Filter
Top Products
11
5
Maintaining
Your Lawn
Mower
WARNING
When removing
the cutting blade
for sharpening or
replacement, protect
your hands with a pair
of heavy gloves or use
a heavy rag to hold
the blade.
An unbalanced blade
will cause excessive
vibration when rotat-
ing at high speeds. It
may cause damage
to mower and could
break causing per-
sonal injury.
Blade Care
WARNING: When removing the cutting
blade for sharpening or replacement,
protect your hands with a pair of heavy
gloves or use a heavy rag to hold the
blade.
Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks,
especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when
necessary. Follow the steps below for blade service.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug. Turn
mower on its side making sure that the air filter and
the carburetor are facing up.
2. Remove the bolt and the blade bell support which
hold the blade and the blade adapter to the engine
crankshaft, Figure 5-2.
3. Remove blade and adapter from the crankshaft,
Figure 5-2.
4. The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a grind-
ing wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen the blade while it
is still on the mower.
When sharpening the blade, follow the original angle
of grind. Grind each cutting edge equally to keep the
blade balanced.
5. To test for balance, remove blade and balance on
a round shaft screwdriver. Remove metal from the
heavy side until it balances evenly.
WARNING: An unbalanced blade will
cause excessive vibration when rotating
at high speeds. It may cause damage to
mower and could break causing personal
injury.
6. Lubricate the engine crankshaft and the inner surface
of the blade adapter with light oil. Slide the blade
adapter onto the engine crankshaft.
7. Place the blade on the adapter such that the side
of the blade marked “Bottom” (or with part number)
faces the ground when the mower is in the operating
position. Make sure that the blade is aligned and
seated on the blade adapter flanges.
8. Place blade bell support on the blade. Align notches
on the blade bell support with small holes in blade.
9. Replace hex bolt and tighten hex bolt to torque: 450
in. lbs. min., 600 in. lbs. max.
To ensure safe operation of your mower, periodically
check the blade bolt for correct torque.
Replacing Rear Flap
1. To remove rear flap, lift rear door, and press flap in on
either side to remove from hole. See Figure 5-3.
2. Remove flap from opposite hole and replace with new
flap in the opposite order and manner of removal.
Off-Season Storage
The following steps should be taken to prepare your
lawn mower for storage.
• Clean and lubricate mower thoroughly as described
in the lubrication instructions.
• Do not use a pressure washer or garden hose to
clean your unit.
• Refer to engine manual for correct engine
storage instructions.
• Coat mower’s cutting blade with chassis grease to
prevent rusting.
• Store mower in a dry, clean area. Do not store next
to corrosive materials, such as fertilizer.
When storing any type of power equipment in a poorly
ventilated or metal storage shed, care should be taken
to rust-proof the equipment. Using a light oil or silicone,
coat the equipment, especially cables and all moving
parts of your lawn mower before storage.
Figure 5-2: Remove the bolt, support, and adapter to access
the blade.
Figure 5-3: Remove rear flap.