Craftsman 247.288843 Operator's Manual page 24

Cutting Blades
WARNING
Shut the engine off and remove ignition key before removing the cutting
blade(s) for sharpening or replacement. Protect your hands by using heavy
gloves when grasping the blade.
WARNING
Periodically inspect the blade and/or spindle for cracks or damage,
especially after you've struck a foreign object. Do not operate the machine
until damaged components are replaced.
To remove the blades, proceed as follows:
1. Remove the deck from beneath the tractor, (refer to Cutting Deck Removal
earlier in this section) then gently flip the deck over to expose its underside.
2. Place a block of wood between the center deck housing baffle and the
cutting blade to act as a stabilizer. See Figure 22.
3. Remove the hex flange nut that secures the blade to the spindle assembly.
Hex Flange Nut
4. To properly sharpen the cutting blades, remove equal amounts of metal
from both ends of the blades along the cutting edges, parallel to the trailing
edge, at a 25°- to 30° angle. Always grind each cutting blade edge equally to
maintain proper blade balance. See Figure 23.
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
Figure 22
Figure 23
If the cutting edge of the blade has previously been sharpened, or if any
metal separation is present, replace the blades with new ones.
A poorly balanced blade will cause excessive vibration, may cause damage to
the tractor and/or result in personal injury.
5. Test the blade's balance using a blade balancer. Grind metal from the
heavy side until it balances evenly.
NOTE: When replacing the blade, be sure to install the blade with the side of the
blade marked ''Bottom'' (or with a part number stamped in it) facing the ground
when the mower is in the operating position.
Use a torque wrench to tighten the blade spindle hex flange nut to between
70 lbs-ft and 90 lbs-ft.
Changing the Deck Belt
Be sure to shut the engine off, remove ignition key, disconnect the spark
plug wire(s) and ground against the engine to prevent unintended starting
before removing the belt.
All belts on your tractor are subject to wear and should be replaced if any
signs of wear are present.
IMPORTANT: The V-belt found on your tractor is specially designed to engage
and disengage safely. A substitute (non-OEM) V-belt can be dangerous by not
disengaging completely. For a proper working machine, use identical equipment
belts as listed in the parts pages of this Operator's Manual.
To change or replace the deck belt on your tractor, proceed as follows:
Remove the deck as instructed earlier in this section.
1. Remove the belt covers from the spindle pulleys by removing the hex screws
that fasten the covers to the deck. See Figure 24.
2. It may also be necessary to loosen the hex nut on the left deck idler pulley to
get the belt off the pulley and around the belt guard.
3. Carefully remove the deck belt from around the two spindle pulleys and the
two deck idler pulleys. See Figure 24.
4. To place the new belt, begin by routing the belt around the two outer spindle
pulleys as shown in Figure 24.
5. Then route the belt around the two deck idler pulleys as shown in Figure 24.
6. Retighten the belt keeper rod loosened earlier.
7. Remount the belt guards removed earlier.
8. Re-install the deck, making sure the belt remains routed around the pulleys
as instructed. The complete belt routing is shown in Figure 24.
9. Pull the right side of the belt, and place the narrow V side of the belt into the
PTO pulley.
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CAUTION
WARNING
CAUTION
WARNING
CAUTION