Craftsman 944.365990 Owner's Manual page 15

Housing Crankshaft
hole
Screw Trailing edge
Figure C
TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT
1. Place new drive belt in the belt retainer
of the debris shield. Be sure to route
belt between belt keepers and through
slot as shown (See Fig. D).
Belt retainer
Belt
keepers
Drive
belt
Figure D
2. Route the other end of the new drive
belt through hole in housing.
3. Reattach debris shield to housing with
screw previously removed. Be sure tab
of debris shield is in gap of housing.
4. Position blade on the blade adapter
aligning the two (2) holes in the blade
with the raised lugs on the adapter.
5. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (op-
posite sharp edge) is up toward the
engine as shown (See Fig. C).
6. Install the blade bolt with the lock
washer and hardened washer into
blade adapter and crankshaft.
7. Use block of wood between blade and
lawn mower housing and tighten the
blade bolt, turning clockwise.
• The recommended tightening torque is
35-40 ft. lbs.
IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated.
If bolt needs replacing, replace only with
approved bolt shown in the Repair Parts
section of this manual.
Tab
Blade
adapter
Hardened
washer
Debris Blade
shield bolt
Lock-washer
Tab
Debris
Slot
shield
8. Return mower to upright position.
9. Install new drive belt into idler arm
assembly, then around the drive pulley.
Be sure belt is inside of belt keepers
(See Fig. B).
NOTE: Pulling on the drive belt (to install
it on the drive pulley) will cause the other
end of the belt to free itself from the debris
shield retainer and come into contact with
the pulley end of the blade adapter.
10. Reattach drive cable and return spring
to the idler arm assembly, then reat-
tach drive cable to anchor.
11. Reattach drive cover with screws previ-
ously removed (See Fig. A).
12. Connect spark plug wire to spark plug.
TO ADJUST HANDLE
The handle on your lawn mower has three
(3) height positions - adjust to height that
suits you.
1. Remove knob and carriage bolt on one
side of the lower handle.
2. While holding handle assembly,
remove knob and car riage bolt from
opposite side, align hole in handle with
desired hole in handle bracket and
reassemble bolt and knob and tighten
securely.
3. Align opposite side of handle with
same positioning hole and secure with
bolt and knob.
High
Med.
Low
Knob
ENGINE
ENGINE SPEED
Your engine speed has been factory set.
Do not attempt to increase engine speed
or it may result in personal injury. If you
believe that the engine is running too fast
or too slow, take your lawn mower to a
Sears or other qualifi ed service center for
repair and ad just ment.
15
Bolt
Handle
bracket