Assembly/Pre-Operation - Craftsman 944.364780 Owner's Manual

Read these instructions and this manual
in its entirety before you attempt to as-
semble or operate your new lawn mower.
IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped
WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the
engine.
Your new lawn mower has been as sem-
bled at the factory with the exception of
those parts left unassembled for shipping
pur pos es. To ensure safe and proper op-
er a tion of your lawn mower, all parts and
hard ware you assemble must be tight-
ened securely. Use the correct tools as
nec es sary to ensure proper tightness. All
parts such as nuts, wash ers, bolts, etc.,
nec es sary to complete the as sem bly have
been placed in the parts bag.
TO REMOVE MOWER FROM
CARTON
1. Remove loose parts included with
mower.
2. Cut down two end corners of carton
and lay end panel down flat.
3. Remove all packing materials except
padding be tween upper and lower
handle and padding holding operator
presence control bar to upper handle.
4. Roll lawn mower out of carton and
check carton thor ough ly for additional
loose parts.
HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN
MOW ER
TO UNFOLD HANDLE
IMPORTANT: Unfold handle carefully so
as not to pinch or damage con trol cables.
1. Remove protective padding, raise up-
per handle sec tion into place on lower
handle and tighten both handle knobs.
2. Raise handles until they lock into place
in the vertical position.
3. Remove handle padding holding
operator pres ence control bar to upper
handle.
4. Move operator presence control bar
forward to unlock the handle.
5. Lower handle to desired mowing posi-
tion.
Refer to "AD JUST HANDLE" in the Service
and Adjustments section of this manual.
ASSEMBLY / PRE-OPERATION
VERTICAL
POSITION
Handle
knob
LIFT UP
Upper
handle
TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCH ER
1. Put grass catcher frame into grass bag
with rigid part of bag on the bottom.
Make sure the frame handle is outside
of the bag top.
2. Slip vinyl bindings over frame.
NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold
them in warm water for a few minutes. If
bag gets wet, let it dry before using.
Vinyl
bindings
TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS
Your lawn mower was shipped ready to
be used as a mulcher. To convert mower
to bagging or discharging, see "TO CON-
VERT MOWER" in the Operation section
of this manual.
6
Operator presence
control bar
LIFT
UP
Lower
handle
Frame
handle
Frame
opening