9
Note:
For optimum performance, install new
blade before cutting season begins.
During the year, file down small nicks
to maintain the cutting edge.
POTENTIAL HAZARD
•
A worn or damaged blade could break and
a piece of blade could be thrown into
operator’s or bystander’s area.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN
•
A thrown piece of blade could cause serious
personal injury or death to operator or
bystanders.
HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
•
Inspect blade periodically for wear or
damage.
•
Replace a worn or damaged blade.
5.
REMOVING BLADE—Grasp end of blade
using a rag or thickly padded glove. Remove
blade bolt, lockwasher, and blade (Fig. 15).
6.
SHARPENING BLADE—Using a file, sharpen
top side of blade and maintain original cutting
angle (Fig. 17). The blade will remain balanced
if same amount of material is removed from both
cutting edges.
IMPORTANT: Check balance of blade by
putting it on a blade balancer. An inexpensive
balancer can be purchased at a hardware
store. A balanced blade stays in a horizontal
position and an unbalanced blade settles to
the heavy side. If blade is not balanced, file
more metal off cutting edge on heavy end of
blade.
7.
Install sharp, balanced blade with lockwasher
and blade bolt. Sail part of blade must point
toward top of mower housing to ensure correct
installation. Tighten blade bolt to 50 ft–lb (68
N
m).
Adjusting Brake Cable
Whenever a new blade cable assembly is installed, an
adjustment is required.
1.
Stop engine and pull wire off spark plug
(Fig. 10).
2.
CHECK ADJUSTMENT (Fig. 18)—Move
control bar toward handle until slack in wire is
removed. Gap between brake lever and handle
must be 1/8”–3/16”. See step 3 for adjustment.
3.
ADJUST CABLE CONDUIT (Fig. 18)—Loosen
jam nut on brake cable. Insert 3/16”–1/4” object
between brake lever and handle. Turn cable
adjuster on brake cable until all slack is
removed. Then tighten nut.
Servicing Wheels
Removal
1.
Stop engine and pull wire off spark plug
(Fig. 10).
2.
Remove capscrew, wheel spacer, and locknut
mounting wheel to pivot arm (Fig. 19).
3.
Separate wheel halves from tire by removing (4)
flange capscrews and locknuts (Fig. 19).
Note:
If bearings are to be removed from
bearing support hub, remove by
pressing on bearing spacer.
Assembly
1.
Position tire onto (1) wheel half, aligning lugs
on each (Fig. 19).
2.
Place bearing/hub assembly into center hole of
wheel half. Make sure legs of hub are positioned
over flange of hole.
3.
Place other wheel half onto bearing/hub
assembly, aligning wheel and tire lugs and
mounting holes.
4.
Using (2) 1/4—20 x 1.50” lg. fully threaded
screws or bolts and non–locking nuts, loosely
secure wheel halves together. Mount screws or
bolts in opposing holes.
