Craftsman 2One 917.383280 User manual

MODEL NUMBER 917.383280 OWNER'SMANUAL
®Assembly
Operation
, Customer
Responsibilities
Service
®Adjustments
®Repair Parts
Caution:
Read and Follow
all Safety Rules
and instructions
Before Operating
This Equipment
\\
,\

SAFETY RULES
CAUTION: ALWAYSDISCONNECTSPARK PLUGWIREAND PLACEWIREWHEREITCANNOTCONTACT SPARK
PLUG TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL STARTING WHENSETTING UP,TRANSPORTING, ADJUSTING OR MAKING
REPAIRS. DNPORTANT
SAFETY STANDARDS REQUIRE OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROLSTO MINIMIZE THERISK OFINJUR¥o YOUR UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITHSUCH
CONTROLS. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT THE FUNCTION OF TttE 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=
o Do not allow children to use your mower_ Never aUow adults
to use mower without proper instructions_
°Keep the area of operation clear of a!l persons, especially
small children and pets.
oUse mower only as the manufacturer intended and as de-
scribed in this manual
oDo 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 manufacturer° 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 witl be thrown by the blade and can cause
severe injury°
oAlways 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. Wear onty solid shoes with good
traction when mowing.
°Check fuei tank before starting engine. Do not flU gas tank
indoors,when the engine is running or when the engine ishot°
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 onyour mower andthe area being
cut. Do not let other interests distract you.
•Donot mow wet or slippery grass. Never run whileoperating
your mower. Always be sureofyour footing- keepafirm hold
on the handles and walk,
Do not puthands or feet near or under rotating parts_Keep
clear ofthe discharge opening at all times.
. Always stop the blade 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 ifyou hit a foreign object.
Follow the procedure outlined above, then repair any dam-
age before restarting and operating you mower.
° Do not change the cjovemor settings or overspeed the
engine° Engine damage or personal injury may result.
• Do not operate your mower if it vibrates abnormally,. Exces-
sive vibration isan indication of damage; stop the engine,
safely checkforthe cause of vibration and repair as required.
. Do not runthe engine indoors.. Exhaust fumes are danger-
ous,
.Never cut grass by pulling the mower towards you. Mow
across the face ofslopes, never up and down or you might
lose your fcroting. Do not mow excessively steep slopes.
Use caution when operating the mower on uneven terrain or
when changing directions - maintain good footing.
oNever operate your mower without proper guards, plates,
grass catcher or other safety devices in place.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE:
° Cheek the blade andthe engine mounting bottsoften to be
sure they are tightened properly.
= Check all bolts, nuts and screws at frequent intervals for
proper tightness to be suremower isinsafe working condi-
tiono
°Keep all safety devices in place and working°
= To reduce fire hazard, keep the engine free of grass, Ieaves
orrexcessive grease and oil.
• Check grass catcher often for deterioration and wear and
replace worn bags. Use only replacement bags that are
recommended by and comply with specifications of the
manufacturer of your mower.
o Always keep a sharp blade on your mower_
o 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 ignitionsource
such as a hot water heater, space heater, clothes dryer, etco
I,T.EANS-A.ENTJON!!!BECO.EA.ERT!!!YOUR ,.VO.VED.!
2

CONGRATULATIONS on your purchase of a Sears
Craftsman Lawn Mower. tt has been designed, engineered
and manufactured to give you the best possible de-
pendability and performance.
Should you experience any problems you cannot easily
remedy, please contact your nearest Sears Service Cen-
ter/Department. Sears has competent, well trained tech-
nicians and the proper tools to service or repair this unit..
Please read and retain this manual. The instructionswill
enable you to assemble and maintain your lawn mower
properly.. Always observe the "SAFETY RULES"°
MODEL
NUMBER 917,383280
SERIAL
NUMBER
DATE OF
PURCHASE
THE MODEL AND SERIAL NUMBERS WILL BE
FOUND ON A DECAL ATTACHED TO THE REAR
OF THE LAWN MOWER HOUSING.
YOU SHOULD RECORD BOTH SERIAL NUMBER
AND DATE OF PURCHASE AND KEEP IN A SAFE
PLACE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
PRODUCT SPECiFiCATIONS
HORSEPOWER: 3_5
DISPLACEMENT: 9.06 cu..ino
GASOLINE CAPACITY: 1_5quarts
(Unleaded)
OIL (20 oz..Capacity): SAE 30 (Above 32°F)
5W30 (Below 32=F)
SPARK PLUG (GAP °030 in..):
(0°76 ram) Champion
RJ19LM or
Sears z_ 33312
or STD 361456
or STD 360950
VALVE CLEARANCE: Intake: o006 ino
Exhaust: °008 in..
SOLID STATE IGNITION
AIR GAP: .0125 in..
BLADE BOLT TORQUE: 35-40 ft.-Ibso
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT
A Sears Maintenance Agreement is available on this product. Contact your nearest Sears store for details.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES
• Read and observe the safety rules.
• Follow aregular schedule in maintaining, caring for and using your lawn mower,.
• Follow the instructions under "Customer Responsibilities"and "Storage" sections of this Owner's Manual
, ,P, , iii ,,,,i ............................. iii ,, ,i,,1111, i,i ,11,,
LAMEED ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN POWER MOWER
For one year from date of purchase, when this Craftsman Lawn Mower is maintained, lubricated, and tuned up
according to the operating and maintenance instructionsin 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:
o Expendable items which become worn during normal use, such as rotary mower blades, blade adapters, belts,
air cleaners and spark plugo
o Repairs necessary because of operator abuse or negligence, including bent crankshafts and the failure to
maintain the equipment according to the instructions contained 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 WH{LE
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/731CR-W SEARS TOWER, CHICAGO, IL 60684
3

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SAFETY RULES .................................................... 2
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS .............................. 3
CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES ............. 3, 11-13
WARRANTY .......................................................... 3
LAWN MOWER ACCESSORIES .......................... 5
ASSEMBLY ........................................................... 6
OPERATION .......................................................... 7
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE .............................. 11
SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS ......................... 14
STORAGE ........................................................... 15
TROUBLESHOOTING ......................................... 21
REPAIR PARTS -LAWN MOWER ................ 16-17
REPAIR PARTS -ENGINE ............................ 18-20
PARTS ORDERING/SERVICE ........ BACK COVER
nNDEX
A
Accessories............................................5
Adjustments:
Carburetor.................................. 14
Handle Height ............................ 14
Height of Cut ................................9
Air Filter:
Service ........................................ 13
Assembly:
Handle .......................................... 6
Grass Catcher ..............................6
B
Blade:
Sharpening................................. 12
Replacement .............................. 12
C
Controls:
Operator Presence Control Bar..7
Speed Control .............................. 7
Customer Responsibilities .....3,11-13
Air Filter ...................................... 13
Blade Care/Replacement .......... 12
Engine .... ....._............................ 13
Lubrication ................................ 11
Spark Plug ................................. 13
E
Engine:
Oil Change ................................. 13
Oil Level .......................................9
Oil Type ........................................ 9
Starting....................................... 10
Storage .......................................15
F
Fuel:
Type ..............................................9
Storage.......................................15
H
Handle:
Adjustment.................................14
Assembly .....................................6
L
Lubrication:
Engine ........................................11
Brake Spring Bracket................11
Handle Bracket Mounting Pin _11
Wheel Adjuster ..........................11
M
Maintenance Agreement ....................:3
Mowing Tips......................................10
Mowing Mulching Tips.....................10
O
Oil: Engine ........................................13
Storage.... .......,,_..._._,,,.,.,.. ! 5
Operation:
Operating Lawn Mower...............8
Control Bar...................................7
Engine Speed Control.................8
Operator Presence Control Bar.........7
Options:
Attachments.................................5
P
Repair Parts
Lawn Mower.......................... 16-17
Engine ................................... 18-20
R
ResponsibUities, Customer .,..3, 11..13
S
Safety Rules........................................ 2
Service and Adjustments:
Carburetor .................................. 14
Engine Speed ............................ 14
Handle ........................................ 14
Spark Plug......................................... 13
Specifications ..................................... 3
Starting the Engine .......................... 10
Stopping the Engine ........................ 10
Storage .............................................. 15
T
Trouble Shooting Chart ...................21
W
Warranty ............................................. 3
Wheels:
Wheel Adjusters .......................... 7
4

These accessories were available when this lawn mower was produced_ They are also available at most Sears retail outlets,
catalog and service centersr Most Sears stores can also order repair parts for you, when you provide the model number of
your lawn mower. Some of these accessories may not apply to your lawn mower_
ENGINE
,,H, , ,
SPARK PLUG MUFFLER
®AIR FILTER
If lawn mower is an electric start
LAWN MOWER PERFORMANCE
GAS CAN ENGINE OIL
REAR BAG
OPTUONAL
REPLACEMENT
BAG FOR REAR
DISCHARGE
LAWN MOWERS
FABRIC BAG
CHARGER
STABILIZER
......................... i,
DUST SHIELD
]1 . .H=
OPTBONAL
CATCHER FOR
SRDEDUSCHARGE
LAWN MOWER
...i....i .... i,i
CLIPPING DEFLECTOR
BLADE BLADE
ADAPTER
.1.1.1111 i..ii.llln .. i
WHEELS
.11.1.1_1 .,
SIDE DISCHARGE CATCHER
i i1.1.. .ii...it _,..i,
LAWN MOWER
COVER
BATTERY

Your lawn mower has been assembled at the factory
except for the grass catcher bag and the grass catcher
frame°
TO REMOVE LAWN MOWER FROM
CARTON
•Remove loose parts included with mower.
oCut down two end corners of carton and lay end panel
down flat,
oRemoveall packing materials except padding between
upper and lower handle and padding holding operator
presence control bar to upper handle,
o Roll lawn mower out of carton and check carton thor-
oughly for additional loose parts.
HOW TO SET UP YOUR LAWN
MOWER
TO UNFOLD HANDLE (See Fig. 1)
= Raise handles until lower handle section locks into
place in mowing position,
o Raise upper handle section into place on lower handle,
remove protective padding 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.
TO ASSEMBLE GRASS CATCHER
(See Fig. 2)
o Put grass catcher' frame into grass bag with stiff part of
bag on the bottom.
o 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 itdry before
using.
OPERATOR PRESENCE
CONTROL BAR
UPPERHANDLE
UFT UP
LOWER HANDLE
FIG. 1
CATCHERFRAME
MOWING POSITION
\
\
FRAMEOPENING
FIG. 2

,i ii,,i,rl_.lll ................... ,_ ............ ,..... i1,11 i1,1 ii IIIII'H II IIIIIIMI II
OPERATBON
.i ii,,,i,,,i ............... I,,111.l_,lllr 'I1"1' '1,11111 I"'"_ I I
KNOW YOUR LAWN MOWER
READ THIS OWNER'S MANUAL AND SAFETY RULES BEFORE OPERATING YOUR LAWN MOWER° Compare the
illustrationswith your lawn mower tofamiliarize yourself with the location of variouscontrols and adjustments, Savethis manual
for future reference.
OPERATOR PRESENCE CONTROL BAR
ENGINE ZONE CONTROL CABLE STARTER HANDLE
HANDLEKNOB
GRASS CATCHER
ENGINE SPEED CONTROL LEVER
ENGINE OIL CAP WITH
DIPSTICK
PRIMER
AIR RLTER
GASOLINE FILLER CAP
_\ LAWN MOWER HOUSING
WHEEL ADJUSTER
(ON EACH WHEEL)
FIG. 3
Ji i,l,,,lllll ,i i• ii ii ii ,i,ii i,ii .......................................... J ii
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,
................. i iiii
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.
ENGINE SPEED CONTROL - located on the side of the
engine which allows you to select either "HIGH" ('_) or
"LOW" (,4_) engine speed_

n imllll i I_,HN,''INN HHHN'l N N,N,,I,I'HI Imll I I I
OPERATION Ul, ,Ni mm HI i I
HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER
N"l....... IIII I'll
CAUTION: Do not run your lawn mower
without mulcher plate in place and door
latch in locked position or approved
clipping deflector or grass catcher in
place. Never attempt to operate the
lawn mower with the rear door removed
or propped open.
ii ,u, ii i i IN'ml''
ENGINE SPEED CONTROL (See Fig. 4)
The engine speed is controlled by a lever (red knob)
located on the side of the engine "HIGH" (,r_) position is
for starting the engine, normal cutting, and better grass
bagging° "LOW" (_) position is for light cutting, trim-
ming and fuel economy_
ENGINE ZONE CONTROL
m u i, NIl'NHHm" HH'l'l ' I
CAUTION: Federal regulations require
an engine control to be installed on this
lawn mower in order to minimize the
risk of blade contact injury. Do not un-
der any circumstances attempt to de-
feat the function of the operator control.
The blade turns when the engine is
running.
•Your lawn mower is equipped with an operator pres-
ence control bar which requires the operator to be
positioned behind the lawn mower handte to start and
operate the tawn mower
ENGINE SPEED
CONTROL LEVER
TO INSTALL ATTACHMENTS
(See Figs. 5 & 6)
Your lawn mower was shipped ready to be used as a
mulcher To install attachments for bagging ordischarging:
o Open rear door, remove mulcher plate_
= You can now install catcher or optional clipping deflec-
tor/.
o To return to mulching operation reverse the above
steps, BE SURE MULCHER PLATE IS INSTALLED
BEFORE USING FOR MULCHING OPERATION,
PRIMER
FIG. 4
.x I z
REAR DOOR
FIG. 5
MULCHER PLATE
FIG. 6
TO INSTALL GRASS CATCHER (See Fig. 7)
• Lift the rear'door on the lawn mower housing and place
the grass catcher frame onto the formed up tabs on the
rear door hinge bracket_
oThe grass catcher is secured to the lawn mower when
the rear door is lowered onto the grass catcher frame
HINGE
BRACKET 11
FORMEDUP TA_
GRASSCATCHER FRAME
FIG. 7
8

TO EMPTY GRASS CATCHER (See Fig. 8)
o To remove grass catcher, release operator presence
control bar to stop engine°
• Lift up rear door and remove the grass catcher by the
handle..
° Do not drag the bag when emptying; it will cause
unnecessary wear°
TO ADJUST cu'n'ING HEIGHT (See Fig. 9)
• Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels for high cut°
• Wheels are set in low cut for shipping.. Adjust cutting
height to suit your requirements. Medium position is
best for most lawns.
o To change cutting height, squeeze adjuster lever to-
ward wheel.. Move wheel up or down to suit your
requirements Be sure all wheels are in the same
setting.
BEFORE STARTING ENGINE
OiL
A 20 oz. bottle of Pennzoil SAE 30 oil is included with your
new lawn mower.
•Remove engine oil cap and fill to the FULL line on the
dipstick,
•Use 20 ozs,. of oil, For type and grade of oil to use, see
"ENGINE" in Customer Responsibilities section of this
manual.
°POUR OIL SLOWLY. DO NOT OVERFILL°
- 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_
oReinstall engine oil cap and tighten
o After the first two (2) hours of mowing, change the oit,
and every 25 hours thereafter. You may need to
change the oil more often under dusty, dirty conditions°
GAS
°Fill gasoline tank with fresh, clean unleaded gasoline.
DO NOT USE PREMIUM GASOLINE.. BE CAREFUL
NOT TO OVERFILL TANK (See Fig..3).
WARNING: 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 for 30 days or longer. Drainthe 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.
FIG. 8
LOWERWHEELS
FORHIGHCUT RAISEWHEELS
FORLOWCUT
FIG. 9
9

OPERATION
,11, i1,11 ,ill! I,H,, i, ,i,
TO START ENGINE
o 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.,
o Push engine speed control lever to HIGH (+._) posi-
tion,
o Hold operator presence control bar down to the
handle and pull starter' handle quickly. DO NOT
allow starter rope to snap back.
oTo STOP engine, release operator presence control
bar+
NOTE: in cooler weather' it may be necessary to repeat
priming steps° In warmer weatherover priming maycause
flooding and engine will not starL If you do flood engine,
wait a few minutes before attempting to start and DO NOT
repeat priming steps.
MOWING TiPS
oUnder 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 en-
gine and leaving clumps of grass clippings.
° For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut
and raise the rear of the lawn mower housing one (1)
wheel adjuster setting higher than the front for better
discharge of grass+
o For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions,
the engine speed should be set in the '"HIGH" (FAST)
(<r_) position,.
o When using a rear discharge lawn mower in moist,
heavy grass, clumps of cut grass may not enter the
grass catcher+ Reduce ground speed (pushing speed)
and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second
time.
• If a trail of grass clippings is left on the right side of a
rear discharge lawn mower, mow in a clockwise
direction with a small overlap to collect the clippings
on the next pass,
oKeep top of engine around starter clear and clean of
grass clippings and chaff. This will help engine air
flow and extend engine life+
. 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 catchers off
with water and let dry before using.
MAX 113
FIG. 10
MULCHING MOWING TiPS
IMPORTANT: FOR BEST PERFORMANCE, KEEP
MOWER HOUSING FREE OF BUILT-UP GRASS AND
TRASH, CLEAN UNDERSIDE OF MOWER HOUSING
AFTER EACH USE. SEE "CLEANING" IN CUSTOMER
RESPONSIBILITIES SECTION OF THIS MANUAL.
oThe special mulching blade will recut the grass clip-
pings 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 wiU not be exposed to the direct sun.
oFor best results, adjust the lawn mower cutting height
so that the tawn mower cuts off only the top one-third
of the grass blades (See Fig, 10)+ If the lawn is
overgrown itwill 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,
mow slowly and raise the rear of the lawn mower one
wheel adjuster setting higher than the fronL
°Certain types of grass and grass conditions 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.
oChangeyourcutting pattern from weektoweek. 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.
10