Craftsman Lawn Tractor Manual

When it comes to maintaining your lawnmower, there is much important information you can find in your Craftsman lawn tractor manual. Below is a general summary of this information, including tips and guidelines for mower maintenance.

Tuning your lawn tractor

*A good rule of thumb is to do a tune-up on your lawn tractor once a year. Start by 
  washing your tractor; good ol’ soap and water will suffice, but if you prefer you can use 
  a high-pressure cleaner, taking care to keep the spray away from bearings and the like.
*Inspect the deck, the deck belts, blades and hangers. Replace any parts that are worn or
  damaged.
*If you have the tractor jacked up, it’s a good idea to remove the blades and have them
  sharpened.
*Belts that are showing signs of wear and tear, or that have not been replaced for 4
  seasons, should be replaced.
*Lubing your tractor would be a good idea at this time, using your owners’ manual to
  find out what type of lube to use and where to apply it.
*Check the tires for correct air-pressure, as low tire pressure will negatively affect your
  tractor’s cutting power.
*Change the oil. If your engine is fitted with an oil filter, change it as well.
*Remove and clean the air filter and precleaner
*Making sure the engine is cold, replace the spark plug
 *Inspect the battery, making sure it isn’t bulged and the terminals are tight and clean.
   Measure the voltage and charge if necessary.
* Periodically grab and shake things as you work, to check for loose or broken parts.
   Make sure the bearings aren’t worn, and check for missing or loose bolts.

Routine maintenance

*At the end of each mowing season, wash and dry your mower before storing it
*Check the battery and spark-plug for corrosion every month or so
*Drain the gas from your mower before storing it each winter – gas only has a fairly short
  life-span so it’s likely to have gone “off” before you next mow.
*Sharpen the blades once or twice a year.

Once you have an idea of the important information you can find in your Craftsman lawn tractor manual, mower maintenance can be made much easier and you may well prolong the life of your mower.