Service And Adjustment; Cleaning; Clean Under Drive Cover; Lawn Mower - Craftsman 917.370714 Owner's Manual

CLEANING
IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep
mower housing free of built-up grass and
trash. Clean the underside of your mower
after each use.
_CAUTION: Disconnect spark plug wire
from spark plug and place wire where it
cannot come in contact with plug.
• Clean underside of mower by scraping
to remove build-up of grass and trash.
• Clean engine often to keep trash from
accumulating. A clogged engine runs
hotter and shortens engine life.
Keep finished surfaces and wheels free
of all gasoline, oil, etc.
We do not recommend using a garden
hose to clean lawn mower unless the
electrical system, muffler, air filter and
carburetor are covered to keep water
out. Water in engine can result in short-
ened engine life.
CLEAN UNDER DRIVE COVER
Clean under drive cover at least twice a sea-
son. Scrape underside of cover with putty
knife or similar tool to remove any build-up
of trash or grass on underside of drive cover.
AWARNING: To avoid serious injury,
before performing any service or adjust-
ments:
1. Release control bar and stop engine.
2. Make sure the blade and all moving
parts have completely stopped.
3. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
4. Remove idler arm assembly from
,
6.
housing by removing hex nut; then
remove drive belt from drive pulley, belt
keepers and idler arm assembly.
Turn lawn mower on its side. Make
sure air filter and carburetor are up.
Remove screw securing debris shield.
Note that the debris shield has a tab
which fits into a gap in the housing.
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.
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
Drive ulley _ _ Drive cable anchor (bolt, lock washer, hardened washer),
j .- ous es
IIIT_',','_,' _X_ ,_ Drivebelt /[ [
/ /\o _,_,_ eturn Idler arm
keepers Hexnut_" " _ spring assemblY15
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.