62
Maintenance Instructions
REPLACING/REPAIRING
Mower Blades
Mower blades are removed and remounted as de-
scribed in the Sharpen Mower Blades instructions
(refer to CHECKING/SERVICING in this section).
During the course of sharpening and inspecting
mower blades, if there are any of the following con-
ditions of wear or damage, blades should be re-
placed for reasons of safety and performance of the
machine:
•
An excessive amount of the flat section of the
blade has been ground away (removed) when the
blade is sharpened. Replace the blade when less
than a 3/4 in. (19 mm) flat section remains at the
blade tip.
•
Examine ends of the blade carefully, especially the
intersection where the flat section of the blade turns
up to form the “wing tip” (refer to CHECKING/SER-
VICING for Mower Blade Profile for Sharpening il-
lustration in Sharpen Mower Blades instructions).
Since sand and abrasive material can wear metal
away in this area, the blade should be replaced
when metal thickness has worn to 1/16 in. (1.6
mm) or less.
•
Check the blades for straightness by marking
blade tip position inside the deck housing and then
rotating the opposite end of the blade to the same po-
sition and comparing. If the difference in blade tip
track is more than 1/8 in. (3 mm), the blade is bent
and should be replaced.
•
Inspect the blade surface, especially in formed
areas, for cracks. Replace the blade if any cracks
are found.
Reinstall the blades following procedure from Sharp-
en Mower Blades instructions in CHECKING/SER-
VICING in this section. If blades are replaced, always
use Walker original equipment blades to ensure
safety and optimum performance. The quality and
performance of replacement blades offered by
other manufacturers cannot be guaranteed, they
could be dangerous.
DANGER
When blades are operated over sandy soil,
and if blades are allowed to wear, a “slot”
may be worn into the wing tip of blade.
Eventually a piece of the blade may break
off creating a serious potential for injury or
damage.
WARNING
DO NOT try to straighten a blade that is
bent. NEVER weld a broken or cracked
blade. ALWAYS replace with a new blade
to assure safety.
CAUTION
ALWAYS use genuine factory replacement
parts. Substitute parts CAN result in prod-
uct malfunction and possible injury to the
operator.
Summary of Contents for MS (13 HP)
Page 70: ...66 Operator s Notes...
