Craftsman 917258470 tractor Parts

On the Craftsman 917258470 front-engine lawn tractor, the most common problems we see involve the mower deck drive system (belts, idlers, and spindles), steering wear, and traction issues. These show up as poor cutting, squealing, vibration, hard steering, or slipping drive.

Most common symptoms and what they usually point to

• Deck belt slips, squeals, or blades stop under load: worn or stretched deck/drive belt, weak idler spring, or a sticking idler arm
• Uneven cut or heavy vibration: bent/dull blade, worn mandrel bearings, or a damaged mandrel housing
• Loud grinding from the deck: failing mandrel assembly or pulley wear
• Tractor won’t move well or loses power to the wheels: drive belt wear, transaxle issues, or linkage problems
• Hard steering or excessive play: worn sector gear, drag link, or steering shaft components

Quick checks we recommend first

1. Park on level ground, set the parking brake, remove the key, and let moving parts stop.
2. Inspect belts for glazing, cracking, fraying, or oil contamination.
3. Spin each blade spindle by hand (engine off); roughness or wobble indicates mandrel wear.
4. Check idler pulleys for free spin and no side-to-side play.
5. Verify tire pressure and look for uneven tire wear that can mimic steering or cut issues.

Common parts that often solve these issues

Problem area	What fails most often	Example part for this model
Deck drive	Belt wear or stretching	Lawn tractor drive belt 532144200
Deck engagement/tension	Idler pulley wear	Lawn tractor blade idler pulley 532139245
Spindle/mandrel	Bearing wear, wobble, noise	Husqvarna lawn tractor mandrel assembly 532130794
Cutting quality	Blade damage/dulling	Husqvarna lawn tractor mulching blade, 21-in 532134149

Why it matters

Deck and steering wear usually gets worse quickly once it starts. A slipping belt or failing mandrel can overheat pulleys, damage the deck, and reduce cut quality; steering play can make the tractor harder to control and accelerate tire wear.

Model-specific help

For the correct adjustment points, belt routing, and deck removal steps for the Craftsman 917258470, use the diagrams and procedures in the Craftsman 917258470 owner’s manual.

Last updated: March 2026

For the Craftsman front-engine lawn tractor on this page, the model number is 917258470. You can confirm it in the parts diagrams and decals list in the owner's manual, and you can use that same model number to match the correct 42-inch deck parts and belts.

Where to find the model number on the tractor

We recommend checking the tractor’s ID label first, then matching it to the documentation.

• Look under the seat area or seat pan for the product identification label
• Check the frame near the rear wheels or hitch plate
• Look under the hood near the engine compartment (varies by build)
• Match the label to the model shown in the owner's manual

Model number vs. deck size (what “42” means)

“42” typically refers to the mower deck cutting width, not the tractor model number. The model number identifies the full tractor configuration (engine, transmission, deck, steering, and decals).

Item	What it identifies	Example for this page
Model number	The exact tractor build	917258470
Deck size	Cutting width of the mower deck	42-inch deck
Part number / part ID	The exact replacement part	532144200 (belt), 532134149 (blade)

Why it matters

Using the correct model number (917258470) prevents ordering the wrong parts for your Craftsman tractor, especially for deck-driven items like blades, mandrel components, and drive belts where small differences change fit and routing.

Common 42-inch deck parts customers replace

If you are shopping for deck-related parts for model 917258470, these are common wear items shown for this tractor:

• Husqvarna lawn tractor mulching blade, 21-in 532134149 (blade)
• Lawn tractor drive belt 532144200 (blade drive belt)
• V-belt 532138255 (ground drive belt)
• Husqvarna lawn tractor mandrel assembly 532130794 (spindle/mandrel assembly)

For additional parts lookups by model number, search using Sears PartsDirect.

Last updated: February 2026

Craftsman model 917258470 was produced in the late 1990s to mid-2000s era; the exact build year is identified by the product identification label and the parts information in the 917258470 owner's manual.

How to find the exact year on your tractor

We use the tractor’s identification label to pin down the build date for Craftsman 917-series tractors.

• Lift the seat and look for the model and serial label on the frame (often under the seat pan or near the rear fender area).
• Write down the serial number exactly as shown.
• Compare the serial information to the identification details referenced in the 917258470 owner's manual.
• If decals are missing or unreadable, use the parts diagrams to confirm major assemblies match your tractor.
• Keep the serial number with your maintenance records for future parts lookups.

Quick reference: what we can confirm vs. what you’ll verify

Item	What we can tell you now	What you confirm on the tractor
Model number	917258470	Matches the ID label
Production year	Late 1990s to mid-2000s range	Exact year from serial/ID label
Parts support	Parts are listed by model	Use the model label to avoid mismatches

Why it matters

The exact year affects parts fitment for common wear items like drive belts, deck components, and steering parts. For example, belt routing and deck hardware can vary by production run even when the model family looks similar.

Parts that commonly vary by production run

When you are ordering, we recommend matching by model and serial to avoid returns:

• Ground drive belt (example: v-belt 532138255)
• Blade drive belt (example: lawn tractor drive belt 532144200)
• Steering linkage parts (example: drag link 532156438)
• Deck spindle components (example: husqvarna lawn tractor mandrel assembly 532130794)

To search additional Craftsman parts by model number beyond the list shown for this tractor, use Sears PartsDirect.

Last updated: February 2026