Repair Parts; Drive Wheels; To Remove And Replace Blade; To Sharpen Blade - Craftsman 725 series Owner's Manual

REPAIR PARTS

40
LAWN MOWER
Always observe safety rules when per-
form ing any main te nance.
TIRES
• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect
control chemi cals which can harm rubber.
• Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp
objects and other hazards that may
cause tire damage.

DRIVE WHEELS

Check wheels each time be fore you mow
to be sure they move freely.
The wheels not turning freely means
trash, grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive
wheel or dust cover area and must be
cleaned to free drive wheels.
If necessary to clean the drive wheels, be
sure to clean all wheels.
1. Remove hubcaps, locknuts, and washers.
2. Remove wheels from wheel ad just ers.
3. Remove any trash or grass cuttings
from inside the dust cover, pinion and/
or drive wheel gear teeth.
4. Put wheels back in place.
NOTE: If after cleaning, the drive wheels
do not turn freely, contact a Sears or other
qualified service center.
BLADE CARE
For best results, blade must be kept
sharp. Re place a bent or dam aged blade.
CAUTION: Use only a replacement blade
approved by the manufacturer of your mow-
er. Using a blade not approved by the manu-
facturer of your mower is hazardous, could
damage your mower and void your warranty.
TO REMOVE BLADE
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark
plug and place wire where it cannot
come in contact with plug.
2. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make
sure air filter and carburetor are up.
3. Use a wood block between blade and
mower hous ing to prevent blade from
turning when re mov ing blade bolt.
NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves
and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.
4. Remove blade bolt by turning counter-
clockwise.
5. Remove blade and attaching hardware
(bolt, lock wash er, hardened wash er).
6. Remove debris shield.
NOTE: Remove the blade adapter
and check the key inside hub of blade
adapter. The key must be in good condi-
tion to work properly. Replace adapter if
damaged.
TO REPLACE BLADE
1. Position the blade adapter on the
engine crank shaft. Be sure key in
adapter and crankshaft keyway are
aligned; and that the drive belt is
inside the tab of the belt retainer.
2. Install debris shield.
3. Position blade on the blade adapter.
IMPORTANT: To ensure proper as sem bly,
center hole in blade must align with star
on blade adapter.
4. Be sure the trailing edge of blade (op-
posite sharp edge) is up toward the
engine.
5. Install the blade bolt with the lock
washer and hardened washer into
blade adapter and crankshaft.
6. 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.
Blade
adapter
Belt
retainer
Debris
shield
Hardened washer
Blade
Lockwasher
Blade bolt

TO SHARPEN BLADE

NOTE: We do not recommend sharp en ing
blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is
balanced. An un bal anced blade will cause
eventual damage to lawn mower or engine.
• The blade can be sharp ened with a file
or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while on the mower.
• To check blade balance, you will need
a 5/8" diameter steel bolt, pin, or a cone
balancer. (When using a cone bal anc er,
follow the in struc tions supplied with it.)
NOTE: Do not use a nail for balancing
blade. The lobes of the center hole may
appear to be centered, but are not.
13
Crank-
shaft
keyway
Key
Trailing
edge