Craftsman 917.377120 - Manual (Page 17)

Remove drive cable from anchor, then
detach it and return spring from idler
arm assembly (See Fig. B).
Drive cable Housing
anchor hole/
Drive
pulley Drive
belt Return
spring
■ Idler arm
assembly
PIVOT
Figure
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
Housing
hole '
Blade
adapter
(pulley
end)
Screw Trailing edge •
Figure C
Lock-washer
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
keepers
Drive
belt
Debris
shield
Figure D
2
.
3.
5.
Route the other end of the new drive
belt through hole in housing.
Reattach debris shield to housing with
screw previously removed. Be sure tab
of debris shield is in gap of housing.
Position blade on the blade adapter
aligning the two (2) holes in the blade
with the raised lugs on the adapter.
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. lbs.
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.
17