Deck Installation - Craftsman 247.20400 series Operator's Manual

6. Pull the cotter pin out of the front deck lift rod securing it to the deck. See
Figure 27. Slide the deck lift rod out of the front hanger bracket.
7. Locate the LH and RH deck release pins on each side of the deck. Pull the
release pins outward and release the deck from the LH and RH deck lift arms.
See Figure 28.
Deck
Lift
Arm
Deck
Release
Pin
8. Place the deck lift handle into the highest mowing position and slide the
deck out from beneath the riding mower.
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
Front Deck Lift Rod
Cotter Pin
Figure 27
Figure 28

Deck Installation

Install the deck on the riding mower as follows:
1. Place the deck lift handle in the highest mowing position See Figure 24.
2. Slide the deck under the riding mower on the right side of the riding mower
lining up the deck hanger brackets and the deck lift arms..
3. Once the deck is under the riding mower, move the deck lift handle to the
lowest mowing position.
NOTE: To line the brackets up properly, it may be necessary to place a small block of
wood under each side of the deck.
4. Pull the deck release pins outward and maneuver the deck as necessary to
align the holes in the deck lift arms with the pins. Refer to Figure 28.
5. When aligned, push each pin fully inward through the lift arms to secure the
arms in the rear hanger bracket slots.
6. Reinstall the front deck lift rod and secure in place with the cotter pin. Refer
to Figure 27.
7. Make certain the 'V' belt is in the spindle pulleys on the deck; then route
the belt rearward beneath the riding mower frame, above the transmission
tube(s), to the PTO pulley on the bottom of the engine.
8. Using the deck lift handle, raise the deck to the position that provides the
most horizontal run of the belt between the deck idler pulleys and the PTO
pulley on the bottom of the engine.
9. Make certain the belt is in the spindle pulleys of the deck, and that the
backside of the belt is against both the fixed and movable idler pulleys.
10. Sitting behind the riding mower, facing forward, make certain the belt is not
twisted; then reach beneath the riding mower to grasp the belt and pull it
toward the PTO pulley.
Warning! Use caution to avoid pinching your fingers when
rolling the belt onto the PTO pulley.
11. Pull the right side of the belt rearward and place the narrow V side of the
belt into the PTO pulley. See Figure 26.
12. While holding the belt and pulley together, rotate the pulley to the left (See Figure
26). Continue holding and rotating the pulley and belt until the belt is fully rolled
into the PTO pulley.
NOTE: Before using the riding mower double-check the belt routing to make
sure that the belt has been routed properly.
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