Craftsman 944.364152 - User Manual

The device is a Craftsman Rotary Lawn Mower, featuring a 160cc Honda Engine and a 21" Multi-Cut deck. It is designed for residential lawn care, offering mulching, rear bagging, and side discharging capabilities to suit various mowing preferences and lawn conditions.

Function Description:

The primary function of this device is to cut grass efficiently and effectively. It operates as a walk-behind rotary lawn mower, meaning it uses a rotating blade to cut grass as the operator pushes it across the lawn. The "Multi-Cut" feature indicates its versatility in handling grass clippings, allowing users to choose between mulching, which finely chops clippings and returns them to the lawn as fertilizer; rear bagging, which collects clippings in an attached bag for disposal; and side discharging, which ejects clippings from the side of the mower. The 160cc Honda Engine provides the power necessary for cutting, ensuring reliable performance.

Usage Features:

The lawn mower is designed with user convenience and safety in mind. Before operation, users must ensure the engine oil and gasoline levels are adequate. The mower is shipped without oil or gasoline, requiring the user to add these fluids prior to first use. The handle is adjustable for user comfort, allowing it to be set to a high or low position. It can also be folded for compact storage or transportation.

To start the engine, the operator must hold down the operator presence control bar against the handle and then pull the starter handle quickly. Releasing the control bar will stop the engine, a key safety feature designed to prevent blade contact injury. The cutting height is adjustable, allowing users to raise or lower the wheels to achieve their desired grass length. This adjustment is made by squeezing an adjuster lever toward the wheel and moving the wheel up or down. Medium height is generally recommended for most lawns.

For mulching, the rear door and mulcher door must be closed. For rear bagging, the grass catcher is installed, and the mulcher door is closed. When side discharging, the rear door must be closed, and the discharge deflector installed. The manual explicitly warns against operating the mower without the rear door closed or an approved grass catcher in place.

Mowing tips are provided to optimize performance. It is recommended to mow only in daylight or good artificial light and to avoid operating the machine under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Mowing across slopes, rather than up and down, is advised, with extreme caution exercised when changing direction on slopes. Users should clear the mowing area of objects like rocks, toys, and sticks that could be picked up and thrown by the blade. Wearing eye protection, sturdy footwear, and hearing protection is strongly recommended.

For optimal mulching, the mower should be operated at its highest engine (blade) speed. Cutting wet grass is discouraged as it tends to clump. The best time to mow is in the early afternoon when the grass is dry. It's also suggested to cut only the top one-third of the grass blades and to vary the cutting pattern from week to week to prevent matting and graining of the lawn. If heavy cutting is required, reducing the width of cut by overlapping previously cut paths and mowing slowly is recommended. For side discharge, cutting in a counterclockwise direction is advised to spread clippings evenly and reduce engine load.

Maintenance Features:

Regular maintenance is crucial for the longevity and safe operation of the lawn mower. The manual provides a detailed maintenance schedule, outlining tasks to be performed before each use, every 10 hours or season, every 25 hours or season, and before storage.

Key maintenance tasks include:

Engine Oil: Checking the oil level before each use and after every five hours of continuous use. The oil should be changed after every 25 hours of operation or at least once a season. The manual provides instructions for draining and refilling the engine oil.
Air Filter: The air filter should be replaced every 100 hours of operation or every season, or more often in dusty conditions. Instructions for cleaning the air filter by gently tapping it on a flat surface are provided, with warnings against using petroleum solvents or pressurized air.
Spark Plug: The spark plug should be replaced at the beginning of each mowing season or after every 100 hours of operation.
Blade Care: The blade should be kept sharp and replaced if bent or damaged. Instructions are given for removing and replacing the blade, emphasizing the importance of using an approved replacement blade and tightening the blade bolt to the specified torque. While sharpening is not recommended, if done, the blade must be balanced.
Cleaning: The mower housing should be kept free of built-up grass and trash. The underside of the mower should be cleaned after each use. The engine area should also be kept clean of grass clippings and chaff to ensure proper airflow.
Fuel System: To prevent gum deposits during storage, it is important to empty the fuel tank and run the engine until the fuel lines and carburetor are empty if the mower will not be used for 30 days or more. Alternatively, a fuel stabilizer can be used.
Grass Catcher: The grass catcher should be checked frequently for damage and hosed off with water regularly to prevent pores from becoming filled with dirt and dust.
General Service: All nuts and bolts should be kept tight, and safety devices should never be tampered with. The equipment should be stopped and inspected if it strikes an object, and repairs should be made if necessary before restarting.

The manual also includes a troubleshooting section to help users diagnose and resolve common issues such as loss of power, uneven cut, excessive vibration, hard-to-pull starter rope, grass catcher not filling, and hard-to-push mower. For more complex repairs or warranty service, users are directed to authorized Sears Parts & Repair Centres or Honda Power Equipment dealers.

Craftsman 944.364152 Specifications

General

Engine Brand	Briggs & Stratton
Engine Type	4-Cycle
Engine Displacement	140cc
Cutting Positions	6
Deck Material	Steel
Cutting Width	21 inches
Cutting Height	3.75 inches
Wheel Size	7 in. (front), 8 in. (rear)