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13
SECTION 7: SERVICING YOUR MOWER
Blade Care
Periodically inspect the blade adapter-pulley assembly
for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign object.
Replace when necessary.
• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug.
• Turn mower on its side making sure that the air filter
and the carburetor are up.
To Remove Blade
• Remove the hex bolt which holds the blade
adapter-pulley assembly to the engine crankshaft.
See Figure 13 . Remove the pulley assembly, blade
and the bell support from the crankshaft.
• Remove blade from the blade adapter-pulley
assembly.
Figure 13
To Replace Blade:
• Before reinstalling the blade-pulley assembly to the
unit, lubricate the engine crankshaft and the inner
surface of the blade adapter with light oil.
• Also lubricate the bolt hole and the hex bolt.
• Insert the hex bolt, earlier removed, through the
center hole on the blade bell support, blade and the
blade adapter-pulley assembly respectively.
• Install the blade assembly on the crankshaft.
Tighten the hex bolt to the recommended torque.
Refer to ‘Blade Mounting Torque’ information
below.
IMPORTANT:
The bolt used to secure the blade to the
engine is specially heat-treated. Do not substitute. To
order replacement bolt, refer to the parts list in the back
of this manual.
Blade Mounting Torque:
Center bolt: 450 in.lbs. minimum, 600 in.lbs. maximum.
To Sharpen Blade:
• The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a
grinding wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen the
blade while it is still on the mower.
• Follow the original angle of grind as a guide. Make
sure that each cutting edge receives an equal
amount of grinding to prevent an unbalanced blade.
An unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration
when rotating at high speeds, may cause damage to
the mower and/or personal injury. Test the blade by
balancing it on a round shaft screwdriver or a blade
balancer.
• If the blade is not balanced, remove metal from the
heavy side until it balances evenly.
Replacing Drive Belt
• Remove two shoulder screws securing the front
drive cover to the mower deck. See Figure 14 .
• Press inward on the sides of the front drive cover
and release the tabs that secure the front drive
cover to the height adjuster brackets. Remove drive
cover from the mower.
• Using a torque wrench, loosen the screw holding
the belt tension spring to the transmission. See
Figure 14 . Do not remove the screw completely. As
you loosen the screw, the tension on the belt will be
released.
• Push the transmission up a little and slide the belt
off the transmission pulley.
• Lift the mower to access the belt from the underside
of the mower.
WARNING:
When removing the cutting
blade for sharpening or replacement, protect
hands by using heavy gloves or a thick rag to
grasp the cutting blade.
Adapter-Pulley
Assembly
Blade
Hex Bolt
Blade
Bell
Support
WARNING:
To ensure safe operation of
your unit, all nuts and bolts must be checked
periodically for correct tightness.