PotomacRepair

It is often very helpful to remove the hood of the lawn tractor to get better access to the entire engine and look for clues or identify potential problems before they become catastrophic Pro tip: There is often a sticker on the underside of the hood indicating all the key part numbers you will need to replace belts/blades and more.

Check Model Number of Machine and Engine

It is important to realize the model number of the machine is not identical to the model of the engine. Often on older machines, people perform an engine swap, so you want to ensure the correct model numbers are used when ordering replacement parts.

Electrical/Battery

Check the battery voltage and cold cranking amperes ("amps")
Ensure the anode (negative) and positive (cathode) clamps are tightly connected to the battery
Charge the Battery, if needed
Check spark plugs. If old or damaged, replace them. Pro tip: If the spark plug gap is off, it is possible to use a gap tool to fix the gap manually and extend the life of an otherwise acceptable spark plug. This reduces the maintenance cost of the tractor.

Air Filter / Pre-Filter

Air Filter Check/clean/replace (if needed) the pre-filter - it can generally be cleaned in warm soapy water - keeping the pre-filter clean will extend the life of the main air filter. It is also possible to apply clean engine oil to the pre-filter to make it sticky to dust/air particles
Check/clean/replace (if needed) the main air filter

Oil Level / Change Engine Oil / Change Oil Filter

Check the Engine Oil Level
Replace the engine oil frequently (follow guidance from Original Equipment Manufacturer)

Pro Tip: Change the engine oil when it is warm. This will help to get more of the old oil out of the engine.

Replace the Oil Filter

Pro Tip: Write the date or hours of the oil filter replacement with a permanent marker on the side of the oil filter. Certain engines do not have any oil filter and this does not apply to those engines.

Fuel Filter / Check Fuel Lines

Replace the petrol / fuel filter at least once a year
Check the fuel lines for dry rot. Replace if needed.

Blades and Deck

Check the blades to ensure they are not damaged. Replace if needed
Remove the deck and clean it on top and bottom
Examine all belt pulleys and ensure the bearing allows the pulley to spin freely. Replace if needed
Adjust the belt guards to ensure they to not collide with the belt and keep the belt in teh pulley
Wash the deck before putting it away for the end of season. Wash the deck during the cutting season to reduce the deck from rusting out. Do not leave clumps of dirt/grass under the deck. It will leave moisture and eat away the metal deck.
Baldes should never be installed upside down. The lift side should always be up.
Air Blower: Whenever the machine is used, get an air blower and remove the grass from the machine and mower deck. Blow the transmission area too as grass can cake on top of it and reduce cooling of the transmission, eroding its life unecessarily.
Replace any belts that appear worn or damaged.
Keep all pulleys clean of grass or dirt.

Tire Pressure

Check the tire pressure and add/remove air, as needed
Check the tire for dry rot
Check the rimms for rust and sand the rusting area and re-paint it
If a tire is damaged, a less costly option than replacement is to add a tube to the originally tubeless tire.
Rear tires are typically in the rage of 10 PSI and the front tires are typically in the range of 14 PSI.

Greasing

Add grease with a grease gun to all the appropriate locations
If a ball bearing upgrade has been performed, then there is typically no need to add additional grease to the grease fittings.

#6 Cleaning a Lawn Tractor Mower Deck (Quick Clean)

April 2, 2023:

I am often asked what are some of the reasons to keep the cutting deck clean on the lawn tractor and how to do it? Below are my top recommendations on what to do:

Remove the cutting deck
Lean it against a wall or carefully flip it over to scrape off the old grass, dirt, or mold
The tools one can use are: Metal wire brush, crowbar, long screwdriver. These tools are really helpful to remove the caked on grass buildup around the blades.
Wash off the inner deck with a garden hose and soap.

Note: a pressure washer may be used and it will greatly reduce the cleaning time involved, but it is not required.

Gently clean off the top of the deck, being careful not to get the pulleys wet. Although the ball bearings are sealed, moisture can still get in through any defect in the cover and damage the bearings causing premature wear and early replacement.

#7 46 Inch Craftsman 917273021 Garden Tractor Belt Install and Connecting Deck

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#8 Change Engine Oil + Filter 46 Inch Craftsman 917273021 Garden Tractor - Kohler Command CV20S Engine

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#9 Install New Mulching Blades on a 42 inch Craftsman 917271530 Lawn Tractor

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#10 Install a New Fuel Filter on a 42 inch Craftsman 917271530 Lawn Tractor

This video will overview how to install a new fuel filter on a 42 inch Craftsman 917271530 Lawn Tractor.

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#11 Secrets to Connecting the Mowing Deck on a 42 inch Craftsman 917271530 Lawn Tractor

This video will overview the procedure and secret techniques to connecting the mowing deck on a 42 inch Craftsman 917271530 Lawn Tractor.

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