Belt Removal And Replacement - Craftsman 987.293190 Operator's Manual

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS
Checkingand Adjusting
Belt Tension
WARNING
Stopthe engine, allow it to cool
down, disconnect the spark
plug wire and prevent it from
touching the spark plug before
checkingthe belt tension.
Failure to comply could result
in personal injury or property
damage.
After the initial two hours of tiller op-
eration, check the belt tension. After
this initial check, check the belt ten-
sion every 10 operating hours. The
same schedule should be followed
after installing a new belt. If the belt
is slipping (the tines and wheels
don't rotate as fast as when new, or
they may even stop turning when the
engine is running at full speed), per-
form the belt tension check to see if
the belt needs to be tightened. If
you find you can not bring the For-
ward Clutch Bail al! the way up to the
bottom of the upper handlebar, you
will need to loosen the belt tension.
1. Lift the Forward Clutch Bail up
and hold it to the bottom of the han-
dlebar.
2. Measure the length of the clutch
bail spring with a ruler. Refer to Fig-
ure 4-12.
3. If the belt tension is correct, the
length of the spring should be ap-
proximately 1-7/8".
4. If the spring is too short, the belt
tension will be too loose. If the
spring is too long, the belt tension
will be too tight.
5. To adjust the length of the spring,
release the Forward Clutch Bail.
Screw the threaded adjuster coun-
terclockwise (as viewed from the op-
erator's position) to increase the
length of the spring or clockwise (as
viewed from the operator's position)
to decrease the length of the spring.
Figure 4-12: Measure the length
of the Clutch Ball Spring to check
for correct belt tension (1-7/8").
NOTE: If you have difficulty turning
the adjuster by hand, have an assis-
tant hold the Forward Clutch Bail to
the handlebar while you insert a flat-
tipped screwdriver into the clutch bail
spdng. Engage the tip of the screw-
driver with the slot in the screw head
that is inside the clutch bail spring.
While you turn the screw, keep the
Forward Clutch Cable from turning
by gripping the adjuster on its upper
end with a pliers. See Figure 4-13.
Figure 4-13: Adjusting the length
of the Clutch Ball Spring.
WARNING
Stop the engine, let it cool
down, disconnect the spark
plug wire and prevent it from
touching the spark plug before
changingthe belt.
Failure to comply could result
in personal injury or property
damage.
Belt Removaland Replacement
To Remove the Belt:
1. Use a 3/8" wrench to remove the
bolt that attaches the belt cover to
the tiller. Slide the belt cover up the
cable slightly so it is out of the way.
See Figure 4-14.
Figure 4-14: Remove belt cover.
2. Push down on the upper section
of the belt to create some belt slack
when you move the belt off the
transmission pulley. Reach under-
neath the tiller and move the belt for-
ward, off the transmission pulley.
Refer to Figure 4-15.
3. From above, lift the belt up and
off the engine pulley. You need to
_ guide the lower portion of the belt as
you're removing it so that it doesn't
hang up on anything.
ToInstall the Belt:
1. Insert the new belt downward, in
back of the engine pulley and in front
of the transmission.
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