Craftsman 247.388240 User manual

Owner's Manual
CRRFTSMRN
19" Mulching/Rear Discharge
PUSH LAWN MOWER
Model No.
247.388240
CAUTION: Before using this product,
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. //u-1 ut _bA
(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
Parts List........................................................ 20
Espan61.......................................................... 26
Two-Year Warranty on Craftsman Lawn Mower
For two years from the date of purchase, when this Craftsman lawn mower ismaintained, lubricated, and tuned
up according to the instructions in the owner's manual, Sears will repair, 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 warrantydoes not cover:
1. Expendable itemswhichbecome wornduringnormal use, such as rotarymower blades, blade adapters,
belts, air cleaners and spark plug.
2. Repairs necessary because ofoperator abuse or negligence, includingbent crankshaftsand the failure to
maintain equipmentaccording tothe instructionscontained inthe owner's manual.
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.
Thiswarranty gives you specificlegal rights,and you may also have other rights whichvary from state tostate.
Sears, Roebuck And Co., D/817WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
These accessodeswere _ %
availablewhenthelawn
mowerwas purchased.They
arealso availableat most
Sears retailoutlets,and SparkPlug Muffler
servicecenters.MostSears _ _ _
storescan orderrepairparts
foryouwhenyou providethe
modelnumberofyourlawn
mower. EngineOil Stabilizer Gas Can
Safety Wheels
Glasses S
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 model number, serialnumber, and
date of purchase here for future reference. You will
find this informationonthe modelplate locatedon
the cutting deckof yourmower.
Model Number .........................................................
Serial Number...........................................................
Date ofPurchase .....................................................
2

Thissymbolpoints out important safety instructions which, ifnotfollowed,couldendangerthe per-
sonalsafetyand/orpropertyofyourselfand others.Read and followall instructionsinthis manualbefore
attemptingto operateyourlawn mower.Failuretocomplywiththeseinstructionsmay resultin personal
injury.Whenyou see thissymbol--heed Its warning.
IYourlawnmowerwas builtto beoperatedaccording to the rules for safe operation in this
,_ DANGER" manual. As withanytype ofpowerequipment,carelessnessor erroron the partoftheoperator
_" "can resultinseriousinjury.If you violate any of these rules, you may cause serious injury to
uyourself or others.
Thisunitisequippedwithaninternalcombustionengineand shouldnotbe usedonornear anyunimproved
forest-covered, brush-coveredorgrass-coveredlandunlessthe engine'sexhaustsystemisequippedwitha
sparkarrestermeetingapplicablelocalorstate laws(ifany). Ifa sparkarresterisused,itshouldbe
maintainedin effectiveworkingorderbytheoperator.
In theState ofCaliforniathe aboveisrequiredbylaw(Section4442 oftheCaliforniaPublicResources
Cede). Otherstatesmay havesimilarlaws.Federal lawsapplyonfederal lands.Asparkarresterfor the
mufflerisavailablethroughyournearestSearsAuthorizedServiceCenter(See the REPAIR PARTS section
ofthismanual.)
WARNING: The engineexhaustfromthisproductcontainschemicalsknowntotheState ofCaliforniato
causecancer, birthdefectsorotherreproductiveharm.
|
GENERALOPERATION
Readthisowner'sguidecarefully initsentirety
beforeattemptingtoassemblethismachine.
Read,understand,andfollow all instructionson
the machineandinthe manual(s)before
operation.Becompletelyfamiliar withthecontrols
andtheproperuseofthismachinebefore
operatingit.Keepthismanualin a safe placefor
future and regularreference,andfor ordering
replacementparts.
Yourrotarymowerisa precisionpieceofpower
equipment,nota plaything.Therefore, exercise
extremecautionatalltimes.Yourunithasbeen
designedto performonejob:tomowgrass.Do not
use itfor anyotherpurpose.
Neverallowchildrenunder14 yearsoldtooperate
a powermower.Children14yearsoldandover
shouldonlyoperatemowerundercloseparental
supervision.Onlyresponsibleindividualswho are
familiar withtheserulesofsafe operationshould
beallowedto useyourmower.
Keepthearea ofoperationclearofall persons,
particularlysmallchildrenand pets.Stopengine
whentheyareinthevicinityofyourmowerto help
preventbladecontactor thrownobjectinjury.
Althoughthe areaofoperationshouldbe
completelyclearedofforeignobjects,an object
may havebeen overlookedand couldbe
accidentallythrownbythe mowerin anydirection
and cause seriouspersonalinjurytotheoperator
or anyothersallowedinthearea.
Thoroughlyinspectthe areawheretheequipment
isto beused.Removeall stones,sticks,wire,
bones,toysandotherforeign objectswhichcould
bepickedupand thrownbythemowerinany
directionand causesedouspersonalinjurytothe
operatororanyothersallowedinthe area. Plan
yourmowingpatterntoavoiddischargeofmatedal
towardroads,sidewalks,bystandersandthe like.
To helpavoid a thrownobject'sinjury,keep
children,bystandersandhelpersat least 75 feet
fromthemowerwhileitisinoperation.
Alwayswearsafetyglassesorsafetygoggles
dudngoperationorwhileperformingan adjustment
orrepair,toprotecteyes from foreignobjectsthat
maybe thrownfrom themachinein anydirection.
Wear sturdy,rough-soledworkshoesand close-
fitting slacksand shirts.Shirtsand pantsthatcover
thearmsandlegsand steel-toedshoesare
recommended.Do notwear loosefitting clothesor
jewelry.Theycanbecaughtinmovingparts.Never
operatea unitinbarefeet,sandals,slipperyorlight
weight(e.g. canvas)shoes.
Do notput handsorfeet nearor underrotating
parts.Keepclear ofdischargeopeningat all times
asthe rotatingbladecancauseinjury.
Manyinjuriesoccuras a resultofthe mowerbeing
pulledoverthefoot duringa fall. Do nothangonto
themowerifyouare falling; releasethehandle
immediately.
Never pullthe mowertowardyou whileyouare
walking.Ifyou mustbackthe mowerawayfroma
3

wallorobstructionfirstlookdownandbehind,and-
thenfollow thesesteps:
a. Stepbackfrom the mower tofully extendyour
arms.
b. Besure youarewell balancedwithsure
footing.
c. Pullthe mowerbackslowly,nomorethan half
waytowardyou.
d. Repeatthesestepsas needed.
•Do notoperatethemowerwhileunderthe
influenceofalcoholordrugs.
•Do notengagetheself-propelledmechanismon
unitssoequippedwhilestartingengine.
•The blade controlhandle isa safetydevice. Never
attemptto bypassitsoperation.Doingsomakes
thesafetydeviceinoperativeand may resultin
personalinjurythroughcontactwiththerotating
blade.The blade controlhandlemustoperate
easilyin bothdirectionsand automaticallyreturn
tothedisengagedpositionwhen released.
•Neveroperatethe mowerinwet grass.Alwaysbe
sureofyourfooting. A slipand fallcan cause
seriouspersonalinjury. Keep a firm holdonthe
handleandwalk, neverrun. Ifyoufeel youare
losingyourfooting, RELEASE THE BLADE
CONTROL HANDLE IMMEDIATLEY andthe
bladewillstoprotatingwithinthree seconds.
•Mow only indaylightorgoodartificial light.
•Stopthe blade whencrossinggraveldrives, walks
or roads.
• Iftheequipmentshouldstartto vibrate
abnormally,stoptheengineand check
immediatelyforthecause.Vibrationisgenerallya
warningoftrouble.
•Shuttheengineoffand waituntilthebladecomes
to a completestopbeforeremovingthegrass
catcheror uncloggingthe chute.The cutting
bladecontinuesto rotatefor afew secondsafter
the engineisshutoff.Never place anypart ofthe
bodyintheblade area untilyouaresuretheblade
hasstoppedrotating.
• Neveroperatemowerwithoutproperguards,
grasscatcher,platesorothersafetyprotective
devicesinplace.
•Mufflerandenginebecome hotand cancausea
burn.Do nottouch.
•Do notadjustthethrottlecontrolwiththeengine
running.
•Onlyuseaccessoriesapprovedforthismachine
bythe manufacturer.Read, understand,and
followall instructionsprovidedwiththeapproved
accessory.
•Ifsituationsoccurwhichare notcoveredin this
manual,usecareand goodjudgment.Contact
yourdealerfor assistance.
Slope Operation
Foryoursafety,usatheslopegaugeincludedas partof
thismanualtomeasureslopesbeforeoperatingthis uniton
aslope orhillyarea.Ittheslopeisgreaterthan 15 degrees
as shownontheslopegauge(page6),donotoperatethis
unitonthatareaorseriousinjurycouldresult.
DO:
Mowacrossthe faceofslopes;neverupand
down.Exerciseextremecautionwhenchanging
directiononslopes.
Watchfor holes,ruts,hiddenobjects,orbumps.
Tallgrasscanhideobstacles.
Alwaysbesureofyourfooting. A slipand fall can
causeseriouspersonalinjury. Ifyoufeel youare
losingyourbalancereleasethe bladecontrol
handleimmediatelyand thebladewillstopin less
than 3 seconds,
ON MODELS WITH CASTER WHEELS: Lock
bothfront wheelsso theydo notpivotwhile
mowingontheface ofslopes.Toturnthemower,
depressthehandleand raisethefront wheels
slightly.
DO NOT:
Do notmowneardrop-offs,ditchesor
embankments.The operatorcouldlosefooting or
balance.
Do notmowslopesgreaterthan 15 degreesas
shownon theslopegauge.
Do notmowonwet grass.Reducedfooting could
causeslipping.
ON MOWERS WITH CASTER WHEELS: Do Not
mowon slopeswithcastersunlockedsincethe
mowerhasatendencytodriftdownhill.
Children
Tragicaccidentscanoccuriftheoperatorisnotalerttothe
presenceofchildren.Childrenareoftenattractedtothe
mowerandthe mowingactivity.Neverassumethat
childrenwillremainwhereyoulastsew them.
Keepchildrenoutofthemowingareaand under
thewatchfulcareofa responsible adultotherthan
theoperator.
Bealert and turnmoweroffifa childentersthe
area.
Beforeandwhilemovingbackwards, lookbehind
anddownforsmallchildrenor otherobjects.
Never allowchildrenunderage 14 tooperatethe
mower. Children14yearsofageand above
shouldread and understandthe operation
instructionsandsafety rulesinthismanual.
Useextremecarewhen approachingblind
corners,shrubs,trees,or otherobjectsthatmay
obscureyourvisionofa childor hazard.
Service
Useextremecare inhandlinggasolineandother
fuels.They are extremelyflammable andthe
vaporsareexplosive.
Useonlyan approvedgasolinecontainer.
Never removegascap oraddfuel whilethe
engineisrunning. Allowengineto coolat least
twominutesbeforerefueling.
4

Replace gasoline cap securely and wipe off any •
spilled gasoline before starting the engine as it
may cause afire or explosion.
Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other
sources of ignition•
Never refuel machine indoors because flammable •
vapors will accumulate inthe area.
Never store the machine or fuel container inside •
where there is an open flame or spark such as a
gas water heater, space heater, or furnace.
Never run an engine inside a closed area.
To reduce fire hazard, keep mower free of grass,
leaves, or other debris build-up. Clean up oil or
fuel spillage• Allow mower to cool at least 5
minutes before storing.
Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, make
certain the blade and all moving parts have •
stopped. Disconnect the spark plug wire, and
keep the wire away from the spark plug to prevent
accidental starting.
Check the blade and engine mounting bolts at
frequent intervals for proper tightness. Also,
visually inspect blade for damage (e.g., bent,
cracked or worn). Replace with blade which
meets original equipment specifications listed in
th=smanual.
Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure
the equipment isin safe working condition.
Never tamper with safety devices. Check their
proper operation ragulady.
After striking a foreign object, stop the engine,
remove the wire from the spark plug, and
thoroughly inspect the mower for any damage.
Repair the damage before starting and operating
the mower.
Never attempt to make awheel or cutting height
adjustment while the engine is running.
Grass catcher components are subject to wear,
damage and deterioration, which could expose
moving parts or allow objects to be thrown. For
safety protection, frequently check components
and replace with manufacturer's recommended
pads, when necessary.
Mower blades are sharp and can cut. Wrap the
blade(s) or wear gloves, and use extra caution
when servicing them.
Do not change the engine governor setting or
overspeed the engine. Excessive engine speeds
are dangerous.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
&Restrictthe useofthispowermachineto
personswhoread,understandand follow the
warningsand instructionsinthismanualand
on themachine.
Followingare representationsof the safety labels on yourlawn mower. Maintainsafety while operating the mower.
Please havethe part number readywhen re-ordering safety labels.
DANGER
READOPERATOR'SMANUAL KEEPSAFETYDEVICES(BLADECONTROL,
DISCHARGECOVER INPLACEANDWORKING.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
5

Z_ l =
|_, SIGHT AND HOLD THIS LEVEL WITH A VERTICAL TREE
•_ t i_ 'l_'_ ,,POW_.POLE
•_. -_ ._ A CORNER OF A BUILDING
_ "-. OR A FENCE POST
s
o
,<
_5
tuuJ WARNING
C._u-
,_
=. (n Do not mow on inclines with a slope in excess of 15 degrees (a rise of approximately 2-1/2 feet every 10 feet).
_. A riding 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.
m,,, Operate RIDING mowers up and down slopes, never across the face of slopes.
(/) i,i
OOperate WALK-BEHIND mowers across the face of slopes, never up and down slopes.
(D

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 loose parts if included with unit (i.e.,
owner's manual, etc.).
Cut along dotted lines and lay carton down flat.
Remove packing material. Roll unit out of
carton. Check carton thoroughly for loose parts.
Note: Make sure not to crimp the cable while
removing loose parts or the unit from the carton.
IMPORTANT: This unit isshippedwithout gasoline
or oil in the engine. Becertain toservice engine with
gasolineand oilbeforeoperating your mower.
NOTE: Reference toright or lefthand side of the
mower and/or frontor behind the mower is observed
from the operatingposition.
Loose Parts
a. Owner's Manual
b. A Bottleof Engine Oil
c. Parts for Grass Bag: Frame, Bag
d. DischargeChute
Tools Required
a. Pair of Pliers
b. Funnel
Disconnecting Spark Plug
Before settingup yourlawn mower,disconnect
the spark plugwire from the spark plug, and
ground itagainst the engine. See Figure 1.
Attach rubberbootto a boltonthe engine to
ground as shownbelow.
Spark Plug
Wire
'Spark Plug
Figure 1
Assembling Handle
Raise lower handle in directionA shown in
Figure2. Itshouldsnap intoplace.
Note: Make sure toroute thecable inside the lower
handle. Alsodo notcrimp thecable while liftingthe
handle up
BUpperHandle
Lower'_andle
Figure 2
For shippingpurposes,the hairpinclipisplaced inthe
outer hole of the weld pin on the lower handle.
Remove the hairpin clip from the outer hole of
the weld pin. See Figure 3.
cH_llrpln'__ _ _Lower
P_'/ _ _ SHandle
w.,,n .o.on
WeldPin
Figure 3
Using apair ofpliers, insertthe hairpin clipinto
the innerhole inthe weld pin. See Figure3.
Repeat on other side.
Raise the upper handle in the directionBshown
in Figure2. Tighten the wing nutswhichare
already on the handle.
Attach controlcable tothe lowerhandle withthe
cable tie already onthe lowerhandle. Pulltight
thecable tieand cutoffextra. See Figure4.
Cable Tie
Figure 4

Attaching Starter Rope
The ropeguide isalready attached tothe rightside of
the upper handle ofyour mower.See Figure 5.
Withthesparkplugwiredisconnectedand
grounded,holdthebladecontrolhandleagainstthe
upperhandle,andpull starterropeoutoftheengine.
•Slipthe rope throughthe ropeguide as shown in
Figure 5. Tightenthe wing nut holdingthe rope
guide tothe upper handle.
Recoil Wing Nut
Guide
Figure 5
Attaching Discharge Chute
•There isa groove2"fromthe leftend ofthe rod.
Bendand Snapoffapproximately 2"of the rod
with apairofvise gdps. See Figure6.
•Insertpush cap, provided with the chute red,
ontothe end ofthe rodwhichyou just snapped
off.Tap onwith a hammer. See Figure 6.
Rear Discharge
Cap
Rod
Chute
Flgure6
To attach discharge chute: Liftthe discharge
door and place the ends of the chute rod into
the sloton each handle bracket assembly.
Release the rear dischargedoor.
To remove discharge chute: Liftthe rear
dischargedoor ofthemower. Liftthe discharge
chute up and outwardsand pullitout ofthe
slotson the handlebracket assemblies.
Release the rear discharge door.
Assembling Grass Catcher
NOTE: Make certain bag isturned rightside out
before assembling (warning labelwill be on the
outside).
8
Place bag over frame (black plasticside is the
bottomof bag). Slip the openings in the side of
the plastic channel 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 of bag, Center top of
bag attaches from the inside ofbag.
Hook
Plastic
Frame Grass Channels
Bag
Figure 7
Attaching Grass Catcher to Mower
Liftthe chutedoor on the mower. Remove the
mulchingplug orthe dischargechute. See
Figure8.
Figure 8
Holdingthe grass bag firmly, place the bag on
the moweras shown in Figure9.
GrassCatcher _"Slot
Figure 9
Place hooks, locatedon two sides ofthe grass
catcher frame, inthe slots on the handle
brackets.See Figure 9. Release the chute
door.
,& Warning: Never operate the mower unless
the grasscatcher frame isfirmlyseated on
the chutedoor pivotrod, and the rear
dischargedoor restsfirmlyon top ofthe
grass catcher.

Know Your Lawn Mower
Read this owner's manual and safety rules beforeoperating your lawn mower.Compare the illustrations in Figure
10 with your lawn mower to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save this
manual for future reference.
,_ WARNING: The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being thrown into the
operator's eyes and causing severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses while operating the
mower, or while performing any adjustments or repairs on it.
Recoil Starter -_,- _Handle
FrontHeight OII Fill Plug
AdjustmentLever
Spark Plug Wire
Primer
Throttle Control Lever
Figure 10
Recoil 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 into the carburetor.
Use itto start a coldengine, butdo notuse itto
restart awarm engine after shortshutdown.
Blade Control Handle
The blade controlhandle is locatedon the upper
handle of the mower. The blade controlhandle must
be depressed in order tooperate the unit. Release
blade controlhandle to stop engine and blade,
WARNING: This blade controlmechanism
isasafety device. Never attempt to bypass
itsoperations.
Height Adjustment Lever
These levers are located oneach wheel and are used
toadjustthe cuttingheight.Allfourlevers haveto beat
thesame relativepositionto ensure uniformcut.
Meets CPSC Blade Safety Standards
CraftsmanWalk-BehindLawnMowers conform tothesafetystandardsoftheAmericanNationalStandardsInstitute
and the U,S. ConsumerProductSafetyCommission.
9

Stopping Engine
Release blade controlhandle to stop the
engine and the blade.
Disconnect spark plug wire and move away
from spark plug to prevent accidental starting.
WARNING: Before usingyourlawn mower,
again refer to the safety rules on pages 3-5
ofthis manual. Always be careful.
Gas And Oil Fill-Up
Engine Oil
Only use highquality detergent oilrated withAPI
serviceclassificationSF, SG or SH. Selectthe oil's
viscositygrade accordingto yourexpected operating
temperature. Followthe chart below.
Colder _ 32°F__.ID,. Warmer
-- 5W30 I SAE 30 --
OII Viscosity Grade Chart
Use SAE30 oil; do not use 10W40 oil.
Filloilsumpand checktheoillevelas follows:
a. Positionthe mower on level ground.
b. Clean area around oilfill plug.
c. Remove oilfill plug and dipstick.
d. Wipe dipstickclean, insertitintooilfill hole
and tightensecurely.
e. Remove dipstickand checkoil level. Ifthe
oil isnotupto FULL mark on the dipstick,
pourrecommended oilthroughthe oilfill
and checkthe level again.
Installoilfillplugand dipstick,tightensecurely.
NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oi/s (5W30, I0W30,
etc.) improvestartingin cold weather, these
multiviscosity oilswillresultinincreased oil
consumptionwhen used above 32°F. Check the oil
level more frequentlytoavoidpossible engine
damage from runninglow on oil.
Gasoline
WARNING: Never fill fuel tank indoors,or
when engine isrunningor hot. Do not
smoke when filling fuel tank.
• Clean area around gastank cap. For location,
see Figure 10. Remove cap.
•Use a funnel toprevent spillage.
•Pourapproximately 1.5 quartsof fresh, regular
grade, unleaded gasolineslowlytothe fuel tank.
IMPORTANT: Never mixengine oilwith gasoline.
• Fill tank to 1/2"below thebottom ofthefiller
neck. Wipe any fuelspillage. Do not fill fuel tank
completely. Provide space forfuel expansion.
Starting Engine
(Refer to Figure 11.)
WARNING: Besure no one other than the
operator isstandingnear the lawn mower
while startingor operating.
Attach spark plug wire to spark plug. Make
certain the metalcap on the end of thespark
plug wire isfastened 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
odorlessand deadly gas.
WARNING: Keep hands, feet, hair and
loose clothing away from any movingparts
on engine and lawn mower.
Push primer three times. Wait about two
seconds between each push. In coldweather
around 55° For below, primefivetimes. Do not
prime to restart a warm engine after a short
shutdown.
Hold controlhandle against the upper handle.
Grasp recoil starterand pull ropeoutslowly
untilengine reaches the startofcompression
cycle(rope willpullslightlyharder at thispoint).
See Figure 11 inset.Letthe roperewindslowly.
Hold handles firmly
_il Pull recoil starter
Fillgasoline
Attach
plug wire
Figure 11
10

Pullropewith a rapid,continuous, full arm
stroke. Keeping a firm gdpon the recoilstarter,
letthe rope returntothe starter slowly.
Using Your Lawn Mower
Your mower isdesigned to operate as a mulchingor a
side discharge unit.
•For convertingfrom a mulcher toa side
dischargeunit, refer to instructionson page 8.
Do not operate mower without the mulching
deflector or the grass catcher properly
installed and tightly secured.
•Be sure that lawn isclear ofstones, sticks,
wire, orotherobjectswhichcoulddamage lawn
mower or engine. Such objectscould be
accidentlythrown bythe mower in anydirection
and cause serious personalinjurytothe
operator and others.
•For best results,do not cut wet grass because
ittends tosticktothe underside ofthe mower,
preventingproperdischargeof grass clippings,
and couldcause youtoslipand fall. New grass,
thick grass or wet grass may require a
narrowercut. Blade speed shouldbe adjusted
tothe conditionofthe lawn.
•The best mowingpattern isone thatallowsthe
clippingstodischargetowardsthe uncutpart of
the lawn.This permitsrecuttingofthe clippings
tofurther pulverize them. When cutting high
weeds, dischargetowards cutportion,then
recutat rightanglesto first direction.
• Foraheaithylawn, alwayscutoffone-thirdor
lessofthetotal lengthofthe grass.Lawn should
becutinthefallas longas there isgrowth.
•This mower is designed to be operated at full
throttleto giveyou the best cut and do the
mosteffectivejob of baggingthe clippings.
&WARNING: Ifthe mower strikes a foreign
object,stop the engine. Remove spark plug
wirefrom spark plugand thoroughlyinspect
the mowerfor any damage. Repair the
damage before restartingthe mower.
Extensive vibrationduringoperation isan
indicationof equipmentdamage.
Using Grass Catcher
You can usethe grass catcherbag to collect clippings
whileoperating the mower.
•Attachthe grasscatcher tothe mower following
instructionson page 8 ofthis manual.
Operate the mower tillthe grass catcher bag is
full, orthe jobhas been completed whichever is
earlier.
Stop the engine completely by releasingthe
blade controlhandle. Make sure that the unit
has cometo a complete stopand theblade has
stopped rotating. Emptythe grass catcherbag
as follows.
Liftthe discharge doorand pullthe grass bag
away from the mower as shown in Figure12.
Holdingthe bag firmly, carry the bag away from
the mower. Dispose offthe clippings
appropriately.
"_b) ChuteDoor
Bag Handle
Hold bag with
Figure 12
Height Adjustment
Refer to heightadjustments sectionofthis manualon
page 16 for instructionon howto adjustthe cutting
heightand the handle height.
Forbest resultsinmowing, keep thecutting height
positionhighuntilitisdetermined whichheightisbest
for your lawn.
11

General Recommendations
Always observesafety ruleswhen performing
any maintenance.
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 the lawn mower
as instructed inthismanual.
Changing of engine governed speed willvoid
engine warranty.
Some adjustments willhaveto be made
periodicallyto maintainyour unitproperly.
All adjustmentsin theService and Adjustments
section ofthis manual shouldbe checked at
least once each season.
Followthe maintenance schedule given below.
Periodicallycheck allfasteners and make sure
these are tight.
WARNING: Always stopthe engine and
disconnect the spark plug wire before
performing anymaintenance or adjustments.
Cleaning
The undersideofthe mower deck shouldbe cleaned
after each use to prevent anybuildup of grassclippings,
leaves, dirt, or other debds. If this debds isallowed to
accumulate, it will result in rust and corrosion.
Disconnectspark plug wire.
Drain thegasoline fromthe lawn mower, or
place a piece ofplasticunderthe gascap.
Tip the mower so thatit restson the housing.
Keep the side withthe air cleanerfacing up.
Hold itfirmly.
Scrape clean the underside ofthe deck witha
suitabletool.
Putthe mower back on itswheels on the
ground. Ifyou had put plasticunderthe gas
cap, make sureto remove itnow.
&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 upperpart of theengine
causingastartingproblem.
NOTE: We donot recommend usinga garden hose to
clean mower unlessthe muffler,air filterand
carburetorare covered tokeep water out. Water in
engine can shortenengine life.
Engine Maintenance
&WARNING: Always stop engine,
disconnect spark plug wire, and move it
away from sparkplug before performingany
adjustmentsor repairs.
Customer Responsibilities
MAINTENANCE SERVICE
SCHEDULE DATES
Lubricatewheels
Lubricatecasters ,_
mO Lubricateblade control
=" Cleandeck _/;
B,adecare
Chan eo,
I_1 Replaceairfilter
Z
Cleanengine
Checksparkplug ,_
Checksparkarrester(ifany)
12

EngineOII
Onlyusehighqualitydetergentoilratedwith
APIserviceclassificationSF,SGorSH.Select
theoil'sviscositygradeaccordingtoyour
expected operating temperature. Refer topage
10 ofthis manualfor viscositychart.
Stop engine and wait several minutes before
checkingoil level.With engine on level ground,
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 operating hours and every
25 operating hoursthereafter. Drain oilwhileengine
iswarm. Followthe instructionsgivenbelow.
Tip the mower with the spark plugfacing up.
Place a container under the dipstick.Pullthe
dipstickout ofoilfill.
Drain the oilsump empty, collectingoilin an
approvedcontainer.
Filloilsump with 21 ounces offresh SAE 30 oil.
Refer to page 10 ofthis manual for oilfill-up
instructions.
Air Cleaner
The air cleaner prevents damaging dirt,dust, etc.,
from entering the carburetor and being forced into the
engine and is important to engine life and
performance. Replace filter once a year or every 1O0
operating hours, more often if used in extremely dusty
conditions.
To Service Air Cleaner:
Turn air filtercover counterclockwiseand
removethe cover and filter from the flange.
See Figure 13. Discardfilter.
Clean cover and flange thoroughly.
Insertthe new filter intothe cover.
Place the cover and the filteragainstflange
with tab on the cover inserted intolower left
corner of slotin flange. See Figure 13.
Push cover firmly againstflange and turn it
clockwiseas far as itwillgo. Make sure thatthe
retainers are locked aroundtheflange. See
Figure 13.
WARNING: Never run the engine without
air cleaner completely assembled.
Clean Engine
Clean engine periodically.Remove dirtand
debris with a clothor brush.
Frequently remove grass clippings,dirtand
debrisfrom coolingfins, air intakescreen and
levers and linkage. Thiswill helpensure
adequate cooling and correct engine speed.
NOTE: Do not clean with a forceful spray of water as
water couldcontaminate the fuelsystem.
Spark Plug
Clean spark plug and reset gap to .030" at least
once a season or every 50 hours ofoperation.
See Figure 14. Spark plugreplacement is
recommended at the startofeach season. Refer
toengine parts listfor correct spark plugtype.
NOTE: Do not sandblast sparkplug. Spark plug
shouldbe cleaned by scrapingor wirebrushingand
washing with a commercial solvent.
Feeler gap .030"
Air Cleaner
Filter Retainer
Figure 13
Muffler
&
Spark Plug
Figure 14
WARNING: Do notoperate the lawn
mower without a muffler, or tamper with
the exhaust system. Damaged mufflersor
spark arresters couldcreate a fire hazard.
Temperature ofmufflerand nearbyareas
may exceed 150° F(65°C).
13

Blade Care
Pedodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks,
especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when
necessary.
AWARNING: When inspectingthe cutting
blade, protect hands by using heavy
gloves or a rag to grasp the cutting
blade.
Disconnectspark plug wire from spark plug.
Turn mower on itsside making sure that theair
filter and the carburetor are up to check the
blade. If the blade needs to be serviced, refer
to the instructions on blade care in the "Service
& Adjustments" section of this manual.
Lubrication
Wheels
Lubricatethe wheels at least once a season
with lightoilor engine oil.Also, ifthewheels are
removedfor any reason, lubricatethe surface
of theaxle boltand the innersurface ofthe
wheel with lightoil.
Blade Control Handle
Lubricatethe pivotpointsonthe blade control
handle and the brake cable at least once a
season with light oil. The blade control handle
must operate freely in both directions. For
complete lubrication chart, see Figure 15.
Chute Deflector
•Lubricate thetorsionspdng and the pivot point
oneach end ofthe chute deflector usinga light
oil.Thiswillprevent rustingand ensurethatthe
deflector,whichisa safety device, can always
work properly.
NOTE:Forsakeofclarity,illustrationsinthe insetsrepresentviewfrom anotherperspectiveratherthanfrom theoperatingposition.
Figure 15: Lubrication Chart
14

Servicing Blade
To Remove Blade
Remove the bolt and blade bell supportwhich
hold the blade and adapter tothe engine
crankshaft. See Figure 16.
Remove the blade end adapter from the
crankshaft.
To Replace Blade:
Before reinstalling the blade andthe blade
adapter tothe unit, lubricatethe engine
crankshaftand the innersurface of the blade
adapter with light oil.
Installthe blade adapter on the crankshaftwith
the "star" away fromthe engine. See Figure 16.
Blade Adapter Crankshaft
Blade
To Sharpen Blade:
The blade can besharpenedwithafileor ona grinding
wheel. Do notattempttosharpenwhileonthe mower.
Followthe originalangle of grindas aguide.
Make sure that each cuttingedge receives an
equal amount ofgrindingto preventan
unbalanced blade.
NOTE: An unbalanced blade willcause excessive
vibration when rotatingat high speeds, may cause
damage tothe mower and couldbreak, causing
personal injury.
Test the blade by balancing it on a roundshaft
screwdriverora blade balancer. See Figure 17.
Ifthe blade isnot balanced, remove metalfrom
the heavy side untilit balances evenly.
1. Insertscrew driverthrough hole
(./
2. Bladeshouldbeparallelto ground
c ew
_r_'v_er "_ Blade
--
Ground
Blade Bell
Hex Bolt Support
Figure 16
Place the new bladewith the side marked
bottom(or with part number) facing away from
the adapter.
Place the bellsupportnext. Make sure to align
the tabs inthe holesofthe bladewith the hole in
the bell support.
Insert the hex bolt through the blade assembly.
Figure 16 shows the correct order of assembly.
Use block ofwood to 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, isspecially heat-treated. Do not
substitute. To order replacement bolt, refer to the
Repair Parts sectionofthis manual.
WARNING: To ensure safe operation of
your unit, all nuts and bolts must be
checked periodicallyforcorrecttightness.
Figure 17
Engine Adjustments
WARNING: Do not make unnecee_W
adjustments on the engine. Factory settings
are satisfactoryfor mostconditions.
Ifany adjustmentsare made tothe 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 require adjustment.
If the engine on your mower does not operate
properly due to suspected carburetor problems,
take your lawn mower to your nearest SEARS
service center.
Engine performance may be affected in altitudes
above 4000 feet. To improve engine
performance, install a high altitude adjustment
kit, available at the SEARS service center.
NOTE: Adirtyair cleaner willcause an engine torun
rough. Be certainair cleaner is clean and attached to
the carburetor.
15

Enslna Speed
&WARNING: Overspeedlng engine above
the factorysettingcan be dangerous. Do not
attempt tok_creassengine speed or itmay
resultinpersonal injury.Changing ofengine
govemed speed will void engine warranty.
Ifyou believe the engine isrunningtoofast or
too slow,take yourlawn mower tothe nearest
SEARS service center.
Adjusting Handle Height
Your mower isshippedwiththe handle in the higher
heightposition.To lowerthe handle height, proceed
as follows.
•Remove the starter ropefrom the ropeguide.
•Remove the upper handle byremovingthe hand
knobsand carriage bolts. Laythe upper handle
out ofthe way, being careful notto bend or kink
the cable.
•Remove the hairpinclipfrom theweld pinonthe
handle bracket oneach side ofthelowerhandle.
See Figure 18 inset. Pressout on the legs ofthe
lowerhandle. Remove lower handlefrom the
mower.
• Turn the lowerhandle aroundso the notchon
the bottomofthe lowerhandle isfacing forward
as shown in Figure18. Reassemble, placingthe
bottomholeon the handle over theweld pin in
the handle mounting bracket.
•Reassemble the upper handle tothe lower
handle.
•Place the hairpinclipsinthe innerholes inthe
weld pins and attach the starter ropeas
instructedinthe Assembly section. See Figure
18 inset.
\Hen=.
Hairpin
Clip Handle
Notch
Adjusting Cutting Height
IMPORTANT: All wheels mustbeplaced in thesame
relativeposition.
•Raisethe mowerwheelsforlowcutand lowerthe
wheelsfor highcut. Forroughor uneven lawns,
movethe heightadjustment leverto a higher
position.This willhelpstop scalpingof the
grass.
There isan adjusting plate and thumblever at each
wheel position to adjustthe cuttingheight.Each
adjustingplate hasnine heightpositions.Height ofcut
willchange ifyou movethe thumblever from one hole
to another.
•Simplydepress the lever towardswheel and
move thewheel and lever assemblyto the
desired position.See Figure 19. All wheels
mustbe placed inthe same relative positionfor
uniformcuttingheight,
•For roughor uneven lawns, movethe height
adjustment handles topositionswhichwillgive
a highercutting height.Bothfrontand rear
handles mustbe placed inthe same relative
position.
HeightAdjustment
Lever
/
\
Figure 19
Figure 18
16

Prepareyourlawnmowerforstorageattheendofthe
seasonorif the unit will not be used for 30 days or
morn.Store the mower ina clean, dry area.
Mower
Clean undersideof the mower following
instructionsinthe Maintenance sectionofthis
manual.
Inspectand replace/sharpen blade, if required.
Refer tothe Maintenance sectionofthis manual
for blade care instructions.
Lubricatemower following the lubricationchart
on page 14 of thismanual.
You canfold your mower's handle for convenient
storage as shown in Figure20. Followthe steps
below tofoldthe handle.
Remove the starter rope from the rope guide.
Loosen the twohand knobson the sides ofthe
handle, and letthe upper handle fold down to
the rear.
Move the hairpinclipstothe outer holein the
weld pinson the handle mountingbrackets.
Spread thesides of the lowerhandle, and push
itforward and down.
UpperHandle
\Lower
Handle
,/
Figure 20
NOTE: When foldingthehandle forstorage or
transportation,be carefulnot tobend or kink the
cable.
Engine
IMPORTANT: It isimportantto prevent gum deposits
fromformingin essentialfuel system partssuch as
carburetor,fuel filter, fuel hose, or tankduring
storage. Also, experience indicatesthatalcohol
blendedfuels (calledgasohol or usingethanol or
methanol) can attractmoisturewhich leads to
separationand formation ofacids duringstorage.
Acidicgas can damage the fuel system ofan engine
while instorage.
Drain fuel system & carburetor
WARNING: Drain fuel intoapproved
containeroutdoorsaway from open flame.
Be sure engine iscool Do not smoke.
Drain thefuel tank.
Start the engine and let itrununtilthe fuel lines
and carburetor are empty.
Drain carburetorby removingbowldrain screw
which islocated belowthe carburetor.See
Figure21.
Carburetor
Figure 21
Note: Do not drain carburetor ff using fuelstabilizer.
WARNING: Never usa engine or
carburetorcleaner productsin thefuel tank
or permanent damage may occur.
Use fresh fuel next season.
Use fuel stabilizer
NOTE: Fuel stabilizer isan acceptable alternative in
minimizingthe formationof fuelgum depositsduring
storage.
Add stabilizertogasoline infuel tankor storage
container.
Always follow the mix ratiofound on stabilizer
container.
Runengine at least 10 minutesafter adding
stabilizer toallowthe stabilizer to reach the
carburetor.
Do not drain thegas tank and carburetor if
usingfuel stabilizer.Drain all the oilfrom the
crankcase (This shouldbe doneafter the
engine has been operated and isstillwarm)
and refillthe crankcase withfresh oil.
17

OIIcylinderbore
Afteryouhave drained the fuel tank, protect the
inside ofthe engine as follows:
• Remove spark plug,pour approximatelyone
ounce (30 ml)ofengine oilintospark plug hole,
and crank slowlyto distributeoil.
WARNING: Avoid spray fromspark plug
holewhen crankingthe engine slowly.
•Replacespark plug;donotconnectsparkplug wire.
Change oil
•Change oilifithas notbeen changed in the last
three months. For instructionson how to
change oil referto the Maintenance sectionof
this manual.
Clean engine
• Clean engine and remove any grass clippings,
dirt, orchafffrom the exterior ofthe engine.
•Remove any dirtor debris fromcoolingfins,air
intake screen, levers,and linkage.
.OTHER
Do not store gasolinefrom one season to
another.
Replace yourgasolinecan ifitstartsto rust.
Rust and/ordirtin the gasolinewillcause
problems.Store unitina clean, dry area. Do not
store next tocorrosivematerials, such as
fertilizer.
NOTE: ff storinginan unventilatedor metal storage
shed, be certain torustprooftheequipmentbycoating
witha lightoilor silicone.
18

PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVEACTION
Enginefails tostart 1. Blade controlhandle disengaged
2. Spark plug wire disconnected
3.Throttle controllever notin startingposition
4.Fuel tankempty, or stalefuel
5.Blockedfuel line
6.Faultyspark plug
Engine runserratic 1. Spark plugwire loose
2.Blocked fuel lineor stale fuel
3.Vent ingas cap plugged
4.Water or dirt in fuel system
5. Dirty air cleaner
Engine overheats 1. Engine oillevel low
2.Airflow restricted
Occasional skip 1. Spark plug gap too close
(hesitates) at high
speed
Idles poorly 1. Spark plug fouled, faulty, or gap too wide
2. Dirty air cleaner
Excessive vibration 1. Cutting blade loose or unbalanced
2. Bent cuttingblade
3.Bent engine crankshaft
Mower will not 1.Wet grass
mulch grass 2. Excessively high grass
3. Dull blade
Uneven cut 1. Wheels not in same height position
2.Dull blade
1. Engage blade controlhandle.
2.Connect wire to spark plug.
3. Move throttlelever tostarting position.
4. Filltankwith fresh, clean fuel.
5. Clean fuel line.
6. Clean, adjustgap or replace.
1. Connect and tightenspark plugwire.
2.Cleanfuel line,filltankwithclean,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. Adjustgap to.030 inches.
1. Reset gap to .030 inchesor replace
spark plug.
2.Clean air cleaner following instructions
on page 13.
1. Tightenblade and adapter, balance
blade.
2. Replace blade.
3.Contact yourSEARS Service Center.
1. Wait untillater tocut.
2. Mow once at a high cuttingheight,ther
mowagain at desired height.Make a
narrowercuttingswath(1/2) width. Do
notcut offmorethan 1/3 ofthe total
length.
3.Sharpen or replace blade.
1. Place all four wheels insame relative
height position.
2. Sharpen or replace blade.
Forrepairs beyond the minoradjustments listedabove,
please contactyour nearest SEARS Service Center.
19

SEARS CRAFTSMAN 4.0 H.P. LAWN MOWER MODEL 247.388240
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