Deck Removal - Craftsman 247.25002 Operator's Manual

Adjusting the Gauge Wheels
Keephandsandfeetawayfromthedischarge opening ofthecutting deck.
NOTE:The deck gaugewheelsare an anti-scalpfeatureof the deck
and are not designedto supportthe weightof the cuttingdeck.
The mowerdeck cuttingheightcan be set in anyof six heightsettings
usingthe ridingmower'sdeck lift handle.Thedeck heightsrange from
1-1/2"to 4".The deckgauge wheelpositionshouldbe approximately
1/4"to 1/2"abovethegroundwhenthe deck isset inthe desiredheight
setting.
Usingthe lift handle,set the deck inthe desiredheightsetting,then
checkthegauge wheeldistancefrom theground below.If necessary
adjustas follows:
1. Visuallycheckthe distancebetweenthe front gaugewheeland
theground.If thegauge wheelisnear or touchingthe ground,it
shouldbe raised. If morethan 1/2"abovethe ground,itshouldbe
lowered.
.
Removethe flangelock nut securingthefront gaugewheel
shoulderboltto thedeck. Removethe gaugewheeland shoulder
bolt. Referto Figure35.
ulder Screw
..... _ Front Gauge
/
//'
Gaug
Bracket
index Holes
Lock Nut
Figure35
3. Insertthe shoulderbolt intothe one of fourindexholesin the front
gaugewheelbracketthat will givethe gaugewheela 1/4"to 1/2"
clearancewith the groundand securewith the flangelock nut.
4. Notethe indexhole of the justadjustedwheel, and adjustthe rear
gaugewheelintothe respective indexholesof the othergauge
wheelbracketon the deck.
DECK REMOVAL
1. Removethe mowerdeck fromthe riding moweras follows:
2. Movethe ridingmowerto a levelsurface,disengagethe PTO,
stop the engine,and set the parkingbrake.
3. Movethedeck gaugewheelsor rollersto their highestsetting
(lowestdeck setting).
4. Removethe 'V' beltfrom the PTOpulley,locatedon the bottomof
the engine,usingone of the followingtwo methods..
Themuffler a ttherearoftheriding mowermaybeextremely hot,andcould
causeserious burns. U seextreme caution whennearthemuffler. A llowthe I
I muffer tofu y coo beforeremov ng thebetfromthePTOpu ey. j
.
ReleasingBeltTensionwith the Idler Pulley
a. Usingthedeck lift handle,raisethedeck to the positionthat
providesthe mosthorizontalrun of the belt betweenthe deck
idlerpulleysand the PTOpulleyon the bottomof theengine.
b. Workingfromthe middleof the riding mower,pivot the idler
bracketand movableidler pulleyrearwardaway fromthe
backsideof the 'V" beltjustfar enoughto lift the belt up and
overthe idler pulley.See Figure36.
Pull'idler Puiley ""
Rearward Movable idler
V-Beit
.
Figure36
c. Frombeneaththe rearof the ridingmower,slidethe beltoff
of the PTOpulleyon the bottomof the engine.
Rollingthe Beltoff the PTOPulley
a. Usingthedeck lift handle,raisethedeck to the positionthat
providesthe mosthorizontalrun of the belt betweenthe deck
idlerpulleysand the PTOpulleyon the bottomof theengine.
b. Sitting behindthe ridingmowerfacingforward,reach
beneaththe ridingmowerto graspthe beltat the front of the
PTOpulley.
Usecautionto avoidpinchingyourfingers whenrollingthe beltoff the
PTOpulley.