Craftsman Mower 50 Owners Manual - Page 12

LAWN MOWER Always observe safety rules when performing any maintenance. TIRES • Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect control chemicals which can harm rubber. • Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp objects and other hazards that may cause tire damage. BLADE CARE For best results, mower blade must be kept sharp. Replace bent or damaged blades. CAUTION: Use only a replacement blade approved by the manufacturer of your mower. Using a blade not approved by the manufacturer of your mower is hazardous, could damage your mower and void your warranty. IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated. If bolt needs replacing, replace only with approved bolt shown in the Repair Parts section of this manual. TO SHARPEN BLADE NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening the blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is balanced. Care should be taken to keep the blade balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause eventual damage to lawn mower or engine. • The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower. • 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. TO REMOVE BLADE 1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in contact with plug. 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. 2. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make GRASS CATCHER sure air filter and carburetor are up. 3. Use a wood block between blade and mower housing to prevent blade from turning when removing blade bolt. NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth. 4. Remove blade bolt by turning counterclockwise. 5. Remove blade and attaching hardware (bolt, lock washer and hardened washer). TO REPLACE BLADE 1. Position blade on the blade adapter aligning the two (2) holes in the blade with the raised lugs on the adapter. 2. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (opposite sharp edge) is up toward the engine. • 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 replacing, replace only with approved replacement catcher shown in the Repair Parts section of this manual. Give the lawn mower model number when ordering. ENGINE 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. 3. Install the blade bolt with the lock washer and hardened washer into SAE VISCOSITY GRADES blade adapter and crankshaft. 4. Use block of wood between blade and 5W-30 SAE 30 lawn mower housing and tighten the blade bolt, turning clockwise. • The recommended tightening torque is 35-40 ft. lbs. Blade adapter Key Crankshaft keyway Lockwasher F -20 0 30 32 40 60 80 100 C -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 TEMPERATURE RANGE ANTICIPATED BEFORE NEXT OIL CHANGE 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 Blade level more frequently to avoid possible engine damage from running low on oil. Check the crankcase oil level before starting the engine and after each five (5) Blade bolt Hardened washer Trailing edge hours of continuous use. Tighten oil plug securely each time you check the oil level. Crankshaft 12