12
SECTION 8: MAINTENANCE
Figure 11
WARNING:
Always stop the motor and
disconnect from the power source before cleaning,
lubricating or performing any repairs or
maintenance on the lawn mower.
Cutting Blade Replacement
WARNING:
Always protect hands by wearing
heavy gloves and/or wrapping cutting edges with
newspapers or other materials when performing
any blade maintenance. Be certain to disconnect
the power supply.
Removing the Blade
•
Stop the motor and disconnect the power supply to
the mower. Turn the mower on its side.
•
Use a block of wood between blade and mower
deck to prevent the blade from turning when the
bolt is removed.
•
Using a 24mm wrench or socket, loosen the blade
bolt and remove the blade. Refer to Figure 11.
Installing the Blade
WARNING: The blade hardware is not only
used to attach the blade assembly, but is also
an insulated safety device and should never
be altered in any way. If replacement is
necessary, use original equipment parts as
shown in the parts list on page 16
•
Make certain the blade hub assembly is bottomed
out against the motor shaft.
•
Place the cutting blade, locking plate, and blade
bolt against the blade hub assembly and thread the
blade bolt in finger tight. Refer to Figure 11.
NOTE: Make certain to replace the parts in the exact
order in which they were removed. When installing the
cutting blade, be sure it is installed with the curved ends
pointing towards the mower deck and not towards the
ground.
•
Torque the blade bolt down using a torque wrench
to assure the bolt is tightened properly. The
recommended torque for the blade bolt is 450-600
in. lbs. To insure safe operation of your unit, all nuts
and bolts must be checked periodically for correct
tightness.
Sharpening the Blade
To sharpen the blade, first remove the blade as outlined
in the previous section. DO NOT attempt to sharpen the
blade while it is attached to the mower. The blade can
be sharpened with a file or on a grinding wheel.
•
When sharpening the blade, follow the original
angle of grind as a guide. It is extremely important
that each cutting edge receives an equal amount of
grinding to prevent an unbalanced blade.
•
Test the blade by balancing it on a round shaft
screwdriver or a blade balancer. See Figure 12.
•
If the blade is not balanced, remove metal from the
heavy side until it balances evenly.
WARNING: An unbalanced blade will cause
excessive vibration when rotating at high
speeds. It may also cause damage to the
mower and could break, causing personal
injury.
•
Reinstall the blade as described earlier in this
section making certain to torque the cutting blade to
specifications.
Figure 12
Mower Deck
WARNING:
To reduce the risk of electric shock,
do not expose the mower to water.
The underside of mower deck should be cleaned after
each use as grass clippings, leaves, dirt and other
debris will accumulate. This accumulation of grass
clippings, etc., is undesirable as it will promote rust and
corrosion.
Cutting Blade
Locking Plate
Blade Bolt
Motor Shaft
1. Insert screw driver through hole
2. Balanced blade will be parallel to ground
Screw Driver
Ground
Blade
