Craftsman 917.377821 Owner's Manual page 15

CLEANING
IMPORTANT: For best performance, keep
mower housing free of built-grassand
trash. Clean the underside of your mower
after each use.
_]kCAUTION: Disconnectspark plug wire
from spark plug and place wire where it
cannot come in contact with plug.
• Clean the underside of your lawn mower
by scraping to remove build-up of grass
and trash.
• Clean engine often to keep trash from
accumulating. A clogged engine runs
hotterand shortens engine life.
• Keep finished 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, muffler, air filter 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
season. Scrape underside of cover with
putty knife or similar tool to remove any
build-up of trash or grass on underside of
drive cover.
AWARNING: 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 section of this manual.
REAR DEFLECTOR
The rear deflector, attached between the rear
wheels of you r mower, isprovided to minimize
the possibility that objects will be thrown out
of the rear of the mower into the operator
mowing position. If the deflector becomes
damaged, 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.
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 filter and carburetor are up.
6. Use a wood block between blade and
mower housing to prevent blade from
turning when removing blade bolt.
NOTE: Protect your hands with gloves
and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth.
Crankshaft
Housing hole
Trailing edg_
Hardened
washer
3lade
bolt
.
8.
Drive _,_ / Drive cable anchor
pulley j_ / jD_t
Jel'_ ""_ Idle_r a r_m Housing •
Remove blade bolt.
Remove blade, attaching hardware
(bolt, lock washer, hardened washer),
blade adapter and debris shield. Note
that the debris shield has a tab which
fits into the housing hole.
Remove drive belt from engine pulley;
discard old belt.
TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT
1. Place new drive belt on engine pulley.
2. Route the other end of the new drive
belt through hole in housing.
Return mower to upright position.