Ifyour tractorhasnot been putinto use for anextendedperiodof time,
chargethebatteryas follows:
1. Set yourbatterychargerto delivera maxof 10amperes.
Ifyour batterychargeris automatic,chargethebatteryuntil the
chargerindicatesthatchargingiscomplete.Ifthe charger is not
automatic,chargefornofewerthaneight hours.

FUSE

One20AMP fuseis installedin yourtractor'swiringharnessto protect
thetractor'selectricalsystemfromdamagecausedbyexcessive
amperage.
Ifthe electricalsystemdoesnot function,oryourtractor's enginewill
notcrank,first checkto be certainthat the fuse hasnot blown.It can
befoundat therear oftheunit, underneaththefenderlocatedby the
battery.
Alwaysuseafuse with the sameamperagecapacityforreplacement.

CUTTING BLADES

Shuttheengineoff and removeignitionkeybeforeremovingthe
cuttingblade(s)for sharpeningorreplacement.Protectyourhands
byusingheavygloveswhen graspingtheblade.
Periodicallyinspectthebladeand/orspindlefor cracksor damage,
especiallyafter you'vestrucka foreignobject.Do notoperatethe
machineuntil damagedcomponentsare replaced.
Toremovetheblades,proceedasfollows.
1. Removethedeckfrombeneaththe tractor,(refertoCuttingDeck
Removalearlierinthis section)thengentlyflip the deckover to
exposeitsunderside.
2. Placea blockof woodbetweenthe centerdeckhousingbaffle
andthe cuttingbladeto actas a stabilizer.
SeeFig.23.
f
.
4.
Removethehexflangenut thatsecuresthebladeto thespindle
assembly.SeeFig.23.
Toproperlysharpenthecutting blades,removeequalamounts
of metalfrombothendsof the bladesalongthecutting edges,
paralleltothetrailing edge,ata 250.to 300angle.Alwaysgrind
eachcuttingbladeedge equallytomaintainproperbladebalance.
SeeFig.24.
Figure 24
Ifthe cuttingedgeof the bladehas previouslybeensharpened,or if
anymetalseparationis present,replacethebladeswith newones.
Apoorly balancedbladewillcauseexcessivevibration,maycause
damagetothe tractorand/or resultin personalinjury.
5. Testthe blade'sbalance usinga bladebalancer.Grind metal
fromthe heavyside untilit balancesevenly.
NOTE:Whenreplacingthe blade,be sureto installtheblade withthe
sideofthe blademarked"Bottom" (orwith a part numberstampedin
it)facingthe groundwhenthe moweris in the operatingposition.
Useatorque wrenchtotightenthe bladespindlehex flangenut to
between70Ibs-ftand 90Ibs-ft.

CHANGING THE DECK BELT

Besureto shutthe engineoff,removeignitionkey,disconnectthe
Isparkplug wire(s)andgroundagainsttheengineto preventunin-
ltendedstartingbeforeremovingthebelt.
All beltsonyour tractoraresubject towear andshouldbe replacedif
anysignsof wearare present.