24
Servicing the Cutting Blades
To ensure a superior quality of cut, keep the blades sharp.
For convenient sharpening and replacement, you may want
to keep extra blades on hand.
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.
Warning
Before Inspecting or Servicing the Blades
Park the machine on a level surface, disengage the blade
control (PTO) and set the parking brake.
Inspecting the Blades
1. Inspect the cutting edges (Fig 24). If the edges are not
sharp or have nicks, remove and sharpen the blades.
Refer to Sharpening the Blades on page 25.
2. Inspect the blades, especially the curved area (Fig. 24).
If you notice any damage, wear, or a slot forming in this
area (item 3 in Fig. 24), immediately install a new
blade.
1
2
3
m–151
Figure 24
1.
Cutting Edge
2.
Curved Area
3.
Wear/slot Forming
Checking for Bent Blades
1. Rotate the blades until the ends face forward and
backward (Fig. 25). Measure from a level surface to the
cutting edge of the blades (Fig. 26). Note this
dimension.
Front
m–1078
Figure 25
MEASURE FROM
CUTTING EDGE TO A
LEVEL SURFACE
m–2539
Figure 26
2. Rotate the opposite ends of the blades forward.
3. Measure from a level surface to the cutting edge of the
blades at the same position as in step 1 above. The
difference between the dimensions obtained in steps 1
and 2 must not exceed 1/8 in. (3 mm). If this dimension
exceeds 1/8 in. (3 mm), the blade is bent and must be
replaced. Refer to Removing the Blades, and Installing
the Blades on page 25.
A blade that is bent or damaged could break apart
and could seriously injure or kill you or
bystanders.
•
Always replace bent or damaged blade with a
new blade.
•
Never file or create sharp notches in the edges
or surfaces of blade.
Warning
Removing the Blades
Blades must be replaced if a solid object is hit, if the blade
is out of balance or is bent. To ensure optimum
performance and continued safety conformance of the
