass catcher frame hooks
onto the door pivot pins.
• To convert to mulching operation, re-
move grass catcher and close rear door.
CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
without rear door closed or ap proved
grass catch er in place. Nev er at tempt to
operate the lawn mower with the rear door
removed or propped open.
Pivot pins
Catcher frame hook
TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER
1. Lift up on grass catcher using the
frame han dle.
2. Remove grass catcher with clippings
from under lawn mower han dle.
3. Empty clippings from bag using both
frame handle and bag handle.
NOTE: Do not drag the bag when empty-
ing; it will cause unnecessary wear.
Bag
handle
BEFORE STARTING ENGINE
ADD OIL
Your lawnmower is shipped without oil in
the engine. For type and grade of oil to
use, see "EN GINE" in the Maintenance
section of this manual.
oil, or it will smoke heavily from the muffl er
on startup.
1. Be sure lawnmower is level.
2. Remove oil dipstick from oil fi ll spout.
3. You receive a container of oil with the
4. Insert and tighten dipstick.
IMPORTANT:
• Check oil level before each use. Add oil
• Change the oil after every 25 hours of
Rear Grass
catcher
door
handle
ADD GASOLINE
• Fill fuel tank to bottom of tank fi ller neck.
fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline
near an open fl ame.
(called gasohol or using ethanol or metha-
nol) can attract moisture which leads to
separation and for ma tion 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. 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 In struc tions for
additional information. Never use engine
Grass or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel
catcher
tank or permanent damage may occur.
frame
handle
Gasoline
fi ller cap
Primer
7
CAUTION: DO NOT overfi ll engine with
unit. Slowly pour the entire container
down the oil fi ll spout into the engine.
if needed. Fill to full line on dipstick.
operation or each season. You may
need to change the oil more often
under dusty, dirty conditions. See "TO
CHANGE OIL" in the Maintenance sec-
tion of this manual.
Do not overfi ll. Use fresh, clean, regular
unleaded gasoline with a minimum of
87 octane. Do not mix oil with gasoline.
Purchase fuel in quan ti ties that can be
used within 30 days to assure fuel fresh-
ness.
CAUTION: Wipe off any spilled oil or
CAUTION: Alcohol blended fuels
Engine
oil cap