Craftsman 358.796131- - Manual (Page 9)

For maximum performance and efficiency:
1. Always accelerate the engine to the desired
speed before cutting.
2. Never operate the engine at a higher speed
than necessary.
3. Always release the trigger and allow the en­
gine to return to idle speed when not cutting.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Make sure the cutting head stops turning
when the throttle trigger is released and the
engine runs at idle speed.
For correction,
refer to “Carburetor Adjustments," below.
Stop engine by moving the ignition switch, to
the “OFF" position (Figure 8).
ENGINE ADJUSTMENTS
1. CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENTS
The carburetor has been carefully adjusted atthe factory.
Due to changes in altitude and operating conditions, your
carburetor may require adjusting. Tb make the adjust­
ment follow the procedure below very carefully:
a. PREPARATION
1. ) Use fresh fuel mix with proper gasoline/
' oil ratio. See "Fuel Mixture”, page 7.
2. ) Make sure the cutting line extends at least
4 inches to provide correct load on engine.
3. ) Remove air filter ( Figure 10 ) and place
under spark plug wire for safe keeping.
4. ) Turn both low speed and high speed mixture
screws clockwise ^ A until fully closed,
but do not overtighten. Figure 10. Unscrew both
mixture screws one full turn counterclockwise
b. IDLE SPEED ADJUSTMENT
1. ) Turn Idle Speed Screw clockwise
until it stops. Do not overtighten. Open
screw one full turn counterclockwise.
2. ) Start the engine and cut grass for 3 min­
utes to warm up engine.
3. ) Allow engine to idle.
4. ) Adjust Id le Speed Screw until engine continues
to run without stalling and without the cutting
head turning.
Turn screw clockwise to increase
engine speed if engine stalls;
Turn screw counterclockwise to slow
engine down if cutting head
continues to turn.
c. LOW SPEED MIXTURE ADJUSTMENT
i CAUTION: I High and low speed mixture settings
are highly critical adjustments. If set incorrectly per­
manent damage will occur to the engine. Both the
low speed mix and the high speed mix sc/eivs
should be in the range of 3/4 to 1-1/4 turns open.
1 . )
2
. )
3.)
4.)
Allow engine to idle.
Turn Low Speed Mixture Screw clock­
wise slowly. Note the position at
which the engine speed is increased.
Turn the screw slowly counterclockwise.
A . Note the position at which the
speed Is reddeed.
Set the screw mid-way between these two
extreme positions.
d. IDLE SPEED ADJUSTMENT
1. ) Allow engine to idle.
2. ) Adjust the Idle Speed Screw until the
engine idles as fast as possible without
the cutting head or blade turning
2
.
3.
4.
ICAUTIONH D o not operate engine at full throttle
for prolonged periods while making high speed
adjustments as damage to the engine can occur.
e. HIGH SPEED MIXTURE ADJUSTMENT
1 ) Support the shaft so that the cutting head
is off the ground and will not contact anv
object.
Squeeze throttle trigger wide open
Turn the High Speed Mixture Screw slowly
clockwise until the engine speed is
reduced. Note position.
Turn the screw slowly counterclockwise
Stop when the engine just begins
to run rough. ^
5.} Turn the screw slowly the minimum
amount c l o c k w i s e - u n t i l the engine
runs smoothly.
f. CHECK ACCELERATION
Allow the engine to idle. Squeeze trigger and
check engine acceleration. If the engine
does not accelerate smoothly, you may have
to repeat steps “b.3.)" through “e."
NOTE: Generally, by turning the low speed
screw counterclockwise A“*«* a small amount,
the unit will accelerate properly.
g. REINSTALL AIR FILTER
I CAUTION: I The air filter must be fitted into the
corners of the housing to avoid engine damage.
2. SPARKPLUG
Check spark plug periodically and replace as necessary.
Set the electrode gap at .025".
Figure 10