Blade Maintenance
Maintaining the Cutting Blade
Always mow with a sharp blade. A sharp blade cuts
cleanly and without tearing or shredding the grass blades.
1. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.
2. Disconnect the wire from the spark plug (Figure 12).
3. Drain the gasoline from the fuel tank; refer to
Emptying the Fuel Tank and Cleaning the Fuel Filter.
4. Tip the mower onto its
right
side (Figure 28).
Figure 28
1.
Blade
3.
Accelerator
2.
Blade bolt and lock washer
Inspecting the Blade
Service Interval:
Before each use or daily—Inspect the
mower blades for wear or damage.
Carefully examine the blade for sharpness and wear,
especially where the flat and the curved parts meet
(Figure 29A). 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 (Figure 29B
and Figure 29C), replace the blade; refer to Removing
the Blade.
Figure 29
1.
Sail
3.
Wear
2.
Flat part of the blade
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
Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or a thickly
padded glove. Remove the blade bolt, the lock washer,
the accelerator, and the blade (Figure 28).
Sharpening the Blade
File the top side of the blade to maintain its original
cutting angle (Figure 30A) and inner cutting edge radius
(Figure 30B). The blade will remain balanced if you
remove the same amount of material from both cutting
edges.
Figure 30
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 (Figure 31).
Figure 31
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
22
