Craftsman 944.364701 Owner's Manual page 16

AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly and may
be damaged by using a dirty air filter.
Replace the air filter every 100 hours of
operation or every season, whichever oc-
curs first. Service air cleaner more often
under dusty conditions.
TO CLEAN AIR FILTER ELEMENT
1. Remove cover.
2. Carefully remove foam element.
3. Wash foam element in liquid de ter gent
and water.
4. Wrap foam element in cloth and
squeeze dry.
5. Lightly coat foam element with clean
engine oil. Squeeze in towel to re-
move excess oil. Do not satu rate.
6. Install foam element, then replace
cover.
Tab
Slot
Foam
element
Cover
MUFFLER
Inspect and replace corroded muffler as it
could create a fire hazard and/or dam age.
SPARK PLUG
Replace spark plug at the beginning of
each mowing season or after every 100
hours of operation, whichever occurs
first. Spark plug type and gap setting
are shown in the "PROD UCT SPEC I FI CA-
TIONS" section of this manual.
CLEANING
IMPORTANT: For best performance,
keep mower housing free of built-grass
and trash. Clean the underside of your
mower after each use.
CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire
from spark plug and place wire where it
cannot come in contact with spark plug.
• Clean the underside of your lawn
mower by scraping to remove build-up
of grass and trash.
• Clean engine often to keep trash from
accumulating. A clogged engine runs
hotter and shortens engine life.
• Keep finished surfaces and wheels free
of all gasoline, oil, etc.
• With the exception of the water wash-
out port (if equipped), we do not rec-
ommend using a garden hose to clean
the outside of your lawn mower unless
the elec tri cal system, muffler, air filter
and carburetor are covered to keep
water out. Water in engine can result in
shortened engine life.
CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER
Clean under drive cover at least twice a
season. Scrape underside of cover with
putty knife or similar tool to remove any
build-up of trash or grass on underside of
drive cover.
16
SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS
WARNING: To avoid serious injury,
before performing any service and
adjustments:
1. Release control bar and stop engine.
2. Make sure the blade and all moving
parts have completely stopped.
3. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
LAWN MOWER
TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT
See "TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT" in
the Operation sec tion of this manual.
REAR DEFLECTOR
The rear deflector, attached between the
rear wheels of your mower, is provided to
min i mize the possibility that objects will be
thrown out of the rear of the mower into the
operator's mowing position. Replace the rear
deflector if it becomes dam aged.
TO REMOVE DRIVE BELT
1. Remove screws securing rear baffle.
2. Turn lawn mower on its side with air
filter and car bu re tor up.
3. Remove rear baffle from mower.
4. Disconnect return spring from rear baffle
/ rear gearcase belt keeper.
5. Remove blade bolt, lockwasher, hard-
ened washer and blade.
6. Remove debris shield.
7. Remove gearcase belt keeper.
8. Remove drive belt.
TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT
1. Place new drive belt on gearcase pulley.
NOTE: Always use factory approved belt
to assure proper fit and long life.
2. Reinstall gearcase belt keeper. Be
sure the new drive belt is inside the
tabs of the gearcase belt keeper.
3. Position the blade adapter on the
engine crank shaft. Be sure key in
adapter and crankshaft keyway are
aligned; and that the new drive belt is
inside the tabs of the belt retainer.
4. Reattach return spring to rear baffle /
rear gearcase belt keeper.
5. Place rear baffle in mower housing.
6. Reinstall debris shield.
7. Reinstall blade. The recommended
tightening torque is 35–40 ft. lbs.
(47–54 Nm).
8. Return mower to upright po si tion.
9. Reinstall rear baffle screws.
Gearcase
belt keeper
Rear Return spring
baffle
Gearcase
pulley
Idler pulley
Belt retainer
Debris shield
Hardened washer
Blade
Lockwasher
TO ADJUST HANDLE
Your handle has three (3) height positions
- adjust to a height that suits you.
1. Remove knob and carriage bolt on
one side of the lower handle.
2. While holding handle assembly,
remove knob and car riage bolt from
opposite side, align hole in handle with
desired hole in handle bracket and
reassemble bolt and knob and tighten
securely.
3. Align opposite side of handle with
same positioning hole and secure with
bolt and knob.
Handle Knob Bolt
bracket
Medium
Low
17
Blade
adapter
Blade
bolt
High