Servicing The Cutting Blades - Toro 74901 Operator's Manual

Servicing the Cutting Blades

To ensure a superior quality of cut, keep the blades sharp.
For convenient sharpening and replacement, you may want
to keep extra blades on hand.
WARNING
A worn or damaged blade can break, and a piece
of the blade could be thrown into the operator's
or bystanders' area, resulting in serious personal
injury or death.
• Inspect the blades periodically for wear or
damage.
• Replace a worn or damaged blade.
Before Inspecting or Servicing the
Blades
Park the machine on a level surface, disengage the blades and
set the parking brake. Turn the ignition key to off. Remove
the key, and disconnect the spark plug wires from the spark
plugs.
Inspecting the Blades
Service Interval: Before each use or daily
1. Inspect the cutting edges (Figure 92).
2. If the edges are not sharp or have nicks, remove and
sharpen the blade; refer to Sharpening the Blades (page
60).
3. Inspect the blades, especially in the curved area.
4. If you notice any cracks, wear, or a slot forming in this
area, immediately install a new blade (Figure 92).
Figure 92
1. Cutting edge
2. Curved area
3. Wear/slot forming
4. Crack
Checking for Bent Blades
1. Disengage the PTO, move the motion-control levers to
the neutral-locked position, and set the parking brake.
2. Stop the engine, remove the key, and wait for all moving
parts to stop before leaving the operating position.
3. Rotate the blades until the ends face forward and
backward.
4. Measure from a level surface to the cutting edge,
position A, of the blades (Figure 93 ).
1. Measure here from blade
to hard surface
5. Rotate the opposite ends of the blades forward.
6. Measure from a level surface to the cutting edge of the
blades at the same position as in step 4 above.
Note: The difference between the dimensions
obtained in steps 4 and 5 must not exceed 3 mm
(1/8 inch).
Note: If this dimension exceeds 3 mm (1/8 inch), the
blade is bent and must be replaced.
WARNING
A blade that is bent or damaged could break
apart and could seriously injure or kill you or
bystanders.
• Always replace bent or damaged blade
with a new blade.
• Do not file or create sharp notches in the
edges or surfaces of the blade.
59
Figure 93
2. Position A