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24

CRAFTSMAN 

ROT

ARY LA

WN MOWER - - MODEL NUMBER  

944.101781

28

33

54

57

11

13

14

15

15

16

18

25

26

29

32

35

36

38

12

12

13

14

16

18

38

40

41

80

81

82

83

11

29

1

9

10

20

9

DRIVE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT

Over time, the drive control system may 

become “loose”, resulting in decreased 

speed.  There is a turnbuckle on the drive 

control housing to increase tension on the 

drive cable.  Pro ceed as follows:

1.  Turn unit off and disconnect spark 

plug wire from spark plug.

2.  Rotate turnbuckle on drive control to 

increase drive speed.

3.  Operate mower to test drive speed.  

Readjust as required.

4.

 

If condition fails to improve after the 

above steps (forward speed remains 

the same), your drive belt is worn and 

should be re placed.

HOW TO USE YOUR LAWN MOWER

ENGINE SPEED 

Engine speed was set at the factory for 

optimum performance. It is not adjustable.

ENGINE ZONE CONTROL

 

CAUTION:

  Federal regulations re quire 

an engine control to be installed on this 

lawn mower in order to minimize the risk 

of blade contact injury. Do not un der 

any circumstances attempt to de feat the 

func tion of the operator con trol. The blade 

turns when the engine is running.

•  Your lawn mower is equipped with an 

operator pres ence control bar which 

requires the operator to be positioned 

behind the lawn mower handle to start 

and operate the lawn mower.

DRIVE CONTROL 

•  Self-propelling is controlled by hold ing 

the operator presence control bar down 

to the handle and pulling either drive 

control lever rearward to the handle.  

The further toward the handle a lever is 

pulled, the faster the unit will travel.

•  Forward motion will stop when either 

the operator presence control bar or 

a drive control lever are released. To 

stop forward motion without stop ping 

engine, re lease a drive control lever 

only. Hold op er a tor presence control 

bar down against handle to con tin ue 

mowing without self-propelling.

NOTE:

 If after releasing the drive control 

the mower will not roll backwards, push 

the mower forward slightly to disengage 

drive wheels.

•  To keep drive control engaged when 

turning corners, push down on the 

handle to lift the front wheels off the 

ground while turning lawn mower.

TO ENGAGE

DRIVE CONTROL

Drive

control levers

DRIVE CONTROL

DISENGAGED

Operator presence control bar

TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT

Raise wheels for low cut and lower wheels 

for high cut, adjust cutting height to suit 

your requirements. Me di um position is 

best for most lawns.

•  To change cutting height, squeeze ad-

juster lever to ward wheel. Move wheel 

up or down to suit your re quire ments. 

Be sure all wheels are in the same set-

ting.

NOTE: 

Adjuster is properly positioned 

when plate tab inserts into hole in lever. 

Also, 9-position adjusters (if so equipped) 

allow lever to be positioned between the 

plate tabs.

The operation of any lawn mower can result in foreign objects 

thrown into the eyes, which can result in severe eye damage.  

Always wear safety glasses or eye shields while operating your 

lawn mower or performing any adjustments or repairs.  We recom-

mend standard safety glasses or a wide vision safety mask over spectacles.

Use ear 

protec-

tors to 

a v o i d 

damage to hearing.

ROTATE LEVER BACKWARD

TO LOWER MOWER

ROTATE LEVER FORWARD

TO RAISE MOWER

Plate tab

Lever

Adjustment

turnbuckle

Summary of Contents for 944.101781

Page 1: ...o 944 101781 CAUTION Read and follow all Safety Rules and Instructions before operating this equipment Owner s Manual ROTARY LAWN MOWER 725 Series Briggs Stratton Engine Power Propelled Electric Start 22 Multi Cut Sears Canada Inc Toronto Ontario M5B 2B8 ...

Page 2: ... down and behind before and while moving backwards Never direct discharged material toward anyone Avoid discharging material againstawallorobstruction Materialmay richochet back toward the operator Stop blade when crossing gravel surfaces Do not operate the mower without proper guards plates grass catcher or other safety protective devices in place See manufacturer s instructions for proper operat...

Page 3: ...ringprotection Do not mow in shorts or open toed footwear Always let someone know you are outside mowing III SLOPE OPERATION Slopes are a major factor related to slip fall accidents which can result in severe injury All slopes require extra caution If you feel uneasy on a slope do not mow it DO Mow across the face of slopes never up and down Exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slop...

Page 4: ...RS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL SPECIAL INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE MISUSE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PRODUCT OR FROM DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT THE EXCLUSIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT APPLY IN JURISDICATIONS WHERE APPLICABLE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE EXCLUSION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT APPLY BUT THE REMA...

Page 5: ... products used for commercial institutional professional or income producing purposes Wear items include but are not limited to belts blades tires spark plugs air filters chains shear bolts skid plates scraper bars drift cutters ropes tines collection bags and pulleys As the Warranty Period runs from the date of purchase and NOT from the date that a product is delivered opened assembled or first u...

Page 6: ...ndle carefully so as not to pinch or damage control cables 1 Raise lower handle section to operat ing position and align holes in lower handle with holes in handle brackets 2 Insert handle bolts through lower handles and handle brackets secure with lower standard knobs 3 Remove protective padding raise up per handle section into place on lower handle and tighten both upper star knobs 4 Remove any ...

Page 7: ...port on electric start housing 2 Connect battery charger connector male to battery connector female 3 Plug battery charger into 110 volt A C outlet Leave battery charger connected for 24 hours before starting your engine for the first time Connect your battery charger to charge battery as required IMPORTANT The engine will not re charge your battery At the end of the mowing season the battery shou...

Page 8: ...rious controls and adjustments Save this manual for future reference These symbols may appear on your lawn mower or in literature supplied with the product Learn and understand their meaning Spark plug Muffler 25 CRAFTSMAN ROTARY LAWN MOWER MODEL NUMBER 944 101781 NOTE All component dimensions given in U S inches 1 inch 25 4 mm IMPORTANT Use only Original Equipment Manufacturer O E M replacement p...

Page 9: ...e handle a lever is pulled the faster the unit will travel Forward motion will stop when either the operator presence control bar or a drive control lever are released To stop forward motion without stopping engine release a drive control lever only Hold operator presence control bar down against handle to continue mowing without self propelling NOTE If after releasing the drive control the mower ...

Page 10: ... Handle Bracket LH 40 585900802 Handle Bracket RH 41 150406 Bolt Engine 3 8 16 42 193000 Spring Torsion 43 191730 Nut Hex Nylock 44 431558 Kit Lawn Mower Housing 45 175650 Rod Hinge 46 581473301 Blade Adapter Pulley 47 421825 Blade 22 48 851074 Washer Hardened 49 850263 Washer Helical 50 851084 Screw Machine Hex Head 3 8 24 x 1 3 8 Grade 8 51 430599 Front Baffle 52 404763 Decal Danger 53 17000510 ...

Page 11: ... NOT overfill engine with oil or it will smoke heavily from the muffler on startup 1 Be sure lawnmower is level 2 Remove oil dipstick from oil fill spout 3 You receive a container of oil with the unit Slowly pour the entire container down the oil fill spout into the engine NOTE Initial oil fill requires only 18 oz due to residual oil in engine from the manufacturers 100 quality testing When changi...

Page 12: ...ut by overlapping previously cut path and mow slowly For side discharge operation cut in a counterclockwise direction starting at the outside of the area to be cut in order to spread grass clippings more evenly and to put less load on the engine To keep clippings off of walk ways flower beds etc make the first cuts in a clockwise direction If a trail of grass clipping is left on the right side of ...

Page 13: ... be made periodically to properly maintain your unit At least once a season check to see if you should make any of the adjustments described in the Service and Adjustments section of this manual At least once a year replace the spark plug clean or replace air filter element and check blade for wear A new spark plug and clean new air filter element assure proper air fuel mixture and help your engin...

Page 14: ...p ening blade but if you do be sure the blade is 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 you will need a 5 8 diameter steel bolt pin or a cone balancer When using a cone balanc er follow the instructions supplied with balancer NOT...

Page 15: ... a minute to allow oil to settle 7 Continue adding small amounts of oil rechecking the dipstick until oil level settles at FULL DO NOT overfill or engine will smoke heavily from the muffler on startup 8 Always be sure to retighten oil 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 filter...

Page 16: ...ation section of this manual and let engine run for a full minute to remove excess water from mower Hose Fitting CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER Clean under drive cover at least twice a season Scrape underside of cover with putty knife or similar tool to remove any build up of trash or grass on underside of drive cover Tab Cartridge Filter cover Slot 17 SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS WARNING To avoid serious inj...

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