Brand: CRAFTSMAN
Category: Lawn Mower
Manual Type:
Language:
Manual for 917.255460 - Troubleshooting and error codes + PDF Download
Uploaded: April 8, 2025, 1:53 p.m.
Manual Publish Date: 1993-03-06
Warranty Summary
Limited Two Year Warranty on Electric Start Riding Equipment and Limited 90 Day Warranty on Battery against defects in material or workmanship.
Starting the Engine: Depress clutch/brake, set parking brake, place motion control in 'NEUTRAL', move attachment clutch to 'DISENGAGED', set throttle to 'CHOKE' (cold start) or 'FAST' (warm start), turn ignition key to 'START'.
Stopping: Move throttle to 'SLOW', move attachment clutch to 'DISENGAGED', depress clutch/brake to 'BRAKE', set parking brake, turn ignition to 'OFF'.
Operating Mower: Select cutting height, lower mower, engage attachment clutch, operate at full throttle, control speed with motion control lever.
Adjusting Cutting Height: Turn height adjustment knob clockwise to raise, counterclockwise to lower.
Troubleshooting and error codes
| PROBLEM | CAUSE | CORRECTION |
|---|---|---|
| Will not start | 1. Out of fuel. 2. Engine not "CHOKED" properly. 3. Engine flooded. 4. Bad spark plug. 5. Dirty air filter 6. Dirty fuel filter. 7. Water in fuel. 8. Loose or damaged wiring. 9. Carburetor out of adjustment. 10. Engine valves out of adjustment. |
1. Fill fuel tank. 2. See "TO START ENGINE" in Operation section. 3. Wait several minutes before attempting to start 4. Replace spark plug. 5. Clean/replace air filter. 6. Replace fuel filter. 7. Drain fuel tank and carburetor, refill tank with fresh gasoline and replace fuel filter. 8. Check all wiring. 9. Contact an authorized service center/department. 10. Contact an authorized service center/department. |
| Hard to start | 1. Dirty air filter. 2. Bad spark plug. 3. Weak or dead battery. 4. Dirty fuel filter. 5. Stale or dirty fuel. 6. Loose or damaged wiring. 7. Carburetor out of adjustment. 8. Engine valves out of adjustment. |
1. Clean/replace air filter. 2. Replace spark plug. 3. Recharge or replace battery. 4. Replace fuel filter. 5. Drain fuel tank and refill with fresh gasoline. 6. Check all wiring. 7. Contact an authorized service center/department. 8. Contact an authorized service center/department. |
| Engine will not turn over | 1. Clutch/brake pedal not depressed. 2. Attachment clutch is engaged. 3. Weak or dead battery. 4.. Blown fuse. 5. Corroded battery terminals. 6. Loose or damaged wiring. 7. Faulty ignition switch 8. Faulty solenoid or starter. 9. Faulty operator presence switch(es) |
1. Depress clutch/brake pedal 2. Disengage attachment clutch. 3. Recharge or replace battery. 4. Replace fuse. 5 Clean battery terminals. 6. Check all wiring. 7. Check/replace Ignition switch. 8. Check/replace solenoid or starter. 9. Contact an authorized service center/department. |
| Engine clicks but will not start | 1. Weak or dead battery. 2. Corroded battery terminals... 3. Loose or damaged wiring. 4. Faulty solenold or starter. |
1. Recharge or replace battery 2. Clean battery terminals. 3. Check all wiring. 4. Check/replace solenold or starter. |
| Loss of power | 1. Cutting too much grass/too fast. 2. Throttle in "CHOKE" position. 3. Build-up of grass, leaves and trash under mower. 4. Dirty air filter. 5 Low oil level/dirty oil. 6. Faulty spark plug. 7. Dirty fuel filter.. 8. Stale or dirty fuel. 9. Water in fuel. 10. Spark plug wire loose. 11. Dirty engine air screen/fins 12. Dirty/clogged muffler. 13. Loose or damaged wiring. 14. Carburetor out of adjustment... 15. Engine valves out of adjustment. |
1. Set in "Higher Cut" position/reduce speed. 2. Adjust throttle control. 3. Clean underside of mower housing. 4. Clean/replace air filter. 5. Check oil level/change oil. 6. Clean and regap or change spark plug. 7. Replace fuel filter. 8. Drain fuel tank and refill with fresh gasoline. 9. Drain fuel tank and carburetor, refill tank with fresh gasoline and replace fuel filter. 10. Connect and tighten spark plug wire. 11. Clean engine air screen/fins. 12. Clean/replace muffler 13. Check all wiring. 14. Contact an authorized service center/department. 15. Contact an authorized service center/department |
| Excessive vibration | 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 2. Bent blade mandrel. 3. Loose/damaged part(s). |
1. Replace blade. Tighten blade bolt. 2. Replace blade mandrel. 3. Tighten loose part(s). Replace damaged parts. |
Troubleshooting and error codes
| PROBLEM | CAUSE | CORRECTION |
|---|---|---|
| Will not start | 1. Out of fuel. 2. Engine not "CHOKED" properly. 3. Engine flooded. 4. Bad spark plug. 5. Dirty air filter 6. Dirty fuel filter. 7. Water in fuel. 8. Loose or damaged wiring. 9. Carburetor out of adjustment. 10. Engine valves out of adjustment. |
1. Fill fuel tank. 2. See "TO START ENGINE" in Operation section. 3. Wait several minutes before attempting to start 4. Replace spark plug. 5. Clean/replace air filter. 6. Replace fuel filter. 7. Drain fuel tank and carburetor, refill tank with fresh gasoline and replace fuel filter. 8. Check all wiring. 9. Contact an authorized service center/department. 10. Contact an authorized service center/department. |
| Hard to start | 1. Dirty air filter. 2. Bad spark plug. 3. Weak or dead battery. 4. Dirty fuel filter. 5. Stale or dirty fuel. 6. Loose or damaged wiring. 7. Carburetor out of adjustment. 8. Engine valves out of adjustment. |
1. Clean/replace air filter. 2. Replace spark plug. 3. Recharge or replace battery. 4. Replace fuel filter. 5. Drain fuel tank and refill with fresh gasoline. 6. Check all wiring. 7. Contact an authorized service center/department. 8. Contact an authorized service center/department. |
| Engine will not turn over | 1. Clutch/brake pedal not depressed. 2. Attachment clutch is engaged. 3. Weak or dead battery. 4.. Blown fuse. 5. Corroded battery terminals. 6. Loose or damaged wiring. 7. Faulty ignition switch 8. Faulty solenoid or starter. 9. Faulty operator presence switch(es) |
1. Depress clutch/brake pedal 2. Disengage attachment clutch. 3. Recharge or replace battery. 4. Replace fuse. 5 Clean battery terminals. 6. Check all wiring. 7. Check/replace Ignition switch. 8. Check/replace solenoid or starter. 9. Contact an authorized service center/department. |
| Engine clicks but will not start | 1. Weak or dead battery. 2. Corroded battery terminals... 3. Loose or damaged wiring. 4. Faulty solenold or starter. |
1. Recharge or replace battery 2. Clean battery terminals. 3. Check all wiring. 4. Check/replace solenold or starter. |
| Loss of power | 1. Cutting too much grass/too fast. 2. Throttle in "CHOKE" position. 3. Build-up of grass, leaves and trash under mower. 4. Dirty air filter. 5 Low oil level/dirty oil. 6. Faulty spark plug. 7. Dirty fuel filter.. 8. Stale or dirty fuel. 9. Water in fuel. 10. Spark plug wire loose. 11. Dirty engine air screen/fins 12. Dirty/clogged muffler. 13. Loose or damaged wiring. 14. Carburetor out of adjustment... 15. Engine valves out of adjustment. |
1. Set in "Higher Cut" position/reduce speed. 2. Adjust throttle control. 3. Clean underside of mower housing. 4. Clean/replace air filter. 5. Check oil level/change oil. 6. Clean and regap or change spark plug. 7. Replace fuel filter. 8. Drain fuel tank and refill with fresh gasoline. 9. Drain fuel tank and carburetor, refill tank with fresh gasoline and replace fuel filter. 10. Connect and tighten spark plug wire. 11. Clean engine air screen/fins. 12. Clean/replace muffler 13. Check all wiring. 14. Contact an authorized service center/department. 15. Contact an authorized service center/department |
| Excessive vibration | 1. Worn, bent or loose blade. 2. Bent blade mandrel. 3. Loose/damaged part(s). |
1. Replace blade. Tighten blade bolt. 2. Replace blade mandrel. 3. Tighten loose part(s). Replace damaged parts. |