Maintenance Instructions

CHECKING/SERVICING

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

CAUTION

ALWAYS wear eye protection and gloves when sharpening a blade.

 

 

Intersection

Sharpen at

Original 30° Angle

 

Wear Area

 

 

 

 

 

Wing

30°

 

Tip

 

 

 

 

 

Do Not Grind or

Sharpen on Underside

Mower Blade Profile For Sharpening

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 gener- ally maintained by removing an equal amount of material from each end of the blade when 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, lock washer, and nut. Tighten the nut to 60 ft-lb (81.3 N·m).

NOTE: When reinstalling blades on GHS models, remember, the blades turn toward each other (counter-rotate) and the RH and LH blade cannot be switched. Check for proper blade rotation before installing blades on the deck. Refer to Blade Rotation for GHS Mower Deck illustration shown in Clogging Checklist in Operating Instructions for correct blade rotation.

Drive Belts

Raise the body and inspect the condition of the five

(5)belts (4 belts on SD models) every 25 hours of operation - engine PTO drive, jackshaft drive, hydro- static ground drive, GHS blower drive, and engine fan belt. If the belts show signs of cracking or de- teriorating, the belts should be replaced. Refer to REPLACING/REPAIRING the Drive Belts in this section.

Mower Deck Gearbox Oil Seals

The mower deck gearbox seals should be inspected every 25 hours for evidence of oil leaking; particularly the lower oil seal on the blade drive gear- box. This seal is protected by the trash guard on the blade hub and seal protector plate on the housing, but is still vulnerable to seal damage due to operating in an adverse environment. The mower blade must be removed for inspection of the seal, so it is recommended to inspect the gearbox seals when blades are removed for sharpening. If an oil leak is noted, the seal should be replaced and the gearbox assembly relubricated. Refer to Mower Deck Gearbox Lubrication in this section.

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