Craftsman 917.377810 Owner's Manual page 13

TO SHARPEN BLADE
NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening
blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is
balanced.
Care should be taken to keep the blade
balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause
eventual damage to lawn mower or
engine.
• , The blade can be shaqoeP.ed with a file
or on a gdnding 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 exposed. 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.
GRASS CATCHER
• The grass catcher may be hosed with
water, but must be dry when used.
• Check your grass catcher often for
damage or deterioration. Through
normal use it will wear. If catcher needs
replacing, replace only with a manufac-
tursr approved replacement catcher.
Give the lawn mower model number
when ordering.
DRIVE WHEELS
Check rear drive wheels each time you
mow to be sure they move freely. The
wheels not tuming freely means trash,
grass cuttings,etc., may be inside the
drive wheel and dust cover area and must
be cleaned out to free drive wheels.
If necessary to clean the drive wheels,
check beth rear wheels.
1. Remove hubcaps and Iouknuts.
2. Remove wheels from wheel adjuster
axles.
3. Remove any _.rashor grass cuttings
from inside the dust cover, pinion and/
or drive wheel gear teeth.
4. if you remove the drive pinions, wipe
clean with dry cloth. Reassemble dry.
Do not lubricate. Do not use oil or
grease.
NOTE: The pinion gears, on both sides of
the mower, are the same, howover, they
must be installed o0rrectly. If installed
incorrectly,the ddve system will not work.
5. There are arrows embossed on both
sides of the pinion gear. With the
arrow at the top of the pinion, the
arrow must point towards the front of
the mower. If the arrow points to the
rear of the mower, tam the pinion
around, then assemble to mower.
6. Place wheels back on adjuster axles.
7. Replace Iocknuts and hubcaps.
Incorrect
Wave
pinion\
E-rin
Hubca
Dust
Cover
Washers
Locknut
ENGINE
LUBRICA'RON
usso_y_ c_=_ty d etergent oareted w_h
API servicedassillca_n SF-SJ. Select
oi's SAE viscositygrade aocording to your
expected ope_ temperature.
NOTE: Althoughmul_-vlscosity d is (5W30,
10W30 etc.) improvestarlingin coldwsather,
these rnul_-vlscssRy ois _1 rssuR b
incrassedoi _r_Kq_n whan ussd above
32oE _ youranglne _1 lav_ mors
frsc_r_y to ovoidpossible e ngine damage
from _ low on oi.
Changethe oila_er overy 25 hoursof
opera,on or at leastance a year if the lawn
rnoweris notused for 25 hoursin noe year.
Check 1he_ oillaval beforestar"ng
the ant;ine aed _tar each _e (5) hoursof
cor_xmususs. T _htanoilplugsecurdy
each ifme you checkthe oil level
13