Craftsman 917.256890 Owner's Manual page 16

CUSTOMER RESPC IBILITIES
TRACTOR
Always deservesafety rules when performing any mainte-
nance.
BRAKE OPERATION
If tractor requwes more than six (6) feet stopping distance
at h_ghspeed in highest gear, then brake must be adjusted.
f See "TO ADJUST BRAKE" in the Service and Adjust-
men_s section of this manual).
TIRES
o Maintain proper air pressure in al_ tires (See "PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS" on page 3 of this manual).
o _.eee tires free of gasoline, o11,or insect controJ chemP
ca_s which can harm rubber.
Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts. sharp
objec[s
and
ether hazards that may cause tire damage,
BLADE CARE
For best results mower 3lades must be kept snarp. Re-
d,ace Dent or damaged blades.
BLADE REMOVAL (See Fig, 10)
Raise mower to highest position 1o allow access to
oiaaes
Remove hex bolt fockwasheranc flat washersecunng
slaqe.
ms,all new or resharpened blade with trailing ec_geup
_owards deck as shown.
Reassemble hex bolt. lock washer and flat washer in
exact order as shown.
Tighten bolt securely (80-85 Ft. Lbs. torque).
I._,_PORTANT BLADE BOLT iS GRADE8HEATTREATED,
NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening blade - but if you
oo De sure the blade is balanced.
BLADE MANDREL
ASSEMBLY
FLAT WASHER_
TRAILING EDGE
HEX BOLT
(GRADE 8)*
*A GRADE 8 HEAT TREATED BOLT CAN BE
IDENTIFIED BY SIX LINES ON THE BOLT HEAD,
FIG. 10
TO SHARPEN BLADE (See Fig. 11)
Care should be taken to _<eepthe blade balanced. An
unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration and even-
tual damage to mower and engine,
The blade can be sharoened with a file or on a grinding
wheel Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower.
o To check blade balance, you will need a 5/8 diameter
steel bolt. pin, era cone ba]ancer. [When using a cone
balancer, foIlow the instructions suppliec with bal-
ancer).
• Slide blade on to an unthreaded portion of the steel bolt
or pin and hold the bolt or [_'r,oarallel w_tn the ground.
tf blade _s balanced, it shoulc remair ir a horizontal
position, if either end of the blade moves downward,
sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced.
NOTE: Do not use a nail for balancing blade. The lobes of
the center hoJe may appear to be centered, but are not.
CENTER HOLE
518" BOLT
OR PiN
BLADE
FIG. 11
16