Craftsman 154.37837 Operator'S Manual Download Page 12

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OPERATION

 WARNING

Make sure no one other than the operator is standing near the lawn mower 
while starting engine or operating mower. Never run engine indoors or in 
enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an 
odorless and deadly gas. Keep hands, feet, hair and loose clothing away from 
any moving parts on engine and lawn mower.

TO START ENGINE

1. 

Standing behind the mower, pull the blade control handle back against the 
upper handle (Figure 10).

2. 

While holding the blade control against the upper handle, grasp the recoil starter 

handle and pull rope out with a rapid, continuous, full arm stroke (Figure 10). 

until engine starts. Let the rope rewind each time slowly.

 WARNING

cord (kickback). Rapid retraction can pull hand and arm toward engine faster 
than you can let go, and result in broken bones, fractures, bruises or sprains.

TO STOP ENGINE

1. 

Release the blade control to stop the engine and blade.

 WARNING

Wait for the blade to stop completely before performing any work on the mower. 

USING YOUR LAWN MOWER

Be sure lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or other objects which could damage 
lawn mower or engine. Such objects could be accidently thrown by the mower in 
any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator and others.

 WARNING

The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects being thrown into 
the eyes, which can damage your eyes severely. Always wear safety glasses while 
operating the mower, or while performing any adjustments or repairs on it.

 WARNING

If you strike a foreign object, stop the engine. Disconnect the spark plug wire, 
thoroughly inspect mower for any damage, and repair damage before restarting 
and operating. Extensive vibration of mower during operation is an indication 
of damage. The unit should be promptly inspected and repaired. Refer to the 
Engine Manual. 

Figure 11

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2

1

Using Your Lawn Mower

Be sure lawn is clear of stones, sticks, wire, or other objects which could damage 
lawn mower or engine. Such objects could be accidently thrown by the mower in 
any direction and cause serious personal injury to the operator and others.

1. 

Hold the blade control against the upper handle (Figure 11). 

2. 

Start the engine (Figure 11). 

3. 

Once the engine is running, pull and hold the drive control handle together with 

the blade control handle to propel the mower forward at the speed set on the 
speed control lever (Figure 11). Once pressure is released from the drive control it 
will return to the neutral position and the drive will be disengaged.

 

Using as Mulcher

For mulching grass, remove the grass catcher and side discharge chute from the 

to grow in excess of four inches, mulching is not recommended. Use the grass 
catcher to bag clippings instead.

Using Grass Catcher

You can use the grass catcher to collect clippings while you are operating the 
mower.

1. 

Attach grass catcher following instructions in the Assembly Section. Grass 

clippings will automatically collect in bag as you run mower. Operate mower 

until grass bag is full.

2. 

Stop engine completely by releasing the blade control. Make sure that the unit 

has come to a complete stop.

3. 

Lift discharge door and pull grass bag up and away from the mower to remove 

the bag. Dispose of the grass clippings and reinstall the bag when complete.

NOTE:

 Make sure to clean any excess grass from around the rear opening of the 

mower, especially between the transmission cover and sidewall on the left 

FUEL and OIL

See the engine Operator's Manual for fuel and oil instructions.

Summary of Contents for 154.37837

Page 1: ...m SR Brands Management Hoffman Estates IL 60179 U S A CAUTION Before using this product read this manual and follow all safety rules and operating instructions Operator s Manual 21 LAWN MOWER Model No 154 37837 ...

Page 2: ...ranty period such as mower blades blade adapters belts filters or spark plugs Product damage resulting from user attempts at product modification or repair or caused by product accessories Repairs necessary because of accident or failure to operate or maintain the product according to all supplied instructions Preventative maintenance or repairs necessary due to improper fuel mixture contaminated ...

Page 3: ...ward b Be sure you are well balanced with sure footing c Pull the mower back slowly no more than half way toward you d Repeat these steps as needed Do not operate the mower while under the influence of alcohol or drugs Do not engage the self propelled mechanism on machines so equipped while starting engine The blade control handle is a safety device Never attempt to bypass its operation Doing so m...

Page 4: ...r assume that children will remain where you last saw them Keep children out of the mowing area and under watchful care of a responsible adult other than the operator Before and while moving backwards look behind and down for small children Use extreme care when approaching blind corners doorways shrubs trees or other objects that may obscure your vision of a child who may run into the mower Never...

Page 5: ...el line tank cap and fittings frequently for cracks or leaks Replace if necessary Do not crank engine with spark plug removed Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels as necessary Observe proper disposal laws and regulations Improper disposal of fluids and materials can harm the environment According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission CPSC and the U S Environmental Protection Agen...

Page 6: ...ution on slopes Do not mow slopes greater than 15 WARNING GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE Allow the engine to cool at least two minutes before refueling WARNING CARBON MONOXIDE Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly ventilated area Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide an odorless and deadly gas WARNING HOT SURFACE Engine parts especially the mu r become extremely hot during operation Allow engine and...

Page 7: ...e 1 and Figure 2 4 Adjust gauge up or down until the left corner touches the slope See Figure 1 and Figure 2 5 If there is a gap below the gauge the slope is too steep for safe operation See Figure 2 above 1 5 d a s h e d l i n e Figure 2 Figure 1 15 Slope 15 Slope WARNING Slopes are a major factor related to tip over and roll over accidents which can result in severe injury or death Do not operat...

Page 8: ...bolts washers Qty 2 Cable Fasten Hook Qty 2 Side Discharge Cover Side Discharge nuts bolts Qty 2 Bottle of oil User Manual Engine Manual ASSEMBLY Attach Handle IMPORTANT Do not crimp the cables when assembling the handle 1 Stabilize the mower so it does not move Attached the lower handles and secure them using the star knobs washers and carriage bolts Figure 2 2 Attach the upper handle a Secure th...

Page 9: ...ss catcher is off the mulching plug removed and the mulching cover is closed Figure 5 and Figure 7 1 Slightly lift the rear discharge door 2 Lift the rear discharge handle to extend it on the back side of the discharge door Figure 6 3 Lower the rear discharge door Attaching Side Discharge Cover Your mower is shipped as a mulcher To convert to side discharge make sure the grass catcher is off of th...

Page 10: ...s most comfortable 3 Secure into position with star knobs and carriage bolts removed earlier Cutting Height There is a cutting height adjustment lever located above the rear left wheel 1 Pull the height adjustment lever outward towards wheel unit will tend to fall when lever is moved outward See Figure 9 2 Move lever to desired position for a change in cutting height Figure 9 3 Release lever towar...

Page 11: ...ght rear wheel To adjust the cutting height refer to the Assembly Section DECK WASH Your mower s deck is equipped with a water port on its surface as part of its deck wash system Use the deck wash to rinse grass clippings from the deck s underside MULCHING COVER The mulching cover is used for mulching purposes Instead of collecting the grass clippings in a grass catcher or using the side discharge...

Page 12: ...air damage before restarting and operating Extensive vibration of mower during operation is an indication of damage The unit should be promptly inspected and repaired Refer to the Engine Manual Figure 11 3 2 1 UsingYour Lawn Mower Be sure lawn is clear of stones sticks wire or other objects which could damage lawn mower or engine Such objects could be accidently thrown by the mower in any directio...

Page 13: ...owest speed position 4 is the fastest speed With the engine running and the blades rotating set the drive control lever to position 1 Push the drive control handle forward to propel the mower Ground speed will increase as the drive control lever is moved from position 1 to position 4 Figure 12 Release the drive control handle to disengage the drive when mowing around trees and obstacles Push the m...

Page 14: ... Fuel system 1 Run engine until it stops from lack of fuel or add stabilizer to a full tank of fresh fuel prior to storage 1 Clean more often under dusty conditions or when airborne debris is present 2 WARNING Always stop engine disconnect spark plug wire and ground against engine before performing any type of maintenance on your machine GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS Always observe safety rules when per...

Page 15: ...lly inspect the blade adapter for cracks especially if you strike a foreign object Replace when necessary Follow the steps below for blade service 1 Disconnect spark plug boot from spark plug Turn mower on its side making sure that the air filter and the carburetor are facing up 2 Remove the bolt and the blade bell support which hold the blade and the blade adapter to the engine crankshaft Figure ...

Page 16: ...horoughly as described in the lubrication instructions Do not use a pressure washer or garden hose to clean your unit Coat mower s cutting blade with chassis grease or oil to prevent rusting Refer to Preparing the Engine for correct engine storage instructions Store mower in a dry clean area Do not store next to corrosive materials such as fertilizer When storing any type of power equipment in a p...

Page 17: ...uel Refill with fresh fuel 5 Refer to Air Cleaner in Engine Maintenance section 6 Contact your Sears Parts Repair Center to have fuel line cleaned Engine overheats 1 Engine oil level low 2 Air flow restricted 1 Fill crankcase with proper oil 2 Clean area around and on top of engine Occasional skips hesitates 1 Spark plug gap too close 1 Adjust gap Refer to Spark Plug in Engine Maintenance section ...

Page 18: ...esentative at 1 888 331 4569 The emission warranty is a defects warranty Defects are judged on normal engine performance The warranty is not related to an in use emission test Sears Emission Control DefectsWarranty Provisions The following are specific provisions relative to your Emission Control Defects Warranty Coverage It is in addition to the Sears engine warranty for non regulated engines fou...

Page 19: ...To order replacement parts or schedule repair service Para ordenar piezas o pedir servicio de reparación 1 888 331 4569 ...

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