PHOTO: AIR FILTER CHANGING CRAFTSMAN 917 MOWER: Gas is mixed with oxygen for firing inside the engine. The oil cap is labeled and the spark plug is obvious. Take a look at this photo below showing location of the air filter and what it looks like on this specific 917 Craftsman model (called the "22 inch mulcher" on one side). On the Craftsman Model 917 model it's also easy and fast, requiring just screwdrivers and an appropriately sized wrench or socket for the spark plug. (1) MY FIRST STEP: REPLACING SIMPLE DISPOSABLE PARTSĪs a matter of year-to-year maintenance, changing oil, air filters and spark plugs is important. I purchased a "Tune Up Kit" from Sears and replaced the air filter, spark plug, and leveled off the oil level with new oil (all of which came in the 'kit,' along with an additive 'fuel stabilizer'.) For a list of Craftsman mower replaceable parts, with part numbers for this Briggs and Stratton engine, go here.
Only priming the engine (with the thumb-sized rubber throttle) would get it to start for these brief moments. Restarting resulted in only a brief burst of power and then immediately quitting. My six-year old Craftsman mower, after being in winter storage, started up as usual and I promptly cut half of my yard's spring lawn growth. Self Help Page Sputtering, Quitting Engine