Seat Adjustment; Mower Blade Maintenance; Mower Blade Removal - HUSTLER FasTrak Owner's Manual

Inspect the belt pulley grooves and flanges for wear. A new
belt, or one in good condition, should never run against the
bottom of the groove. Replace the pulley when this is the case,
otherwise belt will lose power and slip excessively.
Never pry a belt to get it on a pulley as this will cut or damage
the fibers of the belt covering.
Keep oil and grease away from belts, and never use belt
dressings. Any of these will destroy the belt composition in a
very short time.

Mower blade maintenance

Check the mower blades daily, they are the key to power
efficiency and well groomed turf. Keep them sharp, a dull blade
will tear rather than cut the grass, leaving a brown ragged top on
the grass within a few hours. A dull blade also requires more
power from the engine.
Replace any blade which is bent, cracked or broken.
WARNING: Never attempt to straighten a bent blade
by heating, or weld a cracked or broken blade as the
blade may break and cause serious injury. Replace
worn or damaged blades.
DANGER: Never work with blades while engine is
running or deck clutch switch is engaged (on). Always
place deck clutch switch in the disengaged position,
place steering control levers in the park brake position
and turn engine off and disconnect negative battery
cable. Block up mower when you must work under it.
Wear gloves when handling blades. Always check for
blade damage if mower strikes rock, branch or other
foreign object during mowing!
WARNING: Always wear adequate eye protection
when grinding mower blades.
Always place deck clutch switch in the disengaged position,
place steering control levers in the park brake position and turn
engine off and disconnect negative battery cable. Block up
mower when you must work under it. Wear gloves when
handling blades. Always check for blade damage if mower
strikes rock, branch or other foreign object during mowing!

Mower blade removal

Use a 15/16" wrench to remove the 5/8" cap screw holding the
blade to the spindle shaft from underneath. NOTE: A blade
holding tool (part number 381442) is available from Hustler
Turf Equipment. It is designed to prevent the blades from
rotating when they are being removed or installed on the
spindle. Contact your Hustler dealer for more information.
Sharpen the blades on a grinder following pattern as shown
(Fig. 4-6). Touch-up sharpening can be done with a file.
Check the blades for balance following grinding. A
commercial balancing tool is available through most hardware
supply stores, or balancing can be done by placing the blade on
an inverted line punch or 5/8" bolt. Blade should not lean or tilt.
Spin the blade slowly, blade should not wobble. If blade is out
of balance, true it up before reinstalling.
Lay the blade on a flat surface and check for distortion
(Fig. 4-7 and Fig. 4-8). Replace any distorted blade.
601156_0110
Do not sharpen to original pattern (below). It is
easier to get a straight cutting edge following
the resharpening pattern shown above.
Do not re-use spindle bolts which have stripped, worn or
undercut threads. Torque bolts on spindles to 118 foot-pounds
(160.01nm) when reinstalling blades.
IMPORTANT: The blade sail (curved part) must be point-
ing upward toward the inside of the deck to ensure proper cut-
ting.
IMPORTANT: When mounting blades, rotate them after
installation to ensure blade tips do not touch each other or sides
of the mower.
WARNING: Failure to correctly torque the bolt may
result in the loss of the blade which can cause serious
injury.
WARNING: Mower blades are sharp and can cut.
Wrap the blade(s) or wear gloves and use extra caution
when servicing them.
Warped Blade (Replace)
Straight Blade
Comparison of Warped and Straight Blades

Seat adjustment

FasTrak 36/42 (Mini FasTrak 36/42) - The seat can be
4-5
Resharpening
pattern
Original edge
Fig. 4-6
Cutting
plane
Fig. 4-7