To Replace Mower Blade Drive Belt; Mower Drive Belt Removal; To Check Brake; To Replace Motion Drive Belt - Craftsman 917.20408 Operator's Manual

TO REPLACE MOWER BLADE DRIVE
BELT

MOWER DRIVE BELT REMOVAL

1. Park tractor on a level surface. Engage
parking brake.
2. Lower attachment lift lever to its lowest
position.
3. Disengage belt tension rod (K) from lock
bracket (L).
CAUTION: Belt tension rod is spring
loaded. Have a firm grip on rod and release
slowly.
4. Remove screws (P) from R.H. and L.H.
mandrel covers and remove covers (Q).
5. Remove any dirt or grass clippings which
may have accumulated around mandrels
and entire upper deck surface.
6. Remove belt from electric clutch pulley
(M), both mandrel pulleys (R) and all idler
pulleys (V).
MOWER DRIVE BELT INSTALLATION
1. Install belt around both mandrel pulleys
(R) and around idler pulleys (V) as shown.
2. Install belt onto electric clutch pulley (M).
IMPORTANT: Check belt for proper routing
in all mower pulley grooves.
3. Reassemble R.H. and L.H. mandrel cov-
ers (Q). Securely tighten all screws.
4. Engage belt tension rod (K) on locking
bracket (L).
CAUTION: Belt tension rod is spring
loaded. Have a tight grip on rod and engage
slowly.
5. Raise attachment lift lever to highest
position.
P
Q
L
K
R
S
P
M
R

TO CHECK BRAKE

If tractor requires more than five (5) feet (1,5
m) to stop at highest speed in highest gear
on a level, dry concrete or paved surface,
then brake must be serviced.
You may also check brake by:
1. Park tractor on a level, dry concrete or
paved surface, depress brake pedal all
the way down and engage parking brake.
2. Disengage transmission by placing
freewheel control in "transmission disen-
gaged" position. Pull freewheel control
out and into the slot and release so it is
held in the disengaged position.
The rear wheels must lock and skid when
you try to manually push the tractor forward.
If the rear wheels rotate, then the brake
needs to be serviced. Contact a Sears or
other qualified service center.

TO REPLACE MOTION DRIVE BELT

Park the tractor on level surface. Engage
parking brake. For assistance, there is a
belt installation guide decal on bottom side
of left footrest.
BELT REMOVAL -
1. Remove mower (See "TO REMOVE
MOWER" in this section of manual).
NOTE: Observe entire motion drive belt
and position of all belt guides and keepers.
2. Disconnect clutch wire harness (A).
3. Remove anti-rotation link (B) on right
side of tractor.
4. Remove belt from stationary idler (C)
and clutching idler (D).
5. Remove belt from centerspan idler (E).
6. Pull belt slack toward rear of tractor.
Carefully remove belt upwards from
transmission input pulley and over cool-
ing fan blades (F).
7. Remove belt downward from engine
pulley and around electric clutch (G).
Q
8. Slide belt toward rear of tractor, off the
steering plate (H) and remove from tractor.
BELT INSTALLATION -
1. Install new belt from tractor rear to front,
over the steering plate (H) and above
clutch brake pedal shaft (J).
2. Pull belt toward front of tractor and roll belt
around electric clutch and onto engine
pulley (G).
3. Pull belt toward rear of tractor. Carefully
work belt down around transmission cool-
ing fan and onto the input pulley (F). Be
sure belt is inside the belt keeper.
4. Install belt on centerspan idler (E).
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