15
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
DECK WASH
Your mower’s deck is equipped with a water port on its surface as part of its deck
wash system.
Use the deck wash to rinse grass clippings from the deck’s underside and prevent
the buildup of corrosive chemicals. Complete the following steps AFTER EACH
MOWING:
1.
Push the mower to a level, clear spot on your lawn, near enough for your garden
hose to reach. Remove the grass bag if attached.
CAUTION
Make sure the discharge chute is directed AWAY from your house, garage, parked
cars, etc.
2.
Thread the hose coupler (user-supplied) onto the end of your garden hose.
3.
Attach the hose coupler to the water port on your deck’s surface (Figure 13).
4.
Turn the water on.
5.
Start the engine as described in the Operation section.
6.
Run the engine for a minimum of two minutes, allowing the underside of the
cutting deck to thoroughly rinse.
7.
Release blade control to stop the engine and blade.
8.
Turn the water off and detach the hose coupler from the water port on your
deck’s surface.
After cleaning your deck, restart the mower. Keep the engine and blade running
for a minimum of two minutes, allowing the underside of the cutting deck to
thoroughly dry.
BLADE CARE
WARNING
When removing the cutting blade for sharpening or replacement, protect your
hands with a pair of heavy gloves or use a heavy rag to hold the blade.
Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign
object. Replace when necessary. Follow the steps below for blade service.
1.
Disconnect spark plug boot from spark plug. Turn mower on its side making sure
that the air filter and the carburetor are facing up.
2.
Remove the bolt and the blade bell support which hold the blade and the blade
adapter to the engine crankshaft (Figure 13).
3.
Remove blade and adapter from the crankshaft.
4.
Remove blade from the adapter for testing balance. Balance the blade on a
round shaft screwdriver to check. Remove metal from the heavy side until it
balances evenly. When sharpening the blade, follow the original angle of grind.
Grind each cutting edge equally to keep the blade balanced.
5.
Lubricate the engine crankshaft and the inner surface of the blade adapter with
light oil. Slide the blade adapter onto the engine crankshaft. Place the blade
on the adapter such that the side of the blade marked “Bottom” (or with part
number) faces the ground when the mower is in the operating position. Make
sure that the blade is aligned and seated on the blade adapter flanges. See
Figure 13 insert.
6.
Place blade bell support on the blade. Align notches on the blade bell support
with small holes in blade.
7.
Replace hex bolt and tighten hex bolt to torque: 29.5-33.2 ft-lb (40-45 Nm) max.
WARNING
An unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration when rotating at high
speeds. It may cause damage to mower and could break causing personal injury.
Figure 13
Blade
Blade
Adapter
Bolt
Blade Bell Support
Figure 14
