Craftsman 917.388320 Owner's Manual page 12

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat
treated.
TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharpen-
ing blade - but if you do, be sure the blade
is balanced.
Care should be taken to keep the blade
balanced_ An unbalanced blade will
cause eventual damage to lawn mower or
engine.
° The blade can be sharpened with a file
or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while on the mower.
• To check blade balance, drive a nail
into a beam or wall. Leave about one
inch of the straight nail exposed. Place
center hole of blade over the head of
the nail. If blade is balanced, it should
remain in a horizontal position, tf either
end of the blade moves downward,
sharpen the heavy end until the blade
is balanced. Crank shaft
Blade
keyway
Bolt Crank
Lockwasher Hardened Blade shaft
washer Trailing adapter
edge
GRASS CATCHER
• The gra._scatcher may be hosed with
water, but mt_st be dry when used.
o Check your grass catcher often for damage
or deterioration. Through normal use it will
wear. if catcher needs replacing, replace
only with a manufacturer approved
replacement catcher. Give the lawn mower
model number when ordering°
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated
with API service classification SF, SH or
SG. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating
lemperature. SAE wscosrn, G _DES
°C _30" -20" _I_0" O" 10 = 20' _0' 40'
"
T_P_TURE RANGEA_iCIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL cHANGE
NOTE: Although multi--viscosity oils
(5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in
cold weather, these multi--viscosity oils
will result in increased oil consumption
when used above 32°F. Check your
engine oil level more frequently 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, drain fuel tank by running
engine until fuel tank is empty,
° Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with spark plug.
° Remove engineoil cap; lay aside on a
clean surface.
° Tip lawn mower on its side as shown
and drain oil into a suitable container.
Rock lawn mower back and forth to
remove any oil trapped inside of
engine.
o Wipe off any spilled oil on lawn mower
and on side of engine.
° Fill engine with oil. Fill to the upper
limit mark on the dipstick. DO NOT
OVER FILL.
o To read proper level, insert the dipstick
into the tube and rest oil fill cap on the
tube. Do not thread the cap onto the
tube. Remove and read the oil level
° Replace engine oil cap.
° Reconnect spark plug wire to spark
plug.
Oil filler cap!dipstick
limit
Lower limit
12