Brake Operation; Tires; Blade Care; Blade Removal - Craftsman 917.254530 Owner's Manual

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NTENANCE
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TRACTOR
Always observe safety rules when performing any mainte-
Nance
BRAKE OPERATION
If unit requires more than six (6) feet stopping distance at
high speed in highest gear, than brake must be adjusted
(See "TO ADJUST BRAKE" in Service and Adjustments
section of this manual)
TIRES
• Maintain proper air pressure in aIl tires (See "PROD-
UCT SPECIFICATIONS" on page 3 of this manual)
• Keep tiresfree of gasoline, oil, or insect control chemi-
cals which can harm rubber.
Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp obiects and
other hazards that may cause tire damage.
BLADE CARE
For best results mower blades must be kept sharp. The
blades can be sharpened with a file or on a grinding wheel.
We suggest they be sharpened or replaced after every 25
hours of mowing Check blades more often if mowing in
sandy conditions
• Do not attempt to sharpen blades while they are on the
mower,
• Replace bent or damaged blades
BLADE REMOVAL (See Fig. 10)
• Raise mower to highest position to aflow access to
blades
• Remove hex bolt, lockwasher and fiat washer securing
blade
• Install new or resharpened blade with trailing edge up
towards deck as shown
• Reassemble hex bolt, fockwasher and flat washer in
exact order as shown.
• Tighten bolt securely (30-35 Ft Lbs torque)
IMPORTANT: BLADE BOLT IS GRADE 5 HEATTREATED
MANDREL
_ACKSHAFT}
ASSEMBLY
FLAT WASHER _,..
LOCKWASHER
HEX BOLT
(GRADE S)*
FLANGES
TRAILING
EDGE
UP
*A GRADE 5 HEAT TREATED BOLT
CAN BE IDENTIFIED BYTHREE LINES
ON THE BOLT HEAD AS SHOWN AT
LEFT.
FIG. 10
TO SHARPEN BLADE (See Fig. '11)
Care should be taken to keep the blade balanced. An
unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration and even-
tua! damage to mower and engine,
• The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a grinding
wheel Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower,
• To check blade balance, drive a nail into a beam orwaII,
Leave about one inch of the straight nail exposed.
Place center hole of blade over the head of the nail. If
blade is balanced, it should remain in a horizontal
position If either end of the blade moves downward,
sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced.
HOLE /
l _ BLADE
FIG. 11
15