Operator`s manual

Section5: Maintenance
_ eforeinspecting,cleaningorservicingthemachine,shutoffengine,waitformovingpartsto stop,dis-
connectsparkplugwire andmovewire awayfromsparkplug.
Failureto followtheseinstructionscanresultinseriouspersonalinjuryorpropertydamage.
Mowerbladeis sharp.
• Wear heavy leather gloves when
workingnear or withbladefor protec-
tionfromsharpedges.
• Wear safety approvedeye protection
whensharpeningbladeto protecteyes
fromflyingmetaldebris.
RemovingMower Blade
IMPORTANT:The bladecoupler
(D,Figure5-5) may comeoff the engine
shaft when removingthe blade. If it does,
do not losethe squarekey(C). The key
fits intoa squareslot insidethe blade
coupler. Without it, the bladewill not
rotate.
1. Removethe sparkplugwirefrom the
spark plugand moveit away.
2. Tip mowertowards the muffler onto
itsside. SeeTippingthe Mowerfor
Serviceinthis Section.
3. Usea3/4"wrenchto loosenthe blade
screw (A,Figure5-5). Hold the blade
with a glovedhandto preventthe blade
from rotating.
Figure5-3: Removingorinstallingblade.
4. Removebladescrew andBolleville
washer(A, B,Figure5-5).
5. Removeblade.You mayhaveto give
the bladeatapto jar it loosefrom the
mountingtabs.
17
Curved end down Curved end clown
Mower Deck \
r Il! \
Lawn
Figure 5-4: Correct blade installation,
Figure5-5: Mowerbladcassembly.
Installing Mower Blade
1. Removethe sparkplug wire from the
sparkplugand moveitaway.
2. Tip mowertowards the muffler onto
its side. See TippingtheMower for
Servicein this Section.
3. If the bladecoupler (D, Figure5-5)
and/orsquarekey(C) cameoff the engine
shaftduring bladeremoval,reinstallthose
partsbackonto the engineshaft.
4. Positionthe bladewith the curved
endsfacingdownward(Figure5-4).
5. SliptheBeilevillewasher(B,Figure
5-5) onto the screw (A). Facethe dished-
in sideto the blade.
6. Mountthe bladeontothe two tabsof
the bladecoupler. Makesurethat you
seatthe bladecompletelyonto the
coupler.
7. Insertthe screw andwasherthrough
the bladeand into the bladecoupler.
Tightenwith atorque wrenchto 35 ff-lbs.
Sharpeningand
BalancingMower Blade "
IMPORTANT:We recommendthat the
bladebe sharpenedby a professional
sharpeningservice. Replacea crackedor
severelyworn bladewith anew one.
1. Removebladefrom the mower. See
RemovingMowerBlade.
2. Clampthe bladein a vise. Usea metal
file or grinderto sharpenthe bladewhile
maintainingthe original cutting angle. It
is very importantto maintainthe original
cutting bevelto insurethe most effective
cut.
3. To retainbladebalance,removethe
sameamountof materialfrom both ends
of the blade.
4. To checkbladebalance,placethe
bladeon a roundedpivotsuchas a pencil
or penunderthe centerhole. Hold blade
parallelto groundthenrelease. See
Figure5-6. If bladeis unbalanced,the
heavierside will leandownward.
5. Useafile to lightlyremovematerial
from the heavierside of the blade.
6. SeeInstallingMowerBladeforinfor-
mationon how to re-install.theblade.
REMOVINGAND
REPLACINGDRIVEBELT
This procedurecan be madeeasierby
removingthe blade(see Removing
MowerBlade);however,bladeremovalis
not absolutelynecessary.
I
Figure5-6: Balancebladeonpivotto checkblade balance.