Craftsman Rotary Lawn Mower 917.379120 Owner's Manual page 12

GEAR CASE
• To keep your drive system working
properly, the gear case and area around
the drive should be kept clean and free
of trash build-up. Clean under the drive
cover twice a season.
• The gear case is fi lled with lubricant to
the proper level at the factory. The only
time the lubricant needs attention is if
service has been performed on the gear
case.
• If lubricant is required, use only Elf Mul-
tis EP00. Do not sub sti tute.
ENGINE
Maintenance, repair, or replacement of
the emission control devices and systems,
which are being done at the customers ex-
pense, may be performed by any non-road
engine repair establishment or individual.
Warranty repairs must be performed by an
authorized engine manufacturer's service
outlet.
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated
with API service classifi cation SF-SJ.
Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade
according to your expected operating
temperature.
NOTE: Multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30
etc.) improve starting in cold weather, and
you should check your engine oil level fre-
quently to avoid possible engine damage
from running low on oil.
Change the oil after every 25 hours of op-
eration or at least once a year if the mower
is not used for 25 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before
starting the engine and after each fi ve (5)
hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug
securely each time you check the oil level.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to drain
oil, empty fuel tank by running engine until
fuel tank is empty.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
2. Remove engine oil cap; lay aside on a
clean surface.
3. Tip lawn mower on its side as shown
and drain oil into a suitable container.
Rock lawn mower back and forth to re-
move any oil trapped inside of engine.
4. Wipe off any spilled oil from lawn
mower or side of engine.
5. Fill engine with oil. The engine oil
capacity is 18.5 oz. If oil is not com-
plete ly drained from engine, you may
not need the entire container of a 20
oz. bottle of oil. Slowly pour 3/4 of the
oil from the container down the oil fi ll
spout into the engine.
6. Wait one minute to allow oil to settle.
Use guage on oil fi ll cap/dipstick for
checking level. Insert dipstick into
the tube and rest the oil fi ll cap on the
tube. DO NOT thread the cap into the
tube when taking reading.
7. Continue adding small amounts of
oil and rechecking the dipstick until it
reads full. DO NOT overfi ll, or engine
will smoke on startup.
8. Always be sure to retighten oil dipstick
before starting engine.
9. Reconnect spark plug wire to spark
plug.
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly and may
be damaged by using a dirty air fi lter.
Replace the air fi lter every 100 hours of
operation or every season, whichever oc-
curs fi rst. Service air cleaner more often
under dusty conditions.
TO CLEAN AIR FILTER
1. Remove cover.
2. Carefully remove cartridge.
3. Clean by gently tapping on a fl at sur-
face. If very dirty, replace cartridge.
CAUTION: Petroleum solvents, such
as ker o sene, are not to be used to clean
car tridge. They may cause de te ri o ra tion
of the cartridge. Do not oil car tridge. Do
not use pres sur ized air to clean or dry
car tridge.
4. Install cartridge, then replace cover.
12
Oil fi ller cap/dipstick
Upper
limit
Lower
limit