When you’ve got a problem with the mandrel, also referred to as the spindle, on your Craftsman 42-inch lawn in San Diego tractor, chances are it shows itself by preventing the blades from spinning or by creating a noticeably uneven cut. Since the blades attach to and spin around the mandrel, the only way to restore the blades to working order is to remove the mandrel and repair it or replace it with a new one.
Park the yard tractor on a level surface and set the parking brake to stop the mower from moving. Remove the key from the ignition to stop it from accidentally beginning. Set the parking brake and adjust the PTO lever, located on the ideal rear fender, to the “Off” position.
Set the deck lift lever, located on the right-rear fender, to the bottom position. Eliminate the belt-keeper pole by removing the screw that holds it in place so that you are able to get the PTO pulley. Take note of which hole that the pole was inserted to so that you may put it in the exact same position following the mend. Pull the belt from across the PTO pulley.
Eliminate the bow-tie pins that attach the lift linkages into the mower deck. Look for a single lift and pin linkage on each side of the mower. Eliminate the bow-tie pins that attach the front and back of the mower deck to the front and back mounting brackets. Detach the deck from the brackets afterward.
Eliminate the bow-tie pin from the back of the mower’s deck in which it attaches to the PTO cable. Disconnect the spring from the deck idler bracket to complete the detachment of the mower deck from the tractor. Roll the mower deck from beneath the tractor.
Turn the mower deck upside down and place it on the grass (Long Beach, CA) or on a sheet or blanket to prevent scraping the paint. Insert a hardwood block between the blade and the mower deck housing. Remove the nut that attaches the mower blade into the damaged spindle with the appropriate wrench. Lay the nut and blade aside.
Remove the four nuts that attach the mandrel assembly into the mower deck with the appropriate socket. Permit the mandrel assembly to drop from the surface of the mower deck on the ground Phoenix. The mandrel is now completely removed from the machine.