13
Maintenance
Mower Blade Replacement
Standard Blade Wear Limit
1. Inspect the blade
(Figure 20)
frequently for signs of
excessive wear or damage:
(A)
New blade
(B)
Wear limit (notch starts)
(C)
Dangerous condition! Do not use on the mower!
Replace with a new blade.
Ninja Blade Wear Limit
1. Inspect the blade
(Figure 21)
frequently for signs of
excessive wear or damage:
(A)
New blade
(B)
Wear limit (cracks or notches begin to appear on
tip)
(C)
Dangerous condition! Do not use on the mower!
Replace with a new blade.
Blade Sharpening
1. Disconnect the spark plug wire and secure the end away
from the plug.
2. Tilt the mower up on its rear wheels. Do not tilt the
mower with the spark plug or carburetor down.
Important:
Drain the fuel tank before tipping the mower. DO
NOT tip the machine with the carburetor or spark plug down.
Oil from the crankcase will saturate the air filter and cause
the engine to be hard to start or not start at all. If
contamination does occur, the air filter will have to be
replaced.
3. Remove the blade
(B, Figure 22)
.
WARNING
DO NOT attempt any maintenance, adjustments or service
with engine and blade running. STOP engine and blade.
Disconnect spark plug wire and secure away from spark
plug. Engine and components are HOT. Avoid serious
burns, allow sufficient time for all components to cool.
Wear heavy leather gloves when handling or working
around cutting blades. Blades are extremely sharp and can
cause severe injury.
!
!
Figure 20: Standard blade wear limits
A
B
C
WARNING
DO NOT use a cutting blade that shows signs of excessive
wear or damage. Refer to the Section entitled “MOWER
BLADE REPLACEMENT” for proper blade inspection and
service procedures.
!
!
Make sure that
blade hub is seated
between flanges
Figure 22: Removing the mower blade
C
A
B
D
E
Figure 21: Ninja blade wear limits
A
B
C
Maintenance (Continued)