Operator's Manual

InspectingandSharpening
theBlade
1.Raisethecuttingdecktothehighestposition,
turnthekeyintheignitionswitchtotheOFF
position,andengagetheparkingbrake.
2.Blockthecuttingdecktopreventitfromfalling
accidentally.
3.Examinethecuttingendsofthebladecarefully,
especiallywheretheatandcurvedpartsofthe
blademeet(Figure84).
Note:Sincesandandabrasivematerialcan
wearawaythemetalthatconnectstheat
andcurvedpartsoftheblade,checktheblade
beforeusingthemachine.
4.Ifwearisnoticed(Figure84),replacetheblade;
refertoRemovingandInstallingaBlade(page
61).
DANGER
Ifthebladeisallowedtowear,aslot
willformbetweenthesailandatpart
oftheblade(Figure83).Eventuallya
pieceoftheblademaybreakoffandbe
thrownfromunderthehousing,possibly
resultinginseriousinjurytoyourselfor
bystanders.
•Inspectthebladeperiodicallyforwear
ordamage.
•Alwaysreplaceawornordamaged
blade.
g006924
Figure84
1.Cuttingedge3.Wear/slot/crack
2.Sail
5.Inspectthecuttingedgesofallblades.Sharpen
thecuttingedgesiftheyaredullornicked.
Sharpenonlythetopofthecuttingedgeand
maintaintheoriginalcuttingangletomakesure
thatitissharp(Figure85).
6.Ifdullornicked,sharpenonlythetopcutting
edgewhilemaintainingtheoriginalcuttingangle
(Figure85).
Note:Thebladewillremainbalancedifthe
sameamountofmetalisremovedfromboth
cuttingedges.
g006926
Figure85
1.Sharpenatthisangleonly
7.Tocheckthebladeforbeingstraightand
parallel,laythebladeonalevelsurfaceand
checkitsends.
Note:Positiontheendsofthebladeslightly
lowerthanthecenter,andthecuttingedgelower
thantheheeloftheblade.Thisbladeproduces
agoodqualityofcutandrequiresminimalpower
fromtheengine.Bycontrastabladethatis
higherattheendsthanthecenter,orifcutting
edgeishigherthantheheel,thebladeisbentor
warpedandmustbereplaced.
8.Installtheblade,sailfacingtowardcuttingdeck,
withtheanti-scalpcupandbladebolt.T orque
thebladeboltto115to149N∙m(85to110ft-lb).
62