Operator's Manual

17
Removing the Blade
Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or thickly padded
glove. Remove the blade bolt, the lock washer , the
accelerator , and the blade (Fig. 23).
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2
3
4
5
Figure
23
1. Blade bolt
2. Lock washer
3. Accelerator
4. Blade
5.
Blade driver
Sharpening the Blade
File the top side of the blade to maintain its original
cutting angle (Fig. 24A) and inner cutting edge radius
(Fig. 24B). The blade will remain balanced if you remove
the same amount of material from both cutting edges.
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m-4783
2
AB
Figure 24
1. Sharpen at this angle only 2. Maintain the original
radius here
Note: The blade will remain balanced if you remove the
same amount of material from both cutting edges.
Balancing the Blade
1. Check the balance of the blade by placing the center
hole of the blade over a nail or a screwdriver shank
clamped horizontally in a vise (Fig. 25).
1007
Figure 25
Note: Y ou can also check the balance by 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 the blade onto the spindle and the blade driver
with the curved blade tips pointing toward the lawn
mower deck and the blade driver nesting in the recess
of the blade (Fig. 23).
2. Install the accelerator , the lock washer, and the blade
bolt (Fig. 23).
3. T ighten the blade bolt to 50 ft-lb (68 N m).
WARNING
POTENTIAL HAZARD
• Operating the lawn mower without the
accelerator in place can cause the blade to flex,
bend, or br
eak.
WHA T CAN HAPPEN
• A broken blade could cause serious injury or
death to the operator or bystanders.
HOW T O A V OID THE HAZARD
• Do not operate the lawn mower without the
accelerator.
Lubricating the Self-propel
Drive
1. Wipe the grease fittings on the rear wheel height
adjustment levers with a clean rag (Fig. 26).
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Figure 26
1. Grease fitting
2. Install a grease gun onto each fitting in turn and gently
apply one or two pumps of #2 multi-purpose lithium
grease to each.
IMPORTANT : Excess gr ease may pr event the wheel
clutch fr om pr operly operating.