Craftsman 944.365550, Owner'S Manual

Page: 13 / 28

13
ENGINE
Maintenance, repair, or replacement of
the emission control devices and systems,
which are being done at the customers ex-
pense, may be performed by any non-road
engine repair establishment or individual.
Warranty repairs must be performed by an
authorized engine manufacturer’s service
outlet.
LUBRICATION
Use only high quality detergent oil rated
with API service classification SG–SL.
Select the oil's SAE viscosity grade according
to your expected operating temperature.
4. Wipe off any spilled oil from lawn
mower or side of engine.
5. Fill engine with oil. Slowly pour oil
down the oil fi ll spout into the engine.
6. Wait one minute to allow oil to settle.
Use guage on oil fi ll cap/dipstick for
checking level. Insert dipstick into the
tube and rest the oil fi ll cap on the tube.
DO NOT thread the cap into the tube
when taking reading.
7. Continue adding small amounts of
oil and rechecking the dipstick until it
reads full. DO NOT overfi ll, or engine
will smoke on startup.
8. Always be sure to retighten oil fi ll cap/
dipstick before starting engine.
9. Reconnect spark plug wire to spark
plug.
AIR FILTER
Your engine will not run properly and may be
damaged by using a dirty air fi lter. Replace
the air fi lter every 100 hours of operation or
every season, whichever occurs fi rst. Service
air cleaner more often under dusty conditions.
TO CLEAN AIR FILTER
1. Remove cover.
2. Carefully remove cartridge.
3. Clean by gently tapping on a fl at sur-
face. If very dirty, replace cartridge.
CAUTION: Petroleum solvents, such as
ker o sene, are not to be used to clean car-
tridge. They may cause de te ri o ra tion of the
cartridge. Do not oil car tridge. Do not use
pres sur ized air to clean or dry car tridge.
4. Install cartridge, then replace cover.
MUFFLER
Inspect and replace corroded muffl er as it
could create a fi re hazard and/or dam age.
SPARK PLUG
Replace spark plug at the beginning of
each mowing season or after every 100
hours of operation, whichever occurs
fi rst. Spark plug type and gap setting
are shown in the “PROD UCT SPEC I FI C-
A TIONS” section of this manual.
NOTE: Multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30
etc.) improve starting in cold weather, and
you should check your engine oil level fre-
quently to avoid possible engine damage
from running low on oil.
Change the oil after every 25 hours of opera-
tion 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 fi ve (5)
hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug
securely each time you check the oil level.
TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL
NOTE: Before tipping lawn mower to drain
oil, empty fuel tank by running engine until
fuel tank is empty.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
2. Remove oil fi ll cap/dipstick; lay aside
on a clean surface.
3. Tip lawn mower on its side as shown
and drain oil into a suitable container.
Rock lawn mower back and forth to re-
move any oil trapped inside of engine.
Tabs
Filter Filter
Cover
Tabs
Oil fi ll cap /
dipstick
Lower
mark
Upper
mark