Craftsman 917.37945 owner manual Gear Case

•To check blade balance, drive a nail into a beam or wall. Leave about one

.inch of the straight nail exposed. Place center hole of blade over the head of

the nail. If blade is balanced, it should remain in a horizontal position. If either end of the blade moves downward,

sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced.

Blade adapter

GEAR CASE

•	To keep your drive system working
	properly, the gear case and area
	around the drive should be kept clean
	and free of trash build-up. Clean under
	the drive cover twice a season.
•	The gear case is filled with lubricant to
	the proper level at the factory. The only
	time the lubricant needs attention is if
	service has been performed on the

Lockwasher [IT"h_

bolt

washer edge

GRASS CATCHER

Crankshaft

Crank

shaft

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Blade adapter

gear case.

• If lubricant is required, use only Texaco

Starplex Premium 1 Grease, Part No.

750369. Do not substitute.

ENGINE

LUBRICATION

Use only high quality detergent oil rated with API service classification SF-SJ.

Select the oil'sSAE viscosity grade

according to your expected operating temperature.

•The grass catcher may be hosed with water, but must be dry when used.

•Check your grass catcher often for damage or deterioration. Through normal use it will wear. If catcher

needs reptacing, replace only with a

manufacturer approved replacement catcher. Give the lawn mower model

number when ordering.

DRIVE WHEELS

Check front drive wheels each time before you mow to be sure they move

freely.

The wheels not turning freely means

trash, grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive wheel area and must be cleaned to free drive wheels.

If necessary to clean the drive wheels, check both front wheels.

1.Remove hubcaps, hairpin cotters and washers.

2.Remove wheels from wheel adjusters.

3.Remove any trash or grass cuttings from inside the dust cover, pinion and/ or drive wheel gear teeth.

4.Put wheels back in place.

NOTE; If after cleaning, the drive wheels

do not turn freely, contact your nearest authorized service center.

NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in cold weather, these multi-viscosity'oils will result in increased oil consumption when used above 32°F. Check your engine oil level more frequently to avoid possible engine damage from running low on oil.

Change the oil after every 25 hours of operation or at least once a year if the lawn mower is not used for 25 hours in

one year.

Check the crankcase oil level before

starting the engine and after each five (5) hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug

securely each time you check the oil level.

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