Ferris IS700Z Series Operator's Manual page 32

Inspecting, Sharpening, and Balancing the
Mower Blades
CAUTION
Laceration hazard.
Mower blades are sharp.
Always wear gloves when handling, or working near, mower
blades.
1. Remove the mower blade from the unit. See Removing
the Mower Blades.
2. Clean the blade to remove any dried grass or other
debris.
DANGER
Thrown objects hazard
Avoid injury: a worn or damaged mower blade can break
and a piece of the blade could be thrown into the operator's
area or bystander's area resulting in serious personal injury
or death.
• Inspect the mower blade every 25 hours or at least
once per year.
• If the mower blade hits a solid object, stop the engine
immediately and inspect the mower blades.
• Never weld or straighten bent mower blades.
3. Inspect the mower blade (Figure 35). Discard the mower
blade if it has any of the following conditions:
• More than .5" (12,7 mm) of the mower blade metal
has been removed from previous sharpening or wear
(A).
• The air lifts are excessively eroded (B) and the notch
(C) is .25" (6,35 mm) deep or greater.
• The mower blade is broken or bent.
35
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4. If the cutting edges are not sharp or have nicks, sharpen
the blades.
WARNING
Thrown objects and fire hazard
Grinding mower blades throws sparks and fine metal
particles that are capable of igniting gasoline and gasoline
vapors, and that can injure unprotected eyes.
Be sure all flammable materials are cleared from the area
where grinding will occur.
Always wear safety glasses or goggles when grinding
mower blades.
5. Use a grinder, hand file, or electric blade sharpener to
sharpen the mower blades by removing an equal amount
of material from the cutting edge of each end of the blade.
6. Keep the original bevel (A, Figure 36) when grinding. DO
NOT change the mower blade bevel.
36
7. The mower blade should have a maximum of 1/64" (0,40
mm) cutting edge (B) or less.
CAUTION
Thrown objects hazard.
An unbalanced mower blade can create excessive vibration
and damage the unit, or cause mower blade failure resulting
in thrown debris.
Be sure blade is balanced before installing.
8. Clamp a nail in a bench vise, hang the blade on the nail,
and position the blade in a level horizontal position as
shown in Figure 37.
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