A worn or damaged blade can break, and a
piece of the blade could be thrown into the
operator’s or bystander’s area, resulting in
serious personal injury or death.
•
Inspect the blade periodically for wear
or damage.
•
Replace a worn or damaged blade.
Removing the Blade
Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or a
thickly padded glove. Remove the blade nuts, the
anti-scalp cup, and the blade (Figure 28).
Sharpening the Blade
File the top side of the blade to maintain its
original cutting angle (Figure 30A) and inner
cutting edge radius (Figure 30B). The blade will
remain balanced if you remove the same amount
of material from both cutting edges.
Figure 30
1. Sharpen at this angle only. 2. Maintain the original radius
here.
Balancing the Blade
1. Check the balance of the blade by placing
the center hole of the blade over a nail or
screwdriver shank clamped horizontally in a
vise (Figure 31).
Figure 31
Note:
You can also check the balance using a
commercially manufactured blade balancer.
2. If either end of the blade rotates downward,
file that end (not the cutting edge or the end
near the cutting edge). The blade is properly
balanced when neither end drops.
Installing the Blade
1. Install a sharp, balanced Toro blade, the
anti-scalp cup, and the blade nuts. The sail of
the blade must point toward the top of the
mower housing for proper installation. Torque
the blade nuts to 23 to 27 ft-lb (32 to 37 N
•
m).
2. Return the mower to its operating position.
3. Connect the wire to the spark plug.
Cleaning
Cleaning under the Mower
Housing
To ensure the best performance, keep the
underside of the mower housing clean.
Washing Method
1. Position the mower on a flat concrete or
asphalt surface near a garden hose.
2. Start the engine.
3. Hold the running garden hose at handle level
and direct the water to flow on the ground just
in front of the
right
rear wheel (Figure 32).
Figure 32
1. Right rear wheel
Note:
The blade will splash into the path of
the blade, cleaning out the clippings.
4. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts
to stop.
5. Turn off the water.
6. Start the mower and let it run for a few minutes
to dry out the moisture on the mower and its
components.
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