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.

TO REPLACE DRIVE BELT

1.Place new drive belt in the belt retainer of the debris shield. Be sure to route belt between belt keepers and through slot (See Figure D).

Belt retainer,

Tab

Belt

Drive belt

9.Install new drive belt into idler arm

assembly, then around the drive pulley (See Figure B).

NOTE: Pulling on the drive belt (to install it on the drive pulley) will cause the other end of the belt to free itself from the debris

shield retainer and properly seat itself in groove of pulley end of the blade adapter.

10.Reattach drive cable and return spring

to the idler arm assembly, then reat- tach drive cable to anchor.

11.Reattach drive cover with screws previ- ously removed.

12.Connect spark plug wire to spark plug.

TO ADJUST HANDLE

The handle on your lawn mower has multiple height positions - adjust to height that suits you.

1.Remove knob and carriage bolt on left side of the lower handle.

2.While holding handle assembly, re- move knob and carriage bolt from right side. Align hole in handle with desired hole in handle bracket, then reassem- ble bolt and knob and tighten securely.

3.Align left side of handle with same po-

sitioning hole as right side and secure with bolt and knob.

Debris

Slot shield

Figure D

2.Route the other end of the new drive belt through hole in housing.

3.Reattach debris shield to housing with screw previously removed. Be sure tab of debris shield is in gap of housing.

4.Position blade on the blade adapter aligning the two (2) holes in the blade with the raised lugs on the adapter.

5.Be sure the trailing edge of blade (op- posite sharp edge) is up toward the

engine (See Figure C).

6.Install the blade bolt with the lock washer and hardened washer into blade adapter and crankshaft.

7.Use block of wood between blade and lawn mower housing and tighten the

blade bolt, turning clockwise.

The recommended tightening torque is 35-40 ft. Ibs.

IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is heat treated. If bolt needs replacing, replace only with

approved bolt shown in the Repair Parts section of this manual.

8.Return mower to upright position.

KnobXBolt

Low

Hic

Handle

ENGINE

ENGINE SPEED

Your engine speed has been factory set. Do not attempt to increase engine speed or it may result in personal injury. If you believe that engine is running too fast or too slow, take your mower to a Sears or other qualified service center for repair and adjustment.

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Craftsman 917.377011 owner manual To Replace Drive Belt, To Adjust Handle, Engine Engine Speed