Starting; Storage; Type - Craftsman EZ3 917.377301 Owner's Manual

OPERATION
BEFORE STARTING ENGINE
OIL (See Fig. 9)
Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in the engine.
Be sure mower is level and area around oil flit is clean,
" Remove engine oit cap w/dipstick and fitl to the full tine
on the dipstick.
Use27ozs. of oil. Fortype and grade of oil to use, see
"ENGINE" in Customer Responsibilities section of this
manual.
o Pour oil slowly. Do not over fill.
, Check oi! level before each use. Add oil if needed. FIll
to full line on dipstick.
o To read proper leve!, tighten engine oil cap each time.
Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten.
Cbangethe oil afterevery 25 hours of operation oreach
season. You may need to change the oil more often
under dusty, dirty conditions.
GAS (See Fig, 9)
Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded
gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. Do not mix oil
with gasoline. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be
used within 30 days to assure fuel freshness.
IMPORTANT: WHEN OPERATING IN TEMPERATURES
BELOW32°F(0°C), USE FRESH, CLEAN WINTER GRADE
GASOLINE TO HELP INSURE GOOD COLD WEATHER
STARTING.
WARNmNG: Experience indicates that alcohol blended
Iuels (called gasohoI or using ethanol or methanol) can
attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of
acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel
system of an engine while in storage. To avoid engine
problems, the fuel system should be emptied before stor-
age of 30 days or longer. Drain the fuel tank, start the
engine and let it run until fuel lines and carburetor are
empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instruc-
tions for additional information. Never use engine or
carburetor cleaner products in fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.
TO START ENGmNE
To start a cold engine, push primerfive (5) times before
trying to start. Use a firm push. This step is not usually
necessary when starting an engine which has already
run for a few minutes.
Move engine speed control lever to fast (,f_) position.
o Hold operator presence control bar down to the handle
and pull starter handle quickly. Do not allow starter
rope to snap back.
o To stop engine, release operator presence control bar.
NOTE: In cooler weather it may be necessary to repeat
priming steps. In warmer weather oveS priming may cause
flooding and engine will not start, lf;_!ou do flood engine,
wait a few minutes before attempting to start and do not
repeat priming steps.
GASOLINE FILLER CAP
ENGINE OIL CAP
WIDtPSTICK
F_Go9
MOWING T PS
Under certain conditions, such as very tall grass, it may
be necessary to raise the height of cul to reduce
pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine
and leaving dumps of grass clippings.
- For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut
and raise the rear of the lawn mower housing one (t)
wheel adjuster setting higher than the front for better
discharge of grass.
• For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions,
the engine speed should be set in the fast (@) position.
, When using a rear discharge tawn mower in moist,
heavy grass, clumps of cut grass may not enter the
grass catcher. Reduce ground speed (pushing speed)
and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time.
tf a trai! of grass clippings is teft on the right side of a rear
discharge lawn mower, mow in a clockwise direction
with a small overlap to collect the clippi_gs on Ihe next
pass.
Keep top of engine around starter clear and clean of
grass clippings and chaff. ]"hiswilt help engine airflow
and extend engine life.
Pores in cloth grass catchers can become fitfed with dirt
and dust with use and catchers will collect tess grass.
To prevent this, regularly hose catchers off with water
and Iet dry before using.
10