Operator's Manual

18
Important Move the blade as little as possible to avoid
future staring problems.
Inspecting the Blade
Carefully examine the blade for sharpness and wear,
especially where the flat and the curved parts meet
(Fig. 22A). Because sand and abrasive material can wear
away the metal that connects the flat and curved parts of the
blade, check the blade before using the lawn mower. If you
notice a slot or wear (Figs. 22B and 22C), replace the
blade; refer to Removing the Blade on page 18.
270
1
1
1
2
3
4
A
B
C
Figure 22
1. Sail
2. Flat part of blade
3. Wear
4. Slot formed
Note: For the best performance, install a new blade before
the cutting season begins. During the year, file down any
small nicks to maintain the cutting edge.
Danger
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
1. Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or a thickly
padded glove.
2. Remove the blade bolt, the accelerator, and the blade
(Fig. 23).
1
2
3
4
m-6342
Figure 23
1. Blade bolt
2. Accelerator
3. Blade
4. 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.
153
1
m4783
2
AB
Figure 24
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 (Fig. 25).
1007
Figure 25
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.