8E/ALR8 OWNER'S MANUAL MODEL NO. 917.249780 £RAFTSMAN° Caution: Read and follow all Safety Rules and Instruct,ons Before Operating This Equipment 38 INCH MOWER GRASS CATCHER • Assembly • Operation • Customer Responsibilities • Repair Parts Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 U.S.A.
A SAFETY RULES Safe Operation Practices for Ride-On A Mowers _qL IMPORTANT: THIS CU'I-FING MACHINE IS CAPABLE OF AMPUTATING HANDS AND FEETAND THROWING OBJECTS. FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I° GENERAL OPERATION DO NOT: Read, understand, and follow all instructions in the manual and on the machine before starting. Only allow responsible adults, who are familiar with the instructions, to operate the machine.
SAFETY RULES & Safe Operation Practices for Ride-On Be sure the area is clear of other people before mowing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area. Never carry passengers or children even with the blades off. & Look for this symbol to point out important safety precautions. It means CAUTION!!! BECOME ALERT!!! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED, Do not mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary. Always look down and behind before and while backing. Never carry children.
Know Your Grass Catcher READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE ASSEMBLING OR OPERATING YOUR GRASS CATCH ER. Compare the illustrations with the carton contents to familiarize yourself with the parts before starting the assembly. Study the operating instructions and safety precautions thoroughly to insure proper functioning of your Grass Catcher and to prevent injury to yourself and others. Save this manual for future reference.
ASSEMBLY BEFORE YOU START TO ASSEMBLE THE GRASS CATCHER Some tracto r models may need minor modifications before you can mount the grass catcher to the tractor. Look carefully at the mower deck on your tractor and compare the deck mandrel to the illustrations below. If your mower deck mandrel looks like STYLE "A", your tractor is ready - proceed with the grass catcher assembly. If your mower deck mandrel looks like STYLE "B", go to the PREPARATION section in back of this manual.
ASSEMBLY If your tractor does not have four (4) shoulder bolts installed on the drawbar, follow the instructions below. MOWER DECK BAFFLE (See Fig. 1) Use Hardware - - GROUP "A" • Raise your tractor mower deck to its highest position. • Install the hex bolt, and Iocknut through mower deck baffle and tighten securely. Use Hardware - - GROUP "B" Only OReset of hardware in GROUP "B" will be used to mount the rear mounting bracket.
ASSEMBLY MOUNTING (See Fig. 3) Use HardwareTO - TRACTOR - GROUP "C" CONTAINER No hardware ASSEMBLY required (See Fig. 4) NOTE: For ease of assembly, you may wish to obtain the assistance of another person for mounting assembly to tractor. • Place bottom half inside of top half, as shown, • Place one foot inside bottom half and lifttop half to meet bottom half, • Raise seat on tractor to allow assembly to be mounted.
ASSEMBLY CONTAINER MOUNTING (See Fig. 5) No hardware • UPPER CHUTE (See Figs. 7A & 7B) No hardware required required Install one container to left side first with warning to outside of unit. Install other container to right side. • • NOTE: Right container should always overlap left container at center support. • Lower mower deck to its lowest cutting position, Assemble upper chute by inserting curved end intohole in back of cover, NOTE: Handle carefully so as not to damage full bagger indicator.
OPERATION TIPS FOR IMPROVED OPERATION: BAGGING Avoid cutting wet grass or in the morning while the dew is still heavy. Grass clippings collected under these conditions tend to be sticky and adhere to the walls of the flow path causing clogging. Follow the mower operation instructions in your tractor owner's manual. Your bagger is equipped with a full bagger indicator.
CUSTOMER GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES RECOMMENDATIONS CAUTION: Always observe safety rules when performing any maintenance. • Before each use check for loose fasteners. • are tion, which could expose parts or subject to wear, damage moving and deterioraallow objects to be thrown. Frequently check components and replace with manufacturer's recommended parts, when necessary. Clean unit thoroughly after each use. BLADE Grass catcher components CARE For best results mower blades must be kept sharp.
PREPARATION CAUTION: BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH PREPARATION OFTRACTOR: Depress clutch/brake pedal fully and set parking brake. Place gearshift/motion & control lever in neutral (N) position. Place attachment clutch in "DISENGAGED" position. Turn ignition key "OFF" and remove key, Make sure the blade and all moving parts have completely stopped.
PREPARATION DRILL Figs. 4 HOLE (See 10,11 BOLT & 12) PAI"I'ERN On some model tractors, it may be necessary to drill new holes in drawbar for the mounting bracket. To determine if you need to drill holes in your drawbar, closely look at the illustration below. _1-1/8" • Place the drawbar in a vice or similar locking device. • Cut out the 4 hole bolt pattern template from the back of this manual. • Align toE and riht_ • Tape in position. • Mark and drill hole #1 only, using a 11/32" drill bit.
DEFLECTOR TRIM TEMPLATE USE TRIANGLE ABOVE FOR A GUIDE TO TRIMMING YOUR DEFLECTOR SHIELD. CUT OUT SHADED AREA AND PLACE ON INSIDE BOTTOM EDGE OF DEFLECTOR. TRIM DEFLECTOR ALONG DOTTED LINE USING EITHER HEAVY SHEARS OR A HAND SAW. MOWER DECK BAFFLE DRILL TEMPLATE i I I TOP EDGE I t I u 1-1/4"_ USE TEMPLATE ABOVE FOR A GUIDE TO DRILLING YOUR MOWER DECK BAFFLE.CUT OUTSHADED AREA AND ALIGN WITH TOP, AND RIGHT, EDGE OF BAFFLE. DRILL A 13/32" HOLE AT SPECIFIED LOCATION.
USE THIS SLOT TO AID IN POSITIONING TEMPLATE i i I I I /I --,. _- I HOLE #1 ) / / I 1 z ,+ ! i i I J \ 7 _ USE tl/32" I i l / DRILL I BIT 1 .) CUT OUT TEMPLATE. I I I I 2.) ALIGN TOP AND RIGHT EDGE OF TEMPLATE AND DRAWBAR. I I E USE 9/32" DRILL 4.) MARK AND DRILL HOLE #1 I I I 5.) ASSEMBLE MOUNTING BRACKET TO DRAWBAR, USE BRACKET AS TEMPLATE FOR REMAINING HOLES. I Z l ! i i WIRE LOOP HOLE OLD ] I d Brr I -4 n 3.) TAPE IN POSITION.
REPAIR PARTS GRASS CATCHER - MODEL NUMBER 917.
REPAIR PARTS GRASS KEY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 .., 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 PART 72110506 6918O 127533 161312 139569 18021008 130933 87175 19061216 7206J 60867 10071000 109808X 2029J 74930620 19131616 73750600 131970 135651 71161010 132796 133235 132983 DESCRIPTION Screw 5/16-18 x 3/4 Nut, Crownlock #10-24 Screen, Cover Cover Asm.(Incl. 3,38,39) Chute, Upper Screw, Special Full Bagger Indicator Screw, #10-24 x 1- 1/8 Washer 3/16x3/4x16 Ca.
8E /A 8 OWNER'S MANUAL MODEL NO. 917.249780 £RAFTXMAN° 38 INCH MOWER GRASS CATCHER Each grass catcher has its own model number. The Model Number for your grass catcher will be found on the model plate attached to the inside of the mounting bracket. All parts listed herein may be ordered from any Sears, Roebuck and Co. Service Center and most Retail Stores. WHEN ORDERING REPAIR PARTS, ALWAYS GIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: • PRODUCT- GRASS CATCHER • MODEL NUMBER - 917.