Hustler Turf 50 Adjusting the bedknife to cutting reel clearance, Mowing height adjustment

Cable

Lock nut

Spring

Adjusting nut

Idler tension pulley

Fig. 4-5

3.38” (86mm)

Fig. 4-6

plug wire before proceeding with this adjustment. Pull the unit up on the stand.

2.Remove the front cover locking bolt and raise the front cover.

3.Turn the cable lock nut counter-clockwise to loosen. Fig. 4-7

4.Engage the cutting reel drive lever. The spring length should measure 3.38" (86mm) from hook to hook. (Fig. 4-6) Adjust the adjusting nut as necessary to obtain this spring length. Tighten the locknut.

5.Disengage the cutting reel drive lever.

6.Lower the front cover and secure in place with the locking bolt.

7.In an area of suitable turfgrass where the unit can be tested, make sure no debris, obstructions, or bystanders are present. Test the unit to make sure the cutting reel is working properly and the cutting reel drive belt is engaging and disengaging correctly.

Adjusting the bedknife to cutting reel clearance

WARNING: Always disengage traction drive, cutting reel drive, stop engine and disconnect spark plug wire before performing maintenance on the unit. Wait for engine and all moving parts to come to a complete stop

WARNING: Use the blade alignment tool when turn- ing the reel blade. Do not touch the reel with your hand.

Lock nut

Cable		Spring
	Adjusting nut

Fig. 4-7

1.Park the machine on a level surface so it will not roll. Set the park brake.

2.Tilt the machine back and secure into position to easily access the bedknife and cutting reel.

3.In order to check the cutting reel to bedknife clearance, tear newspaper strips approximately 2" (50mm) wide x 12" (300mm) long.

4.Check the bedknife to reel clearance. Insert a strip of newspaper between the cutting reel knife and bedknife on the right hand end of the cutting unit. Turn the reel in the cutting direction using the blade rotating tool to cut the newspaper. If the reel knives and bedknife are sharp, and the clearance is properly adjusted, the newspaper strip should shear off cleanly. When properly adjusted, the clearance should be very light bedknife to reel contact, up to 0.002" (0.05mm) clearance. Do not adjust bedknife to contact cutting reel excessively. Fig. 4-8

5.Check the center and left hand end of the reel by the same process of shearing the newspaper strip.

6.If the clearance needs to be adjusted, locate the bedknife adjusting screws on the RH and LH sides of the cutting unit. (Fig. 4-9) To adjust the bedknife closer to the cutting reel (decreasing clearance), turn the adjusting screw clockwise. To adjust the bedknife away from the cutting reel (increase clearance), turn the adjusting screws counterclockwise.

7.Once adjusted, repeat step 4 to check clearance and cut quality at the RH, LH, and center locations of the reel.

8.If good cut quality cannot be achieved, but the bedknife to cutting reel clearance is properly adjusted, then the bedknife and reel need to be backlapped or ground to restore the edges.

Mowing height adjustment

WARNING: Always stop the engine and disengage the traction drive and cutting reel drive before adjust- ing the mowing height.

Here we describe how to adjust the cutting height to .10” (2.54 mm).

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