Cutting Blades
WARNING!
Shut the engine off and remove
ignition
key before removing
the cutting
blade(s) for
sharpening
or replacement.
Protect your hands by
using heavy gloves when grasping
the blade.
WARNING!
Periodically
inspect
the blade and/or
spindle
for cracks or damage,
especially
after you've
struck a foreign
object.
Do not operate the machine
until damaged
components
are replaced.
To remove the blades, proceed
as follows.
1.
Remove the deck from beneath
the tractor,
(refer to
Cutting
Deck Removal
earlier in this section)
then gently
flip the deck over to expose its underside.
2.
Place a block of wood between
the center deck housing
baffle and the cutting
blade to act as a stabilizer.
See Fig. 7-4.
3.
Remove the hex flange nut that secures the blade to the
spindle assembly.
See Fig. 7-4.
Figure 7-4
4.
To properly
sharpen
the cutting
blades, remove equal
amounts
of metal from both ends of the blades along the
cutting
edges, parallel
to the trailing
edge, at a 25 °- to 30 °
angle. Always grind
each cutting
blade edge equally
to
maintain
proper blade balance. See Fig. 7-5.
CAUTION:
If the cutting
edge of the blade has
previously
been sharpened,
or if any metal
separation
is present, replace the blades with new
ones.
_
WARNING!
A poorly
balanced
blade will cause
excessive vibration,
may damage
to the tractor and/
or result in personal
injury.
5.
Test the blade's balance
using a blade balancer. Grind
metal from the heavy side until it balances evenly.
Figure 7-5
NOTE: When replacing
the blade, be sure to install the blade with
the side of the blade marked
"Bottom"
(or with a part number
stamped
in it) facing the ground
when the mower is in the
operating
position.
CAUTION:
Use a torque wrench
to tighten
the
blade spindle
hex flange
nut to between
70 Ibs-ft
and g0 Ibs-ft.
Changingthe DeckBelt
i_
WARNING!
Be sure to shut tile engine
off, remove
ignition
key, disconnect
the spark plug wire(s) and
ground against
the engine to prevent
unintended
starting
before removing
the belt.
WARNING!
All belts on your tractor
are subject
to
wear and should
be replaced
if any signs of wear are
present.
IMPORTANT:
The V-belt found
on your tractor
is specially
designed
to engage and disengage
safely. A substitute
(non-
OEM) V-beh can be dangerous
by not disengaging
completely.
For a proper working
machine,
use factory
approved
belts.
To change or replace the deck belt on your tractor, proceed asfollows:
1.
Lower the deck by moving
the deck lift lever into the
bottom
notch on the right fender.
2.
Remove the belt guards by removing
the self-tapping
screws that fasten them to the deck.
3.
Remove the belt keeper rod from around the engine pulley.
4.
On the 42-inch deck only, loosen
but do not remove, the
idler pulley nuts. This will enable the belt to be easily
removed
from the idler pulleys. See Fig. 7-6.
WARNING!
Avoid the possibility
of a pinching
injury. Do not place your fingers on the idler spring
or between
the belt and a pulley while removing
the
belt.
5.
Remove the deck belt from around all pulleys, including
the deck idler pulley.
S_CTION 7--
S_RVlC_
I 25