Craftsman 917.376990 Owner's Manual page 16

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 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 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
and remove drive cover from lawn
mower housing (See Figure A).
Drive
cover
Lawn
mower
housing
,
Figure A
Remove drive cable from anchor, then
detach it and return spring from idler
arm assembly (See Fig. B).
Return spring Drive cable anchor
/ Drive belt
Housing
hole
pulley Idler arm
• C-._j
Belt keeper PIVOT \ assembly
Figure B
4. Pivot idler arm assembly to slacken
drive belt, then remove drive belt from
drive pulley, belt keepers and idler arm.
5. Turn lawn mower on its side. Make
sure air filter and carburetor are up.
6. Remove screw securing debris shield.
Note that the debris shield has a tab
which fits into a gap in the housing
(See Figure C).
Crankshaft Tab Blade
Housing adapter
hole \ (pulley
end)
Hardened
washer
Blade
bolt
Screw Trailing edge Lock-washer
Figure O
7. 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.
8. Remove blade bolt.
9. Remove blade, attaching hardware
(bolt, lock washer and hardened wash-
er), blade adapter and debris shield as
one assembly.
10. Remove drive belt from blade adapter
and debris shield; discard old belt.
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