Grass Catcher - Craftsman 917.377811 Owner's Manual

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
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. If either
end of the blade moves downward,
sharpen the heavy end until the blade is
balanced.
GRASS CATCHER
Hubca
• The grass catcher may be hosed with /
water, but must be dry when used.
• Check your grass catcher often for
damage or deterioration. Through _
normal use it will wear. If catcher needs
replacing, replace only with a manufac-
turer approved replacement catcher.
Give the lawn mower model number
when ordering.
DRIVE WHEELS
Check rear drive wheels each time you
mow to be sure they move freely. The
wheels not turning freely means trash,
grass cuttings, etc., may be inside the
drive wheel and dust cover area and must
be cleaned out to free drive wheels.
If necessary to clean the drive wheels,
check both rear wheels.
1. Remove hubcaps and Iocknuts.
2. Remove wheels from wheel adjuster
axles.
3. Remove any trash or grass cuttings
from inside the dust cover, pinion and/
or drive wheel gear teeth.
4. If you remove the drive pinions, wipe
clean with dry cloth. Reassemble dry.
Do not lubricate. Do not use oil or
grease.
NOTE: The pinion gears, on both sides of
the mower, are the same, however, they
must be installed correctly. If installed
incorrectly, the drive system will not work.
5. There are arrows embossed on both
sides of the pinion gear. With the
arrow at the top of the pinion, the
arrow must point towards the front of
the mower. If the arrow points to the
rear of the mower, turn the pinion
around, then assemble to mower.
6. Place wheels back on adjuster axles.
7. Replace Iocknuts and hubcaps.
Correct Incorrect
Wave
,Washer
Pinion
'Locknut
Dust
cover
Washers
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated with
API service classification SF-SJ. Selectthe
oil's SAE viscosity grade according to your
expected operating temperature.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
-20 0 30 32 40 60 80 100
TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30,
10W30 etc.) improve staring in cold weather,
these multi-viscesity 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. "13ghten oil plug securely
each time you check the oil level.
13