Blade Maintenance - Ariens Pro Zoom 54 Manual

BLADE MAINTENANCE

CAUTION: Before removing the
blades, be sure the engine has
stopped and the key has been
removed. The blades may be
sharp. Wear gloves or wrap them
in a towel before handling them.
Inspect the blades daily for straightness,
sharpness, and balance. Replace the blades
if they are cracked, worn, bent or out of
balance.
NOTE: Keep blades sharp. Mowing with dull
blades will cause poor cut performance. It will
also put additional strain on the engine by
slowing the mower cutting speed.
CAUTION: Never try to straighten
a blade which has been bent or
try to weld a blade that is cracked.
Always replace with a new blade
to ensure safety.
To sharpen the blades, remove the blades by
inserting a block of wood and turning the
blade bolt counter clockwise (see figure 29).
Figure 29
CAUTION: Always wear safety
eye protection when sharpening
the blades.
Be sure to wear a thick glove or wrap the
blade in a towel to protect your hands from
being cut. Insert the blades in a vise and use
a mill file or grinder. File the blade along the
original angle until the blade tip is at a 30°
angle again.
Stop Block
OE3356
GB - 37
DO NOT Sharpen to This Pattern
2
Sharpen to This Pattern
3
DISCARD if More Than
1/2 in. (1.27 cm)
1. Cutting Edge
2. Square
Corner
Figure 30
IMPORTANT: When sharpening blades, be
sure to grind the same amount on each side.
Unbalanced blades will cause excessive
vibration and could cause the spindles to
wear prematurely.
Check the blade balance by inserting a
horizontal rod through the center hole of the
blade. The heavy side of the blade will drop
down. Sharpen the heavy side of the blade
until the blade is balanced, see figure 31.
After sharpening, install the blades back onto
the mower deck. Make sure the wings are
facing up. Reinstall the blade bolt and
lockwasher.
1
4
1
4
3. Air Lift
Erosion
4. Air Lift
OE3361