Maintenance Instructions

CHECKING/SERVICING

NOTE: Keep blades sharp - cutting with dull blades not only yields a poor mowing job but slows the cutting speed of the mower and causes extra wear on the engine and blade drive by pulling hard.

1.Stop the engine, remove ignition key, and dis- connect the spark plug wires before raising the mower deck to service blades.

2.Raise the deck and secure it in the tilt-upposi- tion (refer to Deck Secured in Tilt-Up Position photo in CLEANING of Grass Buildup in Mower Housing in this section).

DANGER

NEVER operate cutter blades with the deck in the raised position.

NOTE: PTO shaft must be disconnected before checking blades for straightness.

3.Check the blades for straightness by marking the blade tip position inside the deck housing, and then rotating the opposite end of the blade to the same position and comparing. If the dif- ference in blade tip track is more than 1/8 in. (3 mm), the blade is bent and should be re- placed.

WARNING

DO NOT try to straighten a blade that is bent. NEVER weld a broken or cracked blade. ALWAYS replace with a new blade to assure safety.

4.If the blade cutting edge is dull or nicked, it should be sharpened. Remove blades for sharpening by grasping the end of the blade using a rag or a thick, padded glove, while loos- ening and removing the bolt and washer that mounts the blade.

5.Grind cutting edge at the same bevel as the original. Sharpen only the top of the cutting edge to maintain sharpness.

NOTE: Blades can be sharpened with an electric blade sharpener, conventional electric grinder, or a hand file.

CAUTION

ALWAYS wear eye protection and gloves when sharpening a blade.

6.Check blade balance by positioning the blade horizontally on a blade balancer or use a nail or shaft through the center hole. If either end of the blade rotates downward, grind (remove) metal on that end until the blade will balance. The blade is properly balanced when neither end drops. Balance of a blade is generally main- tained by removing an equal amount of material from each end of the blade when sharpening.

 

 

Intersection

Sharpen at Original

 

Wear Area

30° Angle

 

 

 

30°

Wing Tip

Do Not Grind or

Sharpen on Underside

Mower Blade Profile For Sharpening

Blade Balancer

Blade Balanced on Magnetic

Wall-Mounted Balancer

7.Mount the blade with wing tips pointing up into

the housing. Reinstall the blade, washer, and bolt. Tighten the bolt to 64 ft-lb (86.8 N·m).

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