Craftsman 917.370731 Owner's Manual page 16

We do not recommendusing a garden
hose to clean lawn mower unlessthe
electrical system,muffler,air filter and
carburetorare covered to keepwater
out. Water in engine can resultin short-
ened engine life.
CLEAN UNDER DRIVECOVER
Cleanunderdrivecoverat leasttwicea sea-
son. Scrape underside of cover with putty
knifeor similar tool to removeany build-up
of trashor grasson undersideof drivecover.
• k WARNING: To avoid serious injury, before performing any service and adjustments:
,
2.
3.
contact with plug.
Release control bar and stop engine.
Make sure the blade and all moving parts have completely stopped.
Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug and place wire where it cannot come in
LAWN MOWER
TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT
See "TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT" in
the Operation section of this manual.
REAR DEFLECTOR
The rear deflector, attached between the
rear wheels of your mower, is provided to
minimize the possibility that objects will
be thrown out of the rear of the mower
into the operator mowing position. If the
deflector becomes damaged, it should be
replaced.
TO REMOVE DRIVE BELT
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
2. Remove screws retaining drive cover
(not shown); and remove drive cover
from lawn mower housing.
3. Remove drive cable from anchor, then
detach it and return spring from idler
arm assembly.
Drive ulley _ _ Drive cable anchor
It- ous es
Ilrr'/'/:,,_',_/ /_ Drivebelt // /
Belt _/_J_Return Idler arm
keepers Hexnut_" " _ spring assembly
4. Remove idler arm assembly from
housing by removing hex nut; then 5.
remove drive belt from drive pulley, belt
keepers and idler arm assembly. 6.
5. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make
sure air filter and carburetor are up. 7.
6. Remove screw securing debris shield.
Note that the debris shield has a tab 8.
which fits into a gap in the housing.
16
Crankshaft
Housing hole adapter
Hardened
washer
Blade
bolt
Trailing edge--
7. Use a wood block between blade and
mower housing to prevent blade from
turning when removing blade bolt.
NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves
and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.
8. Remove blade bolt.
9. Remove blade, attaching hardware
(bolt, lock washer, hardened washer),
blade adapter and debris shield. Note
that the debris shield has a tab which
fits into the housing hole.
10. Remove drive belt from engine pulley;
discard old belt.
TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT
1. Place new drive belt on engine pulley.
2. Route the other end of the new drive
belt through hole in housing.
3. Return mower to upright position.
4. Install new drive belt into idler arm
assembly, then around the drive pulley.
Be sure belt is inside of belt keepers.
Reattach idler arm assembly with hex
nut previously removed.
Turn lawn mower on its side. Make
sure air filter and carburetor are up.
Reattach debris shield to housing with
tab of debris shield in housing hole.
Position blade on the blade adapter
aligning the two (2) holes in the blade
with the raised lugs on the adapter.