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22
CUTTING BLADES
WARNING: Cutting blades are sharp.
Always protect hands by wearing heavy
leather work gloves to grasp blades.
The blades may be removed for sharpening or
replacement as follows.
• Remove the deck from beneath the tractor,
(refer to DECK REMOVAL earlier in this
section for detailed instructions) 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 20.
• Use a 15/16" wrench to remove the hex flange
nut that secures the blade to the spindle
assembly. See Figure 20.
NOTE: The hex flange nut has a right-handed
thread pattern. Do NOT attempt to force the nut in
the incorrect direction. Doing so may damage the
nut and create a safety hazard.
Figure 20
To properly sharpen the cutting blades, remove
equal amounts of metal from both ends of the blades
along the cutting edges. See Figure 21.
Sharpen the cutting edge straight across, parallel to
the trailing edge, at a 25° to 30° angle. See Figure
21.
IMPORTANT: If the cutting edge of the blade has
already been sharpened to within 5/8" of the wind
wing radius, or if any metal separation is present,
replace the blades with new ones. See Figure 21.
Figure 21
It is extremely important that each cutting blade
edge be ground equally to maintain proper blade
balance. An unbalanced blade will cause excessive
vibration when rotating at high speeds, may cause
damage to the tractor and result in personal injury.
The blade can be tested by balancing it on a round
shaft screwdriver. Grind metal from the heavy side
until it balances evenly.
When replacing the blade, be sure to install the
blade with the side of the blade marked ‘‘Bottom’’ (or
with a part number stamped in it) facing the ground
when the mower is in the operating position.
IMPORTANT: Use a torque wrench to tighten the
blade spindle hex flange nut to between 70 foot-
pounds and 90 foot-pounds.
BATTERY
The battery is sealed and is maintenance-free. Acid
levels cannot be checked.
• Always keep the battery cables and terminals
clean and free of corrosive build-up.
• After cleaning the battery and terminals, apply
a light coat of petroleum jelly or grease to the
terminals and over the positive terminal boot.
• Always keep the 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 re-installing the battery, always connect
the POSITIVE (Red) wire its terminal first, followed
by the NEGATIVE (Black) wire. Be certain that the
wires are connected to the correct terminals.
reversing them could change the polarity and cause
damage to your engine’s alternating system.
Cutting Blade
Block of Wood
Spindle
Assembly
Hex Flange Nut
5
/
8
"
m
i
n
i
m
u
m
Blade Separation
Worn Blade Edge
Wind Wing
Sharpen Edge Evenly