Service And Adjustments - Craftsman 944.101761 Owner's Manual

WARNING: To avoid serious injury, before
performing any service and adjustments:
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 deflector, attached between the
rear wheels of your mower, is provided to
min i mize the possibility that objects will be
thrown out of the rear of the mower into the
operator's mowing position. Replace the rear
deflector if it becomes dam aged.
TO REMOVE DRIVE BELT
1. Remove screws securing rear baffle.
2. Turn lawn mower on its side with air
filter and car bu re tor up.
3. Remove rear baffle from mower.
4. Disconnect return spring from rear baffle
/ rear gearcase belt keeper.
5. Remove blade bolt, lockwasher, hard-
ened washer and blade.
6. Remove debris shield.
7. Remove gearcase belt keeper.
8. Remove drive belt.
TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT
1. Place new drive belt on gearcase pulley.
NOTE: Always use factory approved belt
to assure proper fit and long life.
2. Reinstall gearcase belt keeper. Be
sure the new drive belt is inside the
tabs of the gearcase belt keeper.
3. Position the blade adapter on the
engine crank shaft. Be sure key in
adapter and crankshaft keyway are
aligned; and that the new drive belt is
inside the tabs of the belt retainer.
4. Reattach return spring to rear baffle /
rear gearcase belt keeper.
5. Place rear baffle in mower housing.
6. Reinstall debris shield.
7. Reinstall blade. The recommended
tightening torque is 35–40 ft. lbs.
(47–54 Nm).
8. Return mower to upright po si tion.
9. Reinstall rear baffle screws.

SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS

Rear
baffle
Gearcase
pulley
Idler pulley
Belt retainer
Debris shield
Hardened washer
Blade
TO ADJUST HANDLE
The upper handle may be adjusted to
three (3) different height positions.
1. Move operator presence control bar
forward to unlock the handle.
2. Lift handle to desired adjustment posi-
tion.
17
Gearcase
belt keeper
Return spring
Lockwasher
Operator presence
control bar
(MOVE FORWARD
TO UNLOCK)
Handle
Blade
adapter
Blade
bolt