•Always keep the battery cables and terminals clean and free of corrosive
•After cleaning the battery and terminals, apply a light coat of petroleum jelly or grease to both terminals.
•Always keep the rubber boot positioned over the positive terminal to prevent shorting.
IMPORTANT: If removing the battery for any reason, disconnect the NEGATIVE (Black) wire from it’s terminal first, followed by the POSITIVE (Red) wire. When
Charging
If the tractor has not been put into use for an extended period of time, charge the battery with an automotive- type
WARNING: Batteries give off an explosive gas while charging. Charge battery in a well ventilated area and keep away from an open flame or pilot light as on a water heater, space heater, furnace, clothes dryer or other gas appliances.
Jump Starting
WARNING: When removing or installing the battery, follow these instructions to prevent the screwdriver from shorting against the frame.
IMPORTANT: Never jump your tractor’s dead battery with the battery of a running vehicle.
•Connect end of one jumper cable to the positive terminal of the good battery, then the other end to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
•Connect the other jumper cable to the negative terminal of the good battery, then to the frame of the unit with the dead battery.
WARNING: Failure to use this procedure could cause sparking, and the gas in either battery could explode.
Cleaning
Clean the battery by removing it from the tractor and washing with a baking soda and water solution. If necessary, scrape the battery terminals with a wire brush to remove deposits. Coat terminals and exposed wiring with grease or petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion.
Hex Flange Nut |
Wood Block |
Spindle Assembly |
Figure 19
Battery Failures
Some common causes for battery failure are:
• | incorrect initial activation | • | undercharging |
• | overcharging | • | corroded connections |
• | freezing |
|
|
These failures are NOT covered by your tractor’s warranty.
Cutting Blades
WARNING: Be sure to shut the engine off, remove ignition key, disconnect the spark plug wire(s) and ground against the engine to prevent unintended starting before removing the cutting blade(s) for sharpening or replacement. Protect your hands by using heavy gloves or a rag to grasp the cutting blade.
WARNING: Periodically inspect the blade spindles for cracks or damage, especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace immediately if damaged.
The blades may be removed as follows.
•Remove the deck from beneath the tractor, (refer to Cutting Deck Removal on page 21) then gently flip the deck over to expose its underside.
•Place a block of wood between the center deck housing baffle and the cutting blade to act as a stabilizer. See Figure 19.
•Use a 15/16" wrench to remove the hex flange nut that secures the blade to the spindle assembly. See Figure 19.
•To properly sharpen the cutting blades, remove equal amounts of metal from both ends of the blades along the cutting edges, parallel to the trailing edge, at a 25° to 30° angle. See Figure 20.
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