Attaching Blades

warning! Always protect your hands while servicing blades by wearing heavy work gloves or

using heavy rags.

NOTE: High-lift bagging blades are included in the grass-catcher kit. Replace the blades with these new blades and save the existing blades as replacements or to reinstall on the blade spindles when not using the bagger kit.

1.Remove cutting deck from beneath the tractor following instructions for Deck Removal in operator’s manual of the tractor. Gently flip the deck over to expose its underside.

2.Place a block of wood between the center deck housing baffle and the cutting blade to act as a stabilizer. See

Fig. 4-16.

Wood Block

Hex Flange Nut

Spindle Assembly

Figure 4-16

3.Use a 15/16” wrench to remove the hex flange nut that secures the blades to the blade spindle assemblies. See

Fig. 4-16.

WARNING! The hex flange nut has a right-handed thread pattern. Do not attempt to force the nut in wrong direction; it may damage the nut and create a safety hazard.

4.Place a new blade on each spindle so that side of the blade with part number faces the ground when the mower is in the operating position.

Note: This bagger kit includes two sets of blades, one set is for the 50” deck and the other is for the 54” deck. Based on the deck that you have, install one of the following blade sets. The blades can be identified by the part number stamped on each blade:

•50” Mowing Deck, install Part No. 742-04056C

•54” Mowing Deck, install Part No. 742-0679

5.Secure with the hex flange nut removed earlier. Use a torque wrench to tighten the hex flange nut between 70 to 90 foot-pounds.

6.Move the wood block to either the left or right blade for stabilization and remove and replace the center blade so that side of the blade with part number faces the ground when the mower is in the operating position.

NOTE: Save the three blades you just removed to use as replacements or to reinstall on the blade spindles when not using the bagger kit.

Installing the Deck Baffle

Note: If the deck is still flipped upside down with the blades exposed, it may be easiest to flip the deck back over to complete the following installation of the deck baffle and chute stop bracket.

1.Remove two of the self-tapping deck screws on the front right side of your deck.

2.Install the front deck baffle using the hardware pack 689-

00163 included with this bagger kit. See Fig. 4-17.

Note: This bagger kit includes two deck baffles, one baffle is for the 50” deck and the other is for a 54” deck. Based on the deck that you have, install one of the following baffles using the directed hardware. The baffles may be identified by looking at the parts list on Page 16:

•50” Mowing Deck, install deck baffle Part No. 703-05783 using two 710-3015 1/4-20 hex bolts and 712-04064 1/4-20 flange lock nuts.

•54” Mowing Deck, install deck baffle Part No. 703-06018A using two 710-04484 self-tap hex bolts.

Hex Nut

Deck Baffle

Hex Bolt

50” Deck

54” Deck

Figure 4-17

12Section 4 — Assembly & Installation