Grass Catcher, Gear Case; Engine Lubrication; Air Filter - Craftsman 944.361361 Owner's Manual

GRASS CATCHER
• The grass catcher may be hosed with
water, but must be dry when used.
• Check your grass catcher often for dam-
age or deterioration. Through normal
use it will wear. If catcher needs replac-
ing, replace only with approved replace-
ment catcher shown in the Repair Parts
section of this manual. Give the lawn
mower model number when ordering.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
2. Remove oil fil! cap/dipstick; lay aside
on a clean surface.
3. Tip lawn mower on its side as shown
and drain oil into a suitable container.
Rock lawn mower back and forth to re-
move any oil trapped inside of engine.
GEAR CASE
• To keep your drive system working
properly, the gear case and area around
the drive should be kept clean and free
of trash build-up. Clean under the drive
cover twice a season.
• The gear case is filled with lubricant to the
proper level at the factory. The only time
the lubricant needs attention is if service
has been performed on the gear case.
ENGINE
Maintenance, repair, or replacement of the
emission control devices and systems, which
are being done at the customers expense,
may be performed by any non-road engine
repair establishment or individual. Warranty
repairs must be performed by an authorized
engine manufacturer's service outlet.
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oi! rated
with API service classification SG-SL.
Selectthe oil's SAE viscosity grade according
to your expected operating temperature.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
4O
°F -20 0 30 32 40 60 80 100
°c -_o .2; -_; ; 1; _o 1o
TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
NOTE: Multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30
etc.) improve starting in cold weather, and
you should check your engine oil level fre-
quently to avoid possible engine damage
from running low on oil.
Change the oil after every 25 hours of
operation or at least once a year if the
lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in
one 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
NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to
drain oil, empty fuel tank by running en-
gine until fuel tank is empty.
4. Wipe off any spilled oil from lawn
mower or side of engine.
5. Fill engine with oil. Slowly pour oil
down the oil fil! spout into the engine.
6. Wait one minute to allow oil to settle.
Use guage on oil fill cap/dipstick for
checking level. Insert dipstick into
the tube and rest the oil fill cap on the
tube. DO NOT thread the cap into the
tube when taking reading.
Oil fill cap /
dipstick
Uppe
mark-_
Lower"
mark
7. Continue adding small amounts of
oil and rechecking the dipstick until it
reads ful!. DO NOT overfill, or engine
will smoke on startup.
8. Always be sure to retighten oil fill cap/
dipstick before starting engine.
9. 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.
Replace the air filter every 100 hours of
operation or every season, whichever oc-
curs first. Service air cleaner more often
under dusty conditions.
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