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Owner's Manual
ICRRFTSMRN'[
4.0 HORSEPOWER
20" REAR DISCHARGE
ROTARY LAWN MOWER
Model No.
917.387258
• Safety
• Assembly
• Operation
• Maintenance
• EspaSol
• Repair Parts
CAUTION:
Read and follow all
Safety RuSesand Instrucuo,os
before operating this equilot_r_ rlE
Sears, Roebuck and Co,, Hoffman Estates,_'lL-'BO'lff_
Visit our Craftsman website: www.sears.com/craftsman
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Warranty ............................................... 2 Product Specifications .......................... 11 Safety Rules ......................................... 2 Service and Adjustments ...................... 14 Assembly .............................................. 4 Storage ................................................. 16 Operation .............................................. 6 Troubleshooting ................................... 17 Maintenance Schedule ........................ 10
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• Check fuel tank before starting engine. • Never cut grass by pulling the mower Do not fill gas tank indoors, when the towards you. Mow across the face of engine is running or when the engine is slopes, never up and down or you hot. Allow the engine to cool for several might lose your footing. Do not mow minutes before filling the gas tank. Clean excessively steep slopes. Use caution off any spilled gasoline before starting when operating the mower on uneven the engine. terrain or when changing
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These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced. They are not shipped with your mower. They are also available at most Sears retail outlets and service centers. Most Sears stores can also 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. LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE CLIPPING DEFLECTOR FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS MULCHER KITS STABILIZER GRASS CATCHERS FOR FOR REAR DISCHARGE i SIDE DISCHARGE
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HOWTO SET UPYOUR LAWN MOWER Operator presence control TO UNFOLD HANDLE Upper handle bar _k pz_ IMPORTANT: Unfold handles carefully so as not to pinch or damage control cables. Lift up ift u /' y • Raise handles until lower handle section locks into place in mowing position. • Remove protective padding, raise upper _, position handle section into place on lower handle and tighten both handle knobs. i Mowing • Remove handle padding holding operator presence control bar to upper handle. Lower handl
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KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER READ THIS OWNER'S MANUALAND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER. Compare the illustrations with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself with the Iqcation of various controls and adiustments. Save this manual for futur_ reference. These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literaturesuppliedwith the product.Leam and understand there meaning. CAUTFON ENGINE ENGINE FAST SLOW CHOKE FUEL OIL DANGER, KEEP HANDS OR WANNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAY Operator presence con
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TO A'n'ACH GRASS CATCHER The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign • Close the lifttop lid. Lift top lid must be objects thrown into the eyes, closed while operating lawn mower. which can result in severe eye damage, • Lift the rear door on the mower housing Always wear safety glasses or eye shields and place the grass catcher frame onto the while operating your lawn mower or formed tabs on the rear door hinge bracket. performing any adjustments or repairs. We recommend a wide vision
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BEFORE STARTING ENGINE Gasoline filler cap OIL Your lawn mower is shipped without oil in the engine. • Be sure mower is level and area around oil fill is clean. • Remove engine oil plug and fill to the top of slot in filler hole. Engine oil plug NOTE: Allow oil to settle down into engine TO START ENGINE for accurate reading. • Engine holds 20 ozs. of oil. For type and • To start a cold engine, push primer grade of oilto use, see "ENGINE in three (3) times before trying to start. Maintenance sect
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MOWING TIPS • If a trail of clippings is left on the right side of a rear discharge mower, mow in • Under certain conditions, such as very a clockwise direction with a small tall grass, it may be necessary to raise overlap to collect the clippings on the the height of cut to reduce pushing next pass. effort and to keep from overloading the • Pores in cloth grass catchers can engine and leaving clumps of grass become filled with dirt and dust with clippings. It may also be necessary to use and ca
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_A F, LL,N D A TES As YOU COMP'ETE TES REGU R SERVICE ">" Check for Loose Fasteners !/ l/ Clean/Inspect Grass Catcher (If Equipped) !/ i_ _ M Clean Lawn Mower (Power-Propelled Mowers) _1 O Clean Under Drive Cover Check drive belt/pulleys E (Power-Propelled Mowers) I_ Check/Sharpen/Replace Blade V' 3 Lubrication Chart I_ I/ Clean Battery/Recharge /Electric Start Mowers / I_ 1_4 E Check Engine Oil Level I/ N Change Engine Oil ll/1.2 G Clean Air Filter ll/ = I Inspect Muffler i/ v' N Clean or Repla
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PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS SERIALNUMBER DATE OF PURCHASE GASOLINE CAPACITY/TYPE: 1.25 QUARTS UNLEADED REGULAR OILTYPE (API-SF/SG/SH): SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F) SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F) 20 OZS. OIL CAPACITY: CHAMPION RJ19LM OR J19LM SPARK PLUG IGAP: .030") VALVE CLEARANCE: INTAKE: .004 - .008 EXHAUST: .004 - .008 SOLID STATE IGNITION AIR GAP: .0125 IN. BLADE BOLT TORQUE: 35-40 FT. LBS. • The model and serial numbers will be found on a decal attached to the rear of the lawn mower housing.Record both serial nu
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IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils treated. (5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils TO SHARPEN BLADE will result in increased oil consumption NOTE: We do not recommend sharpen- when used above 32°F. Check your ing blade - but if you Uo, be sure the blade engine oil level more frequently to avoid is balanced. possible engine damage from running Care should be taken to keep the blade low on oil. balanced. An unbalanced
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MUFFLER AIR FILTER Inspect and replace corroded muffler as it Your engine will not run properly and may could create a fire hazard and/or damage. be damaged by using a dirty air filter. SPARK PLUG Replace the air filter every year, more Change your spark plug each year to make often if you mow in very dusty, dirty your engine starteasier and run better. Set conditions. Do not wash air filter. spark plug gap at .030 inch. TO CHANGE AIR FILTER CLEANING • Remove the air filter by turning counter- I
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_,CAUTION: Before performing any service and adjustments: • Release control bar and stop engine. • Make sure the blade and all moving parts have completely stopped. °_ • Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place where it cannot come in Lower \ contact with plug. handle LAWN MOWER TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT See 'q-O ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT" in the Rotate Operation section of this manual. REAR DEFLECTOR TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCHER The rear deflector, attached between the rear • Put grass catc
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ENGINE SPEED CARBURETOR Your engine speed has been factory set. Your carburetor has a non-adjustable Do not attempt to increase engine speed fixed main jet for mixture control. If your or it may result in personal injury. If you engine does not operate properly due to believe that the engine is running too fast suspected carburetor problems, take your lawn mower to an authorized service or too slow, take your lawn mower to an authorized service center for repair and center for repair and/or adju
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Operator presence control bar Upper Immediately prepare your lawn mower for \ storage at the end of the season or if the unit handle will not be used for 30 days or more. Fold foward LAWN MOWER When lawn mower is to be stored for a period of time, clean it thoroughly, remove all dirt, for sto_._iy _ /_',_ ,,S ) /41_'Fold grease, leaves, etc. Store in a clean, dry area. • Clean entire lawn mower (See "CLEAN- _' "_ / backward ING" in the Maintenance section of this Lower _l o I_ Mowing manual). ha
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ENGINEOIL • Replace your gasoline can if your can starts to rust. Rust and/or dirt in your Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace with gasoline will cause problems. clean engine oil. (See "ENGINE" in the • If possible, store your unit indoors and Maintenance section of this manual), CYLINDER cover it to give protection from dust and dirt. • Remove spark plug. • Cover your unit with a suitable protective cover that does not retain moisture. Do • Pour one ounce (29 ml) of oil through spark plug
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TROUBLESHOOTING CHART PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION Excessive 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 1. Replace blade. Tighten vibration blade bolt. 2. Contact an authorized 2. Bent engine crankshaft. service center, Starter rope hard 1. Engine flywheel brake is on 1. Depress control bar to when control bar is released. to pull upper handle before pulling starter rope. 2. Contact an authorized 2. Bent engine crankshaft. service center. 3. Blade adapter broken. 3. Replace blade adapter. 4. Blade dragging in gr
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ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODEL NU MBER 917.387258 11 43 42 17 43 4O 34 3233 28 37 23 18 57 37 44 4O 32 25 39 36 38 37 43 38 39 43 4O 6O 39
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ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODEL NUMBER 917.387258 KEY PART KEY PART NO. NO. DESCRIPTION NO. NO. DESCRIPTION 43 774OO Hubcap 1 86902 ControlBar 44 85463 DangerDecal 2 165452X479 UpperHandle 45 150406 Hex HeadThread Rolling Screw 3/8-16 x 1 4 132001 RopeGuide 46 170496 Lawn Mower Housing (incl. Key #18, 22, 24, 44, 50) 5 157081)(479 LowerHandle 47 751592 Locknut 3/8-16 7 131959 HandleBolt Front Baffle 50 170489 8 66426 Wire'lie 51 851084 Hex Head Machine Screw 3/8-24 x 1-3/8 (Grd. 8) 9 51793 HairpinCotter
