Craftsman 247.887360 Operator's Manual page 19

,
6.
above and below the spindle.
Figure 17
1/4" Spacer
1/4" Spacers
Remove the long (9-1/2") blade bolt, the flat
washer, the blade and the blade spacers.
To replace the blade, reverse the above
procedure. Be careful to replace the blade
spacers correctly above and below the spindle.
This is not a timed blade system and since blade
overlap is provided, orientation is not important.
Figure 18
2. Remove the deck cover. (This requires a 9/16"
wrench)
3. Remove the cap screw which serves as a belt
guide and is mounted in the idler pulley arm.
(Item J, Figure 19.)
4. Slip the long blade drive belt off of the pulleys.
5. Place a new long blade drive belt through the belt
guide and loop it around the engine pulley and
then around the two deck pulleys. The belt's back
side should ride on the idler pulley.
6. Replace the cap screw, lock washer and nut in
the idler pulley arm.
7. The idler pulleys should be adjusted so that when
the blade clutch is engaged, a ten-pound pull
between two pulleys deflects either belt about 1/
2" (See Figure 18.) Do not overtighten these
belts. The blade clutch should engage with only
moderate force.
8. Replace the deck cover, and secure with 9/16"
nut.
1/2" deflection
SHARPENING A BLADE
,
,
3.
To sharpen a blade, clamp the blade in a vise
and, using a flat mill file, carefully file the cutting
surface on each end of the blade to a sharp
edge.
Blades with severe nicks or dents that cannot be
removed by filing should be replaced.
It is important that each cutting blade edge be
ground equally to maintain proper blade balance.
A poorly balanced blade will cause excessive
vibration and may cause damage to the mower
and result in personal injury. The blade can be
tested by balancing it on a round shaft
screwdriver. Grind metal from the heavy side until
it balances evenly.
CHANGING THEBLADE DRIVEBELTS
(SeeFigurelg)
1. Make sure the blade clutch is disengaged.
Figure 19
CHANGING THETRANSMISSION DRIVE
BELT:
( SeeFigure20)
1. Make sure the blade clutch is disengaged.
2. Working under the engine deck, take the long
blade drive belt off of the engine pulley.
3. Loosen the Iocknut (item I, Figure 20) holding the
transmission drive belt idler pulley in place and
slide the pulley away from the transmission drive
belt.
4. Remove the old belt and mount a new belt onto
the pulleys.
5. Slide the idler pulley back onto the belt and
tighten the Iocknut holding it in place. The idler
pulley should be adjusted so that a five-pound
pull on the belt between the engine pulley and the
transmission pulley deflects the belt about 3/16".
19