Craftsman 917.378531 Owner's Manual page 17

PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION
Does not start 9. Control bar defective. 9. Replace control bar.
(continued) 1 O, Fuel valve lever (if so 10.Turn fuel valve lever
equipped) in OFF position, to the ON position.
11 ,Weak battery (if equipped). 11. Charge battery.
12.Disconnected battery 12.Connect battery to engine.
connector (if equipped).
Loss of power 1. Set to "Higher Cut"
position,
Poor cut -
uneven
1. Rear of lawn mower
housing or cutting blade
dragging in heavy grass.
2. Cutting too much grass.
3. Dirty airfilter.
4. Buildup of grass, leaves,
and trash under mower.
5. Too much oil in engine.
6. Walking speed too fast.
1. Worn, bent or loose blade.
2. Wheel heights uneven,
3. Buildup of grass, leaves
and trash under mower.
2. Set to "Higher Cut"
position.
3, Clean/replace air filter.
4, Clean underside of mower
housing.
5. Check oil level.
6. Cut at slower walking speed.
1. Replace blade. Tighten
blade bolt.
2. Set all wheels at same
height.
3. Clean underside of
mower housing.
Excessive 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 1. Replace blade, Tighten
vibration blade bolt.
2. Bent engine crankshaft, 2. Contact a Sears or other
qualified service center.
Engine flywheel brake is on
when control bar is released
Bent engine crankshaft.
Blade adapter broken,
Blade dragging in grass,
Starter rope
hard to pull
.
2.
3,
4.
1. Depress control bar to
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.
Grass catcher 1. Cutting height too low. 1. Raise cutting height.
notfilting 2. Lift on blade worn off. 2. Replace blade.
(If so equipped) 3. Catcher not venting air. 3. Clean grass catcher.
Hard to push 1. Raise cutting height.
Loss of drive
or slowing of
drive speed
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
fight for you.
1, Belt wear.
2. Belt off of pulley.
3. Drive cable worn or broken.
4. Dirt in drive pinions.
5. "Loose" ddve control system.
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.
3. Replace drive cable.
4. Clean ddve pinions.
5, Adjust drive control.
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