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20

V-BELTS

Check V-belts for deterioration and wear 
after 100 hours of operation and replace 
if necessary. The belts are not ad just able. 
Re place belts if they begin to slip from 
wear. 

ENGINE

LUBRICATION

Only use high quality detergent oil rated 
with API service classifi cation SG-SL. Se-
lect the oil’s SAE viscosity grade according 
to your expected operating tem per a ture.

NOTE:

 Although multi-viscosity oils 

(5W30, 10W30 etc.) improve starting in 
cold weather, they will result in increased 
oil consumption when used above 32°F. 
Check your en gine oil level more frequent-
ly to avoid pos si ble engine damage from 
running low on oil.
Change the oil after every 50 hours of op-
 er a tion or at least once a year if the trac tor 
is not used for 50 hours in one year.
Check the crankcase oil level before start-
 ing the engine and after each eight (8) 
hours of operation. Tighten oil fi ll cap/
dipstick securely each time you check the 
oil level.  

TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE

SAE VISCOSITY GRADES

-20

0

30

40

80

100

-30

-20

0

20

30

40

F
C

32

-10

10

60

5W-30

SAE 30

oil_visc_chart1_e

TRANSAXLE COOLING

The transmission fan and cooling fi ns 
should be kept clean to assure proper 
cooling.
Do not attempt to clean fan or trans mis -
sion while engine is running or while the 
transmission is hot. To prevent pos si ble 
damage to seals, do not use high pres sure 
water or steam to clean transaxle.
•   Inspect cooling fan to be sure fan blades 

are intact and clean.

BATTERY

Your tractor has a battery charging sys tem 
which is suf fi  

cient for normal use.  How-

 ev er, periodic charging of the battery with 
an automotive charger will extend its life.
•   Keep battery and terminals clean.
•   Keep battery bolts tight.
•   Keep small vent holes open.
•   Recharge at  6-10 amperes for 1 hour.

NOTE:

 The original equipment battery on 

your tractor is maintenance free. Do not 
attempt to open or remove caps or cov ers. 
Adding or checking level of elec tro lyte is 
not necessary.
TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TER MI NALS
Corrosion and dirt on the battery and 
terminals can cause the battery to “leak” 
power.
1.   Disconnect BLACK battery cable fi rst  

then RED  bat tery cable and remove 
battery from tractor.

2.   Rinse the battery with plain water and 

dry.

3.   Clean terminals and battery cable ends 

with wire brush until bright.

4.   Coat terminals with grease or pe tro -

leum jelly.

5.   Reinstall battery (See “RE PLAC ING 

BATTERY" in the Service and Ad just -
ments section of this manual).

TO CHANGE ENGINE OIL 
Determine temperature range expected 
before oil change.  All oil must meet API 
service classifi cation SG-SL.
•   Be sure tractor is on level surface.
•   Oil will drain more freely when warm.
•   Catch oil in a suitable container.
1.   Remove oil fi ll cap/dipstick.  Be careful 

not to allow dirt to enter the engine 
when changing oil.

2.   Remove yellow cap from end of drain 

valve and install the drain tube onto the 
fi tting.

•   Inspect cooling fi ns for dirt, grass clip-

pings and other materials.  To prevent 
damage to seals, do not use com-
 pressed air or high pressure sprayer to 
clean cool ing fi ns.

TRANSAXLE PUMP FLUID 

The transaxle was sealed at the factory 
and fl uid main te nance is not required for 
the life of the transaxle.  Should the trans-
axle ever leak or require servicing, contact 
a Sears or other qualifi ed service center.

NOTE: 

 Do not use a nail for balancing 

blade.  The lobes of the center hole may 
appear to be centered, but are not.
•   Slide blade on to an unthreaded portion 

of the steel bolt or pin and hold the 
bolt or pin parallel with the ground.  If 
blade is balanced, it should remain in a 
horizontal po si tion.  If either end of the 
blade moves downward, sharpen the 
heavy end until the blade is balanced.

5/8” Bolt or Pin

Center Hole

Blade

Summary of Contents for Craftsman 917.27576

Page 1: ...RTANT Read and follow all Safety Rules and Instructions before operating this equipment For answers to your questions about this product Call 1 800 659 5917 Sears Craftsman Help Line 5 am 5 pm Mon Sat Sears Roebuck and Co Hoffman Estates IL 60179 U S A Model No 917 27576 Visit our Craftsman website www sears com craftsman LAWN TRACTOR 18 5 HP 42 Mower Electric Start Automatic Transmission ...

Page 2: ...rs necessary because of operator abuse including but not limited to damage caused by towing objects beyond the capability of the riding equipment impacting objects that bend the frame or crankshaft or over speeding the engine Repairs necessary because of operator negligence including but not limited to elec trical and mechanical damage caused by improper storage failure to use the proper grade and...

Page 3: ...hat operators age 60 years and above are involved in a large percentage of riding mower re lated injuries These operators should evaluate their ability to operate the riding mower safely enough to protect themselves and others from serious injury Follow the manufacturer s recommen dation for wheel weights or counter weights Keep machine free of grass leaves or other debris build up which can touch...

Page 4: ... area and in the watchful care of a respon sible adult other than the operator Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area Before and while backing look behind and down for small children Never carry children even with the blades shut off They may fall off and be seriously injured or interfere with safe machine operation Children who have been given rides in the past may suddenly appe...

Page 5: ... blade or wear gloves and use extra caution when servicing them Check brake operation frequently Ad just and service as required Maintain or replace safety and instruc tion labels as necessary Be sure the area is clear of bystand ers before operating Stop machine if anyone enters the area Never carry passengers Do not mow in reverse unless abso lutely necessary Always look down and behind before a...

Page 6: ... Other states may have similar laws Federal laws apply on federal lands A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest Sears service center See REPAIR PARTS section of this manual REPAIR PROTECTION AGREEMENTS Congratulations on making a smart pur chase Your new Craftsman product is designed and manufactured for years of dependable operation But like all prod ucts it may require...

Page 7: ...1 3 16 x 12 Gauge 1 Knob Seat Keys Slope Sheet 1 Oil Drain Tube For Future Use Steering Wheel Steering Wheel Insert 1 Large Flat Washer Steering Boot Steering Extension Shaft Steering Wheel Adapter 1 5 16 Lock Washer 1 Hex Bolt 5 16 18 x 4 ...

Page 8: ...nd slide inside boot and onto adapter 6 Assemble large flat washer 5 16 lock washer 5 16 hex bolt and tighten securely 7 Snap steering wheel insert into center of steering wheel 8 Remove protective materials from trac tor hood and grill IMPORTANT Check for and remove any staples in skid that may puncture tires where tractor is to roll off skid TO REMOVE TRACTOR FROM CARTON UNPACK CARTON 1 Remove a...

Page 9: ...epress clutch brake pedal and set the parking brake 5 Place motion control lever in neutral N position 6 Press lift lever plunger and raise attachment lift lever to its highest posi tion 7 Start the engine After engine has started move throttle control to idle position 8 Release parking brake 9 Slowly move the motion control lever forward and slowly drive tractor off skid 10 Apply brake to stop tr...

Page 10: ... amps Seat is adjusted comfortably and tight ened securely All tires are properly inflated For ship ping purposes the tires were overin flated at the factory Be sure mower deck is properly leveled side to side front to rear for best cutting results Tires must be properly inflated for leveling Check mower and drive belts Be sure they are routed properly around pulleys and inside all belt keepers Ch...

Page 11: ...r death The safety alert symbol is used to identify safety inform ation about hazards which can result in death serious injury and or property damage DANGER indicates a hazard which if not avoided will result in death or serious injury WARNING indicates a hazard which if not avoided could result in death or serious injury CAUTION indicates a hazard which if not avoided might result in minor or mod...

Page 12: ...EEL CONTROL Disengagages transmission for pushing or slowly towing the tractor with the engine off IGNITION SWITCH Used for starting and stopping the engine LIFT LEVER PLUNGER Used to release attachment lift lever when changing its position LIGHT SWITCH Turns the headlights on and off MOTION CONTROL LEVER Selects the speed and direction of tractor PARKING BRAKE LEVER Locks clutch brake pedal into ...

Page 13: ...uthorized use Never use choke to stop engine IMPORTANT Leaving the ignition switch in any position other than STOP will cause the battery to discharge and go dead NOTE Under certain conditions when tractor is standing idle with the engine run ning hot engine exhaust gases may cause browning of grass To eliminate this pos sibility always stop engine when stopping tractor on grass areas CAUTION Alwa...

Page 14: ...o prevent the engine from hesitating or cutting off when operating your equip ment on rough rolling terrain or hills 1 Select desired height of cut 2 Start mower blades by engaging at tachment clutch control TO STOP MOWER BLADES disengage attachment clutch control CAUTION Do not operate the mower without either the entire grass catcher on mowers so equipped or the deflector shield in place 02828 R...

Page 15: ...ntenance section of this manual To change engine oil see the Mainte nance section in this manual TOWING CARTS AND OTHER ATTACH MENTS Tow only the attachments that are recom mended by and comply with specifications of the manufacturer of your tractor Use common sense when towing Too heavy of a load while on a slope is dangerous Tires can lose traction with the ground and cause you to lose control o...

Page 16: ...he transmission be purged before operating tractor for the first time This procedure will remove any trapped air inside the trans mission which may have developed during shipping of your tractor IMPORTANT Should your transmission require removal for service or replace ment it should be purged after reinstall ation before operating the tractor 1 Place tractor safely in an area that is flat for appr...

Page 17: ...wo rounds mow in the opposite direction making left hand turns until finished 00272 If grass is extremely tall it should be mowed twice to reduce load and pos sible fire hazard from dried clippings Make first cut relatively high the second to the desired height Do not mow grass when it is wet Wet grass will plug mower and leave undesir able clumps Allow grass to dry before mowing Always operate en...

Page 18: ...gh ambient temperatures 2 Service more often when operating in dirty or dusty conditions E N G I N E Replace Oil Filter If equipped Check Transaxle Cooling Check V Belts Replace Fuel Filter 3 2 2 2 2 3 Replace blades more often when mowing in sandy soil 4 Not required if equipped with maintenance free battery 5 Tighten front axle pivot bolt to 35 ft lbs maximum Do not overtighten 1 1 2 2 4 5 Chang...

Page 19: ...REVERSE OPERATION ROS SYSTEM When the engine is running with the ig nition switch in the engine ON position and the attachment clutch is engaged any attempt by the operator to shift into reverse should shut off the engine When the engine is running with the ignition switch in the ROS ON position and the attachment clutch is engaged any attempt by the operator to shift into reverse should NOT shut ...

Page 20: ...at 6 10 amperes for 1 hour NOTE The original equipment battery on your tractor is maintenance free Do not attempt to open or remove caps or covers Adding or checking level of electrolyte is not necessary TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMINALS Corrosion and dirt on the battery and terminals can cause the battery to leak power 1 Disconnect BLACK battery cable first then RED battery cable and remove battery ...

Page 21: ...ebris may clog the engine s air cool ing system Remove blower housing and clean area shown to prevent overheating and engine damage 02463 Closed and Locked Position Oil Drain Valve Yellow Cap Drain Tube 3 Unlock drain valve by pushing inward slightly and turning counterclockwise 4 To open pull out on the drain valve 5 After oil has drained completely close and lock the drain valve by pushing inwar...

Page 22: ...ce each season If fuel filter becomes clogged obstructing fuel flow to carbu retor replacement is required 1 With engine cool remove filter and plug fuel line sections 2 Place new fuel filter in position in fuel line with arrow pointing towards carbu retor 3 Be sure there are no fuel line leaks and clamps are properly positioned 4 Immediately wipe up any spilled gaso line Clamp 00667 Clamp Fuel Fi...

Page 23: ...nect suspension arms from rear deck brackets by removing retainer springs 8 Disconnect front links from deck by removing retainer springs 9 Raise lift lever to raise suspension arms Slide mower out from under trac tor IMPORTANT If an attachment other than the mower deck is to be mounted on the tractor remove the front links and hook the clutch spring Into square hole in frame TO INSTALL MOWER 1 Ra...

Page 24: ...hin 1 4 of each other If adjustment is necessary make adjust ment on one side of mower only To raise one side of mower tighten lift link adjustment nut on that side To lower one side of mower loosen lift link adjustment nut on that side NOTE Each full turn of adjustment nut will change mower height about 1 8 Recheck measurements after adjusting If links are not equal in length adjust one link to s...

Page 25: ...1 9 16 Retighten jam nut against nut A 4 Engage transmission by placing freewheel control in transmission engaged position 5 Road test tractor for proper stopping distance as stated above Readjust if necessary If stopping distance is still greater than five 5 feet in highest gear further maintenance is neces sary Replace brake pads or contact a Sears or other qualified service center With parking ...

Page 26: ...e tractor still creeps forward or backward while motion control lever is in neutral position follow these steps 1 Loosen the adjustment bolt 2 Move the motion control lever 1 4 to 1 2 inch in the direction it is trying to creep 3 Tighten adjustment bolt securely 4 Start engine and test 5 If tractor still creeps repeat above steps until satisfied 02239 Adjustment Bolt Neutral Lock Gate Motion Contr...

Page 27: ...minal must be connected first to prevent sparking from accidental grounding 1 Lift seat pan to raised position 2 Disconnect BLACK battery cable first then RED battery cable and carefully remove battery from tractor 3 Install new battery with terminals in same position as old battery 4 First connect RED battery cable to positive terminal with hex bolt and keps nut as shown Tighten securely Slide te...

Page 28: ... the engine giving a leaner fuel air mix ture Turning the idle mixture valve out counterclockwise increases the supply of fuel to the engine giving a richer fuel air mixture Throttle Lever Idle Speed Screw Idle Mixture Valve with Limiter IMPORTANT Damage to the needle valve and the seat in carburetor may result if screw is turned in too tight PRELIMINARY SETTING 1 Air cleaner assembly must be asse...

Page 29: ... forming in essential fuel system parts such as carburetor fuel hose or tank during storage Also 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 dam age the fuel system of an engine while in storage Empty the fuel tank by starting the en gine and letting it run until the fuel lines...

Page 30: ... Contact a Sears or other adjustment qualified service center Engine will not 1 Brake pedal not depressed 1 Depress brake pedal turn over 2 Attachment clutch is engaged 2 Disengage attachment clutch 3 Weak or dead battery 3 Recharge or replace battery 4 Blown fuse 4 Replace fuse 5 Corroded battery terminals 5 Clean battery terminals 6 Loose or damaged wiring 6 Check all wiring 7 Faulty ignition sw...

Page 31: ...er qualified service center 3 Loose damaged part s 3 Tighten loose part s Replace damaged parts Engine dies when 1 Reverse operation system 1 Turn ignition key to tractor is shifted ROS is not ON while ROS ON position into reverse mower or other attachment See Operation section is engaged Engine continues 1 Faulty operator safety 1 Check wiring switches and to run when presence control system conn...

Page 32: ...els to holes from buildup of grass open vent holes leaves and trash around mandrels Headlight s not 1 Light switch is OFF 1 Turn light switch ON working 2 Bulb s or lamp s burned out 2 Replace bulb s or lamp s if so equipped 3 Faulty light switch 3 Check replace light switch 4 Loose or damaged wiring 4 Check wiring and connections 5 Blown fuse 5 Replace fuse Battery will not 1 Bad battery cell s 1...

Page 33: ... never across the face Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees Make turns gradually to prevent tipping or loss of control Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes 1 Fold this page along dotted line indicated above 2 Hold page before you so that its left edge is vertically parallel to a tree trunk or other upright structure 3 Sight across the fold in the direction of hill slope ...

Page 34: ...ment or heating and cooling systems no matter who made it no matter who sold it For the replacement parts accessories and owner s manuals that you need to do it yourself For Sears professional installation of home appliances and items like garage door openers and water heaters 1 800 4 MY HOME Anytime day or night 1 800 469 4663 U S A and Canada www sears com www sears ca Get it fixed at your home ...

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