Owner's Manual; CRAFTSMAN 5.5 HORSEPOWER 21" REAR DISCHARGE ROTARY LAWN MOWER Model No. 917.388270 • • • • Safety Assembly Operation Maintenance • • Espa_ol Repair Parts CAUTION: Read and follow all Safety Rules and Instructions before operating this equipment Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 Visit our Craftsman website: www.sears.
Warranty _ ' Safety Rules Assembly Operation Maintenance Schedule Maintenance LIMITED I'WO YEAR WARRANTY 2 2 4 6 9 9 Product Specifications Service and Adjustments Storage Troubleshooting Repair Parts Parts Ordering ON CRAFTSMAN 10 12 13 15 32 Back Cover POWER MOWER For two years from date of purchase, when this Craftsman Lawn Mower is maintained, lubricated, and tuned up according to the operating and maintenance instructions in the owner's manual, Sears will repair free of charge any defect in mate
Wear only solid shoes with good traction when mowing. • Check fuel tank before starting engine. Do not fill gas tank indoors, when the engine is running or when the engine is hot. Allow the engine to cool for several minutes before filling the gas tank. Clean off any spilled gasoline before starting the engine. • Always make wheel height adjustments before starting your mower. Never attempt to do this while the engine is running. • Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
Theseacce_;sodes wereavailablewhenthis lawnmowerwasproduced.They are also available at most Sears retail outlets and service centers. Most Sears stores can also LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE order repair parts for you, when you provide the model number of your lawn mower. Some of these accessories may not apply to your lawn mower.
HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN MOWER TO UNFOLD HANDLE Operator presence controlbar ; IMPORTANT: Unfold handles carefully so as not to pinch or damage control cables. • Raise handles until lower handle section locks into place in mowing position. • Remove protective padding, raise upper handle section into place on lower handles and tighten both handle knobs. • Remove handle padding holding operator presence control bar to upper handle. • Your lawn mower handle can be adjusted for your mowing comfort.
KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER READ THIS OWNER'S MANUALAND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER. Compare the illustrationswith your lawn mower to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments, Save this manual for future reference. These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the product, Learn and understand their meaning.
Theoperation ofanylawnmowercan resultin foreign objects thrown intothe eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your lawn mower or performing any adjustments or repairs. We recommend a wide vision safety mask over spectacles or standard safety glasses. HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower witli_outchppmg deflector or approved grass catehar in place.
WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blanded fuels (called gasoho_or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which loads 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 storage of 30 days or longer. Drain the fuel tank, start the engine and lot it run until fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE _.,_. _._.._._ _O_._,_ ,sYOO BEGusE.v,c .
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS MODEL NUMBER 917.388270 SERIAL NUMBER DATE OF PURCHASE HORSEPOWER: 5.5 GASOLINE 1.5 QUARTS CAPACITY/TYPE: UNLEADED OIL TYPE (API-SF/SG/SH): REGULAR SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F) SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F) OIL CAPACITY: SPARK PLUG(GAP: 20 OZS. .030") CHAMPION VALVE CLEARANCE: RJ19LM OR J19LM INTAKE: .004 - .008 EXHAUST: .004 - .008 SOLID STATE IGNITION AIR GAP: .0125 IN. BLADE BOLT TORQUE: 35-40 FT.
TO SJHARPEN BLADE NOT_: 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 sharpened with a file or on a grinding 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.
• Cleanthe inside of the cover and the collar to remove any dirt accumutation. • Insert new filter into cover. • Put air filter cover and filter into collar aligning the tab with the slot. • Push in on cover and turn clockwise to tighten. Clip Tum counter-remove Slot Air filter cover to tighten MUFFLER Inspect and replace corroded muffler as it could create afire hazard and/or damage. SPARK PLUG Change your spark plug each year to make your engine start easier and run better. Set spark plug gap at .
ENGINE CARBURETOR Your carburetor has a non-adjustable fixed main jet for mixture control. If your engine does not operate property due to suspected carburetor problems, take your lawn mower to an authorized service canter for repair or adjustment. IMPORTANT: Never tamper with the engine governor, which is factory set for proper engine speed. Overspeeding the engine above the factory high speed setting can be dangerous.
ENGINE OIL Drain oil (with engine warm) and,re...place with dean engine oil. (See ENGINE in the Maintenance section of this manual). CYLINDER • Remove spark plug. Pour one ounce (29 ml) of oil through spark plug hote into cylinder. • Pull starter handle slowly a few times to distribute oil. • Replace with new spark plug. OTHER • Do not store gasoline from one season to another. • Replace your gasoline can if your can starts to rust. Rust and/or dirt in your gasoline w111 cause problems.
FROUBLESHOOTINGCHART PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION Does n_start • _airfi_ • Out of fcel. • Stale fuel. • Clean/rsplace air filter. • Fill fuel tank. • Draintankand refill with freshcleanfuel. • Drainfueltankand carburetor and refill tank withfreshgasoline. • Connect wire to plug. • Water in fuel. • Spark plug wire is disconnected. • Bed spark plug. • Loose blade or broken blade adapter. • Control bar in released pos'_ion. • Control bar defective.
For in-home major brand repair service: Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 1-800-4-MY-Home s" (1-800-469-4663) Para pedir servicio de reparacibn a domicilio 1-800-676-5811 In Canada for all your service and parts needs call Au Canada pour tout le service ou les pibces 1-800-885-4455 For the repair or replacement parts you need: Call 6 am-11pm CST, 7 days a week PartsDirect 1-800-366-PART sM (1-800-366-7278) Para ordenar piezas con entrega a domicilio 1-800-659-7084 For the location of a Sears Parts and
