MTD 11A-084E705 Operator's Manual page 11

Blade Care
WARNING: When removingthe culling blade
for sharpening or replacement, protect your
hands with a pair of heavy gloves or use a
heavy rag to hold the blade.
Periodicallyinspectthe blade adapterfor cracks,
especiallyif you strikea foreignobject.Replacewhen
necessary.Followthe stepsbelowfor bladeservice.
1. Disconnectsparkplug wirefrom spark plug.Turn
moweron itssidemaking surethat theair filter and
the carburetorare up.
2. Removethe boltand the blade bell supportwhich
hold the bladeand the blade adapterto the engine
crankshaft.See Figure11.
3. Removebladeand adapterfrom the crankshaft.
4. The bladecan be sharpenedwith a file or on a
grindingwheel.Do notattemptto sharpenthe blade
whileit isstill on the mower.
5. Whensharpeningthe blade,foNow the originalangle
of grind.Grindeach cuttingedgeequallyto keepthe
blade balanced.
6. Removebladefrom the adapterfor testingbalance.
7. Balancethe bladeon a roundshaft screwdriver to
check. Removemetal fromthe heavy sideuntil it
balancesevenly.
WARNING:An unbalanced blade will cause
excessive vibration when rotating at high
speeds. It may cause damage to mower, and
could break causing personal injury.
8. Lubricatethe enginecrankshaftand the innersurface
of the bladeadapterwith lightoil. Slide the blade
adapterontothe enginecrankshaft.
9. Placethe bladeon theadaptersuchthat the side
of the blade marked"Bottom"(or with part number)
facesgroundwhenthe mowerisin theoperating
position.Makesurethat the bladeisalignedand
seatedon bladeadapterflanges.
10.Placeblade bell supporton the blade.Align notches
on the blade bell supportwith small holesin blade.
11.Replacehexbolt and tightenhex boltto torque:450
in.Ibs.rain.,600 in.Ibs. max.
Toensuresafeoperationof your mower,periodically
checkthe bladebolt for correcttorque.
Off-Season Storage
The followingstepsshouldbe taken to prepareyourlawn
mowerfor storage.
1. Cleanand lubricatemowerthoroughlyas describedin
the lubricationinstructions.
2. We do not recommendthe useof a pressurewasher
or gardenhoseto cleanyour unit.
3. Referto enginemanualfor correctengine
storageinstructions.
4. Coatmower'scuttingbladewith chassisgreaseto
preventrusting.
5. Storemowerin a dry,clean area.Do notstore next to
corrosivematerials,such as fertilizer.
Whenstoringany type of powerequipmentina poorly
ventilatedor metalstorageshed,care shouldbe takento
rust-proofthe equipment.Usinga lightoil or silicone,coat
the equipment,especiallycablesand all movingparts of
your lawnmowerbeforestorage.
Blade i Blade Adapter
Hex Bolt Blade Bell
Support
J
Figure 5
11
Maintaining
M oWe r
WARNING
When removing
the cutting blade
for sharpening or
replacement, protect
your hands with a
pair of heavy gloves
or use a heavy rag to
hold the blade.
An unbalanced blade
will cause excessive
vibration when rotat-
ing at high speeds. It
may cause damage
to mower, and could
break causing per-
sonal injury.