Craftsman 917.378311 Owner's Manual page 12

• To check blade balance, drive a nail
intoa beam or wall. Leave about one
inchof the straightnail exposed. Place
center hole of bladeover the head of
the nail. If blade is balanced, it should
remainin a horizontalposition.If either
end of the blade moves downward,
sharpen the heavy end until the blade
is balanced.
Blade
adapter
Lockwasher
_/_,._ _ Crank
ilF shoft
Hardened _' '_"_"_' '_ Bladeadapter
washer eoge
GRASS CATCHER
• The grasscatcher may be hosedwith
water, but mustbe dry when used.
• Check your grasscatcher oftenfor
damage or deterioration. Through
normal use it willwear. If catcher
needs replacing,replace onlywith a
manufacturer approved replacement
catcher. Give the lawn mower model
number when ordering.
DRIVE WHEELS
Check front drive wheels each time
beforeyou mow to be sure they move
freely.
The wheels not turningfreely means
trash,grasscuttings,etc. are in the drive
wheel area and mustbe cleanedto free
drive wheels.
If necessaryto clean the drive wheels,
check bothfront wheels.
1. Remove hubcaps,hairpincotters and
washers.
2. Remove wheels from wheel adjusters.
3. Remove any trash or grass cuttings
from insidethe dust cover, pinionand/
or ddve wheel gear teeth.
4. Put wheels back in place.
NOTE: If after cleaning,the drivewheels
do not turnfreely, contacta Sears or other
qualifiedservice center.
GEAR CASE
• To keep your drivesystem working
properly,the gear case and area
aroundthe ddve shouldbe kept clean
and free of trash build-up. Clean under
the drivecover twice a season.
• The gear case is filled with lubricantto
the properlevel at the factory. The only
time the lubricantneeds attentionis if
service has been performedon the
gear case.
• If lubricantis required,use onlyTexaco
StarplexPremium1 Grease, Part No.
750369. Do not substitute.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high qualitydetergentoil rated
with API serviceclassification SF-SJ.
Select the oil'sSAE viscositygrade
accordingto your expected operating
temperature.
11EMpERATURE RANGE ANllCIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
NOTE: Althoughmulti-viscosity oils
(5W30, 10W30 etc.) improvestartingin
cold weather,these multi-viscosity oils
will result in increasedoil consumption
when used above 32°1::. C heck your
engine oil level more frequently to avoid
possibleengine damage from running
low on oil.
Change the oil after every 25 hours of
operationor at least once a year if the
lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in
one year.
Check the crankcaseoil level before
startingthe engine and after each five (6)
hours of continuoususa. Tightenoil plug
securelyeach time you check the oil
level.
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