Servicing The Cutting Blades - Toro 74401 Operator's Manual

Servicing the Cutting Blades

Maintain sharp blades throughout the cutting season
because sharp blades cut cleanly without tearing or
shredding the grass blades. Tearing and shredding turns
grass brown at the edges, which slows growth and increases
the chance of disease.
Check the cutter blades daily for sharpness, and for any
wear or damage. File down any nicks and sharpen the
blades as necessary. If a blade is damaged or worn, replace
it immediately with a genuine Toro replacement blade. For
convenient sharpening and replacement, you may want to
keep extra blades on hand.
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.
Before Inspecting or Servicing the Blades
Park the machine on a level surface, disengage the PTO,
and set the parking brake. Stop the engine, remove the key,
and disconnect the spark plug wire(s) from the spark
plug(s).
Inspecting the Blades
1. Inspect the cutting edges (Fig. 32). If the edges are not
sharp or have nicks, remove and sharpen the blades;
refer to Sharpening the Blades, page 29.
2. Inspect the blades, especially the curved area (Fig. 32).
If you notice any damage, wear, or a slot forming in this
area (item 3 in Fig. 32), immediately install a new
blade.
Figure 32
1. Cutting edge
2. Curved area
2
1
3
m–151
3. Wear/slot forming
28
Checking for Bent Blades
1. Stop the engine, set the parking brake, remove the key,
and disconnect the spark plug wire(s) from the spark
plug(s).
2. Rotate the blades until the ends face forward and
backward (Fig. 33). Measure from a level surface to the
cutting edge of the blades (Fig. 34). Note this
dimension.
Figure 33
Figure 34
3. Rotate the opposite ends of the blades forward. Measure
from a level surface to the cutting edge of the blades at
the same position as in step 2 above. The difference
between the dimensions obtained in steps 2 and 3 must
not exceed 1/8 in. (3 mm). If this dimension exceeds
1/8 in. (3 mm), the blade is bent and must be replaced;
refer to Removing the Blades and Installing the Blades,
page 29.
Warning
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.
m–1078
m–2539