Craftsman 917388540 gas walk-behind lawn mower Parts

The model number is 917.388540 (often written without the dot as 917388540) for this Craftsman gas walk-behind lawn mower. You’ll find it printed on the mower’s model decal, and it’s also shown on the cover of the owner's manual.

Look for the model and serial number decal in these common spots:

• On the rear of the lawn mower housing (most common for this model)
• Near the rear discharge door area
• On the deck close to the handle mounting points
• On a label that also lists the serial number

Using the exact model number 917.388540 ensures you get the right Craftsman parts and specs for items like the blade, blade adapter, and handle hardware.

Craftsman model numbers can look similar across different walk-behind mowers. Matching 917.388540 exactly prevents ordering the wrong blade, belt, or fasteners and helps you follow the correct maintenance and safety instructions.

Last updated: February 2026

For the Craftsman 917388540 gas walk-behind lawn mower, use fresh, clean regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. Using 89 octane will not improve performance in normal mowing; the key is using fresh fuel and avoiding higher-than-recommended ethanol blends (and not mixing oil into the gas). See the fuel guidance in the owner's manual.

• Use 87 octane (regular unleaded) or higher.
• Use fresh fuel you will burn within about 30 days.
• Keep ethanol content at E10 or less (typical pump gas); avoid higher-ethanol fuels.
• Do not mix oil with gasoline (this mower uses separate crankcase oil).
• Wipe up spills and refuel only when the engine is off and cooled.

Using the correct fuel helps prevent hard starting, rough running, and carburetor issues caused by stale fuel or moisture-related fuel breakdown during storage. Octane is rarely the problem on walk-behind mower engines; fuel freshness and proper storage are what protect performance.

• Fill the tank to the bottom of the filler neck; do not overfill.
• If the mower will sit 30 days or longer, run the engine until the fuel system is empty (per the manual’s storage guidance).
• Store gasoline in an approved container, tightly sealed, away from heat sources.
• If you are also doing seasonal maintenance, follow the oil-change interval and tune-up steps in the owner's manual.

Last updated: February 2026

Craftsman model 917388540 is identified by its model number, not by a built-in “year” code. To determine the year, we use the serial number on the rear housing decal and match it to the date-of-purchase information and the identification guidance in the 917388540 owner's manual.

You can pin down the year quickly using the mower’s identification decal.

• Look for the model and serial number decal on the rear of the lawn mower housing.
• Write down the serial number exactly as shown.
• Record the date of purchase if you still have a receipt or service record.
• Use the identification and record-keeping section in the 917388540 owner's manual.
• If the decal is damaged, clean the area gently and use a flashlight to read stamped or printed characters.

The model number tells us the product family and configuration; the serial number is what ties to manufacturing timing.

Knowing the correct year (or at least the correct serial number range) helps us match the right Craftsman walk-behind mower parts and specs, such as blade hardware torque and the correct blade adapter and fasteners.

These are examples of items where exact fit matters:

• Lawn mower blade adapter 532418373
• Belt, 21-in 532406712
• Husqvarna lawn mower rear skirt 532413160
• Grass bag 532410666

Last updated: February 2026