Maintenance - Craftsman 138.37097 Operator's Manual

WARNING!
When servicing, use only identical
replacement parts. Use of any other parts may create
a hazard or cause product damage.
WARNING!
safety glasses with side shields during power tool
operation or when blowing dust. If operation is dusty,
also wear a dust mask.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts.
Most plastics are susceptible to damage from various
types of commercial solvents and may be damaged
by their use. Use clean cloths to remove dirt, dust, oil,
grease, etc.
WARNING!
Do not at any time let brake fluids,
gasoline, petroleumbased products, penetrating oils,
etc., come in contact with plastic parts. Chemicals
can damage, weaken, or destroy plastic which may
result in serious personal injury.
Periodically check all nuts and bolts for proper
tightness to ensure safe operation of the mower.
Remove any buildup of grass and leaves on or
around the motor cover. Wipe the mower clean with a
dry cloth occasionally. Do not use water.
LUBRICATION
All of the bearings in this product are lubricated with a
sufficient amount of high grade lubricant for the life of
the unit under normal operating conditions. Therefore,
no further bearing lubrication is required.
At the beginning and end of each mowing season:
■ Lubricate the springs on the rear discharge door
with light oil.
■ Lubricate the height adjustment lever and related
hardware with light oil.
■ Remove the wheels and lubricate the surface of the
axle bolt and the inner surface of the wheel with light
oil.
■ Remove the blade and blade hub assembly and
lubricate the motor shaft with light oil or engine oil.
See Replacing the Cutting Blade for instructions on
removing the blade.
WARNING!
Always protect hands by wearing
heavy gloves and/or wrapping the cutting edges of the
blade with rags and other material when performing
blade maintenance. Failure to heed this warning
could result in serious personal injury.

MAINTENANCE

Always wear safety goggles or
WARNING!
maintenance, make sure the mower is unplugged
from the power supply. Failure to heed this warning
could result in serious personal injury.
REPLACING THE CUTTING BLADE
See Figures 15 - 16.
NOTE: Only use identical replacement blades.
■ Stop the motor and disconnect the power supply.
Allow the blade to come to a complete stop.
■ Turn the mower on its side.
■ Wedge a block of wood between the blade and
mower deck to prevent the blade from turning.
■ Loosen the blade nut using a 15 mm wrench or
socket (not provided).
■ Remove the blade nut, spacer, blade insulator, and
blade.
■ M a k e c e r t a i n t h e f a n a s s e m b l y i s p u s h e d
completely against the motor shaft.
■ Place the new blade on the shaft against the fan
assembly. Make sure it is installed with the curved
ends pointing up toward the mower deck and not
down toward the ground.
■ Replace the blade insulator and spacer, then thread
the blade nut on the shaft and finger tighten.
NOTE: Make certain all parts are replaced in the
exact order in which they were removed.
■ Torque the blade nut down using a torque wrench
(not provided) to ensure the bolt is properly tightened.
The recommended torque for the blade nut is 220-
310 in. lbs.
SHARPENING THE BLADE
See Figure 17.
For best mowing performance, the mower blade
must be kept sharp. A dull blade does not cut grass
evenly and overloads the motor. Under normal
circumstances, sharpening the blade twice during the
mowing season is usually sufficient.
However, if your lawn has sandy soil, more frequent
sharpenings may be required.
■ Following the instructions in the Replacing the
Cutting Blade section, remove the mower blade. DO
NOT attempt to sharpen the blade while it is attached
to the mower.
WARNING!
blade carefully. If blade is bent or damaged, replace
immediately with a new blade. Failure to replace
a bent or damaged blade could cause an accident
resulting in possible serious injury.
12 — English
Before performing any
When removing, inspect the