Blade Maintenance
Maintaining the 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.
Close the fuel valve by moving the fuel-valve lever to
the
left
4.
Drain the gasoline from the fuel tank.
5.
Tip the machine onto its
right
side (air cleaner up) as
shown in Figure 23.
Figure 23
1.
Blade
3.
Accelerator
2.
Blade nuts
Inspecting the Blade
Service Interval:
Before each use or daily—Inspect the
mower blades for wear or damage.
Carefully examine the blade for sharpness and wear, especially
where the flat and the curved parts meet (Figure 24A).
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 machine. If you notice a slot or
wear (Figure 24B and Figure 24C), replace the blade; refer to
Removing the Blade (page 20).
Figure 24
1.
Sail
3.
Wear
2.
Flat part of the blade
4.
Slot formed
Note:
For the best performance, install a new blade before
the mowing season begins. During the year, file down any
small nicks to maintain the cutting edge.
DANGER
A worn or damaged blade can break, and a piece
of the blade could be thrown in your direction or
in the direction of bystanders, resulting in serious
personal injury or death.
•
Inspect the blade periodically for wear or
damage.
•
Replace a worn or damaged blade.
Removing the Blade
1.
Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or a thickly
padded glove.
2.
Remove the blade nuts, the accelerator, and the blade
(Figure 24).
Sharpening the Blade
Service Interval:
Every 50 hours—Sharpen or replace the
blade. Maintain it more frequently if the
edge dulls quickly in rough or in sandy
conditions.
File the top side of the blade to maintain its original cutting
angle (Figure 25A) and inner cutting edge radius (Figure
25B). The blade will remain balanced if you remove the same
amount of material from both cutting edges.
Figure 25
1.
Sharpen the blade at this
angle only.
2.
Maintain the original radius
here.
20
