Belt Maintenance; Replacing The Blade Drive Belt; Servicing The Blade; Inspecting The Blade - Toro 71257 Operator's Manual

Belt Maintenance

Replacing the Blade Drive Belt

Removing the Blade Drive Belt
1. Remove the mower; refer to Removing the Mower.
2. Loosen the belt guide mounting bolts and move the
belt guides away from the pulley (Figure 34).
Figure 34
1. Mower belt
2. Belt guide
3. Remove the blade drive belt from the pulley.
Installing the Blade Drive Belt
1. Install the new blade drive belt around the blade
pulley and inside both of the belt guides (Figure 34).
2. Adjust the belt guides so they are 1/8 inch (3 mm)
away from the pulley. Tighten the mounting bolts
(Figure 34).
Important: Make sure that the left side belt
guide is very tight so that it does not move when
the brake spring pulls against it.
3. Install the mower; refer to Installing the Mower.
Top View
3. Mounting bolt

Servicing the Blade

To ensure a superior quality of cut, keep the blade sharp.
For convenient sharpening and replacement, keep an
extra blade.
A worn or damaged blade can break and a piece
of the blade could be thrown into the operator's
or bystander's area, resulting in serious personal
injury or death.
• Inspect the blade periodically for wear or
damage.
• Replace a worn or damaged blade.

Inspecting the Blade

Service Interval: Before each use or daily
1. Remove the mower; refer to Removing the Mower.
2. Inspect the cutting edges (Figure 35). If the edges
are not sharp or have nicks, remove the blade and
sharpen them; refer to Sharpening the Blade.
1. Cutting edge
2. Curved area
3. Inspect the blade, especially the curved area
(Figure 35). If you notice any damage, wear, or a slot
forming in this area (Figure 35), immediately install a
new blade.

Removing the Blade

1. Remove the mower; refer to Removing the Mower.
2. Carefully tip the mower over.
3. Remove the bolt (5/8 inch wrench), curved washer,
retainer, and blade (Figure 36). Use a block of wood
as a wedge between the blade and the mower to lock
the blade when you are removing the bolt.
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Figure 35
3. Wear/slot forming