Craftsman 917.377544 Owner's Manual
Owner's Manual CRnFTSMnN 6.5 HORSEPOWER! 22" REAR DISCH_ POWER PROPELLED ROTARY LAWN MQ_/_E_ Model No. 917.377544 ⢠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.com/craffsman
Warranty 2 Product Specifications 11 Safety Rules 2 Service and Adjustments 14 Assembly 4 Storage 16 Operation 6 Troubleshooting 17 Maintenance Schedule 10 Repair Parts 37 Maintenance 10 Parts Ordering Back Cover LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN 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 material or workmanship. If this Craftsman Lawn Mower is used for commercial or rental purposes, this warranty applies for only 90 days from the date of purchase. This Warranty does not cover: ⢠Expendable items which become worn during normal use, such as rotary mower blades, blade adapters, belts, air cleaners and spark plug. ⢠Repairs necessary because of operator abuse or negligence, including bent crank- shafts and the failure to maintain the equipment according to the instructions con- tained in the owner's manual. Warranty service is available by returning the Craftsman power mower to the nearest Sears Service Center/Department in the United States. This warranty applies only while this product is in use in the United States. This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO., D/817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179 Safety standards require operator presence controls to minimize the risk of injury. Your unit is equipped with such controls. Do not attempt to defeat the function of the operator presence controls under any circumstances. TRAINING: ⢠Read this operator's manual carefully, Become familiar with the controls and know how to operate your mower properly. Learn how to quickly stop mower. ⢠Do not allow children to use your mower. Never allow adults to use mower without proper instructions. ⢠Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, especially small children and pets. ⢠Use mower only as the manufacturer intended and as described in this manual. ⢠Do not operate mower if it has been dropped or damaged in any manner. Always have damage repaired before using your mower. ⢠Do not use accessory attachments that are not recommended by the manufac- turer. Use of such attachments may be hazardous. ⢠The blade turns when the engine is running. PREPARATION: ⢠Always thoroughly check the area to be mowed and clear it of all stones, sticks, wires, bones, and other foreign objects. These objects will be thrown by the blade and can cause severe injury. ⢠Always wear safety glasses or eye shields when starting and while using your mower. Dress properly. Do not operate mower when barefoot or wearing open sandals. 2
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. OPERATION: ⢠Keep your eyes and mind on your mower and the area being cut. Do not let other interests distract you. ⢠Do not mow wet or slippery grass. Never run while operating your mower. Always be sure of your footing -- keep a firm hold on the handles and walk. ⢠Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts. Keep clear of the dis- charge opening at all times. ⢠Always stop the engine whenever you leave or are not using your mower, or before crossing driveways, walks, roads, and any gravel-covered areas. ⢠Never direct discharge of material toward bystanders nor allow anyone near the mower while you are operating it. ⢠Before cleaning, inspecting, or repairing your mower, stop the engine and make absolutely sure the blade and all moving parts have stopped. Then disconnect the spark plug wire and keep it away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting. ⢠Do not continue to run your mower if you hit a foreign object. Follow the procedure outlined above, then repair any damage before restarting and operating you mower. ⢠Do not change the governor settings or overspeed the engine. Engine damage or personal injury may result. ⢠Do not operate your mower if it vibrates abnormally. Excessive vibration is an indication of damage; stop the engine, safely check for the cause of vibration and repair as required. ⢠Do not run the engine indoors. Exhaust fumes are dangerous. ⢠Never cut grass by pulling the mower towards you. Mow across the face of slopes, never up and down or you might lose your footing. Do not mow excessively steep slopes. Use caution when operating the mower on uneven terrain or when changing directions maintain good footing. ⢠Never operate your mower without proper guards, plates, grass catcher or other safety devices in place. MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE: ⢠Check the blade and the engine mounting bolts often to be sure they are tightened properly. ⢠Check all bolts, nuts and screws at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure mower is in safe working condition. ⢠Keep all safety devices in place and working. ⢠To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, leaves or excessive grease and oil. ⢠Check grass catcher often for detedora- tion and wear and replace worn bags. Use only replacement bags that are recommended by and comply with specifications of the manufacturer of your mower. ⢠Always keep a sharp blade on your mower. ⢠Allow engine to cool before storing in any enclosure. ⢠Never store mower with fuel in the tank inside a building where fumes may reach an open flame or an ignition source such as a hot water heater, space heater, clothes dryer, etc. ALook for this symbol to point out important safety precautions. It means CAUTION!!! BECOMEALERT!!! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED. _I, CAUTION: Always disconnect spark plug wire and place wire where it cannot contact spark plug in order to prevent accidental starting when setting up, transporting, adjusting or making repairs. _<_WARNING The engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. 3
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 Seam 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 GRASS CATCHERS FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE MULCHER KITS GRASS CATCHERS FOR SIDE DISCHARGE I LAWN MOWERS MUFFLERS BELTS BLADES BLADE ADAPTERS AIR FILTERS WHEELS STABILIZER GAS CANS SPARK PLUGS ENGINE OIL Read these instructions and this manual in its entirety before you attempt to assemble or operate your new lawn mower. IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine. Your new lawn mower has been assembled at the factory with the exception of those pads left unassembled for shipping purposes. All parts such as nuts, washers, belts, etc., necessary to complete the assembly have been placed in the parts bag. To ensure safe and proper operation of your lawn mower, all parts and hardware you assemble must be tightened securely. Use the correct tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness. TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM CARTON ⢠Remove loose parts included with mower. ⢠Cut down two end comers of carton and lay end panel down flat. ⢠Remove all packing materials except padding between upper and lower handle and padding holding operator presence control bar to upper handle. ⢠Roll lawn mower out of carton and check carton thoroughly for additional loose parts. 4
HOWTO SET UPYOUR LAWN MOWER TO UNFOLD HANDLE 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 handle 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. Refer to "Adjust Handle" in the Service and Adjustment section of this manual. Operator presence control bar Upper handle Lift up up TO INSTALL ATrACHMENTS Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a mulcher. To convert to bagging or discharging: ⢠Open rear door and remove mulcher plug. Store mulcher plug in a safe place. ⢠You can now install catcher or optional clipping deflector. ⢠To return to mulching operation, install mulcher plug into discharge opening of mower. Be sure all tabs are seated pmpedy. Mulcher pluc Lower handle Mowing position _,CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without mulcher plug in place or approved clipping deflector or grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear door removed or propped open. 5
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 location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future reference. symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the product. Learn and understand them meaning. A I"o,I CAUTION ENGINE ENGINE FAST SLOW CHOKE FUEL OIL DANGER, KEEP HANDS OR WARNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAY Engine zone control cable -_ Operator presence control bar Drive control lever Starter handle Grass catcher Handle knob Mulcher plug Gasoline cap Primer Housing Engine oil cap w/ dipstick IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine. Wheel adjuster (on each wheel) MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conform to the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The blade turns when the engine is running. Operator presence control bar - must be held down to the handle to start the engine. Release to stop the engine. Primer - pumps additional fuel from the carburetor to the cylinder for use when starting a cold engine. Starter handle - used for starting the engine. Drive control lever - used to engage power- propelled forward motion of lawn mower. Mulcher plug - must be removed to convert to bagging or discharging operation. 6
The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects thrown into the 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 ENGINE SPEED The engine speed was set at the factory for optimum performance. Speed is not adjustable. ENGINE ZONE CONTROL _,CAUTION- Federal regulations require an engine control to be installed on this Hinge lawn mower in order to minimize the risk of blade contact injury. Do not under any circumstances attempt to defeat the function of the operator control. The blade turns when the engine is running. ⢠Your lawn mower is equipped with an operator presence control bar which requires the operator to be positioned Formed behind the lawn mower handle to start tabs and operate the lawn mower. TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT ⢠Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for high cut. ⢠Adjust cutting height to suit your requirements. Medium position is best for most lawns. ⢠To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster lever toward wheel. Move wheel up or down to suit your require- ments. Be sure all wheels are in the same setting. NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned when plate tab inserts into hole in lever. Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever to be positioned between the plate tabs. Plate Tab Lower Wheels for High Cut_ .o or Raise Wheels for Low Cut TO A'I'rACH GRASS CATCHER ⢠Close the lift top lid. Lift top lid must be closed while operating lawn mower. ⢠Lift the rear door on the mower housing and peace the grass catcher frame onto the formed tabs on the rear door hinge bracket. ⢠The grass catcher is secured to the lawn mower housing when the rear door is lowered onto the grass catcher frame. ACAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without clipping deflector or approved grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear door removed or propped open. Rear door Grass catcher frame TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER ⢠To remove grass catcher, release operator presence control bar to stop engine. ⢠Lift up rear door and remove the grass catcher by the handle. NOTE: Do not drag the bag when emptying; it will cause unnecessary wear. 7
DRIVE CONTROL ⢠Self-propelling is controlled by holding the operator presence control bar down to the handle and pushing the drive control lever forward until it clicks; then release the lever. ⢠Forward motion will stop when the operator presence control bar is released. To stop forward motion without stopping engine, release the operator presence control bar slightly until the drive control disengages. Hold operator presence control bar down to handle to continue mowing without self- propelling. ⢠To keep drive control engaged when turning corners, push down on handle and lift front wheels off ground while turning lawn mower. Operator presence control bar Drive "_ control To engage drive Drive control control disengaged BEFORE STARTING ENGINE 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 cap and fill to the full line on the dipstick. NOTE: Allow oil to settle down into engine for accurate dipstick reading. ⢠Engine holds 20 ozs. of oil. For type and grade of oil to use, see "ENGINE" in Maintenance section of this manual. ⢠Pour oil slowly. Do not over fill. ⢠Check oil level before each use. Add oil if needed. Fill to full line on dipstick. ⢠To read proper level, tighten engine oil cap each time. ⢠Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten. ⢠Change the oil alter every 25 hours of operation or each season. You may need to change the oil more often under dusty, dirty conditions. ADD GASOLINE ⢠Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. Do not mix oil viith gasoline. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30 days to assure fuel freshness. AWARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads 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 gas tank, start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instructions for additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur, ACAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank filler neck. Do not overfill. Wipe off any spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline near an open flame. Engine oil cap Gasoline filler cap TO START ENGINE ⢠To start a cold engine, push primer five (5) times before trying to start. Use a firm push. This step is not usually necessary when starting an engine which has already run for a few minutes. ⢠Hold operator presence control bar down to the handle and pull starter handle quickly. Do not allow starter rope to snap back. ⢠To stop engine, release operator presence control bar. NOTE: In cooler weather it may be necessary to repeat priming steps. In warmer weather over priming may cause flooding and engine will not start. If you do flood engine, wait a few minutes before attempting to start and do not repeat priming steps. 8
MOWING TIPS ⢠Under certain conditions, such as very tall grass, it may be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving clumps of grass clippings it may also be necessary to reduce ground speed and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time. ⢠For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly. ⢠For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions, the engine speed should be set in the fast position. ⢠When using a rear discharge lawn mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps of cut grass may not enter the grass catcher. Reduce ground speed (push- ing speed) and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time. ⢠If a trail of clippings is left on the right side of a rear discharge mower, mow in a clockwise direction with a small overlap to collect the clippings on the next pass. ⢠Pores in cloth grass catchers can become filled with dirt and dust with use and catchers will collect less grass. To prevent this, regularly hose catcher off with water and let dry before using. ⢠Keep top of engine around starter clear and clean of grass clippings and chaff. This will help engine air flow and extend engine life. MULCHING MOWING TIPS IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep mower housing free of built-up grass and trash See "Cleaning" in Maintenance section of this manual ⢠The special mulching blade will recut the grass clippings many times and reduce them in size so that as they fall onto the lawn they will disperse into the grass and not be noticed Also, the mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best recutting action of the blades ⢠Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet Wet grass tends to form clumps and interferes with the mulching action The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon At this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area will not be eN:_sed to the direct sun. ⢠For best results, adjust the lawn mower cutting height so that the lawn mower cuts off only the top one-third of the grass blades. If the lawn is overgrown it will be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving clumps of mulched grass For extremely heavy mulching, reduce your width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly. ⢠Certain types of grass and grass condi- tions may require that an area be mulched a second time to completely hide the clippings When doing a second cut, mow across or perpendicular to the first cut path ⢠Change your cutting pattem from week to week. Mow north to south one week then change to east to west the next week. This will help prevent matting and graining of the lawn 9
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FILL IN DATES AS YOU COMPLETE REGULAR SERVICE Check for Loose Fasteners I_ "Ik/ ClaarYlnspect Grass Catcher (If Equipped) _ _ _' a Clean Lawn Mower Clean Under Drive Cover W {Power-Propelled Mowers) !/ Check drive belt/pulleys (Power-Propelled Mowers) I_ R Check/Sharpen/Replace Blade 1_3 Lubrication Chart I/ Clean Battery/Recharge IElectric Start Mowers / I_ / I/'4 E Check En_]ine Oil Level !# # Change Engine Oil q_1,2 GI Clean Air Filter _ 2 Inspect Muffler N Clean or Replace Spark Plug Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge I/'2 3ERVICE DATES 1 - Change more often when operating under a heavy load or In high ambient temperatures. 2 - Service more often when operating In dirty or dusty co_ditions. 3 - Replace blades more often when mowing In sandy soil. 4 - Charge 48 hours at end of season. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS The warranty on this lawn mower does not cover items that have been subjected to operator abuse or negligence, To receive full value from the warranty, operator must maintain mower as instructed in this manual. Some adjustments will need to be made periodically to properly maintain your unit. All adjustments in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual should be checked at least once each season. ⢠Once a year, replace the spark plug, replace air filter element and check blade for wear. A new spark plug and clean/new air filter element assures proper air-fuel mixture and helps your engine run better and last longer. ⢠Follow the maintenance schedule in this manual. BEFORE EACH USE ⢠Check engine oil level. ⢠Check for loose fasteners. LUBRICATION Keep unit well lubricated (See "LUBRICA- TION CHART"). LUBRICATION CHART (_ Wheel adjuster (_) Engine oil (_Handle bracket mounting pin (_ Spray lubricant Refer to Maintenance "ENGINE" SeCtion. (_) Brake spring bracket (_ Rear door hinge IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease plastic wheel bearings. Viscous lubricants will attract dust and dirt that will shorten the life of the self lubricating beadngs. If you feel they must be lubricated, use only a dry, powdered graphite lOl,/!_ lubdcant s_adngly.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS i MODEL NUMBER SERIAL NUMBER DATE OF PURCHASE GASOLINE CAPACITY/TYPE: OIL TYPE (API-SF/SG/SH): OIL CAPACITY: SPARK PLUG (GAP: .030") VALVE CLEARANCE: 917.377544 1.25 QUARTS UNLEADED REGULAR SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F) SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F) 20 OZS CHAMPION RJ19LM OR J19LM 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 number and date of purchase in space provided above. LAWN MOWER Always observe safety rules when performing any maintenance. TIRES ⢠Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect control chemicals which can harm rubber. ⢠Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp objects and other hazards that may cause tire damage. BLADE CARE For best results, mower blade must be kept sharp. Replace bent or damaged blades. TO REMOVE BLADE ⢠Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with spark plug. ⢠Turn lawn mower on its side. Make sure air filter and carburetor are up. ⢠Use a wood block between blade and mower housing to prevent blade from turning when removing blade bolt. ⢠Protect your hands with gloves and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth. ⢠Remove blade bolt by turning counter- clockwise. ⢠Remove blade and attaching hardware (bolt, lock washer and hardened washer). NOTE: Remove the blade adapter and check the key inside hub of blade adapter. The key must be in good condition to work properly. Replace adapter if damaged. TO REPLACE BLADE ⢠Position the blade adapter on the engine crankshaft. Be sure key in adapter and crankshaft keyway are aligned. ⢠Position blade on the blade adapter aligning the two (2) holes in the blade with the raised lugs on the adapter. ⢠Be sure the trailing edge of blade (opposite sharp edge) is up toward the engine. ⢠Install the blade bolt with the lock washer and hardened washer into blade adapter and crankshaft. ⢠Use block of wood between blade and lawn mower housing and tighten the blade bolt, turning clockwise. ⢠The recommended tightening torque is 35-40 ft. Ibs. 11
IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat treated. TO SHARPEN BLADE NOTE: We do not recommend sharpen- ing 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. 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. Crank shaft Blade _ _ keyway adapter _/_F_F'_ Koy Blade _ _ _-- Lock k Tramn Blade washer Hardened edge adapter washer 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 manufacturer approved replacement catcher. Give the lawn mower model number when ordering. DRIVE WHEELS Check front drive wheels each time before you mow to be sure they move freely. The wheels not turning freely means trash, grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive wheel area and must be cleaned to free drive wheels. If necessary to clean the drive wheels, check both front wheels. ⢠Remove hubcaps, hairpin cotters and washers. ⢠Remove wheels from wheel adjusters. ⢠Remove any trash or grass cuttings from inside the dust cover, pinion and/ or drive wheel gear teeth. ⢠Put wheels back in place. ⢠If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not turn freely, contact your nearest authorized service center. 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 filled 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 Texaco Starplex Premium 1 Grease, Part No. 750369. Do not substitute. ENGINE LUBRICATION Use only high quality detergent oil rated with API service classification SF, SG or SH. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade ac)cording to your expected operating temperature. SAE VISCOSITY GRADES _0, .20* .10, I0 ⢠20- 30, TEMPERATURE RANG_ ANTICIPATEO BEFORE N EXT O_L CHANGE NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils will result in increased oil consumption when used above 32°1=, Check your engine oil level more frequently to avoid possible engine damage from running low on oil. Change the oil after every 25 hours of operation or at least once a year if the lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in one year. Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine and after each five (5) hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug securely each time you check the oil level. 12
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to drain oil, drain fuel tank by running engine until fuel tank is empty. ⢠Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with spark plug. ⢠Remove engine oil cap; lay aside on a clean surface. ⢠Tip lawn mower on its side as shown and drain oil into a suitable container. Rock lawn mower back and forth to remove any oil trapped inside of engine. ⢠Wipe off any spilled oil on lawn mower and on side of engine. ⢠Fill engine with oil. Fill only to the "FULL" line on the dipstick. DO NOT overfill. ⢠Replace engine oil cap. ⢠Reconnect spark plug wire to spark plug. Container AIR FILTER Your engine will not run properly and may be damaged by using a dirty air filter. Replace the air filter every year, more often if you mow in very dusty, dirty conditions. Do not wash air filter. TO CHANGE AIR FILTER ⢠Remove the air filter by turning clock- wise to the stop and pull away from collar. ⢠Remove filter from inside of cover. ⢠Clean the inside of the cover and the collar to remove any dirt accumulation. ⢠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 counterclock- wise to tighten. Collar MUFFLER Inspect and replace corroded muffler as it could create a fire 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 .030 inch. CLEANING IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. Clean the underside of your mower after each use. *q, CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with the spark plug. ⢠Turn lawn mower on its side. Make sure air filter and carburetor are up. Clean the underside of your lawn mower by scraping to remove build-up of grass and trash. ⢠Clean engine often to keep trash from accumulating. A clogged engine runs hotter and shortens engine life. ⢠Keep finished surfaces and wheels free of all gasoline, oil,etc. ⢠We de not recommend using a garden hose to clean lawn mower unless the electrical system, muffler, air filter and carburetor are covered to keep water out. Water in engine can result in shortened engine life. CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER Clean under drive cover at least twice a season. Scrape underside of cover with putty knife or similar tool to remove any build-up of trash or grass on underside of dnve cover. Slot Air Filter Clockwise to Remove Turn Tab Counter- Air Filter Clockwise to Cover Tighten 13
_kCAUTION: 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 contact with plug. LAWN MOWER TO ADJUST CUTrlNG HEIGHT See "TO ADJUST CUI-I-ING HEIGHT" in the Operation section of this manual. REAR DEFLECTOR The rear deflector, attached between the rear wheels of your lawn mower, is provided to minimize the possibility that objects will be thrown out the rear of the lawn mower into the operator's mowing position. If the rear deflector becomes damaged, it should be replaced. TO REMOVE/REPLACE DRIVE BELT ⢠Remove drive cover. Remove belt by pushing down on gear case pulley and roll be_off. â¢Tum lawn mower on its side with carbure- tor and fuel cap up. ⢠Remove blade. ⢠Remove debris shield. ⢠Remove belt from engine pulley on crankshaft. ⢠Install new belt by reversing above steps. ⢠Always use factory approved belt to assure fit and long life. TO ADJUST HANDLE The handle can be mounted in a high or low position. The mounting holes in the bottom of lower handle are off center for raising or lowering the handle. ⢠Remove upper handle and all parts attached to lower handle. ⢠Remove hairpin cotters from lower handle bracket mounting pin. ⢠Squeeze lower handle in to remove it from mounting pins. ⢠Turn lower handle over to raise or lower handle. ⢠Squeeze lower handle in and position holes onto mounting pins on handle bracket. ⢠Reassemble upper handle and all parts removed from lower handle. Mowing Mowing position "" "" ,_ -', position ,_-_' I i i i _-_) L-.., J I i Low position High position Drive cover Belt Push down Â¥ Rotate Lower handle 14
ENGINE SPEED Your engine speed has been factory set. Do not attempt to increase engine speed or it may result in personal injury. If you believe that the engine is running too fast or too slow, take your lawn mower to an authorized service center for repair and adjustment. CARBURETOR Your carburetor has a non-adjustable fixed main jet for mixture control. If your engine does not operate properly due to suspected carburetor problems, take your ⢠lawn mower to an authorized service center for repair and/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, if you think the engine-governed high speed needs adjusting, contact your nearest authorized service center, which has proper equipment and experience to make any necessary adjustments. TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCHER ⢠Insert leg of tubular frame through front opening of grass catcher and thread frame into sewn hem of bag. NOTE: Keep bag hem gathered on the straight leg of the tubular frame. ⢠When frame comes out the other end of sewn hem, immediately work the end of frame down inside the bag as shown in inset. ⢠Slide sewn hem evenly around the tubular frame until both ends of frame are exposed out of the front opening. ⢠Assemble lower frame to tubular frame as shown. Be sure handle is outside of bag and frames are fully seated as shown in inset. ⢠Slip vinyl bindings over frame. NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold them in warm water for a few minutes. If bag gets wet, let it dry before using. ⢠Close the flip lid. Flip lid must be closed while operating lawn mower. ⢠(:_CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without clipping deflector or approved grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear door removed or propped open. Sewn Tubular frame hem _ \ Sewn hem Flip lid Lower frame Tubular frame (Frames must be fully seated) Lower frame handle 15
Immediately prepare your lawn mower for storage at the end of the season or if the unit will not be used for 30 days or more. LAWNMOWER When lawn mower is to be stored for a period of time, clean it thoroughly, remove all dirt, grease, leaves, etc. Store in a clean, dry area. ⢠Clean entire lawn mower (See "CLEAN- ING" in the Maintenance section of this manual). ⢠Lubricate as shown in the Maintenance section of this manual. ⢠Be sure that all nuts, bolts, screws, and pins are securely fastened. Inspect moving parts for damage, breakage and wear. Replace if necessary. ⢠Touch up all rusted or chipped paint surfaces; sand lightly before painting. HANDLE You can fold your lawn mower handle for storage. ⢠Squeeze the bottom ends of the lower handle toward each other until the lower handle clears the handle bracket, then move handle forward. ⢠Loosen upper handle mounting bolts enough to allow upper handle to be folded back. IMPORTANT: When folding the handle for storage or transporta'don, be sure to fold the handle as shown or you any damage the control cables. ⢠When setting up your handle from the storage position, the lower handle will automatically lock into the mowing position. Lower handle Handle Squeeze to fold bracket Hairpin cotter Operator presence control bar Upper ._/._ handle Fold foward .,_ //.,p_'_:. for storage f/ /? /_) .//' ,,- Lower _,, _ //;/ handle _ _ = ./;._. _:.';,_/I _,_÷, =..':" \_ _,'v/, Fold .ow,o0 JJ position ENGINE FUELSYSTEM IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent gum deposits from forming in essential fuel system parts such as carburetor, f fuel filter, fuel hose or tank during storage. Also, experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels ( called gasehol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an engine while in storage. ⢠Drain the fuel tank. ⢠Start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. ⢠Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur. ⢠Use fresh fuel next season. NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable altemative in minimizing the formation of fuel gum deposits during storage. Add stabilizer. to gasoline in fuel tank or storage container. Always follow the mix ratio found on stabilizer container. Run engine at least 10 minutes after adding stabilizer to allow the stabilizer to reach the carburetor. Do not drain the gas tank and carburetor if using fuel stabilizer. ENGINEOIL Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace with clean engine oil. (See "ENGINE" in the Maintenance section of this manual). 16
CYLINDER ⢠Remove spark plug. ⢠Pour one ounce (29 ml) of oil through spark plug hole 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 will cause problems. ⢠If possible, store your unit indoors and cOver it to give protection from dust and dirt. ⢠Cover your unit with a suitable protective cover that does not retain moisture. Do not use plastic. Plastic cannot breathe which allows condensation to form and will cause your unit to rust. IMPORTANT: Never cover mower while engine and exhaust areas are still warm. _I, CAUTION: Never store the lawn mower with gasoline in the tank inside a building where fumes may reach an open flame or spark. Allow the engine to cool before storing in any enclosure. PROBLEM Does not start TROUBLESHOOTING CHART CAUSE 1. Dirty air filter. 2. Out of fuel. 3. Stale fuel. Loss of power Poorcut-uneven 4. Water in fuel. 5. Spark plug wire is disconnected. 6. Bad spark plug. 7. Loose blade or broken blade adapter. 8. Control bar in released position. 9. Control bar defective. 1. Rear of lawn mower housing or cutting blade dragging in heavy grass. 2. Cutting too much grass. 3. Dirty air filter. 4. Buildup of grass, leaves, and trash under mower. 5. Too much oil in engine. 6. Walking speed too fast. 1. Wom, bent or loose blade. 2. Wheel heights uneven. 3. Buildup of grass, leaves and trash under mower. CORRECTION 1. Clean/replace air filter. 2. Fill fuel tank. 3. Drain tank and refill with fresh clean fuel. 4. Drain fuel tank and carburetor and refill tank with fresh gasoline. 5. Connect wire to plug. 6. Replace spark plug. 7. Tighten blade bolt or replace blade adapter. 8. Depress control bar to handle. 9. Replace control bar. 1. Set to "Higher Cut" position. 2. Set to "Higher Cut" position. 3. Clea_n/replace air filter. 4. Clean underside of mower housing. 5. Check oil level. 6. Cut at slower walking speed. 1. Replace blade. Gghten blade bolt. 2. Set all wheels at same height 3. Clean underside of mower housing. 17
TROUBLESHOOTING CHART PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION Excessive vibration Starter rope hard to pull Loss of drive Grass catcher not filling (if so equipped) Hard to push 1. Wom, bent or loose blade. 2. Bent engine crankshaft. 1. Engine flywheel brake is on when control bar is released. 2. Bent engine crankshaft. 3. Blade adapter broken. 4. Blade dragging in grass. 1. Drive wheels not turning with drive control engaged. 2. Belt not driving 1. Cutting height too low. 2. Lift on blade wom oft. 3. Catcher not venting air. 1. Grass is too high or wheel height is too low. 2. Rear of lawn mower housing or blade dragging in grass. 3. Grass catcher too full. 4. Handle height position not right for you. 1. Replace blade. 13ghten blade belt. 2. Contact an authorized service center. 1. Depress control bar to upper handle before pulling starter rope, 2. Contact an authorized se_ce center. 3. Replace blade adapter. 4. Move lawn mower to cut grass or to hard surface. 1. Adjust or replace drive control cable. 2. Put belt on pulleys or replace belts if broken. 1. Raise cutting height. 2. Replace blade. 3. Clean grass catcher. 1. Raise cutting height. 2. Raise rear of lawn mower housing one (1) setting higher. 3. Empty grass catcher. 4. Adjust handle height to suit. 18
36
ROTARY LAWN MOWER - - MODEL NO. 917.377544 GEAR CASE ASSEMBLY PART NUMBER 702511 14 KEY NO. 2 3 4 6 7 8 PART NO. 1749O416 137055X9O4 137053 57072 48373 77881 137051 KEY PART DESCRIPTION NO. NO. Tapping Screw 1/4-20 x 9 137074 1-1/4 10 57079 Engagement Bracket 11 131484 Shifter 12 700343 Seal 13 86447 Gear Case Halves Kit 14 137050 (Includes Key Nos. 4, 15 750436X and 7) 16 750369 Beadng 17 12000003 WormShaft 18 850848 19 81585X004 DESCRIPTION Drive Shaft Hardened Washer Clutch Yoke Bushing Plug Helical Gear Clutch Jaw Grease E-Ring Hi-Pro Key Spring Bracket NOTE: All component dimensions given in U.S. inches. 1 inch = 25.4 mm 37
ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODEL NUMBER 917.377544 8 ! 6 5._ 12 10 27 16 12 3O 14 44 20 35 37 /_r12 56 22 -23 31- 35 39 65 52 51 3O 29 13 27 28 41 49- 13
ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODEL NUMBER 917.377544 KEY PART NO. NO. 1 165452X479 2 156577 4 150425 5 66426 6 136376 8 145793 9 151023 10 188415 11 150050 12 STD512505 13 77400 14 156374X479 15 700365X479 16 1331£0X479 17 140{_61X479 18 63601 20 140540 22 85543 23 87677 25 83923 27 151158 28 142748 29 62335 30 145935X004 31 701037 32 700331X004 34 146630 35 700325X007 37 150078 39 15!512X479 40 151511X479 KEY PART DESCRIPTION NO. NO. DESCRIPTION UpperHandle 41 150406 Engine Zone Control Cable 44 170025 Mulcher Plug 46 851514 Wire Tie 47 157101 HandleKneb 48 851074 Contror Bar 49 850283 Rear Door Kit 50 851084 Pop Rivet 51 170031 Self Tapping Screw #10-24 x 5/8 52 85463 Hex Tapping Screw w/Seres 1/4-20 x 1/2 55 751592 Hubcap 56 88652 Back Plate 57 51793 Side Baffle 58 157081X479 Discharge Baffle 59 131959 Rear Baffle 6t 132001 Keps Locknut 1/4-20 62 134612 Rear Skfrt 64 ...... Engine Pulley Hi-Pro Key #505 65 17600406 Hex Flange Nut - * 161058 Wheel - o 171028 Shoulder Bolt 3/8-16 x 1 Bellevitre Washer Axle Arm Selector Knob Selector Spring Spacer Wheel Adjusting Bracket Thread Culting Screw w/Seres 5/16-18 x 3/4 Handle Bracket Assembly (Left) Handle Bracket Assembly (Right) Hex Head Thread Rolling Screw 3/8-16 x 1-1/8 Lawn Mower Housing (Incl. Key #14, 15, 5t) Blade Adapter Blade 22" Hardened Washer Helical Washer 3/8-24 x 1-3/8 Gr. 8 Hex Head Machine Screw 3/8-24 x 1-3/8 Gr 8 Front Baffle Danger Decal Locknut 3/8-16 Hinge Screw 1/4-20 x 1-1/4 Hairpin Cotter Lower Handle Handle Bolt RopeGuide Debris Shield Engine - (See Breakdown) Tecumseh ModelNo 143 996510 Screw Warning Decal (Not Shown) Owner's Manual (English/Spanish) Available accessories not included with lawn mower: - - Z! 33303 Clipping Deflector - - 71 33300 SAE 30W Oil (20 oz.)
ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODEL NUMBER 917.377544 54 14 41 15 13 12 ,18 14 16 11 / /8
ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODE L NU MBER 917.377544 KEY PART NO. NO. DESCRIPTION KEY PART NO. NO. DESCRIPTION 1 145755 3 751152 4 158755 5 146527 6 150495 8 77400 9 145212 11 151156 12 12O00058 13 137054 14 88080 15 88118 16 67725 18 701037 26 143603 Control Cable Assembly Locknut #10-24 Pan Head Machine Screw 1/4 x 2.12 V-Belt Spring Retainer Hubcap Flanged Nut Wheel & Tire Assembly E-Ring Pinion Dust Cover Felt Washer Washer 1/2 x 1-1/2 x .134 Selector Knob Pan Head Tapping Screw #10-24 x 2-3/4 28 154990 Dnve Cover 31 132010 Hex Flange Nut 32 137052 Drive Pulley 35 151521 Wheel Adjuster Assembly (Left) 36 702511 Gear Case Assembly 37 137090 Spring 38 63601 Nut 40 75192 Spring 41 151520 Wheel Adjuster Assembly (Right) 53 144747 Frame Throat 54 166069 Grassbag Assembly 55 86012 Drivesheft Cover 57 144748 Grassbag Tube
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE :ENGINE MODEL NO. 143.996510 900 4OO 135 120 119 I 416 275, 182 185 / 178 126 151A 125 172 174 I 262/8 .285 46 42
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENG!NE MODEL NO. 143.996510 KEY PART NO. NO. DESCRIPTION 1 37266 2 26727 6 33734 7 36557 12 36775 12A 36558 12B 36694 14 28277 15 3058g 16 34839A 17 31335 18 651018 19 362A1 20 32609 35£01 40 40(')27 40028 41 40025 40026 42 40006 40007 43 20381 45 36777 46 32610A 48 27241 50 36778 52 29914 69 35261 70 34311E 72 30572 73 28833 75 27897 80 30574A 81 30590A 82 30591 83 30588A 86 650488 88 611004 90 611112 92 650815 93 650816 100 344436 101 610116 103 651007 110 37047 119 36787 120 36825 125 37288 126 37289 130 5021A 135 35395 150 31672 151 31673 151A 40017 Cylinder (Inct 2,20 & 150) Dowel Pin Breather Element Breather Ass'y Oncl 6 & 12A/ BreatherTube 0feather Cover & Tube (Incl 126) Breather Tube Elbow Washer Governor Rod (IncL 14) Governor Lever GovernorLeverClamp Screw, Torà [-15. _-32 x 19/64" Exlension Spring Oil Sear C_ankshatt Piston, Pin & Ring Set (Std.) Pislon, Pin & Ring Sel (.0iO" aS) Piston & Pin Ass'y. (Sld.) (Incl. 43) Piston & Pin Ass'y (.010" aS) (IncL 43) Ring Set (Std.) Ring Set (.010" aS) Piston Pin Retaining Ring Connecting Rod Ass'y. (Incl 46) Connecting Rod Bolt Valve Litter Camshaft (MCR) Oil Pump Ass'y. ⢠Mounting Flange Gas'_et Mounting Flange (Incl. 72 thru 83,306) Oil Drain Plug (Incl. 73) Drain Plug Gasket Oil Seal Governor Shaft Washer Governor Gear Ass'y, (Incl. 81) Governor Spool Screw, 1/4-20 x 1-1/4" Flywheel Key Ftywheet Belleville Washer Flywheel Nut Solid State Ignition Spark Plug Cover Screw, Torx T- 15, 10-24 x 16/16" GroundWire ⢠Cylinder Head Gasket Cylinder Head Exhaust Valve (Std.) (Incl. t 51) Intake Valve (Std.) (Incl. 151) Screw, 5/16-18 x 1-1/2" Resistor Spark Plug (RJ 19LM) Valve Spring Valve Spring Cap Intake Valve Seal KEY PART NO. NO. DESCRIPTION 169 36783 " Valve Cover Gasket 172 36784 Valve Cover 174 30200 Screw, 10-24 x 9/16" t 78 29782 Nut & Lock Washe_, 1(4-28 182 6201 Screw, 1/4-28 x 7/8" 184 26756 " Carburetor To Intake Pipe Gasket 186 36785 Inlake Pipe 166 32653 Governor Link 189 650839 Screw, 1/4-20 x 3/8" 191 36559A S.E. Drake Bracket (Incl 195) 195 610973 Terminal 207 34336 Throttle Link 216 33086 R.PM. Adjusting Lever 223 650451 Screw, 1/4-20 x 1" 224 36786 ° Intake Pipe Gasket 236 650932 Screw, 10-32 x 49/64" 239 34338 " Air Cleaner Gaskel 241 36919 Air Cleaner Conar 245 36905 Air Cleaner Filter 250 36920 Air Cleaner Cover 260 36980 Blower Housing 261 30200 Screw, 10-24 x 8/16" 262 650831 Screw, 1/4-20 x 1/2" 263A 36921 Starter Grill 275 36790A Muffler 277 650988 Screw, 1/4-20 x 2 5/16" 285 35000A StaderCup 287 650926 Screw, 8-32 x 21/64" 290 29774 Fuel Line 292 26460 FuelLine Clamp 298 28763 Screw, 10-32 x 35/64" 300 36916 Fuel Tank (Incl 292 & 301) 301 36246 FuelCap 305 35647 Oil Fill Tube 306 36996 * "O"-Ring 307 35499 "O"-Ring 309 650562 Screw, 10 32 x 1/2" 310 35648 Dipstick 313 34080 Spacer 325 37152 SpringClip 347 651038 Screw, 10-32 à 51/64" 370A 36261 Lubrication Decat 370C 37199 Prirner Decal 880 640174 Cadouretor (In@ 184) 3g0 690739 Rewind Starter 400 36792B Gasket Set (Incl Items Marked ") 416 36085 Spark Arrestor Ki_ (Incl. 417) (Optior'al) 417 650821 Screw, 10-32 x 1/2" (Optional) 900 Replacement Engine NON E 900 -- -- Replacement 5/B 750832A, order from 7 i-999 -- -- RPM High 2900 to 3200 NOTE: This engine could have been built with 590702 starter). NOTE: All component dimensions given in US. inches 1 inch = 25.4 mm 43
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENGINE MODEL NO. 143.996510 I I 27 _--37 (_m37 44
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENGINE MODEL NO, 143.996510 KEY NO. 1 2 4 5 6 7 16 17 18 20 20A 25 27 28 29 30 31 35 36 36A 37 4O 44 47 48 48A 6O PART NO. 640174 631615 631767 631184 * 631183 * 640O70 650506 * 631807 651025 630766 640018 640053 631867 631024 * 632019 631028 " 631021 ° 631022 36045A 640080 632766 632547 " 640175 27110A 630748 * 631027 " 631027 " 632760 DESCRIPTION Carburetor (Incl. 184 of Engine Parts List) Throttle Shaft & Lever Assembly Throttle Return Spring Dust Seal Washer Dust Seal (Throttle) Throttle Shutter Shutter Screw Fuel Fitting Throttle Crack Screw/Idle Speed Screw Tension Spring Idle Restdctor Screw Idle Restrictor Screw Cap Float Bowl Float Shaft Float Float Bowl "O" Ring Inlet Needle, Seat, & Clip (Incl. 31) Spnng Clip Primer Bulb/Retainer Ring Main Nozzle Tube Carburetor Tube "O" Ring, Main Nozzle Tube High Speed Bowl Nut Bowl Nut Wasl_er Welch Plug, Idle Mixture Well Welch Plug, Atmospheric Vent Welch Plug Repair kit (Incl. Items Marked *) 45
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENGINE MODEL NO. 143.996510 --11 --3 KEY NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 PART NO. 590702 590599A 590600 590696 590601 590697 590698 590699 590700 590703 590535 590701 DESCRIPTION Recoil Starter Spring Pin (Incl. 4) Washer Retainer Washer Brake Spring Starter Dog Dog Spnng Pulley & Rewind Spring Ass'y Starter Housing Ass'y. (40 degree grommet) Starter Rope ( 98" X 9/64" dia.) Starter Handle 46
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENGINE MODEL NO. 143.996510 _3 !_ ---T4 _--7 KEY NO. 3 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 PART NO. 590739 590740 590616 590617 590618A 590638 590535 5907O1 590760 DESCRIPTION Rewind Starter Retainer Starter Dog Dog Spring Pulley & Rewind Spring Ass'y Starler Housing Ass'y (40 degree grommet) Starter Rope (Length 98" x 9/64" dia,) Starter Handle Spring Clip 47
For in-home major brand repair service: Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 1-800-4-MY-Home sM (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 pieces 1-800-665-4455 For the repair or replacement parts you need: Call 6 am-11pm CST, 7 days a week PartsDirect sM 1-800-366-PART (1-800-366-7278) Para ordenar piezas con entrega a domiciUo 1-800-659-7084 For the location of a Sears Parts and RepairCenter in your area: Call 24 Hours a day, 7 days a week 1-800-488-1222 For information on purchasing a Sears Maintenance Agreement or to inquire about an existing Agreement: Call 9 am-5 pm, Monday - Saturday 1-800-827-6655 r SEARS Home Central SM 171028 10.05.99 VB Printed in U.S.A.
Warranty 2 Product Specifications 11 Safety Rules 2 Service and Adjustments 14 Assembly 4 Storage 16 Operation 6 Troubleshooting 17 Maintenance Schedule 10 Repair Parts 37 Maintenance 10 Parts Ordering Back Cover LIMITED TWO YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN 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 material or workmanship. If this Craftsman Lawn Mower is used for commercial or rental purposes, this warranty applies for only 90 days from the date of purchase. This Warranty does not cover: ⢠Expendable items which become worn during normal use, such as rotary mower blades, blade adapters, belts, air cleaners and spark plug. ⢠Repairs necessary because of operator abuse or negligence, including bent crank- shafts and the failure to maintain the equipment according to the instructions con- tained in the owner's manual. Warranty service is available by returning the Craftsman power mower to the nearest Sears Service Center/Department in the United States. This warranty applies only while this product is in use in the United States. This Warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO., D/817 WA, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60179 Safety standards require operator presence controls to minimize the risk of injury. Your unit is equipped with such controls. Do not attempt to defeat the function of the operator presence controls under any circumstances. TRAINING: ⢠Read this operator's manual carefully, Become familiar with the controls and know how to operate your mower properly. Learn how to quickly stop mower. ⢠Do not allow children to use your mower. Never allow adults to use mower without proper instructions. ⢠Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, especially small children and pets. ⢠Use mower only as the manufacturer intended and as described in this manual. ⢠Do not operate mower if it has been dropped or damaged in any manner. Always have damage repaired before using your mower. ⢠Do not use accessory attachments that are not recommended by the manufac- turer. Use of such attachments may be hazardous. ⢠The blade turns when the engine is running. PREPARATION: ⢠Always thoroughly check the area to be mowed and clear it of all stones, sticks, wires, bones, and other foreign objects. These objects will be thrown by the blade and can cause severe injury. ⢠Always wear safety glasses or eye shields when starting and while using your mower. Dress properly. Do not operate mower when barefoot or wearing open sandals. 2
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. OPERATION: ⢠Keep your eyes and mind on your mower and the area being cut. Do not let other interests distract you. ⢠Do not mow wet or slippery grass. Never run while operating your mower. Always be sure of your footing -- keep a firm hold on the handles and walk. ⢠Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts. Keep clear of the dis- charge opening at all times. ⢠Always stop the engine whenever you leave or are not using your mower, or before crossing driveways, walks, roads, and any gravel-covered areas. ⢠Never direct discharge of material toward bystanders nor allow anyone near the mower while you are operating it. ⢠Before cleaning, inspecting, or repairing your mower, stop the engine and make absolutely sure the blade and all moving parts have stopped. Then disconnect the spark plug wire and keep it away from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting. ⢠Do not continue to run your mower if you hit a foreign object. Follow the procedure outlined above, then repair any damage before restarting and operating you mower. ⢠Do not change the governor settings or overspeed the engine. Engine damage or personal injury may result. ⢠Do not operate your mower if it vibrates abnormally. Excessive vibration is an indication of damage; stop the engine, safely check for the cause of vibration and repair as required. ⢠Do not run the engine indoors. Exhaust fumes are dangerous. ⢠Never cut grass by pulling the mower towards you. Mow across the face of slopes, never up and down or you might lose your footing. Do not mow excessively steep slopes. Use caution when operating the mower on uneven terrain or when changing directions maintain good footing. ⢠Never operate your mower without proper guards, plates, grass catcher or other safety devices in place. MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE: ⢠Check the blade and the engine mounting bolts often to be sure they are tightened properly. ⢠Check all bolts, nuts and screws at frequent intervals for proper tightness to be sure mower is in safe working condition. ⢠Keep all safety devices in place and working. ⢠To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, leaves or excessive grease and oil. ⢠Check grass catcher often for detedora- tion and wear and replace worn bags. Use only replacement bags that are recommended by and comply with specifications of the manufacturer of your mower. ⢠Always keep a sharp blade on your mower. ⢠Allow engine to cool before storing in any enclosure. ⢠Never store mower with fuel in the tank inside a building where fumes may reach an open flame or an ignition source such as a hot water heater, space heater, clothes dryer, etc. ALook for this symbol to point out important safety precautions. It means CAUTION!!! BECOMEALERT!!! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED. _I, CAUTION: Always disconnect spark plug wire and place wire where it cannot contact spark plug in order to prevent accidental starting when setting up, transporting, adjusting or making repairs. _<_WARNING The engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. 3
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 Seam 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 GRASS CATCHERS FOR REAR DISCHARGE LAWN MOWERS LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE MULCHER KITS GRASS CATCHERS FOR SIDE DISCHARGE I LAWN MOWERS MUFFLERS BELTS BLADES BLADE ADAPTERS AIR FILTERS WHEELS STABILIZER GAS CANS SPARK PLUGS ENGINE OIL Read these instructions and this manual in its entirety before you attempt to assemble or operate your new lawn mower. IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine. Your new lawn mower has been assembled at the factory with the exception of those pads left unassembled for shipping purposes. All parts such as nuts, washers, belts, etc., necessary to complete the assembly have been placed in the parts bag. To ensure safe and proper operation of your lawn mower, all parts and hardware you assemble must be tightened securely. Use the correct tools as necessary to ensure proper tightness. TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM CARTON ⢠Remove loose parts included with mower. ⢠Cut down two end comers of carton and lay end panel down flat. ⢠Remove all packing materials except padding between upper and lower handle and padding holding operator presence control bar to upper handle. ⢠Roll lawn mower out of carton and check carton thoroughly for additional loose parts. 4
HOWTO SET UPYOUR LAWN MOWER TO UNFOLD HANDLE 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 handle 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. Refer to "Adjust Handle" in the Service and Adjustment section of this manual. Operator presence control bar Upper handle Lift up up TO INSTALL ATrACHMENTS Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a mulcher. To convert to bagging or discharging: ⢠Open rear door and remove mulcher plug. Store mulcher plug in a safe place. ⢠You can now install catcher or optional clipping deflector. ⢠To return to mulching operation, install mulcher plug into discharge opening of mower. Be sure all tabs are seated pmpedy. Mulcher pluc Lower handle Mowing position _,CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without mulcher plug in place or approved clipping deflector or grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear door removed or propped open. 5
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 location of various controls and adjustments. Save this manual for future reference. symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the product. Learn and understand them meaning. A I"o,I CAUTION ENGINE ENGINE FAST SLOW CHOKE FUEL OIL DANGER, KEEP HANDS OR WARNING ON OFF AND FEET AWAY Engine zone control cable -_ Operator presence control bar Drive control lever Starter handle Grass catcher Handle knob Mulcher plug Gasoline cap Primer Housing Engine oil cap w/ dipstick IMPORTANT: This lawn mower is shipped WITHOUT OIL OR GASOLINE in the engine. Wheel adjuster (on each wheel) MEETS CPSC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS Sears rotary walk-behind power lawn mowers conform to the safety standards of the American National Standards Institute and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The blade turns when the engine is running. Operator presence control bar - must be held down to the handle to start the engine. Release to stop the engine. Primer - pumps additional fuel from the carburetor to the cylinder for use when starting a cold engine. Starter handle - used for starting the engine. Drive control lever - used to engage power- propelled forward motion of lawn mower. Mulcher plug - must be removed to convert to bagging or discharging operation. 6
The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects thrown into the 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 ENGINE SPEED The engine speed was set at the factory for optimum performance. Speed is not adjustable. ENGINE ZONE CONTROL _,CAUTION- Federal regulations require an engine control to be installed on this Hinge lawn mower in order to minimize the risk of blade contact injury. Do not under any circumstances attempt to defeat the function of the operator control. The blade turns when the engine is running. ⢠Your lawn mower is equipped with an operator presence control bar which requires the operator to be positioned Formed behind the lawn mower handle to start tabs and operate the lawn mower. TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT ⢠Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for high cut. ⢠Adjust cutting height to suit your requirements. Medium position is best for most lawns. ⢠To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster lever toward wheel. Move wheel up or down to suit your require- ments. Be sure all wheels are in the same setting. NOTE: Adjuster is properly positioned when plate tab inserts into hole in lever. Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped) allow lever to be positioned between the plate tabs. Plate Tab Lower Wheels for High Cut_ .o or Raise Wheels for Low Cut TO A'I'rACH GRASS CATCHER ⢠Close the lift top lid. Lift top lid must be closed while operating lawn mower. ⢠Lift the rear door on the mower housing and peace the grass catcher frame onto the formed tabs on the rear door hinge bracket. ⢠The grass catcher is secured to the lawn mower housing when the rear door is lowered onto the grass catcher frame. ACAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without clipping deflector or approved grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear door removed or propped open. Rear door Grass catcher frame TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER ⢠To remove grass catcher, release operator presence control bar to stop engine. ⢠Lift up rear door and remove the grass catcher by the handle. NOTE: Do not drag the bag when emptying; it will cause unnecessary wear. 7
DRIVE CONTROL ⢠Self-propelling is controlled by holding the operator presence control bar down to the handle and pushing the drive control lever forward until it clicks; then release the lever. ⢠Forward motion will stop when the operator presence control bar is released. To stop forward motion without stopping engine, release the operator presence control bar slightly until the drive control disengages. Hold operator presence control bar down to handle to continue mowing without self- propelling. ⢠To keep drive control engaged when turning corners, push down on handle and lift front wheels off ground while turning lawn mower. Operator presence control bar Drive "_ control To engage drive Drive control control disengaged BEFORE STARTING ENGINE 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 cap and fill to the full line on the dipstick. NOTE: Allow oil to settle down into engine for accurate dipstick reading. ⢠Engine holds 20 ozs. of oil. For type and grade of oil to use, see "ENGINE" in Maintenance section of this manual. ⢠Pour oil slowly. Do not over fill. ⢠Check oil level before each use. Add oil if needed. Fill to full line on dipstick. ⢠To read proper level, tighten engine oil cap each time. ⢠Reinstall engine oil cap and tighten. ⢠Change the oil alter every 25 hours of operation or each season. You may need to change the oil more often under dusty, dirty conditions. ADD GASOLINE ⢠Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. Do not mix oil viith gasoline. Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30 days to assure fuel freshness. AWARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads 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 gas tank, start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instructions for additional information. Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur, ACAUTION: Fill to bottom of gas tank filler neck. Do not overfill. Wipe off any spilled oil or fuel. Do not store, spill or use gasoline near an open flame. Engine oil cap Gasoline filler cap TO START ENGINE ⢠To start a cold engine, push primer five (5) times before trying to start. Use a firm push. This step is not usually necessary when starting an engine which has already run for a few minutes. ⢠Hold operator presence control bar down to the handle and pull starter handle quickly. Do not allow starter rope to snap back. ⢠To stop engine, release operator presence control bar. NOTE: In cooler weather it may be necessary to repeat priming steps. In warmer weather over priming may cause flooding and engine will not start. If you do flood engine, wait a few minutes before attempting to start and do not repeat priming steps. 8
MOWING TIPS ⢠Under certain conditions, such as very tall grass, it may be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving clumps of grass clippings it may also be necessary to reduce ground speed and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time. ⢠For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly. ⢠For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions, the engine speed should be set in the fast position. ⢠When using a rear discharge lawn mower in moist, heavy grass, clumps of cut grass may not enter the grass catcher. Reduce ground speed (push- ing speed) and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time. ⢠If a trail of clippings is left on the right side of a rear discharge mower, mow in a clockwise direction with a small overlap to collect the clippings on the next pass. ⢠Pores in cloth grass catchers can become filled with dirt and dust with use and catchers will collect less grass. To prevent this, regularly hose catcher off with water and let dry before using. ⢠Keep top of engine around starter clear and clean of grass clippings and chaff. This will help engine air flow and extend engine life. MULCHING MOWING TIPS IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep mower housing free of built-up grass and trash See "Cleaning" in Maintenance section of this manual ⢠The special mulching blade will recut the grass clippings many times and reduce them in size so that as they fall onto the lawn they will disperse into the grass and not be noticed Also, the mulched grass will biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed as this will provide the best recutting action of the blades ⢠Avoid cutting your lawn when it is wet Wet grass tends to form clumps and interferes with the mulching action The best time to mow your lawn is the early afternoon At this time the grass has dried and the newly cut area will not be eN:_sed to the direct sun. ⢠For best results, adjust the lawn mower cutting height so that the lawn mower cuts off only the top one-third of the grass blades. If the lawn is overgrown it will be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine and leaving clumps of mulched grass For extremely heavy mulching, reduce your width of cut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly. ⢠Certain types of grass and grass condi- tions may require that an area be mulched a second time to completely hide the clippings When doing a second cut, mow across or perpendicular to the first cut path ⢠Change your cutting pattem from week to week. Mow north to south one week then change to east to west the next week. This will help prevent matting and graining of the lawn 9
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FILL IN DATES AS YOU COMPLETE REGULAR SERVICE Check for Loose Fasteners I_ "Ik/ ClaarYlnspect Grass Catcher (If Equipped) _ _ _' a Clean Lawn Mower Clean Under Drive Cover W {Power-Propelled Mowers) !/ Check drive belt/pulleys (Power-Propelled Mowers) I_ R Check/Sharpen/Replace Blade 1_3 Lubrication Chart I/ Clean Battery/Recharge IElectric Start Mowers / I_ / I/'4 E Check En_]ine Oil Level !# # Change Engine Oil q_1,2 GI Clean Air Filter _ 2 Inspect Muffler N Clean or Replace Spark Plug Replace Air Filter Paper Cartridge I/'2 3ERVICE DATES 1 - Change more often when operating under a heavy load or In high ambient temperatures. 2 - Service more often when operating In dirty or dusty co_ditions. 3 - Replace blades more often when mowing In sandy soil. 4 - Charge 48 hours at end of season. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS The warranty on this lawn mower does not cover items that have been subjected to operator abuse or negligence, To receive full value from the warranty, operator must maintain mower as instructed in this manual. Some adjustments will need to be made periodically to properly maintain your unit. All adjustments in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual should be checked at least once each season. ⢠Once a year, replace the spark plug, replace air filter element and check blade for wear. A new spark plug and clean/new air filter element assures proper air-fuel mixture and helps your engine run better and last longer. ⢠Follow the maintenance schedule in this manual. BEFORE EACH USE ⢠Check engine oil level. ⢠Check for loose fasteners. LUBRICATION Keep unit well lubricated (See "LUBRICA- TION CHART"). LUBRICATION CHART (_ Wheel adjuster (_) Engine oil (_Handle bracket mounting pin (_ Spray lubricant Refer to Maintenance "ENGINE" SeCtion. (_) Brake spring bracket (_ Rear door hinge IMPORTANT: Do not oil or grease plastic wheel bearings. Viscous lubricants will attract dust and dirt that will shorten the life of the self lubricating beadngs. If you feel they must be lubricated, use only a dry, powdered graphite lOl,/!_ lubdcant s_adngly.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS i MODEL NUMBER SERIAL NUMBER DATE OF PURCHASE GASOLINE CAPACITY/TYPE: OIL TYPE (API-SF/SG/SH): OIL CAPACITY: SPARK PLUG (GAP: .030") VALVE CLEARANCE: 917.377544 1.25 QUARTS UNLEADED REGULAR SAE 30 (ABOVE 32°F) SAE 5W-30 (BELOW 32°F) 20 OZS CHAMPION RJ19LM OR J19LM 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 number and date of purchase in space provided above. LAWN MOWER Always observe safety rules when performing any maintenance. TIRES ⢠Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect control chemicals which can harm rubber. ⢠Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp objects and other hazards that may cause tire damage. BLADE CARE For best results, mower blade must be kept sharp. Replace bent or damaged blades. TO REMOVE BLADE ⢠Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with spark plug. ⢠Turn lawn mower on its side. Make sure air filter and carburetor are up. ⢠Use a wood block between blade and mower housing to prevent blade from turning when removing blade bolt. ⢠Protect your hands with gloves and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth. ⢠Remove blade bolt by turning counter- clockwise. ⢠Remove blade and attaching hardware (bolt, lock washer and hardened washer). NOTE: Remove the blade adapter and check the key inside hub of blade adapter. The key must be in good condition to work properly. Replace adapter if damaged. TO REPLACE BLADE ⢠Position the blade adapter on the engine crankshaft. Be sure key in adapter and crankshaft keyway are aligned. ⢠Position blade on the blade adapter aligning the two (2) holes in the blade with the raised lugs on the adapter. ⢠Be sure the trailing edge of blade (opposite sharp edge) is up toward the engine. ⢠Install the blade bolt with the lock washer and hardened washer into blade adapter and crankshaft. ⢠Use block of wood between blade and lawn mower housing and tighten the blade bolt, turning clockwise. ⢠The recommended tightening torque is 35-40 ft. Ibs. 11
IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat treated. TO SHARPEN BLADE NOTE: We do not recommend sharpen- ing 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. 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. Crank shaft Blade _ _ keyway adapter _/_F_F'_ Koy Blade _ _ _-- Lock k Tramn Blade washer Hardened edge adapter washer 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 manufacturer approved replacement catcher. Give the lawn mower model number when ordering. DRIVE WHEELS Check front drive wheels each time before you mow to be sure they move freely. The wheels not turning freely means trash, grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive wheel area and must be cleaned to free drive wheels. If necessary to clean the drive wheels, check both front wheels. ⢠Remove hubcaps, hairpin cotters and washers. ⢠Remove wheels from wheel adjusters. ⢠Remove any trash or grass cuttings from inside the dust cover, pinion and/ or drive wheel gear teeth. ⢠Put wheels back in place. ⢠If after cleaning, the drive wheels do not turn freely, contact your nearest authorized service center. 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 filled 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 Texaco Starplex Premium 1 Grease, Part No. 750369. Do not substitute. ENGINE LUBRICATION Use only high quality detergent oil rated with API service classification SF, SG or SH. Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade ac)cording to your expected operating temperature. SAE VISCOSITY GRADES _0, .20* .10, I0 ⢠20- 30, TEMPERATURE RANG_ ANTICIPATEO BEFORE N EXT O_L CHANGE NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in cold weather, these multi-viscosity oils will result in increased oil consumption when used above 32°1=, Check your engine oil level more frequently to avoid possible engine damage from running low on oil. Change the oil after every 25 hours of operation or at least once a year if the lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in one year. Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine and after each five (5) hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug securely each time you check the oil level. 12
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to drain oil, drain fuel tank by running engine until fuel tank is empty. ⢠Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with spark plug. ⢠Remove engine oil cap; lay aside on a clean surface. ⢠Tip lawn mower on its side as shown and drain oil into a suitable container. Rock lawn mower back and forth to remove any oil trapped inside of engine. ⢠Wipe off any spilled oil on lawn mower and on side of engine. ⢠Fill engine with oil. Fill only to the "FULL" line on the dipstick. DO NOT overfill. ⢠Replace engine oil cap. ⢠Reconnect spark plug wire to spark plug. Container AIR FILTER Your engine will not run properly and may be damaged by using a dirty air filter. Replace the air filter every year, more often if you mow in very dusty, dirty conditions. Do not wash air filter. TO CHANGE AIR FILTER ⢠Remove the air filter by turning clock- wise to the stop and pull away from collar. ⢠Remove filter from inside of cover. ⢠Clean the inside of the cover and the collar to remove any dirt accumulation. ⢠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 counterclock- wise to tighten. Collar MUFFLER Inspect and replace corroded muffler as it could create a fire 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 .030 inch. CLEANING IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep mower housing free of built-up grass and trash. Clean the underside of your mower after each use. *q, CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with the spark plug. ⢠Turn lawn mower on its side. Make sure air filter and carburetor are up. Clean the underside of your lawn mower by scraping to remove build-up of grass and trash. ⢠Clean engine often to keep trash from accumulating. A clogged engine runs hotter and shortens engine life. ⢠Keep finished surfaces and wheels free of all gasoline, oil,etc. ⢠We de not recommend using a garden hose to clean lawn mower unless the electrical system, muffler, air filter and carburetor are covered to keep water out. Water in engine can result in shortened engine life. CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER Clean under drive cover at least twice a season. Scrape underside of cover with putty knife or similar tool to remove any build-up of trash or grass on underside of dnve cover. Slot Air Filter Clockwise to Remove Turn Tab Counter- Air Filter Clockwise to Cover Tighten 13
_kCAUTION: 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 contact with plug. LAWN MOWER TO ADJUST CUTrlNG HEIGHT See "TO ADJUST CUI-I-ING HEIGHT" in the Operation section of this manual. REAR DEFLECTOR The rear deflector, attached between the rear wheels of your lawn mower, is provided to minimize the possibility that objects will be thrown out the rear of the lawn mower into the operator's mowing position. If the rear deflector becomes damaged, it should be replaced. TO REMOVE/REPLACE DRIVE BELT ⢠Remove drive cover. Remove belt by pushing down on gear case pulley and roll be_off. â¢Tum lawn mower on its side with carbure- tor and fuel cap up. ⢠Remove blade. ⢠Remove debris shield. ⢠Remove belt from engine pulley on crankshaft. ⢠Install new belt by reversing above steps. ⢠Always use factory approved belt to assure fit and long life. TO ADJUST HANDLE The handle can be mounted in a high or low position. The mounting holes in the bottom of lower handle are off center for raising or lowering the handle. ⢠Remove upper handle and all parts attached to lower handle. ⢠Remove hairpin cotters from lower handle bracket mounting pin. ⢠Squeeze lower handle in to remove it from mounting pins. ⢠Turn lower handle over to raise or lower handle. ⢠Squeeze lower handle in and position holes onto mounting pins on handle bracket. ⢠Reassemble upper handle and all parts removed from lower handle. Mowing Mowing position "" "" ,_ -', position ,_-_' I i i i _-_) L-.., J I i Low position High position Drive cover Belt Push down Â¥ Rotate Lower handle 14
ENGINE SPEED Your engine speed has been factory set. Do not attempt to increase engine speed or it may result in personal injury. If you believe that the engine is running too fast or too slow, take your lawn mower to an authorized service center for repair and adjustment. CARBURETOR Your carburetor has a non-adjustable fixed main jet for mixture control. If your engine does not operate properly due to suspected carburetor problems, take your ⢠lawn mower to an authorized service center for repair and/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, if you think the engine-governed high speed needs adjusting, contact your nearest authorized service center, which has proper equipment and experience to make any necessary adjustments. TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCHER ⢠Insert leg of tubular frame through front opening of grass catcher and thread frame into sewn hem of bag. NOTE: Keep bag hem gathered on the straight leg of the tubular frame. ⢠When frame comes out the other end of sewn hem, immediately work the end of frame down inside the bag as shown in inset. ⢠Slide sewn hem evenly around the tubular frame until both ends of frame are exposed out of the front opening. ⢠Assemble lower frame to tubular frame as shown. Be sure handle is outside of bag and frames are fully seated as shown in inset. ⢠Slip vinyl bindings over frame. NOTE: If vinyl bindings are too stiff, hold them in warm water for a few minutes. If bag gets wet, let it dry before using. ⢠Close the flip lid. Flip lid must be closed while operating lawn mower. ⢠(:_CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower without clipping deflector or approved grass catcher in place. Never attempt to operate the lawn mower with the rear door removed or propped open. Sewn Tubular frame hem _ \ Sewn hem Flip lid Lower frame Tubular frame (Frames must be fully seated) Lower frame handle 15
Immediately prepare your lawn mower for storage at the end of the season or if the unit will not be used for 30 days or more. LAWNMOWER When lawn mower is to be stored for a period of time, clean it thoroughly, remove all dirt, grease, leaves, etc. Store in a clean, dry area. ⢠Clean entire lawn mower (See "CLEAN- ING" in the Maintenance section of this manual). ⢠Lubricate as shown in the Maintenance section of this manual. ⢠Be sure that all nuts, bolts, screws, and pins are securely fastened. Inspect moving parts for damage, breakage and wear. Replace if necessary. ⢠Touch up all rusted or chipped paint surfaces; sand lightly before painting. HANDLE You can fold your lawn mower handle for storage. ⢠Squeeze the bottom ends of the lower handle toward each other until the lower handle clears the handle bracket, then move handle forward. ⢠Loosen upper handle mounting bolts enough to allow upper handle to be folded back. IMPORTANT: When folding the handle for storage or transporta'don, be sure to fold the handle as shown or you any damage the control cables. ⢠When setting up your handle from the storage position, the lower handle will automatically lock into the mowing position. Lower handle Handle Squeeze to fold bracket Hairpin cotter Operator presence control bar Upper ._/._ handle Fold foward .,_ //.,p_'_:. for storage f/ /? /_) .//' ,,- Lower _,, _ //;/ handle _ _ = ./;._. _:.';,_/I _,_÷, =..':" \_ _,'v/, Fold .ow,o0 JJ position ENGINE FUELSYSTEM IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent gum deposits from forming in essential fuel system parts such as carburetor, f fuel filter, fuel hose or tank during storage. Also, experience indicates that alcohol blended fuels ( called gasehol or using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an engine while in storage. ⢠Drain the fuel tank. ⢠Start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty. ⢠Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur. ⢠Use fresh fuel next season. NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable altemative in minimizing the formation of fuel gum deposits during storage. Add stabilizer. to gasoline in fuel tank or storage container. Always follow the mix ratio found on stabilizer container. Run engine at least 10 minutes after adding stabilizer to allow the stabilizer to reach the carburetor. Do not drain the gas tank and carburetor if using fuel stabilizer. ENGINEOIL Drain oil (with engine warm) and replace with clean engine oil. (See "ENGINE" in the Maintenance section of this manual). 16
CYLINDER ⢠Remove spark plug. ⢠Pour one ounce (29 ml) of oil through spark plug hole 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 will cause problems. ⢠If possible, store your unit indoors and cOver it to give protection from dust and dirt. ⢠Cover your unit with a suitable protective cover that does not retain moisture. Do not use plastic. Plastic cannot breathe which allows condensation to form and will cause your unit to rust. IMPORTANT: Never cover mower while engine and exhaust areas are still warm. _I, CAUTION: Never store the lawn mower with gasoline in the tank inside a building where fumes may reach an open flame or spark. Allow the engine to cool before storing in any enclosure. PROBLEM Does not start TROUBLESHOOTING CHART CAUSE 1. Dirty air filter. 2. Out of fuel. 3. Stale fuel. Loss of power Poorcut-uneven 4. Water in fuel. 5. Spark plug wire is disconnected. 6. Bad spark plug. 7. Loose blade or broken blade adapter. 8. Control bar in released position. 9. Control bar defective. 1. Rear of lawn mower housing or cutting blade dragging in heavy grass. 2. Cutting too much grass. 3. Dirty air filter. 4. Buildup of grass, leaves, and trash under mower. 5. Too much oil in engine. 6. Walking speed too fast. 1. Wom, bent or loose blade. 2. Wheel heights uneven. 3. Buildup of grass, leaves and trash under mower. CORRECTION 1. Clean/replace air filter. 2. Fill fuel tank. 3. Drain tank and refill with fresh clean fuel. 4. Drain fuel tank and carburetor and refill tank with fresh gasoline. 5. Connect wire to plug. 6. Replace spark plug. 7. Tighten blade bolt or replace blade adapter. 8. Depress control bar to handle. 9. Replace control bar. 1. Set to "Higher Cut" position. 2. Set to "Higher Cut" position. 3. Clea_n/replace air filter. 4. Clean underside of mower housing. 5. Check oil level. 6. Cut at slower walking speed. 1. Replace blade. Gghten blade bolt. 2. Set all wheels at same height 3. Clean underside of mower housing. 17
TROUBLESHOOTING CHART PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION Excessive vibration Starter rope hard to pull Loss of drive Grass catcher not filling (if so equipped) Hard to push 1. Wom, bent or loose blade. 2. Bent engine crankshaft. 1. Engine flywheel brake is on when control bar is released. 2. Bent engine crankshaft. 3. Blade adapter broken. 4. Blade dragging in grass. 1. Drive wheels not turning with drive control engaged. 2. Belt not driving 1. Cutting height too low. 2. Lift on blade wom oft. 3. Catcher not venting air. 1. Grass is too high or wheel height is too low. 2. Rear of lawn mower housing or blade dragging in grass. 3. Grass catcher too full. 4. Handle height position not right for you. 1. Replace blade. 13ghten blade belt. 2. Contact an authorized service center. 1. Depress control bar to upper handle before pulling starter rope, 2. Contact an authorized se_ce center. 3. Replace blade adapter. 4. Move lawn mower to cut grass or to hard surface. 1. Adjust or replace drive control cable. 2. Put belt on pulleys or replace belts if broken. 1. Raise cutting height. 2. Replace blade. 3. Clean grass catcher. 1. Raise cutting height. 2. Raise rear of lawn mower housing one (1) setting higher. 3. Empty grass catcher. 4. Adjust handle height to suit. 18
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ROTARY LAWN MOWER - - MODEL NO. 917.377544 GEAR CASE ASSEMBLY PART NUMBER 702511 14 KEY NO. 2 3 4 6 7 8 PART NO. 1749O416 137055X9O4 137053 57072 48373 77881 137051 KEY PART DESCRIPTION NO. NO. Tapping Screw 1/4-20 x 9 137074 1-1/4 10 57079 Engagement Bracket 11 131484 Shifter 12 700343 Seal 13 86447 Gear Case Halves Kit 14 137050 (Includes Key Nos. 4, 15 750436X and 7) 16 750369 Beadng 17 12000003 WormShaft 18 850848 19 81585X004 DESCRIPTION Drive Shaft Hardened Washer Clutch Yoke Bushing Plug Helical Gear Clutch Jaw Grease E-Ring Hi-Pro Key Spring Bracket NOTE: All component dimensions given in U.S. inches. 1 inch = 25.4 mm 37
ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODEL NUMBER 917.377544 8 ! 6 5._ 12 10 27 16 12 3O 14 44 20 35 37 /_r12 56 22 -23 31- 35 39 65 52 51 3O 29 13 27 28 41 49- 13
ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODEL NUMBER 917.377544 KEY PART NO. NO. 1 165452X479 2 156577 4 150425 5 66426 6 136376 8 145793 9 151023 10 188415 11 150050 12 STD512505 13 77400 14 156374X479 15 700365X479 16 1331£0X479 17 140{_61X479 18 63601 20 140540 22 85543 23 87677 25 83923 27 151158 28 142748 29 62335 30 145935X004 31 701037 32 700331X004 34 146630 35 700325X007 37 150078 39 15!512X479 40 151511X479 KEY PART DESCRIPTION NO. NO. DESCRIPTION UpperHandle 41 150406 Engine Zone Control Cable 44 170025 Mulcher Plug 46 851514 Wire Tie 47 157101 HandleKneb 48 851074 Contror Bar 49 850283 Rear Door Kit 50 851084 Pop Rivet 51 170031 Self Tapping Screw #10-24 x 5/8 52 85463 Hex Tapping Screw w/Seres 1/4-20 x 1/2 55 751592 Hubcap 56 88652 Back Plate 57 51793 Side Baffle 58 157081X479 Discharge Baffle 59 131959 Rear Baffle 6t 132001 Keps Locknut 1/4-20 62 134612 Rear Skfrt 64 ...... Engine Pulley Hi-Pro Key #505 65 17600406 Hex Flange Nut - * 161058 Wheel - o 171028 Shoulder Bolt 3/8-16 x 1 Bellevitre Washer Axle Arm Selector Knob Selector Spring Spacer Wheel Adjusting Bracket Thread Culting Screw w/Seres 5/16-18 x 3/4 Handle Bracket Assembly (Left) Handle Bracket Assembly (Right) Hex Head Thread Rolling Screw 3/8-16 x 1-1/8 Lawn Mower Housing (Incl. Key #14, 15, 5t) Blade Adapter Blade 22" Hardened Washer Helical Washer 3/8-24 x 1-3/8 Gr. 8 Hex Head Machine Screw 3/8-24 x 1-3/8 Gr 8 Front Baffle Danger Decal Locknut 3/8-16 Hinge Screw 1/4-20 x 1-1/4 Hairpin Cotter Lower Handle Handle Bolt RopeGuide Debris Shield Engine - (See Breakdown) Tecumseh ModelNo 143 996510 Screw Warning Decal (Not Shown) Owner's Manual (English/Spanish) Available accessories not included with lawn mower: - - Z! 33303 Clipping Deflector - - 71 33300 SAE 30W Oil (20 oz.)
ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODEL NUMBER 917.377544 54 14 41 15 13 12 ,18 14 16 11 / /8
ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODE L NU MBER 917.377544 KEY PART NO. NO. DESCRIPTION KEY PART NO. NO. DESCRIPTION 1 145755 3 751152 4 158755 5 146527 6 150495 8 77400 9 145212 11 151156 12 12O00058 13 137054 14 88080 15 88118 16 67725 18 701037 26 143603 Control Cable Assembly Locknut #10-24 Pan Head Machine Screw 1/4 x 2.12 V-Belt Spring Retainer Hubcap Flanged Nut Wheel & Tire Assembly E-Ring Pinion Dust Cover Felt Washer Washer 1/2 x 1-1/2 x .134 Selector Knob Pan Head Tapping Screw #10-24 x 2-3/4 28 154990 Dnve Cover 31 132010 Hex Flange Nut 32 137052 Drive Pulley 35 151521 Wheel Adjuster Assembly (Left) 36 702511 Gear Case Assembly 37 137090 Spring 38 63601 Nut 40 75192 Spring 41 151520 Wheel Adjuster Assembly (Right) 53 144747 Frame Throat 54 166069 Grassbag Assembly 55 86012 Drivesheft Cover 57 144748 Grassbag Tube
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE :ENGINE MODEL NO. 143.996510 900 4OO 135 120 119 I 416 275, 182 185 / 178 126 151A 125 172 174 I 262/8 .285 46 42
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENG!NE MODEL NO. 143.996510 KEY PART NO. NO. DESCRIPTION 1 37266 2 26727 6 33734 7 36557 12 36775 12A 36558 12B 36694 14 28277 15 3058g 16 34839A 17 31335 18 651018 19 362A1 20 32609 35£01 40 40(')27 40028 41 40025 40026 42 40006 40007 43 20381 45 36777 46 32610A 48 27241 50 36778 52 29914 69 35261 70 34311E 72 30572 73 28833 75 27897 80 30574A 81 30590A 82 30591 83 30588A 86 650488 88 611004 90 611112 92 650815 93 650816 100 344436 101 610116 103 651007 110 37047 119 36787 120 36825 125 37288 126 37289 130 5021A 135 35395 150 31672 151 31673 151A 40017 Cylinder (Inct 2,20 & 150) Dowel Pin Breather Element Breather Ass'y Oncl 6 & 12A/ BreatherTube 0feather Cover & Tube (Incl 126) Breather Tube Elbow Washer Governor Rod (IncL 14) Governor Lever GovernorLeverClamp Screw, Torà [-15. _-32 x 19/64" Exlension Spring Oil Sear C_ankshatt Piston, Pin & Ring Set (Std.) Pislon, Pin & Ring Sel (.0iO" aS) Piston & Pin Ass'y. (Sld.) (Incl. 43) Piston & Pin Ass'y (.010" aS) (IncL 43) Ring Set (Std.) Ring Set (.010" aS) Piston Pin Retaining Ring Connecting Rod Ass'y. (Incl 46) Connecting Rod Bolt Valve Litter Camshaft (MCR) Oil Pump Ass'y. ⢠Mounting Flange Gas'_et Mounting Flange (Incl. 72 thru 83,306) Oil Drain Plug (Incl. 73) Drain Plug Gasket Oil Seal Governor Shaft Washer Governor Gear Ass'y, (Incl. 81) Governor Spool Screw, 1/4-20 x 1-1/4" Flywheel Key Ftywheet Belleville Washer Flywheel Nut Solid State Ignition Spark Plug Cover Screw, Torx T- 15, 10-24 x 16/16" GroundWire ⢠Cylinder Head Gasket Cylinder Head Exhaust Valve (Std.) (Incl. t 51) Intake Valve (Std.) (Incl. 151) Screw, 5/16-18 x 1-1/2" Resistor Spark Plug (RJ 19LM) Valve Spring Valve Spring Cap Intake Valve Seal KEY PART NO. NO. DESCRIPTION 169 36783 " Valve Cover Gasket 172 36784 Valve Cover 174 30200 Screw, 10-24 x 9/16" t 78 29782 Nut & Lock Washe_, 1(4-28 182 6201 Screw, 1/4-28 x 7/8" 184 26756 " Carburetor To Intake Pipe Gasket 186 36785 Inlake Pipe 166 32653 Governor Link 189 650839 Screw, 1/4-20 x 3/8" 191 36559A S.E. Drake Bracket (Incl 195) 195 610973 Terminal 207 34336 Throttle Link 216 33086 R.PM. Adjusting Lever 223 650451 Screw, 1/4-20 x 1" 224 36786 ° Intake Pipe Gasket 236 650932 Screw, 10-32 x 49/64" 239 34338 " Air Cleaner Gaskel 241 36919 Air Cleaner Conar 245 36905 Air Cleaner Filter 250 36920 Air Cleaner Cover 260 36980 Blower Housing 261 30200 Screw, 10-24 x 8/16" 262 650831 Screw, 1/4-20 x 1/2" 263A 36921 Starter Grill 275 36790A Muffler 277 650988 Screw, 1/4-20 x 2 5/16" 285 35000A StaderCup 287 650926 Screw, 8-32 x 21/64" 290 29774 Fuel Line 292 26460 FuelLine Clamp 298 28763 Screw, 10-32 x 35/64" 300 36916 Fuel Tank (Incl 292 & 301) 301 36246 FuelCap 305 35647 Oil Fill Tube 306 36996 * "O"-Ring 307 35499 "O"-Ring 309 650562 Screw, 10 32 x 1/2" 310 35648 Dipstick 313 34080 Spacer 325 37152 SpringClip 347 651038 Screw, 10-32 à 51/64" 370A 36261 Lubrication Decat 370C 37199 Prirner Decal 880 640174 Cadouretor (In@ 184) 3g0 690739 Rewind Starter 400 36792B Gasket Set (Incl Items Marked ") 416 36085 Spark Arrestor Ki_ (Incl. 417) (Optior'al) 417 650821 Screw, 10-32 x 1/2" (Optional) 900 Replacement Engine NON E 900 -- -- Replacement 5/B 750832A, order from 7 i-999 -- -- RPM High 2900 to 3200 NOTE: This engine could have been built with 590702 starter). NOTE: All component dimensions given in US. inches 1 inch = 25.4 mm 43
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENGINE MODEL NO. 143.996510 I I 27 _--37 (_m37 44
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENGINE MODEL NO, 143.996510 KEY NO. 1 2 4 5 6 7 16 17 18 20 20A 25 27 28 29 30 31 35 36 36A 37 4O 44 47 48 48A 6O PART NO. 640174 631615 631767 631184 * 631183 * 640O70 650506 * 631807 651025 630766 640018 640053 631867 631024 * 632019 631028 " 631021 ° 631022 36045A 640080 632766 632547 " 640175 27110A 630748 * 631027 " 631027 " 632760 DESCRIPTION Carburetor (Incl. 184 of Engine Parts List) Throttle Shaft & Lever Assembly Throttle Return Spring Dust Seal Washer Dust Seal (Throttle) Throttle Shutter Shutter Screw Fuel Fitting Throttle Crack Screw/Idle Speed Screw Tension Spring Idle Restdctor Screw Idle Restrictor Screw Cap Float Bowl Float Shaft Float Float Bowl "O" Ring Inlet Needle, Seat, & Clip (Incl. 31) Spnng Clip Primer Bulb/Retainer Ring Main Nozzle Tube Carburetor Tube "O" Ring, Main Nozzle Tube High Speed Bowl Nut Bowl Nut Wasl_er Welch Plug, Idle Mixture Well Welch Plug, Atmospheric Vent Welch Plug Repair kit (Incl. Items Marked *) 45
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENGINE MODEL NO. 143.996510 --11 --3 KEY NO. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 PART NO. 590702 590599A 590600 590696 590601 590697 590698 590699 590700 590703 590535 590701 DESCRIPTION Recoil Starter Spring Pin (Incl. 4) Washer Retainer Washer Brake Spring Starter Dog Dog Spnng Pulley & Rewind Spring Ass'y Starter Housing Ass'y. (40 degree grommet) Starter Rope ( 98" X 9/64" dia.) Starter Handle 46
CRAFTSMAN 4-CYCLE ENGINE MODEL NO. 143.996510 _3 !_ ---T4 _--7 KEY NO. 3 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 PART NO. 590739 590740 590616 590617 590618A 590638 590535 5907O1 590760 DESCRIPTION Rewind Starter Retainer Starter Dog Dog Spring Pulley & Rewind Spring Ass'y Starler Housing Ass'y (40 degree grommet) Starter Rope (Length 98" x 9/64" dia,) Starter Handle Spring Clip 47
For in-home major brand repair service: Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 1-800-4-MY-Home sM (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 pieces 1-800-665-4455 For the repair or replacement parts you need: Call 6 am-11pm CST, 7 days a week PartsDirect sM 1-800-366-PART (1-800-366-7278) Para ordenar piezas con entrega a domiciUo 1-800-659-7084 For the location of a Sears Parts and RepairCenter in your area: Call 24 Hours a day, 7 days a week 1-800-488-1222 For information on purchasing a Sears Maintenance Agreement or to inquire about an existing Agreement: Call 9 am-5 pm, Monday - Saturday 1-800-827-6655 r SEARS Home Central SM 171028 10.05.99 VB Printed in U.S.A.