Drive Wheels; Gear Case; To Change Engine Oil - Craftsman 917.378480 Owner's Manual

GRASS CATCHER
° The grass catcher may be hosed with
water, but must be dry when used.
° Check yourgrasscatcheroften fordamage
or deterioration, Through normal use it will
wear. If catcher needs replacing, replace
only with a manufacturer approved replace-
ment catcher. Give the lawn mower model
number when ordering.
DRIVE WHEELS
Check front drive wheels 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, be
sure to clean both front wheels.
1. Remove hubcaps, Iocknuts and wash-
ers.
2. Remove wheels from wheel adjusters.
3. Remove any trash or grass cuttings
from inside the dust cover, pinion and/
or drive wheel gear teeth.
4. Put wheels back in place.
NOTE: If after cleaning, the drive wheels
do not turn freely, contact a Sears or other
qualified service center.
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.
• If lubricant is required, use onlyTexaco
Starplex Premium 1 Grease, Part No.
750369. Do not substitute.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated with
API service classification SF-SJ. Select the
oil's SAE viscosity grade according to your
expected operating temperature.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
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 orat 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.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with spark plug.
2. Remove engine oil cap; 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.
4. Wipe off any spilled oil from lawn
mower or side of engine.
5. Fill engine with oil. The engine oil ca-
pacity is 20 oz. If oil is not completely
drained from engine, you may not need
the entire container of a 20 oz. bottle of
oil. Slowly pour 3/4 of the oil from the
container down the oil fill spout into the
engine.
6. Wait one minute to allow oil to settle.
Insert and tighten dipstick, then re-
move it to check oil level.
7. Continue adding small amounts of
oil and rechecking the dipstick until it
reads full. DO NOT overfill, or engine
will smoke on startup.
8. Always be sure to retighten oil dipstick
before starting engine.
9. Reconnect spark plug wire to spark plug.