Blade Maintenance
Maintaining the Cutting
Blade
Always mow with a sharp blade. A sharp blade
cuts cleanly and without tearing or shredding the
grass blades.
1. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts
to stop.
2. Disconnect the wire from the spark plug.
3. Drain the gasoline from the fuel tank; refer
to Emptying the Fuel Tank and Cleaning the
Fuel Filter.
4. Tip the mower onto its
right
side (Figure 31).
Figure 31
1. Blade
3. Accelerator
2. Blade bolt and lock washer
Inspecting the Blade
Carefully examine the blade for sharpness and
wear, especially where the flat and the curved parts
meet (Figure 32A). Because sand and abrasive
material can wear away the metal that connects the
flat and curved parts of the blade, check the blade
before using the lawn mower. If you notice a slot
or wear (Figure 32B and Figure 32C), replace the
blade; refer to Removing the Blade.
Figure 32
1. Sail
3. Wear
2. Flat part of the blade
4. Slot formed
Note:
For the best performance, install a new
blade before the cutting season begins. During
the year, file down any small nicks to maintain the
cutting edge.
A worn or damaged blade can break, and a
piece of the blade could be thrown into the
operator’s or bystander’s area, resulting in
serious personal injury or death.
•
Inspect the blade periodically for wear
or damage.
•
Replace a worn or damaged blade.
Removing the Blade
Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or a thickly
padded glove. Remove the blade bolt, the lock
washer, the accelerator, and the blade (Figure 31).
Sharpening the Blade
File the top side of the blade to maintain its
original cutting angle (Figure 33A) and inner
cutting edge radius (Figure 33B). The blade will
remain balanced if you remove the same amount
of material from both cutting edges.
Figure 33
1. Sharpen at this angle only. 2. Maintain the original radius
here.
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