Craftsman 917.371640 Owner's Manual page 15

ACAUTION: Disconnectspark plug wire
from spark plug and place wirewhere it
cannotcomein contactwith plug.
• Cleanthe undersideof your lawn mower
by scrapingto removebuild-upof grass
and trash.
• Cleanengineoften to keeptrash from
accumulating.A cloggedengineruns
hotter andshortensenginelife.
• Keepfinishedsurfacesandwheelsfree
of all gasoline,oil, etc.
• We do not recommendusing a garden
hoseto clean lawn mowerunlessthe
electricalsystem,muffler,air filter and
carburetorare coveredto keepwater
out. Water in enginecan resultin short-
ened enginelife.
CLEAN UNDER DRIVECOVER
Cleanunderdrivecoveratleasttwiceasea-
son. Scrapeunderside of cover with putty
knife or similar tool to removeany build-up
oftrashor grasson undersideofdrivecover.
AWARNING: Toavoidseriousinjury, b efore
performing any service and adjustments:
1. Releasecontrolbar and stop engine.
2. Makesure the blade andall moving
parts havecompletelystopped.
3. Disconnectspark plug wire fromspark
plug and placewire where it cannot
come in contactwith 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 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 deflector becomes
damaged, it should be replaced.
TO REMOVE DRIVE BELT
1. Remove drive cover and belt keeper.
2. Remove belt from gearcase pulley by
pushing down on pulley and rolling belt
off it.
3. Turn lawn mower on its side with air
filter and carburetor down.
4. Remove blade and debris shield.
Drive
cover
Belt
keepel
PUSH
DOWN
Belt
5. Remove belt from engine pulley on
crankshaft.
TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT
1. Place new drive belt in the belt retain-
ers of the debris shield.
2. Route the other end of the new drive
belt through hole in housing.
3. Reinstall debris shield and blade.
4. Return mower to upright position.
5. Install new belt on gearcase pulley.
6. Reinstall belt keeper and drive cover.
NOTE: Always use factory approved belt
to assure proper fit and long life.
Belt retainers
Drive belt
Debris shield
TO ADJUST HANDLE
The handle can be mounted in a high or
low position. The mounting holes in the
bottom of lower handle are off center for
raising or lowering the handle.
1. Remove upper handle and wire tie(s)
securing cable(s) to lower handle.
2. Remove hairpin cotters from lower
handle bracket mounting pin.
3. Squeeze lower handle in to remove it
from mounting pins.
4. Turn lower handle over to raise or
lower handle.
5. Squeezelowerhandleinandpositionholes
onto mounting pins on handle bracket.
6. Reassemble upper handle and all
15 parts removed from lower handle.