Craftsman 247.203750 Operator's Manual page 24

Changing the Deck Belt
WARNING
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.
CAUTION
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 21.
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 21.
4. To place the new belt, begin by routing the belt around the two outer spindle
pulleys as shown in Figure 21.
5. Then route the belt around the two deck idler pulleys as shown in Figure 21.
6. Retighten the belt keeper rod loosened earlier.
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
Hex Washer Screws
Belt Guard
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 21.
9. Pull the right side of the belt, and place the narrow V side of the belt into the
PTO pulley.
10. While holding the belt and pulley together, rotate the pulley to the left.
Continue holding and rotating the pulley and belt until the belt is fully rolled
into the PTO pulley.
Parking Brake Adjustment
Never attempt to adjust the brakes while the engine is running. Always
disengage PTO (Blade Engage Lever), move shift lever into neutral position,
stop engine and remove key to prevent unintended starting.
If the tractor does not come to a complete stop when the clutch-brake pedal is
completely depressed, or if the tractor's rear wheels can roll with the parking brake
applied, the brake is in need of adjustment. Contact the nearest Parts & Repair
Service Center to have your brakes serviced.
To locate the nearest Parts & Repair Service Center or to schedule service,
contact 1-888-331-4569.
Changing the Transmission Drive Belt
NOTE: Several components must be removed and special tools (i.e. air/
impact wrench) in order to change the tractor's drive belt. Contact the
nearest Parts & Repair Service Center to have your transmission
drive belt serviced.
To locate the nearest Parts & Repair Service Center or to schedule service,
contact 1-888-331-4569.
Spindle Pulley
Belt Cover
Deck Idler Pulley
Figure 21
24
WARNING
This portion of the
belt routes around
the PTO Pulley