53
Maintenance Instructions
CHECKING/SERVICING
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.
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 us-
ing a rag or a thick, padded glove, while loosen-
ing and removing the nut, lock washer, and flat
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 elec-
tric blade sharpener, conventional electric grind-
er, or a hand file.
CAUTION
ALWAYS wear eye protection and gloves
when sharpening a blade.
Wing
Tip
Do Not Grind or
Sharpen on Underside
Intersection
Wear Area
Sharpen at
Original 30° Angle
30°
Mower Blade Profile For Sharpening
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.
Blade Balancer
Blade Balanced on Magnetic
Wall-Mounted Balancer
7. Mount the blade with wing tips pointing up into
the housing. For
gear driven decks
reinstall
the blade, washer, lock washer, and nut.
Tight-
en the nut to 60 lb·ft (81 N·m).
For
belt driven
decks
reinstall the spacer (if applicable), blade,
washer, and bolt.
Tighten the bolt to 70 lb·ft
(90 N·m).
Drive Belts
Raise the body and inspect the condition of the
three (3) drive belts after
every 25 hours
of opera-
tion -- engine/PTO drive and ground drive. If the
belts show
signs of cracking or deteriorating,
the
belts should be
replaced.
Refer to
REPLACING/
REPAIRING
the
Drive Belts
in this section.
Mower Deck Gearbox Oil Seals
The mower deck gearbox seals should be inspected
every 25 hours
for evidence of oil leaking;
particu-
larly the lower oil seal on the blade drive gearbox.
This seal is protected by the trash guard on the blade
hub and seal protector plate on the housing, but is
still vulnerable to seal damage due to operating in
an adverse environment. The mower blade must be
removed for inspection of the seal, so it is recom-
mended to
inspect the gearbox seals when blades
are removed for sharpening.
If an oil leak is noted,
the seal should be replaced and the gearbox as-
sembly relubricated. Refer to
LUBRICATION
for
Mower Deck Gearbox Lubrication
in this section.
Summary of Contents for B23i
Page 73: ...69 Operator s Notes...
Page 74: ...70 Operator s Notes...
