Craftsman 247.88455.1, Operator'S Manual

1

Maintenance & Service

General Recommendations

1.  Always observe safety rules when performing any maintenance.

2.  The warranty on this snow thrower does not cover items that have 

been subjected to operator abuse or negligence. To receive full 

value from the warranty, operator must maintain the snow thrower 

as instructed in this manual.

3.  Periodically check all fasteners and hardware to make sure these 

are tight.

WARNING:  Before servicing, repairing, lubricating or 

inspecting,  disengage  all  controls  and  stop  engine. 

Wait  until  all  moving  parts  have  come  to  a  complete 

stop. Disconnect spark plug wire and ground it against 

the engine to prevent unintended starting. Always wear 

safety  glasses  during  operation  or  while  performing 

any adjustments or repairs.

Replacing the Shave Plate 
and Skid Shoes

The shave plate and skid shoes on the bottom of the snow thrower are 

subject to wear. These should be checked periodically and replaced 

when necessary

1.  To replace, remove two carriage bolts and nuts securing each skid shoe 

to the auger housing.  See Fig. 10

2.  Reassemble new skid shoes with hardware just removed. Make sure the 

skid shoes are adjusted to be level.

3. 

To remove shave plate: 

Remove both skid shoes and hardware 

including carriage bolts and nuts which attach shave plate to the 

snow thrower housing. For location of shave plate, see Figure 10.

4.  Reassemble new shave plate, making sure heads of the carriage bolts 

are to the inside of the housing. Reinstall skid shoes. Tighten securely.

Servicing Augers

The augers are secured to the spiral shaft with four shear pins and 

cotter pins. If you hit a foreign object or ice jam, the snow thrower is 

designed so that the pins may shear. Refer to Figure 10.

If the augers do not turn, check if the pins have sheared. Replace, if 

needed, with proper shear pins. Refer to item 42 on page 19 for part 

number.

IMPORTANT: 

NEVER replace the auger shear pins with standard pins 

or fasteners. Any damage to the auger gearbox or other components, 

as a result of doing so, will NOT be covered by your snow thrower’s 

warranty.

Lubrication

For a view of the lubrication points on the snow thrower, see Figure 11. 

1.  Lubricate pivot points on the auger control and drive control with a 

light engine oil once a season.

2.  Lubricate the auger idler bracket with a light engine oil once a season.

Engine

Listed below are general recommendations about maintaining your 

snow thrower engine. 
1.  Before operating snow thrower, check the oil level. 
2.  Change engine oil after first two hours of operation and every 25 

hours thereafter. 

3.  Clean spark plug and reset the electrode gap to 0.030” at least 

once a season or every 100 hours of operation; replace every 200 
hours of operation.

Check V-Belts 

Follow instructions below to check condition of drive belts every 50 
hours of operation.
1.  Remove the plastic belt cover on the front of the engine by 

removing the self-tapping screw and pressing the plastic tabs to 
release the belt cover.

2.  Visually inspect for frayed, cracked, or excessively worn out belts. 

Replace, if necessary, follow instructions below.

Replacing Belts

NOTE: 

 There are two belts on this snow thrower: an auger belt and drive 

belt. It is recommended that both belts be replaced at the same time. 
1.  Remove the spark plug wire from spark plug and ground it against 

the engine to prevent accidental starting.

2.  Drain gasoline from the gas tank below ½ tank or run the machine 

below half a tank, or place a piece of plastic sheet underneath the 
gas cap to prevent gasoline leakage.

Figure 11

Lubricate

Lubricate

Figure 10

Shear Pin

Cotter Pin

Skid Shoe

Lock Nut Carriage Bolt

Lock Nut

Carriage Bolt

Shave Plate