Craftsman 944.361170 Owner's Manual page 12

LAWN MOWER
Always observe safety rules when per-
form ing any main te nance.
TIRES
• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect
control chemi cals which can harm rubber.
• Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp
objects and other hazards that may
cause tire damage.
BLADE CARE
For best results, blade must be kept sharp.
Re place a bent or dam aged blade.
CAUTION: Use only a replacement
blade approved by the manufacturer of
your mower. Using a blade not approved
by the manufacturer of your mower is
hazardous, could damage your mower and
void your warranty.
TO REMOVE BLADE
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
2. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make
sure air fi lter and carburetor are up.
3. Use a wood block between blade and
mower hous ing to prevent blade from
turning when re mov ing blade bolt.
NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves
and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.
4. Remove blade bolt by turning counter-
clockwise.
5. Remove blade and attaching hard ware
(bolt, lock wash er, hardened wash er).
NOTE: Remove the blade adapter and
check the key inside hub of blade adapter.
The key must be in good con di tion to work
properly. Replace adapter if damaged.
TO REPLACE BLADE
1. Position the blade adapter on the en-
gine crank shaft. Be sure key in adapter
and crankshaft keyway are aligned.
2. Position blade on the blade adapter
aligning the two (2) holes in the blade
with the raised lugs on the adapter.
3. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (oppo-
site sharp edge) is up toward engine.
4. Install the blade bolt with the lock
washer and hardened washer into
blade adapter and crankshaft.
5. Use block of wood between blade and
lawn mower housing and tighten the
blade bolt, turning clockwise.
• The recommended tightening torque is
35-40 ft. lbs.
IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated.
If bolt needs replacing, replace only with
approved bolt shown in the Repair Parts
section of this manual.
Blade adapter
Key
Lockwasher
Blade
Blade
bolt
Hardened
washer Trailing edge Blade adapter
TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharp en ing
blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is
balanced. Care should be taken to keep the
blade balanced. An un bal anced blade will
cause eventual damage to mower or engine.
• The blade can be sharp ened with a fi le
or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while on the mower.
• To check blade balance, drive a nail into
a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of
the straight nail ex posed. Place center
hole of blade over the head of the nail.
If blade is balanced, it should remain in
a horizontal position. If either end of the
blade moves downward, sharpen the
heavy end until the blade is balanced.
ENGINE
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated with
API service classifi cation SG–SL. Select the
oil's SAE viscosity grade according to your
expected operating temperature.
SAE VISCOSITY GRADES
SAE 30
5W-30
-20 0 30 32 40 60
F
C -30 -20 -10 0 10 20
TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE
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 or at least once a year if the
lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in
one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before
start ing the engine and after each fi ve (5)
hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug
securely each time you check the oil level.
12
Crankshaft TROUBLESHOOTING - See appropriate section in manual unless directed
keyway
to a Sears Service Centre.
PROBLEM
Loss of power
Crank
shaft
Poor cut –
uneven
Excessive
vibration
Starter rope
hard to pull
Grass catcher
not fi lling
(If so equipped)
Hard to push
80 100
30 40
CAUSE CORRECTION
1. Rear of mower housing or 1. Raise cutting height.
blade dragging in grass.
2. Cutting too much grass. 2. Raise cutting height.
3. Dirty air fi lter. 3. Clean/replace air fi lter.
4. Buildup of grass, leaves, 4. Clean underside of mower
and trash under mower.
5. Too much oil in engine. 5. Check oil level.
6. Walking speed too fast. 6. Cut at slower walking speed.
1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 1. Replace blade. Tighten
2. Wheel heights uneven. 2. Set all wheels at same
3. Buildup of grass, leaves 3. Clean underside of
and trash under mower.
1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 1. Replace blade. Tighten
2. Bent engine crankshaft. 2. Contact a Sears or other
1. Engine fl ywheel brake is on 1. Depress control bar to
when control bar is released.
2. Bent engine crankshaft. 2. Contact a Sears or other
3. Blade adapter broken. 3. Replace blade adapter.
4. Blade dragging in grass. 4. Move lawn mower to cut
1. Cutting height too low. 1. Raise cutting height.
2. Lift on blade worn off. 2. Replace blade.
3. Catcher not venting air. 3. Clean grass catcher.
1. Grass is too high or wheel 1. Raise cutting height.
height is too low.
2. Rear of mower housing or 2. Raise rear of mower housing
blade dragging in grass.
3. Grass catcher too full. 3. Empty grass catcher.
4. Handle height position not 4. Adjust handle height to suit.
right for you.
17
housing.
blade bolt.
height.
mower housing.
blade bolt.
qualifi ed service centre.
upper handle before
pulling the starter rope.
qualifi ed service centre.
grass or to hard surface.
one (1) setting higher.