Mower Blade Care
warning!: Before performing any maintenance, place the PTO switch in the
“OFF” position, engage the parking brake lever, turn the ignition key to the “OFF” position and remove the key from the switch. When servicing the mower deck, be careful not to cut yourself on the sharpened blades.
The cutting blades must be kept sharp at all times. Sharpen the cutting edges of the blades evenly so that the blades remain balanced and the same angle of sharpness is maintained.
If the cutting edge of a blade has already been sharpened many times, or if any metal separation is present, it is recommended that new blades be installed. New blades are available at your authorized dealer.
The blades may be removed as follows.
Transmission Drive Belt
If the transmission drive belt becomes worn and causes the drive transmissions to slip, the drive belt must be replaced. To replace the drive belt, proceed as follows:
•Remove the deck drive belt from the PTO clutch on the bottom of the engine following the instructions in Deck Removal.
•From beneath the rear of the tractor, insert a 3/8 inch drive ratchet into the square hole of the drive idler bracket. See Figure
Transmission
Drive Pulley
Idler
Pulley
•Remove the deck from beneath the tractor, (refer to Deck Removal on page 26) then gently flip the deck over to expose its underside.
•Use a 15/16 inch wrench to hold the hex nut on top of the spindle assembly when loosening the hex nut securing the blade. A block of wood may be placed between the deck housing and the cutting edge of the blade to help in breaking loose the hex nut securing the blade. See Figure
Hex Lock Nut
Square |
Hole |
Idler 
Bracket
Idler Brkt.
Spring
Drive |
Belt |
PTO |
Pulley |
Engine |
Pulley |
Wood Block
in Position
Use 15/16"
Wrench to
Remove Nut
Figure
•When reinstalling the blades, be sure they are installed so that the wind wings are pointing upward toward the top of the deck.
•Tighten the blade nuts to
•Reinstall the deck (refer to Deck Installation on page 27).
Figure
•Using the ratchet for leverage, pivot the idler bracket and idler pulley away from the backside of the ‘V” belt; then lift the belt off and above the engine pulley and off the idler pulley.
•With the belt loose, lift the belt off, up and over the two transmission drive pulleys. Remove the belt from the engine and idler pulleys.
•Loop the new belt and slide over and onto the two transmission pulleys.
•Route the belt above the idler bracket back to the engine drive pulley. Lift the belt over the PTO pulley and above the engine drive pulley.
•Using the ratchet for leverage, pivot the idler bracket and idler pulley against the spring tension; then slip the belt down into the engine drive pulley and onto the idler pulley.
•Release the idler bracket so that the idler pulley tightens against the back side of the belt and tensions the drive belt.
•Reinstall the deck drive belt.
Section 7 — Service
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