61
Maintenance Instructions
CHECKING/SERVICING
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 bolt and washer that
mounts the blade.
5. Grind cutting edge at the same bevel as the
orig
inal. 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.
CAUTION
ALWAYS wear eye protection and gloves
when sharpening a blade.
Sharpen at Original
30° Angle
Intersection
Wear Area
Do Not Grind or
Sharpen on Underside
30°
Wing Tip
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
(95 N·m).
Drive Belts
Raise the body and inspect the condition of the four
(4) drive belts
after every 25 hours
of operation–
engine/PTO drive (3), and ground drive (1). Also re
move the belt cover on the mower deck and check
the blade drive belt. If the belts show
signs of
cracking or deteriorating,
the belts should be
re-
placed.
Refer to
REPLACING/REPAIR ING
the
Drive Belts
in this section.
Spark Plugs
Every 200 hours
of operation, remove the spark
plugs, inspect, clean, and reset the gap (or replace
with
new plugs
). Before removing the spark plugs,
clean the area around the base of the plugs to keep
dirt and debris out of the engine. Clean spark plugs
with a wire brush. DO NOT use an abrasive grit
type cleaner. If the electrodes are burned short or
pitted, replace the plug (refer to
Specifications
for the
proper type of replacement plug). Check the spark
plug gap with a wiretype feeler gauge and set the
gap to 0.030 in. (0.76 mm). Reinstall and tighten to
20 lb
·
ft (27 N
·
m). Both spark plugs should be re
placed yearly.
Ignition Wires
Good preventive maintenance calls for complete
re-
placement
of spark plug wires
every two (2) years.
Fuel Lines and Clamps
NOTE:
The engine fuel injection system is pressur
ized and should only be serviced by a Walker dealer
or authorized Kohler service dealer.
Every year,
inspect the fuel supply lines from the
tank(s) to engine for deterioration or damage. Also,
inspect the fuel line
clamps for tightness.
Good
preventive maintenance calls for complete
replace-
ment
of fuel lines and clamps
every two (2) years.
Engine Starter
Yearly or every 500 hours
disassemble and clean
the solenoid shift starter. Refer to the Kohler Service
Manual for this procedure or contact an authorized
Kohler engine dealer to perform this service.
