19
LAWN MOWER
Always observe safety rules when perform-
ing any main te nance.
TIRES
• Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect
control chemi cals which can harm rub-
ber.
• Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp
objects and other hazards that may
cause tire damage.
BLADE CARE
For best results, mower blade must be kept
sharp. Re place bent or dam aged blades.
TO REPLACE BLADE
• Turn lawn mower. See engine manual
for proper direction of turning over the
engine.
• Use a wood block between blade and
mower housing to prevent blade from
turning when re mov ing blade bolt.
• Protect your hands with gloves and/or
wrap blade with heavy cloth.
• Remove blade bolt, lock washer and fl at
washer.
• Remove blade and blade adapter.
• In spect the key in side blade adapt er.
Re place adapt er if damaged.
IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat
treated.
• In stall new or sharp ened blade with
trailing edge up toward the en gine.
• Position blade on blade adapter. Align
the two (2) holes in blade with raised
lugs of adapter.
• Reassemble blade bolt, lock washer
and fl at washer into blade adapter and
crankshaft in exact order as shown.
• Position block of wood between blade
and mower housing.
• Tighten blade bolt securely. Rec om -
mended tightening torque is 35-40 ft. lbs.
NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening
blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is
balanced.
TO SHARPEN BLADE
Care should be taken to keep the blade
balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause
excessive vibration and even tual damage
to lawn mower and engine.
• The blade can be sharpened with a fi le
or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt
to sharpen while on the mower.
• To check blade balance, drive a nail into
a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of
the straight nail exposed. Place center
hole of blade over the head of the nail. If
blade is bal anced, it should remain in a
hor i zon tal position. If either end of the
blade moves downward, sharpen the
heavy end until the blade is balanced.
DRIVE COVER
Clean under the drive cover at least twice
a season. Scrape underside of cover with
a putty knife or similar tool to remove any
buildup of trash or grass.
DRIVE WHEELS
Check drive wheels each time before you
mow to be sure they move freely.
The wheels not turning freely means trash,
grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive wheel
area and must be cleaned to free drive
wheels.
If necessary to clean the drive wheels,
check both drive wheels.
• Remove hubcaps (if equipped), hairpin
cotters and washers (or fl ange locknut If
equipped with threaded axle) from both
drive wheels.
• Remove wheels from wheel adjusters.
• Remove any trash or grass cuttings from
inside the dust cover, pinion and/or drive
wheel gear teeth.
Blade adapter
Blade
bolt
Crankshaft
keyway
Hardened
washer
Lockwasher
Blade adapter
Key
Blade
Trailing edge
Crank
shaft
Dust
cover
DRIVE WHEEL ASSEMBLY EXAMPLES
(FRONT WHEEL DRIVE)
Pinion
Washer (or fl ange locknut if equipped)