Inspecting The Blades; Removing The Blades - Toro TimeMaster 20975 Operator's Manual

2. Tip the machine onto its side, with the air filter up in
the air, until the upper handle rests on the ground.
WARNING
The blades are sharp; contacting a blade could
result in serious personal injury.
• Disconnect the wire from the spark plug.
• Wear gloves when servicing the blade.

Inspecting the Blades

Service Interval: Before each use or daily
1. Inspect the cutting edges (Figure 41). If the edges are
not sharp or have nicks, remove the blades and have
them sharpened or replace them.
2. Inspect the blades themselves, especially the curved
area (Figure 41).
1. Cutting edge
2. Curved area
Note: If you notice any damage, wear, or a slot
forming in this area (Figure 41), immediately replace
it with a new blade.
DANGER
If you allow a blade to wear, a slot will form
between the sail and flat part of the blade.
Eventually a piece of the blade may break
off and be thrown from under the housing,
possibly resulting in serious injury to you or
bystanders.
• Inspect the blade periodically for wear or
damage.
• Never try to straighten a blade that is bent
or weld a broken or cracked blade.
• Replace a worn or damaged blade.
3. Check for bent blades; refer to Checking for Bent
Blades (page 22).
Checking for Bent Blades
1. Rotate the blades until they are positioned as shown
in Figure 42.
Figure 41
3. Wear/slot forming
4. Crack
1. Front of cutting deck
2. Measure at locations A
and B
2. Measure from a level surface to the cutting edges
at locations A and B, (Figure 42), and record both
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dimensions.
3. Rotate the blades so that their opposite ends are at
locations A and B.
4. Repeat the measurements in step 2 and record them.
Note: If the difference between the dimensions
A and B obtained in steps 2 and 4 exceeds 3 mm
(1/8 inch), the blade is bent and must be replaced;
refer to Removing the Blades (page 22) and Installing
the Blades (page 23).
WARNING
A blade that is bent or damaged could break
apart and could seriously injure or kill you or
bystanders.
• Always replace a bent or damaged blade
with a new blade.
• Never file or create sharp notches in the
edges or surfaces of a blade.

Removing the Blades

Replace the blades when the machine hits a solid object or
when a blade is out of balance or bent. Use only genuine
Toro replacement blades.
1. Use a block of wood to hold each blade steady and turn
the blade bolt counterclockwise as shown in Figure 43.
22
1
3
Figure 42
3. Measure from the cutting
edge to a smooth, level
surface
2
B
B
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