Craftsman 917.38885 owner manual Poor cut

TROUBLESHOOTING - See appropriate section in manual unless directed to a Sears Parts & Repair Center.

PROBLEM		CAUSE	CORRECTION
Loss of power	1.	Rear of lawn mower	1.	Raise cutting height.
		housing or cutting blade
		dragging in heavy grass.
	2.	Cutting too much grass.	2.	Raise cutting height.
	3.	Dirty air fi lter.	3.	Clean/replace air fi lter.
	4.	Buildup of grass, leaves,	4.	Clean underside of mower
		and trash under mower.		housing.
	5.	Too much oil in engine.	5.	Check oil level.
	6.	Walking speed too fast.	6.	Cut at slower walking speed.
Poor cut –	1.	Worn, bent or loose blade.	1.	Replace blade. Tighten
uneven				blade bolt.
	2.	Wheel heights uneven.	2.	Set all wheels at same
				height.
	3.	Buildup of grass, leaves	3.	Clean underside of
		and trash under mower.		mower housing.
Excessive	1.	Worn, bent or loose blade.	1.	Replace blade. Tighten
vibration				blade bolt.
	2.	Bent engine crankshaft.	2.	Contact a Sears or other
				qualifi ed service center.
Starter rope	1.	Engine fl ywheel brake is on	1.	Depress control bar to
hard to pull		when control bar is released.		upper handle before
				pulling starter rope.
	2.	Bent engine crankshaft.	2.	Contact a Sears or other
				qualifi ed service center.
	3.	Blade adapter broken.	3.	Replace blade adapter.
	4.	Blade dragging in grass.	4.	Move lawn mower to cut
				grass or to hard surface.
Grass catcher	1.	Cutting height too low.	1.	Raise cutting height.
not filling	2.	Lift on blade worn off.	2.	Replace blade.
(If so equipped)	3.	Catcher not venting air.	3.	Clean grass catcher.
Hard to push	1.	Grass is too high or wheel	1.	Raise cutting height.
		height is too low.
	2.	Rear of lawn mower	2.	Raise rear of lawn mower
		housing or cutting blade		housing one (1) setting
		dragging in grass.		higher.
	3.	Grass catcher too full.	3.	Empty grass catcher.
	4.	Handle height position not	4.	Adjust handle height to suit.
		right for you.

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