Mower Deck Maintenance; Servicing The Cutting Blades - Toro 74549 Operator's Manual

Mower Deck
Maintenance

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 bystander's 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 80). If the edges
are not sharp or have nicks, remove and sharpen the
blades. Refer to Sharpening the Blades.
2. Inspect the blades, especially the curved area. If you
notice any cracks, wear, or a slot forming in this area
immediately install a new blades (Figure 80).
Figure 80
1. Cutting Edge
2. Curved Area
Checking for Bent Blades
1. Disengage the PTO, move the motion control levers to
the neutral locked position and set the parking brake.
3. Wear/slot Forming
4. Crack
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. Measure from a level surface to the cutting
edge, position A, of the blades (Figure 81 ). Note this
dimension.
1. Measure here from blade
to hard surface
4. Rotate the opposite ends of the blades forward.
5. Measure from a level surface to the cutting edge of
the blades at the same position as in step 3 above.
The difference between the dimensions obtained in
steps 3 and 4 must not exceed 1/8 inch (3 mm). If this
dimension exceeds 1/8 inch (3 mm), the blade is bent
and must be replaced; refer to Removing the Blades
and Installing the Blades.
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.
• Never file or create sharp notches in the
edges or surfaces of blade.
Removing the Blades
Blades must be replaced if a solid object is hit, if the blade is
out of balance or is bent. To ensure optimum performance
and continued safety conformance of the machine, use
genuine Toro replacement blades. Replacement blades made
by other manufacturers may result in non-conformance with
safety standards.
1. Hold the blade end using a rag or thickly-padded glove.
2. Remove the blade bolt, curved washer, and blade from
the spindle shaft (Figure 82).
53
Figure 81
2. Position A