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Maintenance Instructions CHECKING/SERVICING
NOTE: Keep blades sharp - cutting with dull
blades not only yields a poor mowing job but slows
the cutting speed of the mower and causes extra
wear on the engine and blade drive by pulling hard.
1. Stop the engine, remove ignition key, and dis-
connect the spark plug wires before raising the
mower deck to service blades.
2. Raise the deck and secure it in the tilt-up posi-
tion (refer to Deck Secured in Tilt-Up Position
photo in CLEANING of Grass Buildup in
Mower Housing in this section).
NOTE: PTO shaft must be disconnected
before checking blades for straightness.
3. Check the blades for straightness by marking
the blade tip position inside the deck housing,
and then rotating the opposite end of the blade
to the same position and comparing. If the dif-
ference in blade tip track is more than 1/8 in.
(3 mm), the blade is bent and should be re-
placed.
4. If the blade cutting edge is dull or nicked, it
should be sharpened. Remove blades for
sharpening by grasping the end of the blade
using a rag or a thick, padded glove, while loos-
ening and removing the bolt and washer that
mounts the blade.
5. Grind cutting edge at the same bevel as the
original. Sharpen only the top of the cutting
edge to maintain sharpness.
NOTE: Blades can be sharpened with an
electric blade sharpener, conventional electric
grinder, or a hand file.
6. Check blade balance by positioning the blade
horizontally on a blade balancer or use a nail or
shaft through the center hole. If either end of the
blade rotates downward, grind (remove) metal
on that end until the blade will balance. The
blade is properly balanced when neither end
drops. Balance of a blade is generally main-
tained by removing an equal amount of material
from each end of the blade when sharpening.
Mower Blade Profile For Sharpening
Blade Balanced on Magnetic
Wall-Mounted Balancer
7. Mount the blade with wing tips pointing up into
the housing. Reinstall the blade, washer, and
bolt. Tighten the bolt to 64 ft-lb (86.8 N
·m).
DANGER
NEVER operate cutter blades with the
deck in the raised position.
WARNING
DO NOT try to straighten a blade that is
bent. NEVER weld a broken or cracked
blade. ALWAYS replace with a new blade
to assure safety.
CAUTION
ALWAYS wear eye protection and gloves
when sharpening a blade.
Wing Tip
30°
Sharpen at Original
30° Angle
Intersection
Wear Area
Do Not Grind or
Sharpen on Underside
Blade Balancer