Craftsman 536.270320 Operation Manual - Page 36

TROUBLESHOOTING

CHART

PROBLEM:

The

engine

will

not

start,

1.

Follow

the

steps,

"How

To Start

The

Engine"

in this

book.

2.

Electric-Start

Models:

Clean

the

battery

terminals.

Tighten

the

cables.

3.

Drain

the

fuel

tank.

Clean

the

fuel

line.

Replace

the

fuel

filter.

4.

Remove

the

spark

plug(s).

Move

the

throttle

to the

SLOW

posi-

tion.

Turn

the

ignition

key

to the

ON

position.

Try to start

the en-

gine

several

times,

install

the

spark

plug.

5.

Replace

the

spark

plug.

6.

Adjust

the

carburetor.

PROBLEM:

The

engine

will

not

turn

over.

1.

Follow

the

steps,

"How

To Start

The

Engine"

in this

book.

2.

Electric-Start

Models:

Check

the

level

of the

acid

in the

battery.

If needed,

add

water.

Charge

the

battery.

3.

Replace

the

fuse.

4.

Check

the

wiring

harness

for damage

or a loose

connection.

Repair

the

damaged

wire.

5.

Electric-Start

Models:

replace

the

solenoid.

Recoil-Start

Mod-

els:

replace

the

module.

PROBLEM:

The

engine

is difficult

to start.

1.

Adjust the carburetor.

2.

Replace the spark plug.

3.

Replace the fuel filter.

PROBLEM:

The engine

does

not run smooth

or has a

loss of power.

1.

Check

the

oil.

2.

Clean

the

air filter.

3.

Clean

the

air screen.

4.

Replace

the

spark

plug.

5.

The

engine

is working

too

hard.

Use

a lower

gear.

6.

Adjust

the

carburetor.

7.

Replace

the

fuel

filter.

PROBLEM:

The

engine

does

not

run

smooth

at

fast

speed.

1.

Replace the spark plug.

2.

Adjust the throttle control.

3.

Clean the air filter.

4.

Replace the fuel filter.

PROBLEM:

The

engine

stops

when

the

blades

are

engaged.

1.

Check the wiring

harness

for damage

or a loose connection.

Repair the damaged wire.

2.

Transmission

is in reverse.

Before operating

in reverse,

move

the blade rotation

control to the

DISENGAGED

position.

PROBLEM:

On slopes,

the

engine

stops.

1.

Mow up and down slopes. Never mow across a slope.

PROBLEM:

The engine will not idle.

1.

Replace

the

spark

plug.

2.

Clean

the

air filter.

3.

Adjust

the

carburetor.

4.

Adjust

the

throttle

control.

5.

Drain

the

fuel

tank.

Clean

the

fuel

line.

Replace

the

fuel

filter.

PROBLEM:

A hot engine causes

a

decrease

in power.

1.

Clean

the

air screen.

2.

Check

the

oil.

3.

Adjust

the

carburetor.

4.

Replace

the

fuel

filter.

MS-3620MA

36

PROBLEM:

Excessive

vibration.

1.

Replace the blade.

2.

Check for loose engine bolts.

3.

Decrease

the air pressure

in the tires.

4.

Adjust the carburetor.

5.

Check

for a damaged

belt or damaged

pulley.

Replace

the

damaged

parts.

PROBLEM:

The

grass

does

not discharge

correctly.

1.

Stop the engine. Clean the mower housing.

2.

Raise the height of cut.

3.

Replace or sharpen

the blade(s).

4.

Move the shift lever to a slower speed.

5.

Move the throttle control to the FAST position.

6.

Replace the spring for the blade idler.

PROBLEM:

The

mower

housing

does

not cut

level.

1.

Check the air pressure

in the tires.

2.

Adjust the level of the mower

housing.

3.

Check the front axle. If the front axle does not freely pivot, loos-

en the axle bolt(s).

PROBLEM:

The

mower

blades

will

not

rotate.

1.

Check the mower drive belt. Make sure the belt is installed cor-

rectly.

2.

Replace the mower

drive belt.

PROBLEM:

The

unit

will

not

move

when

the

clutch

is

engaged.

1.

Check

the motion

drive belt.

Make sure the belt is installed

correctly.

2.

Adjust the clutch.

3.

Replace the motion

drive belt.

PROBLEM:

The

unit

moves

slower

or

stops

when

the

clutch

is engaged.

1.

Adjust the clutch.

2.

Replace the motion

drive belt.

PROBLEM:

When

the clutch/brake

pedal

is

released,

belt

noise

can

be heard.

1.

Temporary

belt noise does not change the operation of the unit.

If belt noise

is continuous,

check the routing of the belt. Make

sure the belt is inside all belt guides.

2.

If the noise is continuous,

adjust the clutch.

PROBLEM:

The

rear

wheels

spin

over

uneven

terrain.

1.

Check the front axle. If the front axle does not freely pivot, loos-

en the axle bolt(s).

PROBLEM:

The

engine

stops

when

the

operator

leaves

the

seat.

1.

This is normal. The operator

presence

system is designed

to

allow operation

only if the operator

is in the seat.

PROBLEM:

The

engine

stops

when

selecting

reverse

travel.

1.

Before selecting reverse travel, move the blade rotation control

to the DISENGAGE

position. See the Operation

section for de-

tails.

PROBLEM:

The

transaxle

is difficult

to

shift

between

gears

with

the engine

running

and the

clutch

depressed.

1.

Check the clutch adjustment

to make sure the belt stops when

the clutch pedal is depressed

with the transaxle

in (N) neutral.

2.

Check the belt guides around the transaxle

drive pulley. Make

sure the belt guides do not touch the pulley.

Craftsman 536.270320 Operation Manual - Page 36

Troubleshooting - model

Page 36 highlights