Craftsman 247.37683 - Manual (Page 19)

SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
CLEANING DECK
Clean underside of the mower deck once a season to prevent build-up
of grass clippings or other debris. Follow steps below tor this job.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain gasoline from lawn mower or
place a piece of plastic under the gas cap.
2. Tip mower so that it rests on the housing, keeping the muffler side
down. Hold mower firmly.
A
warning
Never tip the mower more than 90° in any direction and do not leave
the mower tipped for any length of time. Oil can drain into the upper
part of the engine causing a starting problem.
3. Scrape and clean the underside of the deck with a suitable tool.
Do not spray with water.
IMPORTANT: Do not use a pressure washer or garden hose to clean
your unit. These may cause damage to bearings, or the engine. The
use of water will result in shortened life and reduce serviceability.
4. Put the mower back on its wheels on the ground. If you had put
plastic under the gas cap earlier, make sure to remove it now.
REPLACING REAR FLAP
To replace rear flap, proceed as follows:
1. Lift rear door, and press flap in on either side to remove from hole.
See Figure 16.
2. Remove flap from opposite hole and replace with new flap in the
opposite order and manner of removal.
A
warning
When removing the cutting blade for sharpening or replacement,
protect your hands with a pair of heavy gloves or use a heavy rag to
hold the blade.
BLADE CARE
Periodically inspect the blade adapter tor cracks, especially if you
strike a foreign object. Replace when necessary. Follow the steps
below for blade service.
1. Disconnect spark plug boot from spark plug. Turn mower on its
side making sure that the air filter and the carburetor are facing
up.
2. Remove the bolt and the blade bell support which hold the blade
and the blade adapter to the engine crankshaft. See Figure 17.
3. Remove blade and adapter from the crankshaft.
NOTE: When removing these items, the wave washer may also break
free from the crankshaft. Be sure to make note of the orientation of this
item for reassembly.
4. Remove blade from the adapter tor testing balance. Balance the
blade on a round shaft screwdriver to check. Remove metal from
the heavy side until it balances evenly. When sharpening the
blade, follow the original angle of grind. Grind each cutting edge
equally to keep the blade balanced.
Blade
Blade Adapter
11
, ^
o
Blade Bell
Support
Bolt
Figure 17
A
warning
An unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration when rotating at
high speeds. It may cause damage to mower and could break causing
personal injury.
Lubricate the engine crankshaft and the inner surface of the blade
adapter with light oil. Slide the blade adapter onto the engine
crankshaft. Place the blade on the adapter such that the side of
the blade marked “Bottom” (or with part number) faces the ground
when the mower is in the operating position. Make sure that the
blade is aligned and seated on the blade adapter flanges.
19