Clean Air Screen; Clean Air Intake/Cooling Areas; Muffler; In-Line Fuel Filter - Craftsman 917.273502 Owner's Manual

Service air cleaner more often under
dusty conditions.
1. Loosenknobsand removecover.
TO SERVICEPRE-CLEANER
2. Removefoam pre-cteanerfrom cover.
3. Wash it in liquid detergentand water.
4. Squeeze it dry in a clean cloth. Allow it
to dry.
5. Saturate it in engine oil. Wrap it in
clean, absorbentcloth and squeezeto
removeexcessoil.
TO SERVICEPAPERCARTRIDGE
• Replacea dirty,bent, or damagedcar-
tridge. Handlenew cartridge carefully;
do not use if the rubber seat is dam-
aged.
NOTE: Do not washthe paper cartridge
or use pressurizedair, as this will damage
the cartridge.
1. Carefully removecartridge and gridto
preventdebris from entering carbu-
retor.Clean base carefullyto prevent
debris from enteringcarburetor.
2. Separatethe grid from paper cartridge
and gentlytap pleated side of cartridge
to dislodgedirt. Nevertry to brushoff
dirt; brushing will force dirt into the
fibers of the paper element.
3. Installthe grid overthe paper car-
tridge, then install the assemblyinto
the air cleaner base.The grid mustbe
placed betweenthe foam pre-cleaner
and the paper cartridge to preventoil
from transferringto the paper element.
4. Reinstallthe pre-cleaner(cleanedand
oiled) into the cover.
5. Reinstallair cleanercover and secure
by tighteningknobs.
Pre-Cleaner
ge
CLEAN AIR SCREEN
Air screen must be kept free of dirt and
chaff to prevent engine damage from
overheating. Clean with a wire brush or
compressed air to remove dirt and stub-
born dried gum fibers.
CLEAN AIR INTAKE/COOLING AREAS
To insure proper cooling, make sure the
grass screen, cooling fins, and other exter-
nal surfaces of the engine are kept clean
at all times.
Every 100 hours of operation (more often
under extremely dusty, dirty conditions),
remove the blower housing and other cool-
ing shrouds. Clean the cooling fins and
external surfaces as necessary. Make sure
the cooling shrouds are reinstalled.
NOTE: Operating the engine with a
blocked grass screen, dirty or plugged cool-
ing fins, and/or cooling shrouds removed wilt
cause engine damage due to overheating.
MUFFLER
Inspect and replace corroded muffler and
spark arrester (if equipped) as it could cre-
ate a fire hazard and/or damage.
SPARK PLUG(S)
Replace spark plug(s) 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 "PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS"
section of this manual.
IN-LINE FUEL FILTER
The fuel filter should be replaced once
each season. If fuel filter becomes
clogged, obstructing fuel flow to carbu-
retor, replacement is required.
1. With engine coot, remove filter and
plug fuel line sections.
2. Place new fuel filter in position in fuel
line with arrow pointing towards carbu-
retor.
3. Be sure there are no fuel line leaks
and clamps are properly positioned.
4. Immediately wipe up any spilled gaso-
line.
Air Cleaner
Base
Fuel Filter
21