Balancing the Blade
1.
Check the balance of the blade by placing the center
hole of the blade over a nail or screwdriver shank
clamped horizontally in a vise (Figure 26).
Figure 26
Note:
You can also check the balance using a
commercially manufactured blade balancer.
2.
If either end of the blade rotates downward, file that
end (not the cutting edge or the end near the cutting
edge) until neither end of the blade drops.
Installing the Blade
1.
Install a sharp, balanced Toro blade, the accelerator, and
the blade nuts. The sail of the blade must point toward
the top of the mower housing for proper installation.
Note:
Torque the blade nuts to 20 to 37 N-m (15 to
27 ft-lb).
WARNING
Operating the machine without the accelerator
in place can cause the blade to flex, bend, or
break, resulting in serious injury or death to
you or to bystanders.
Do not operate the machine without the
accelerator in place.
2.
Return the machine to the operating position.
Adjusting the Blade-brake
Cable
The blade-brake cable is adjusted at the factory; you do not
need to adjust it unless you are replacing the cable or the
blade-brake belt.
If you need to replace the cable, replace
both the cable and the belt at the same time.
1.
Install a new blade-brake belt and assemble the
machine except for the 2 belt covers on the top of the
mower housing.
2.
Install the new blade-brake cable, but do not tighten
the cable clamp on the top of the mower housing
(Figure 27).
Figure 27
1.
Spring
2.
Cable clamp and screw
3.
Insert a 8 mm (5/16-inch) thick spacer between the
blade-brake-control lever and the control bracket on
the handle (Figure 28).
Figure 28
1.
Handle
4.
Spacer—8 mm (5/16 inch)
thick
2.
Self-propel-drive bar
5.
Blade-brake-control lever
3.
Control bracket
Important:
Replacing the cable without
replacing the belt may cause the gap between the
blade-brake-control lever and the control bracket
to be incorrect. If the gap is less than 8 mm (5/16
inch), the blade brake will not function properly
and the blade will not stop within 3 seconds. If the
gap is greater than 8 mm (5/16 inch), the belt will
not properly drive the blade.
4.
Pull the cable tight to remove the slack (but do not
stretch the cable spring) and tighten the cable clamp
screw to lock the adjustment in place.
5.
Remove the spacer.
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