Grass Catcher; Drive Wheels; Gear Case; Engine Lubrication - Craftsman 917.377574 Owner's Manual

treated.
TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening
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 ihto
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. If either end of the
blade moves downward, sharpen the
heavy end until the blade is balanced.
GRASS CATCHER
E_ade
Crank shaft
keyway
Blade
Crank
bolt
shaft
Lock Blade
washer Hardened edge adapter
washer
• The grass catcher may be hosed with
water, but must be dry when used.
• Check your grass catcher o_ten for damage
or deterioration. Through normal use it will
wear. If catcher needs replacing, replace
only with a manu|acturor approved
replacement catcher. Give the lawn mower
model number when ordering.
DRIVE WHEELS
Check front drive wheel*s each time before
you mow to be sure they move freely.
The wheels not turning freely means trash,
grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive wheel
area and must be cleaned to free drive
wheels.
If necessary to clean the drive wheels,
check both front wheels.
• Remove hubcaps, hairpin cotters and
washers.
• Remove wheels from wheel adjusters.
• Remove any trash or grass cuttings fr¢
inside the dust cover, pinion and/or dfi
wheel gear teeth.
• Put wheels back in place.
• tt after cleaning, the drive wheels do n
turn freely, contact your nearest
authorized service center.
GEAR CASE
• To keep your drive system working
properly, the gear case and area aroun
the drive should be kept clean and free
of trash build-up. Clean under the ddv_
cover twice a season.
• The gear case is filled with lubricant to
the proper level at the factory. The onl'
time the lubricant needs attention is if
service has been performed on the ge_
case.
• If lubricant is required, use only Texac(
Starplex Premium 1 Grease, Part No.
750369. Do not substitute.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only Iligh quality detergent oil rated
with API service classification SF, SG or
SH. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating
temperature.
NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils
(5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in
cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils wil
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
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