Servicing The Cutting Blade - Toro 70184 Operator's Manual

Servicing the Cutting Blade

To ensure a superior quality of cut, keep the blade sharp.
For convenient sharpening and replacement, you may want
to have an extra blade.
Danger
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
1. Inspect the cutting edges (Fig. 27). If the edges are not
sharp or have nicks, remove the blade and sharpen
them; refer to Sharpening the Blade, page 27.
2. Inspect the blade, especially the curved area (Fig. 27). If
you notice any damage, wear, or a slot forming in this
area (Fig. 27), immediately install a new blade.
Figure 27
1. Cutting edge
2. Curved area
Removing the Blade
1. Stop the engine and remove the ignition key. Pull the
wire off of the spark plug.
2. Engage the parking brake.
3. Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or thickly padded
glove. Then remove the blade bolt, curved washer,
blade stiffener, and blade (Fig. 28). A block of wood
may be wedged between the blade and the mower to
lock the blade when you are removing the bolt.
1
2
3
m–151
3. Wear/slot forming
27
3
Figure 28
1. Blade
2. Blade stiffener
Sharpening the Blade
1. Use a file to sharpen the cutting edge at both ends of the
blade (Fig. 29). Maintain the original angle. The blade
retains its balance if the same amount of material is
removed from both cutting edges.
1
Figure 29
1. Sharpen at original angle
2. Check the balance of the blade by putting it on a blade
balancer (Fig. 30). If the blade stays in a horizontal
position, the blade is balanced and can be used. If the
blade is not balanced, file some metal off of the back
side of the blade. Repeat this procedure until the blade
is balanced.
1
Figure 30
1. Blade
2
1
3. Blade bolt and curved
washer
m–1854
2
2. Balancer