Craftsman 247.388240 User manual

Owner's Manual
CRAFTSMRN
19" Mulching/Rear Discharge
PUSH LAWN MOWER
Model No.
247.388240
CAUTION: Before usingthisproduct,
read this manual and follow all Safety
Rules and Operating Instructions.
Sears, Roebuck & Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179, U.S.A.
Printed in U.S.A. 770-10185A
(1/99)

Content Page
Warranty Information ................................... 2
Safe Operation Practices........................... ,3
Slope Gauge ................................................ 6
Assembly..................................................... 7
Operation..................................................... 9
Maintenance .................................................. 12
Content Page
Service & Adjustment..................................... 15
Storage .......................................................... 17
Trouble-Shooting........................................... 19
PartsList........................................................ 20
Espan61.......................................................... 26
Two-Year Warranty on Craftsman Lawn Mower
For two years from the date of purchase, when this Craftsman lawn mower is maintained, lubricated,and tuned
up according to the instructions in the owner's manual, Sears willrepair, free of charge, any defects in material or
workmanship. If this lawn mower is used for commercial or rental purposes, this warranty applies for only 90 days
from the date of purchase.
This warranty does notcover:
1. Expendable itemswhich become worndudng normal use, suchas rotarymower blades, blade adapters,
belts, air cleaners and spark plug.
2. Repairs necessary because ofoperatorabuse or negligence,includingbent crankshaftsand the failure to
maintain equipmentaccording tothe instructions containedinthe owner'smanual.
WARRANTY SERVICE IS AVAILABLE BY RETURNING THE CRAFTSMAN LAWN MOWER TO THE
NEAREST SEARS SERVICE CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS WARRANTY APPLIES ONLY WHILE
THIS PRODUCT IS IN USE IN THE UNITED STATES.
This warranty gives you specificlegal dghts, and you may also have otherdghts whichvary from state to state.
Sears, Roebuck And Co., D/817WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
These accessorieswere _ % kJ(_ _'°
availablewhenthelawn
mowerwas purchased.They t_'_ j_
are also available at most
Sears retailoutlets,and SparkPlug Muffler -
Safety Wheels
servicecenters.MostSears _ _ {_ S
storescanorderrepairparts Glasses
for youwhenyouprovidethe
modelnumberofyourlawn
mower. EngineOil Stabilizer Gas Can Blade Grass Catcher
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Horsepower:
Engine Oil
Fuel Capacity:
Spark Plug
4.0
21 oz. SAE 30 oil
1.5 quarts
J19LM
Gap .030 inches
Please record modelnumber, serial number, and
date ofpurchase here for future reference. You will
find this information on the model plate located on
the cuttingdeck ofyourmower.
Model Number .........................................................
Sedal Number...........................................................
Date of Pumhase ......................................................

This symbol points out important safety Instructions which,if notfollowed,couldendangerthe per-
sonalsafetyand/or propertyofyourselfand others.Read andfollowellinstructionsinthismanuelbefore
attemptingtooperateyourlawnmower.Failuretocomplywiththeseinstructionsmay resultin personal
injury.Whenyou see thissymbol--heed Its warning.
1
_D Yourlawnmowerwas builtto beoperatedaccording to the rules for safe operation In this
ANnER manual. Aswithany type ofpowerequipment,carelessnessor erroronthe partofthe operator
"'_ "': canresultin seriousinjury.Ifyou violate any of these rules, you may cause serious injuryto
yourse f or others.
Thisunitisequippedwithaninternalcombustionengineandshouldnotbe usedonor nearanyunimproved
forest-covered, brush-coveredorgrass-coveredlandunlesstheengine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwithe
sparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalorstatelaws(if any).Ifa sparkarresterisused,itshouldbe
maintainedineffectiveworkingorderbytheoperator.
intheState ofCaliforniatheaboveisrequiredby law(Section4442 ofthe CaliforniaPublicResources
Code). Otherstatesmay havesimilarlaws.Federallawsapplyonfederallands.Asparkan'esterforthe
mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestSearsAuthorizedServiceCenter(See the REPAIR PARTSsection
ofthis manual.)
WARNING: The engineexhaustfrom thisproductcontainschemicalsknowntotheState ofCaliforniato
cause cancer,birthdefectsorotherreproductiveharm.
|
GENERAL OPERATION
Read thisowner'sguidecarefullyinitsentirety
before attemptingtoassemblethismachine.
Read, understand,andfollowallinstructionson
the machineandinthemanual(s)before
operation.BecompletelyfamiliarWiththecontrols
and the properuseofthismachine before
operatingit. Keepthismanualina safeplacefor
future and regularreference,andfor ordering
replacementpads.
Yourrotarymowerisa precisionpieceofpower
equipment,nota plaything.Therefore,exercise
extremecautionat elltimes.Yourunithasbeen
designedtoperform onejob:tomow grass.Do not
use itfor anyotherpurpose.
Never allowchildrenunder14 yearsoldtooperate
a powermower.Children14 yearsold andover
shouldonlyoperatemowerundercloseparental
supervision.Onlyresponsibleindividualswhoare
familiar withtheserulesofsafe operationshould
be allowedtouseyourmower.
Keep thearea ofoperationclearofellpersons,
particularly small childrenand pets.Stop engine
when they ere in the vicinity ofyour mower to help
prevent blade contact or thrown object injury.
Although the area ofoperation shouldbe
completely cleared of foreign objects, an object
may have been overlooked andcouldbe
accidentally thrown by the mower in any direction
and cause seriouspersonal injury tothe operator
or any others allowed in the area.
Thoroughlyinspecttheareawhere theequipment
istobeused.Removeallstones,sticks,wire,
bones,toysandotherforeign objectswhichcould
be pickedupand thrownbythe mowerin any
directionandcauseseriouspersonalinjurytothe
operatoror anyothersellowed inthearea. Plan
yourmowingpatterntoavoiddischargeofmaterial
towardreads,sidewalks,bystandersend thelike.
To helpavoida thrownobject'sinjury,keep
children,bystandersandhelpersat least75feet
from the mowerwhileit isinoperation.
Alwayswearsafetyglassesor safetygoggles
duringoperationorwhileperforminganadjustment
orrepair,toprotecteyesfromforeign objectsthat
may bethrownfromthe machinein anydirection.
Wear sturdy,rough-soledworkshoesandclose-
tittingslacksandshirts.Shirtsand pantsthatcover
thearmsand legsend steel-toedshoesare
recommended.Do notwear loosefittingclothesor
jewelry.They canbecaughtinmovingparts.Never
operatea unitin barefeet, sandals,slipperyorlight
weight(e.g.canvas)shoes.
Do notputhandsorfeet nearor underrotating
pads.Keep clearofdischargeopeningat ell times
as therotatingbladecancauseinjury.
Manyinjuriesoccuras a resultofthemowerbeing
pulledoverthefoot duringa fall.Donot hangonto
the mowerifyouarefairing; releasethe handle
immediately.
Neverpullthemowertowardyouwhileyouare
walking.Ifyoumustbackthemowerawayfrom a
3

wallOrobstructionfirstlookdownandbehind,and-
thenfollowthesesteps:
a. Stepbackfrom themowertofully extandyour
arms,
b. Besureyouare wellbalancodwithsure
footing.
c. Pullthemower backslowly,no morethan half
waytowardyou.
d. Repeat thesestepsas needed.
Do notoperatethe mowerwhileunderthe
influenceofalcoholordrugs.
Do notengagetheself-propenedmechanismon
unitssoequippedwhilestartingengine.
The bladecontrolhandleis asafetydevice.Never
attempttobypassitsoperation.Doingsomakes
the safetydeviceinoperativeand mayresultin
personalinjurythroughcontactwiththerotating
blade.The bladecontrolhandlemustoperate
easilyin bothdirectionsand automaticallyreturn
to thedisengagedpositionwhenreleased.
Neveroperatethemowerinwetgrass.Alwaysbe
sureofyourfooting. A slipandfallcancause
sedouspersonalinjury. Keep a firm holdonthe
handleand walk,never run.Ifyoufeel youare
losingyourfooting,RELEASETHE BLADE
CONTROLHANDLE IMMEDIATLEY andthe
bladewillstoprotatingwithinthreeseconds.
Mowonlyindaylightor goodartificiallight.
Stopthebladewhencrossinggraveldrives,walks
or roads.
Iftheequipmentshouldstarttovibrate
abnormally,stoptheengineandcheck
immediatelyforthecause.Vibrationisgenerallya
warningoftrouble.
Shuttheengineoffandwaituntilthebladecomes
toacompletestopbeforeremovingthegrass
catcheroruncloggingthe chute.The cutting
blade continues to rotateforafew seconds alter
theengineisshutoff.Never placeanypartofthe
bodyinthebladearea untilyouaresuretheblade
hasstoppedrotating.
Neveroperatemowerwithoutproperguards,
grasscatcher,platesorothersafetyprotective
devicesin place.
Mufflerandenginebecomehotand cancause a
bum.Do not touch.
Donotadjustthethrottlecontrolwiththeengine
running.
Onlyuseaccessories approvedfor thismachine
bythemanufacturer.Read,understand,and
follow allinstructionsprovidedwiththeapproved
acCessory.
Ifsituationsoccurwhichare notcoveredinthis
manual,usecareand goodjudgment.Contact
yourdealerfor assistance.
Slope Operation
Foryoursafety,usetheslopegaugeincludedaspartof
thismanualtomeasureslopesbeforeoperatingthisuniton
a slopeorhillyarea.Iftheslopeisgreaterthan15 degrees
asshownontheelopegauge(page6), do notoperatethis
uniton thatareaorseriousinjurycouldresult.
DO:
Mowacrosstheface ofslopes;neverupand
down.Exercise extremecaution whenchanging
directiononslopes.
Watchfor holes,ruts,hiddenobjects,or bumps.
Taggrasscan hideobstacles.
Alwaysbesureofyourfooting. A slipandfall can
cause seriouspersonalinjury. (fyoufeel youare
losingyourbalancereleasethebladecontrol
handleimmediatelyand thebladewillstopinless
than3 seconds.
ON MODELSWiTH CASTER WHEELS: Lock
bothfront wheelsso theydonotpivotwhile
mowingon theface of slopes.To turnthemower,
depressthehandleand raisethefront wheels
s(ightiy.
DO NOT:
Donotmownear drop-offs, ditchesor
embankments.The operatorcouldlosefootingor
balance.
Donotmow slopesgreaterthan 15degreesas
shownontheslopegauge.
Do notmowonwet grass.Reducedfooting could
causeslipping.
ON MOWERS WITH CASTER WHEELS: Do Not
mow onslopeswithcastersunlockedsincethe
mowerhasa tendencytodriftdownhill.
Children
Tragicaccidentscanoccurifthe operatorisnotalerttothe
presenceofchildren.Childrenareoftenattractedtothe
mowerandthe mowingactivity.Neverassumethat
childrenwillremainwhereyoulastsawthem.
•Keepchildrenoutofthe mowingareaand under
thewatchfulcareofa responsibleadultotherthan
theoperator.
•Bealertand turnmoweroffifa childentersthe
area.
Beforeandwhilemovingrpackwards,lookbehind
and downforsmallchildrenor otherobjects.
Neverallowchildrenunderage 14tooperatethe
mower. Children14yearsofage and above
shouldreadandunderstandtheoperation
instructionsand safetyrulesinthismanual.
Useextremecare whenapproachingblind
corners,shrubs,trees,or otherobjectsthatmay
obssureyourvisionofa childorhazard.
Service
Useextremecare inhandlinggasolineand other
fuels.Theyare extremelyflammableandthe
vaporsareexplosive.
Useonlyan approvedgasolinecontainer.
Neverremovegascap or addfuelwhilethe
engineisrunning. Allowenginetocoolat least
twominutesbeforerefueling.

•Replacegasolinecapsecurelyand wipeoffany
spilledgasolinebeforestartingthe engineas it
may causeafire orexplosion.
Extinguish allcigarettes,cigars,pipesandother
sourcesofignition.
• Never refuelmachineindoorsbecauseflammable
vaporswillaccumulateinthearea.
• Neverstorethe machineorfuel containerinside
wherethere isanopenflame orsparksuchas a
gaswater heater,spaceheater,orfurnace.
Never runan engineinsidea closedarea.
•To reducefire hazard,keep mowerfree ofgrass,
leaves, orotherdebrisbuild-up.Clean upoilor
fuel spillage•Allowmowertocoolat least5
minutesbefore storing.
•Beforecleaning,repairing,or inspecting,make
certainthebladeandall movingpartshave
stopped.Disconnectthesparkplugwire,and
keepthewireawayfrom thesparkplugtoprevent
accidentalstarting.
Checkthe bladeandenginemountingboltsat
frequent intervalsforpropertightness.Also,
visuallyinspectbladefor damage(e.g., bent,
crackedorworn).Replacewithbladewhich
meets originalequipmentspecificationslistedin
th_smanual.
•Keepall nuts,bolts,andscrewstightto be sure
theequipmentisin safeworkingcondition.
•Never tamperwithsafetydevices.Checktheir
properoperationregularly.
Afterstdkinga foreignobject,stopthe engine,
removethe wirefromthesparkplug,and
thoroughlyinspectthemowerfor anydamage.
Repairthedamagebeforestartingandoperating
the mower.
Neverattemptto make a wheelorcuttingheight
adjustmentwhiletheengineisrunning.
Grasscatchercomponents are subjecttowear,
damageand deterioration,whichcould expose
movingpartsor allowobjectsto bethrown.For
safetyprotection,frequentlycheckcomponents
and replacewithmanufacturer'srecommended
parts,whennecessary.
Mowerbladesare sharpandcancut.Wrapthe
blade(s)orweargloves,anduseextracaution
whenservicingthem.
Donotchangethe enginegovernorsettingor
overspeedtheengine.Excessiveenginespeeds
are dangerous.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Restrictthe useofthispowermachineto
personswho read,understandandfollowthe
warningsand instructionsinthismanualand
onthemachine.
Following are representations ofthe safety labels on your lawn mower. Maintain safetywhile operatingthe mower.
Please have the part number ready when re-ordering safety labels.
DANGER
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
5

' ; SI HTANOHOLO ISAVERTIC TREApo RPOLE
A CORNER OF A BUILDING
_" _- ... _. _. _'_ i_ OR A FENCE POST
|,
law _ _ , --_o_€_,_ '
J.
,<,,<
a. t_ Do not mow on inclines w th a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet).
_--_- A r d ng mower could overturn and cause serious injury. If operating a walk-behind mower on such a slope, it
_ is extremely difficult to maintain your footing and you could slip, resulting in serious injury.
"1 '" Operate RIDING mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes.
(/)o.
O Operate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.
cO

Removing Unit From Carton
Remove staples,break glue on top flaps,or cut
tape at cartonend and peel along top flap to
open carton.
Remove looseparts ifincludedwithunit(i.e.,
owner'smanual, etc,).
Cut along dottedlinesand laycartondownflat.
Remove packing material. Roll unitoutof
carton. Check cartonthoroughlyfor loose parts.
Note: Make sure not to crimpthe cable while
removinglooseparts or theunitfromthe carton.
IMPORTANT: Thisunitisshippedwithout gasoline
or oil In the engine. Be certainto service enginewith
gasoline and oilbefore operatingyour mower.
NOTE: Reference torightor lefthand side ofthe
mower and/or front or behindthe mower isobserved
from the operatingposition.
Loose Pads
a. Owner's Manual
b. A Bottleof Engine Oil
c. Partsfor Grass Bag: Frame, Bag
d. DischargeChute
Tools Required
a. Pairof Pliers
b. Funnel
Disconnecting Spark Plug
Before setting upyourlawn mower, disconnect
the spark plug wirefrom the spark plug,and
ground it against theengine. See Figure 1.
Attach rubberbootto a bolton the engine to
groundas shownbelow.
Spark Plug
Wire
'Spark Plug
Figure 1
Assembling Handle
Raise lower handle indirectionAshownin
Figure 2. it shouldsnap intoplace.
Note: Make sure toroutethecable inside thelower
handle. Also donot crimp thecable while liftingthe
handle up
B Upper Handle
Figure 2
Forshippingpurposes, the hairpin clipisplaced inthe
outer hole of the weld pin on the lower handle.
Remove thehairpinclipfrom the outerholeof
the weld pin. See Figure3.
c%p' ,/ \ .on ;ire
WE'd P'm _0 "e_rHoleon
Weld Pin
Figure 3
Using apair ofpliers,insertthe hairpinclipinto
the inner hole in the weld pin. See Figure3.
Repeat on otherside.
Raise the upper handle in the direction B shown
in Figure2. Tighten the wing nuts which are
already on the handle.
Attach control cable to the lower handle with the
cable tie already on the lower handle. Pull tight
the cable tie and cut off extra. See Figure 4.
CableTie
\
Figure 4
!

Attaching Starter Rope
The ropeguide isalready attached tothe dghtside of
the upper handle ofyour mower. See Figure 5.
•Withthesparkplugwiredisconnectedand
grounded,holdthebladecontrolhandleagainstthe
upperhandle,and pugstarterropeoutoftheengine.
•Slipthe ropethroughthe rope guide as shownin
Figure5. Tighten the wing nutholdingthe rope
guideto the upper handle.
Recoil • Nut
Guide
Figure 5
Attaching Discharge Chute
• There isagroove 2"from the left end oftherod.
Bend and Snap off approximately 2" of the rod
with apair of vise gdps. See Figure 6.
• Insert push cap, providedwith the chute rod,
onto the end of the rod which you just snapped
off. Tap on with a hammer. See Figure 6.
I__ Rear Discharge
/Door
_Chute
_/Ro d
;u;, \Discharge
Chute
Figure 6
To attach dlscharge chute: Liftthe discharge
door and place the ends of the chute rodinto
the sloton each handle bracket assembly.
Release the rear discharge door.
To remove discharge chute: Liftthe rear
dischargedoorofthe mower. Liftthe discharge
chute up and outwards and pull itout ofthe
slotson the handle bracket assemblies.
Release the rear dischargedoor.
Assembling Grass Catcher
NOTE: Make certain bag isturned right side out
before assembling (warning label will be on the
outside).
Place bag over frame (black plastic side is the
bottomof bag). Slip the openings in the side of
the plasticchannel on bag over the hookson the
grass catcher frame.
Secure bag toframe by workingthe plastic
channels on bag over frame as shown in Figure
7. All ofthe plasticchannels except center top of
bag attach from the outside ofbag. Center top of
bag attaches from the inside of bag,
Hook
Frame Grass
Bag
Figure 7
Plastic
Channels
Attaching Grass Catcher to Mower
•Liftthe chute dooron the mower. Remove the
mulchingplugor the discharge chute. See
Figure8.
Mulchlng-_,
Plug
Figure 8
Holdingthe grass bag firmly, place the bag on
the mower as shownin Figure9.
GrassCatcher
J
Hook
_Slot
Figure 9
Place hooks, locatedon two sides ofthe grass
catcherframe, in the slotson the handle
brackets.See Figure 9. Release the -chute
door.
AWarning: Never operate the mower unless
the grasscatcher frame is firmlyseated on
the chute doorpivotrod, and the rear
dischargedoor restsfirmlyon top ofthe
grass catcher.

Know Your Lawn Mower
Read thisowner's manual and safety rulesbeforeoperatingyourlawn mower.Compare the illustrationsin Figure
10 with yourlawn mower to familiarize yourselfwiththe locationof variouscontrolsand adjustments.Save this
manual for future reference.
,i_ WARNING: The operationof any lawnmower can resultinforeign objectsbeing thrownintothe
operator's eyes and causing severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses while operating the
mower,or while performingany adjustments or repairson it.
Recoil Starter Handle
OII Fill Ptug_
Front Height
AdjustmentLever
--...
Height Adjustment Lever
Spark Plug Wire
Primer
Throttle Control Lever
Figure 10
Reeon Starter
The recoil starter is attached to the handle. Stand
behind the unit and pull the recoil starter to start
the unit.
Primer
The primer isused to pump gas intothe carburetor.
Use itto starta cold engine, butdo notuse itto
restart a warmengine after shortshutdown.
Blade Control Handle
The blade controlhandle islocated on the upper
handle ofthe mower. The blade controlhandle must
be depressed in order to operatethe unit.Release
blade controlhandle to stopengine and blade.
,_ WARNING: This blade controlmechanism
isa safety device.Never attempt to bypass
itsoperations.
Height Adjustment Lever
These levers are locatedon each wheel and are used
toadjustthecuttingheight.Allfour levers havetobe at
thesame relativepositionto ensure uniformcut.
Meets CPSC Blade Safety Standards
Craftsman Walk-BehindLawn Mowers conformtothesafetystandardsoftheAms_fcanNationalStandards Institute
and the U.S.ConsumerProductSafetyCommission.
9

Stopping Engine
•Release blade controlhandle to stopthe
engine and the blade.
•Disconnect sparkplug wire and move away
from spark plugto preventaccidental starting.
WARNING: Before usingyourlawn mower,
again refer tothe safety rules on pages 3-5
ofthis manual. Always be careful.
Gas And Oil Fill-Up
Engine Oil
Only usehigh quality detergent oilrated withAPI
service classificationSF, SG or SH. Select theoil's
viscositygrade according toyour expected operating
temperature. Followthe chart below.
Colder _ 3_:°F"_ Warmer
"_- 5W30 |l SAE30 ---
b.
C.
d.
e.
Oil Viscosity Grade Chart
Use SAE3OoU;donot use10W40 oil.
Filloilsumpandcheckthe oillevelasfollows:
a. Positionthe mower onlevel ground.
Clean area aroundoilfill plug.
Remove oilfill plugand dipstick.
Wipe dipstickclean, insertitintooilfill hole
and tighten securely.
Remove dipstickand check oillevel. Ifthe
oilis not uptoFULL mark on the dipstick,
pour recommended oilthroughtheoilfill
and check the level again.
Installoilfillplugand dipstick,tightensecurely.
NOTE: Althoughmulti-viscosity oils(5W30, 10W30,
etc.) improve startingin cold weather, these
multiviscosity oilswillresultin increased oil
consumptionwhen usedabove 32°F. Check the oil
level more frequentlytoavoidpossible engine
damage from runninglow on oil.
Gasoline
WARNING: Never fill fuel tank indoors,or
when engine is runningor hot. Do not
smoke when fillingfuel tank.
• Clean area aroundgas tank cap. For location,
see Figure 10. Remove cap.
• Use a funnel to prevent spillage.
• Pour approximately 1.5quads of fresh, regular
grade, unleaded gasoline slowly to the fuel tank.
IMPORTANT: Never mixengine oilwithgasoline.
Filltank to 1/2" belowthe bottomofthe filler
neck. Wipe any fuel spillage. Do not fill fuel tank
completely. Provide spacefor fuel expansion.
Starting Engine
(Refer to Figure 11.)
WARNING: Be sure no one other than the
operator isstanding near the lawn mower
whilestartingor operating.
Attach spark plug wire to spark plug. Make
certainthe metal cap on the end ofthe spark
plug wire is fastened securely over the metal tip
on the spark plug.
&WARNING: Never runengine indoors or in
enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an
ododass and deadly gas.
WARNING: Keep hands, feet, hair and
loose clothing away from any moving parts
on engine and lawn mower.
Push primer three times. Wait about two
seconds between each push. In coldweather
around55° For below, primefive times. Do not
prime to restart a warm engine after a short
shutdown.
Hold controlhandle against the upper handle.
Grasp recoilstarter and pull rope out slowly
untilengine reaches the start of compression
cycle(rope willpull slightlyharder at this point).
See Figure 11 inset. Letthe rope rewind slowly.
Hold handles firmly
Check/fill_ Pull recoil starter
Fill gasoline
Attach s
plug wire 3 times
Figure 11
10

Pullropewitharapid,continuous,fullarm
stroke.Keepingafirmgdpontherecoilstarter,
lettheropereturntothestarterslowly.
Using Your Lawn Mower
Your mower isdesignedto operateas a mulching ora
side discharge unit.
•For convertingfrom a mulcherto a side
discharge unit,refer to instructions on page 8.
Do not operate mower without the mulching
deflector or the grass catcher properly
installed and tightly secured.
•Besure that lawn isclear of stones,sticks,
wire, orotherobjectswhichcoulddamage lawn
mower or engine. Such objects couldbe
accidentlythrown bythe mowerin any direction
and cause serious personalinjurytothe
operator and others.
•Forbestresults, donotcut wetgrassbecause
ittends to stick to the underside of the mower,
preventing proper discharge of grass clippings,
and couldcause you to slipand fall. New grass,
thick grass or wet grass may require a
narrower cut. Blade speed should be adjusted
to the condition of the lawn.
•Thebestmowingpattemisonethatallowsthe
clippingstodischargetowardsthe uncutpartof
the lawn. This permitsrscuttingoftheclippings
tofurther pulverize them. When cuttinghigh
weeds, dischargetowards cutportion,then
recut at rightanglesto first direction.
•Forahealthylawn, always cutoffone-thirdor
less ofthe total length ofthe grass. Lawn should
be cut inthefall as long asthere is growth.
•This mower isdesignedto be operated at full
throttleto give you the bestcut and do the
most effectivejobof bagging theclippings.
AWARNING: Ifthe mower strikesa foreign
object, stop the engine. Remove sparkplug
wire from_park plug and thoroughlyinspect
the mower for any damage. Repair the
damage before restartingthe mower.
Extensive vibration dudng operation isan
indication of equipment damage.
Using Grass Catcher
You can use the grass catcher bag tocollectclippings
while operatingthe mower.
• Attach the grass catcher tothe mowerfollowing
instructionson page 8 ofthis manual.
Operate the mowertillthe greyscatcher bag is
full,ortheiob hasbeen completed whichever is
eadier.
Stop the enginecompletely by releasingthe
blade controlhandle. Make sure that the unit
has cometo a completestop and the blade has
stopped rotating.Emptythe grass catcher bag
as follows.
Liftthe dischargedoorand pullthe grass bag
away from the mower as shown in Figure 12.
Holdingthebag firmly, carry the bag away from
the mower. Disposeoffthe clippings
appropriately.
Chute Door
Bag Handle
Hold bag with
Figure 12
Height Adjustment
Refer to heightadjustmentssectionofthis manual on
page 16 for instructionon howto adjustthe cuffing
heightand the handle height.
Forbest resultsin mowing,keep the cuttingheight
positionhighuntilitisdeterminedwhichheight isbest
foryour lawn.
11

General Recommendations
Always observe safety ruleswhen performing
any maintenance.
The warrantyon thislawn mowerdoesnotcover
itemsthathavebeen subjectedtooperatorabuse
or negligence.To receivefull valuefrom the
warranty,operatormustmaintainthelawnmower
as instructedinthismanual.
Changingof engine governedspeed willvoid
engine warranty.
Some adjustmentswillhave to be made
periodicallyto maintainyour unitproperly.
Alladjustmentsinthe Service and Adjustments
sectionof thismanual shouldbe checked at
leastonce each season.
Followthe maintenance schedule givenbelow.
Periodicallycheck all fasteners and make sure
these are tight.
WARNING: Always stopthe engine and
disconnect the spark plug wire before
performingany maintenanceoradjustments.
Cleaning
The undersideofthemower deck shouldbecleaned
aftereach usetoprevent any buildupofgrass clippings,
leaves, dirt, or otherdebris.Ifthis debdsisallowedto
accumulate,itwillresultinrustandcorrosion.
Disconnect spark plug wire.
Drain the gasoline from the lawn mower, or
place a piece ofplasticunder the gas cap.
Tip the mower so that itrests on the housing.
Keep the side with the air cleaner facing up.
Hold itfirmly.
Scrape clean the underside ofthe deck witha
suitable tool.
Put the mower back on itswheels on the
ground. Ifyou had put plasticunder the gas
cap, make sure to remove it now.
&WARNING: Never tip the mower more
than 90 degrees and do not leave the
mower tipped for any length of time. Oil
can drain intothe upper part of the engine
causing a starting problem.
NOTE: We do not recommend usinga garden hoseto
clean mower unlessthe muffler, air filterand
carburetor are covered tokeep water out. Water in
engine can shorten engine life.
Engine Maintenance
&WARNING: Always stop englne,
disconnect spark plug wire, and move it
away from spark plug before performingany
adjustments or repairs.
.'ustomer Responsibilities
MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULE
Lubricatewheels
Lubricatecasters <_
0Lubricatebladecontrol
D. Cleandeck _/_
Bladecare <_
Changeoil _;_ <_
UJ Replaceair filter _:_
z
_z Cleanengine _/_
uJ Checksparkplug <_
Checksparkarrester(ifany) <_
SERVICE
DATES
12

Engine OII
Only use highqualitydetergentoilrated with
API service classificationSF, SG or SH. Select
the oil'sviscositygrade accordingtoyour
expected operating temperature.Refer topage
10 ofthis manualfor viscositychad.
Stop engine and waitseveral minutesbefore
checkingoil level.With engineon levelground,
the oilmustbe to FULL mark on dipstick.
Change engine oil afterthe first five hoursof
operation, and every twenty-five hours
thereafter.
To Change Engine Oil
Change oilafter first two operatinghotJrsand every
25 operating hoursthereafter. Drainoilwhileengine
iswarm. Followthe instructionsgivenbelow.
Tip the mowerwith thespark plugfacingup.
Place acontainerunderthe dipstick.Pullthe
dipstickout ofoilfill.
Drainthe oilsump empty, collectingoilinan
approved container.
Filloilsump with21 ouncesoffresh SAE30 oil.
Refer topage 10 ofthismanualfor oilfill-up
instructions.
Air Cleaner
The air cleaner preventsdamagingdirt, dust,etc.,
from enteringthe carburetorand beingforced intothe
engine and isimportantto enginelife and
performance. Replace filter once a year or every 100
operatinghours,moreoften ifusedin extremelydusty
conditions.
To Service Air Cleaner:
Turn air filter cover counterclockwiseand
remove the cover and filter from the flange.
See Figure13. Discardfilter.
Clean cover and flange thoroughly.
Insertthe new filter intothe cover.
Placethe cover and the filteragainst flange
withtab on the cover inserted into lower left
cornerof slot inflange. See Figure 13.
Pushcover firmly against flange and turn it
clockwiseas far as itwillgo. Make sure that the
retainers are locked aroundthe flange. See
Figure 13.
,_ WARNING: Never run the engine without
air cleaner completely assembled.
Clean Engine
Clean engine periodically.Remove dirtand
debriswith a clothor brush.
Frequently remove grass clippings, dirt and
debris from coolingfins, air intake screen and
levers and linkage.This will help ensure
adequate cooling and correct engine speed.
NOTE: Do not clean with a forceful spray of water as
water could contaminate the fuel system.
Spark Plug
Clean spark plugand reset gap to .030" at least
once a season or every 50 hours ofoperation.
See Figure 14. Spark plug replacement is
recommendedat thestart ofeach season. Refer
toengine parts listfor correct spark plug type.
NOTE: Do not sandblast spark plug. Spark p/ug
shouldbe cleaned by scrapingor wire brushing and
washing witha commercial solvent.
Feeler gap .030"
Spark Plug
r Cleaner
Filter Retainer
Figure 13
Muffler
&
Figure 14
WARNING: Do notoperate the lawn
mower without a muffler, or tamper with
the exhaust system. Damaged mufflers or
spark arresters couldcreate afire hazard.
Temperature of muffler and nearby areas
may exceed 150° F(65°C).
13

Blade Care
Periodically inspectthe blade adapter for cracks,
especially ifyou strikea foreign object. Replace when
necessary.
WARNING: When inspectingthe cutting
_lk lade, protect hands by using heavy
gloves or a rag to grasp the cutting
blade.
Disconnectspark plugwire from spark plug.
Turn mower on itsside making sure that the air
filter and the carburetorare upto check the
blade. If theblade needs to beserviced, refer
tothe instructionson bladecare inthe "Service
& Adjustments"sectionofthis manual.
Lubrication
Wheels
Lubricatethe wheels at least once a season
withlightoilor engine oil.Also, ifthe wheels are
removed for any reason, lubricatethe surface
ofthe axle boltand the inner surfaceof the
wheel with lightoil.
Blade Control Handle
• Lubricatethe pivot pointson the blade control
handle and the brake cable at least once a
season with lightoil. The blade controlhandle
mustoperate freely in bothdirections.For
complete lubricationchart, see Figure15.
Chute Deflector
•Lubricatethe torsionspringand thepivot point
on each end ofthe chute deflector usinga light
oil.This willprevent rustingand ensure thatthe
deflector,which isa safety device, can always
work properly.
NOTE:Forsakeofctadty,illustrationsinthe insetsrepresentviewfromanotherperspectiveratherthanfromtheoperatingposition.
Figure 15: Lubrication Chart
14

Servicing Blade
To Remove Blade
Remove the bolt and blade bell supportwhich
holdthe blade and adapter tothe engine
crankshaft. See Figure 16.
Remove theblade and adapter from the
crankshaft.
To Replace Blade:
Before reinstallingtheblade andthe blade
adapterto theunit, lubricatethe engine
crankshaftand the innersurface ofthe blade
adapter with lightoil.
Installthe bladeadapter on the crankshaftwith
the "star" away from theengine. See Figure 16.
Blade Adapts, Crankshaft
Blade
To Sharpen Blade:
The bladecanbe sharpenedwitha file oron a grinding
wheel.Do notaftempt tosharpen whileon the mower,
Followthe originalangle ofgrind as aguide.
Make sure thateach cutting edge receives an
equal amount ofgrinding toprevent an
unbalanced blade.
NOTE: An unba/anced blade wi/I cause excessive
vibration when rotating at high speeds, may cause
damage to themower and couldbreak, causing
personal injury.
Test the blade by balancing it on aroundshaft
screwdriveror a blade balancer. See Figure 17.
Ifthe blade is not balanced, remove metal from
the heavy side until itbalances evenly.
1.Insertscrew driver through hole
O"
2. Bladeshould be parallelto ground
Screw
Driver _. Blade
Ground
Blade Bell
Hex Bolt Support
Figure 16
Place thenewblade withthe side marked
bottom(or withpart number) facing away from
the adapter.
Place the bell support next. Make sure to align
the tabs in the holesof the blade with the hole in
the bell support.
Insert the hex bolt through the blade assembly.
Figure 16 showsthe correct order of assembly.
Use block of woodto hold blade again while you
tighten the bolt clockwise. Follow the
recommended torque for the bolt which is 450-
600 in.-Ibs.
IMPORTANT: The bolt, used to secure the bladeto
the engine, isspeciallyheat-treated. Do not
substitute. To order replacement bolt,refer to the
Repair Partssection of this manual.
WARNING: To ensure safe operationof
yourunit,all nuts and bolts must be
checked periodicallyfor correcttightness.
Figure 17
Engine Adjustments
WARNING: Do not make unnecessary
adjustments on the engine. Factory settings
are satisfactoryfor most conditions.
Ifany adjustments are made to the engine
whilethe engine isrunning, keep clear of all
moving parts. Be careful of heated
surfaces and muffler. Keep your hands
away from these parts.
Carburetor
The carburetor has been pre-set at the factory and
shouldnot requireadjustment,
Ifthe engine on your mower does not operate
properlydue to suspected carburetor problems,
take yourlawn mower to your nearest SEARS
service center.
Engine performance may be affected in altitudes
above 4000 feet. To improve engine
performance, install ahigh altitude adjustment
kit, available at the SEARS service center.
NOTE: Adirty air cleaner will cause an engine to run
rough. Be certain air cleaner is clean and attached to
the carburetor.
15

Engine Speed
WARNING: Overspeedlng engine above
thefactory settingcan be dangerous. Do not
attempt to increase engine speed or itmay
resultin personalinjury. Changing of engine
governedspeed will void engine warranty.
Ifyou believe the engine is runningtoo fast or
too slow,take your lawn mower tothe nearest
SEARS service center.
Adjusting Handle Height
Your mower isshippedwith the handle in the higher
height position.To lowerthe handle height, proceed
as follows.
•Remove the starter rope from the rope guide.
•Remove the upper handle by removing the hand
knobsand cardage bolts. Laythe upper handle
outof the way, being careful not to bend or kink
the cable.
•Remove the hairpin clipfrom the weld pinon the
handlebracket on each side ofthe lower handle.
See Figure 18 inset. Press out on the legs ofthe
lowerhandle. Remove lower handle from the
mower.
•Turn the lower handle around sothe notch on
the bottomof the lower handle is facing forward
as shown in Figure 18. Reassemble, placingthe
bottom hole on the handle over the weld pinin
the handle mountingbracket.
•Reassemble the upper handle to the lower
handle.
• Place the hairpin clipsin the inner holes inthe
weld pinsand attach the starter rope as
instructedinthe Assembly section. See Figure
18 inset.
Notch
Handle
Hairpin
Clip Handle
Adjusting Cutting Height
IMPORTANT: All wheels mustbeplaced inthesame
relativeposition.
•Raisethe mowerwheelsforlow cutand lowerthe
wheelsfor highcut. For roughor uneven lawns,
move the heightadjustment lever toa higher
position.This willhelpstop scalpingofthe
grass.
There isan adjustingplate and thumb lever at each
wheel positiontoadjust thecuttingheight. Each
adjustingplate hasnine heightpositions.Heightofcut
willchange ifyou movethethumb leverfrom one hole
to another.
•Simply depress the lever towardswheel and
movethe wheel and lever assembly tothe
desired position.See Figure 19. Allwheels
mustbe placed inthe same relativepositionfor
uniformcuttingheight.
•For rough or uneven lawns, movethe height
adjustment handlesto positionswhichwill give
ahighercuttingheight.Bothfrontand rear
handles mustbe placed inthe same relative
position.
HeightAdjustment
Lever
/
Figure 19
Figure 18
16

Prepareyourlawnmowerforstorageattheendofthe
seasonorIftheunitwillnotbeusedfor30daysor
more. Storethe mower ina clean, dry area.
Mower
Clean undersideofthe mower following
instructionsin the Maintenance sectionof this
manual.
Inspectand replace/sharpen blade, ifrequired.
Refer tothe Maintenance sectionofthismanual
for blade care instructions.
Lubricatemowerfollowing the lubricationchart
on page 14 ofthis manual.
You canfold yourmower's handle for convenient
storage as shownin Figure20. Followthe steps
below tofold thehandle.
Remove the starter ropefrom the ropeguide.
Loosenthe two handknobson the sides ofthe
handle, and letthe upper handle folddown to
the rear.
Move the hairpinclipsto theouter holein the
weld pinson the handle mountingbrackets.
Spread the sides ofthe lowerhandle, and push
itforward and down.
Upper Handle Lower
Handle
/
Figure 20
NOTE: Whenfoldingthehandle forstorage or
transportation,be careful nottobend or kink the
cable.
Engine
IMPORTANT: Itisimportantto prevent gumdeposits
fromforming in essentialfuel system partssuch as
carburetor,fuel filter, fuel hose, or tankduring
storage.Also, experience indicatesthatalcohol
blendedfuels (calledgasohol or usingethanol or
methanol)can attractmoisturewhich leadsto
separationand formation ofacids duringstorage.
Acidicgascan damage the fuel system ofan engine
whilein storage.
Drainfuelsystem& carburetor
WARNING: Drain fuel intoapproved
container outdoors away from open flame,
Be sure engine is cool. Do not smoke.
Drain the fuel tank.
Start the engine and letit run untilthe fuel lines
and carburetor are empty.
Drain carburetor by removing bowldrain screw
which is locatedbelow the carburetor. See
Figure 21.
BowlreD_ln_carburet°r
Figure 21
Note: Do not drain carburetor ffusing fuel stabilizer.
WARNING: Never use engine or
carburetor cleaner productsinthe fuel tank
or permanent damage may occur.
Use fresh fuel next season.
Use fuel stabilizer
NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable alternative in
minimizing the formation of fuelgum deposits during
storage,
Add stabilizer to gasoline infuel tank orstorage
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. Drain all the oil from the
crankcase (This should be done after the
engine has been operated and isstill warm)
and refill the crankcase with fresh oil.
17

011cylinderbore
Afteryouhavedrainedthefueltank,protectthe
insideoftheengineas follows:
•Remove spark plug, pour approximately one
ounce (30 ml) ofengine oil intospark plughole,
and crank slowlyto distdbute oil.
WARNING: Avoid spray from spark plug
hole when cranking the engine slowly.
• Replace sparkplug;do notconnectsparkplugwire.
Change oil
•Change oilifithas notbeen changed inthe last
three months. For instructionson howto
change oil refer tothe Maintenance sectionof
this manual.
Clean engine
•Clean engine and remove any grassclippings,
dirt,or chafffromthe exteriorof theengine.
•Remove any dirtordebris fromcoolingfins, air
intakescreen, levers,and linkage.
• OTHER
Do notstore gasolinefromone season to
another.
Replaceyourgasolinecan ifitstartsto rust.
Rustand/or dirtinthe gasolinewillcause
problems.Store unitina clean, dryarea. Do not
storenexttocorrosivematerials,such as
fertilizer.
NOTE: ffstoringin an unventi/atador metal storage
shed,becertaintorustprooftheequipmentbycoating
witha lightoilor silicone.
18

PROBLEM
Engine failsto start
Engine runserratic
Engine overheats
Occasional skip
(hesitates) at high
speed
iIdles poorly
Excessive vibration
Mower willnot
mulch grass
POSSIBLE CAUSE
1. Blade controlhandle disengaged
2.Spark plug wire disconnected
3.Throttlecontrollever not in starting position
4.Fuel tankempty, or stale fuel
5.Blockedfuel line
6.Faultyspark plug
1. Spark plugwire loose
2.Blockedfuel line or stale fuel
3.Vent in gas cap plugged
4.Water or dirtin fuel system
5. Dirtyaircleaner
1. Engine oil level low
2.Airflow restricted
1. Spark plug gap too close
1. Spark plug fouled, faulty, or gap too wide
2.Dirty air cleaner
1. Cutting blade loose or unbalanced
2.Bent cutting blade
3.Bent engine crankshaft
1. Wet grass
2.Excessively high grass
3.Dull blade
Uneven cut 1. Wheels not insame height position
2. Dull blade
CORRECTIVE ACTION
1. Engage blade controlhandle.
2. Connect wire to spark plug.
3. Move throttlelever tostartingposition.
4. Filltank with fresh, clean fuel.
5,Clean fuel line.
6, Clean, adjust gap or replace.
1, Connect and tightenspark plug wire.
2, Cleanfuel line,fill tankwithclean,fresh
gasoline.
3, Clear vent.
4, Drain fuel tank. Refillwithfresh fuel.
5. Clean air cleaner. Refer to
Maintenance sectionofthis manual.
1, Fillcrankcase withproper oil.
2. Clean lawn mower engine.
1. Adjust gap to .630 inches.
1. Reset gap to .030 inchesor replace
spark plug.
2.Clean air cleaner followinginstructions
on page 13.
1. Tighten blade and adapter, balance
blade.
2. Replace blade.
3.Contact your SEARS Service Center.
1. Wait untillater to cut.
2. Mow once at a highcuttingheight,then
mow again at desired height.Make a
narrowercuttingswath (1/2) width. Do
not cutoff more than 1/3 of thetotal
length.
3. Sharpen or replace blade,
1. Place all four wheels in same relative
height position.
2. Sharpen or replace blade.
For repairs beyond the minor adjustments listedabove,
please contact your nearest SEARS Service Center.
19

SEARS CRAFTSMAN 4.0 H.P. LAWN MOWER MODEL 247.388240
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