Side-To-Side - Toro 74704 Operator's Manual

A blade that is bent or damaged could
break apart and could seriously injure or
kill you or bystanders.
• Always replace bent or damaged
blade with a new blade.
• Never file or create sharp notches in
the edges or surfaces of blade.
Removing the Blades
The blades must be replaced if a solid object is
hit, if the blade is out of balance, or the blade
is bent. To ensure optimum performance and
continued safety conformance of the machine, use
genuine Toro replacement blades. Replacement
blades made by other manufacturers may result in
non-conformance with safety standards.
Hold the blade end using a rag or thickly-padded
glove. Remove the blade bolt, curved washer,
blade stiffener, and blade from the spindle shaft
(Figure 38).
Figure 38
1. Sail area of blade
2. Blade
3. Flat washer, small
Sharpening the Blades
1. Use a file to sharpen the cutting edge at both
ends of the blade (Figure 39). Maintain the
original angle. The blade retains its balance if
the same amount of material is removed from
both cutting edges.
4. Flat washer, large
5. Blade nut
6. Spindle shaft
Figure 39
1. Sharpen at original angle
2. Check the balance of the blade by putting it on
a blade balancer (Figure 40). 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 the end of the sail area only
(Figure 39). Repeat this procedure until the
blade is balanced.
Figure 40
1. Blade
Installing the Blades
1. Install the large flat washer and the blade onto
the spindle shaft (Figure 38).
Important: The curved part of the blade
must be pointing upward toward the inside
of the mower to ensure proper cutting.
2. Install the small flat washer, and the blade nut
(Figure 38). Torque the blade nut to 80-100
ft-lb (108-135 N⋅m).
Leveling the Mower from

Side-to-Side

The mower blades must be level from side to side.
Check the side-to-side level any time you install
the mower or when you see an uneven cut on your
lawn.
1. Park the machine on a level surface and
disengage the blade control (PTO).
2. Move the motion control levers to the brake
position, stop the engine, remove the key, and
wait for all moving parts to stop before leaving
the operating position.
3. Check the air pressure of all four tires. If
needed, adjust to the recommended inflation;
31
2. Balancer