Service And Adjustments - Craftsman 944.365450 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.
WARNING: To avoid serious injury, before per form ing any service or ad just 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.
LAWN MOWER
TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT
See "TO ADJUST CUTTING HEIGHT" in
the Operation sec tion of this manual.
REAR DEFLECTOR
The rear defl ector, 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
defl ector becomes dam aged, 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 spring from idler arm assembly.
Drive
pulley
Belt Hex
keepers nut

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS

Drive cable anchor
Drive belt
Idler arm Housing
assembly hole
14
• Keep fi nished 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, muffl er, air fi lter 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.
4. Remove idler arm assembly from
housing by removing hex nut; then
remove drive belt from drive pulley, belt
keepers and idler arm assembly.
5. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make
sure air fi lter and carburetor are up.
6. 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.
Crankshaft
Housing hole
Tab
Debris shield
Trailing edge
7. Remove blade bolt.
8. Remove blade, attaching hardware
(bolt, lock wash er and hardened
wash er), blade adapter and debris
shield. Note that the debris shield has
a tab which fi ts into the housing hole.
9. Remove drive belt from engine pulley;
discard old belt.
Blade
adapter
Hardened
washer
Blade
bolt
Lock-washer