Maintenance; General Recommendations - Craftsman 944.362420 Owner's Manual

TROUBLESHOOTING - See appropriate section in manual unless directed
to a Sears Service Center.
PROBLEM CAUSE
Poor cut – 1. Worn, bent or loose blade.
uneven
2. Wheel heights uneven.
3. Buildup of grass, leaves
and trash under mower.
Excessive 1. Worn, bent or loose blade.
vibration
2. Bent engine crankshaft.
Starter rope 1. Engine flywheel brake is on 1. Depress control bar to
hard to pull when control bar is released.
2. Bent engine crankshaft.
3. Blade adapter broken.
4. Blade dragging in grass.
Grass catcher 1. Cutting height too low.
not filling (if so 2. Lift on blade worn off.
equipped) 3. Catcher not venting air.
Hard to push 1. Grass is too high or wheel
height is too low.
2. Rear of lawn mower
housing or cutting blade
dragging in grass.
3. Grass catcher too full.
4. Handle height position not
right for you.
Loss of drive 1. Belt wear.
or slowing of 2. Belt off of pulley.
drive speed 3. Drive cable worn or broken. 3. Replace drive cable.
4. Dirt in drive pinions.
5. "Loose" drive control system. 5. Adjust drive control.
CORRECTION
1. Replace blade. Tighten
blade bolt.
2. Set all wheels at same
height.
3. Clean underside of
mower housing.
1. Replace blade. Tighten
blade bolt.
2. Contact a Sears or other
qualified service center.
upper handle before
pulling starter rope.
2. Contact a Sears or other
qualified service center.
3. Replace blade adapter.
4. Move lawn mower to cut
grass or to hard surface.
1. Raise cutting height.
2. Replace blade.
3. Clean grass catcher.
1. Raise cutting height.
2. Raise rear of lawn mower
housing one (1) setting
higher.
3. Empty grass catcher.
4. Adjust handle height to
suit.
1. Check/replace drive belt.
2. Check/reinstall drive belt.
4. Clean drive pinions.
18

MAINTENANCE

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

The warranty on this lawn mower does
not cover items that have been subjected
to operator abuse or negligence. To
receive full value from the warranty,
operator must maintain mower as
instructed in this manual.
Some adjustments will need to be made
periodically to properly maintain your
unit.
All adjustments in the Service and
Adjustments section of this manual
should be checked at least once each
season.
• Once a year, replace the spark plug,
replace air filter element and check
blade for wear. A new spark plug and
clean/new air filter element assure
proper air-fuel mixture and help your
engine run better and last longer.
• Follow the maintenance schedule in
this manual.
BEFORE EACH USE
• Check engine oil level.
• Check for loose fasteners.
LUBRICATION
Keep unit well lubricated (See "LUBRI-
CATION CHART").
LUBRICATION CHART
Àÿ
adjuster (on
each wheel)
Á
Engine oil
Àÿ
door hinge pin
Àÿ
Rear door
Àÿ
Handle bracket mounting pins
À
Spray lubricant
Á
See "ENGINE" in Maintenance section.
IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease
plastic wheel bearings. Viscous
lubricants will attract dust and dirt that
will shorten the life of the self-lubricat-
ing bearings. If you feel they must be
lubricated, use only a dry, powdered
graphite type lubricant sparingly.
11
Wheel
Mulcher
hinge