Maintenance
Always mow with a sharp blade. A sharp blade cuts cleanly and without tearing or shredding the grass blade.
1.Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.
2.Disconnect the wire from the spark plug (Figure 9 and Figure 10).
3.Drain the gasoline from the fuel tank. Refer to
Emptying the Fuel Tank and Cleaning the Fuel Filter section.
4.Tip the lawn mower onto its right side.
5.Inspect the blade for sharpness and wear, especially where the flat and the curved parts meet (see Figure 20). Because sand and abrasive material can wear away the metal that connects the flat and curved parts of the blade, check the blade before using the lawn mower. If you notice a slot or wear (Figure 20B and Figure 20C), replace the blade.
DANGER
A worn or damaged blade can break. A piece of the blade could be thrown into the operator’s or bystander’s area, resulting in serious personal injury or death.
•Inspect the blade periodically for wear or damage.
•Replace a worn or damaged blade.
If it is necessary to remove the blade for replacement or sharpening, complete the following steps:
A.To remove the blade, use a block of wood to hold the blade steady (see Figure 21). Make sure to grasp the end of the blade using a rag or a thickly padded glove.
•For Blade Brake Clutch Units: Remove the blade nuts, blade support, and blade.
•For Units without a Blade Brake Clutch: Remove the blade bolt, blade support, and blade.
|
| Figure 20 |
|
1. | Sail | 3. | Wear |
2. | Flat | 4. | Slot |
Note: For the best performance, install a new blade before the cutting season begins. During the year, file down any small nicks to maintain the cutting edge.
Figure 21
B.For Sharpening: File the top side of the blade to maintain its original cutting angle (Figure 22A and B) and inner cutting edge radius (Figure 22A). The blade will remain balanced if you remove the same amount of material from both cutting edges.
23
