Maintaining Your Lawn Mower; Blade Care; Cleaning Mower - MTD Model 588Q Operator's Manual

• Attach the new flap and new rod to deck, bending
the ends of the new rod over to secure to deck.
Rear Discharge
Door
Handle
Bracket
Figure 14

Blade Care

WARNING:
When removing the cutting
blade for sharpening or replacement, protect
your hands with a pair of heavy gloves or use a
heavy rag to hold the blade.
Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks,
especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when
necessary.
Removing the Blade
• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug.
• Turn mower on its side making sure that the air filter
and the carburetor are up.
• Remove the bolt and the blade bell support which
hold the blade and the blade adapter to the engine
crankshaft. See Figure 15.
SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN MOWER
WARNING:
Always stop the engine and
disconnect the spark plug wire before
performing any maintenance work or
adjustments on your lawn mower.

Cleaning Mower

The underside of the mower deck should be cleaned
after each use to prevent any build-up of grass
clippings, leaves, dirt, or other debris.
NOTE: We do not recommend the use of pressure
washers or garden hose to clean your unit. These may
cause damage to bearings, or the engine. The use of
water will result in shortened life and reduce
serviceability.
• Disconnect spark plug wire. Drain the gasoline from
the lawn mower, or place a piece of plastic under
the gas cap.
•
Handle
Bracket
Rear Flap
Sharpening the Blade
•
•
Balancing the Blade
•
•
•
•
Lubrication
Blade Control Handle
•
12
Remove the blade and the adapter from the
crankshaft.
Blade
Adapter
Figure 15
The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a
grinding wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen the
blade while it is still on the mower.
Follow the original angle of grind as a guide. Make
sure that each cutting edge receives an equal
amount of grinding to prevent an unbalanced blade.
The blade can be tested by balancing it on a round
shaft screwdriver. Remove metal from the heavy
side until it balances evenly. It is recommended that
the blade always be removed from the adapter
when testing for balance.
WARNING:
An unbalanced blade will cause
excessive vibration when rotating at high
speeds. It may cause damage to the mower,
and could break causing personal injury.
Tip the mower so that it rests on the housing. Keep
the side with the air cleaner facing up. Hold the
mower firmly.
WARNING:
Never tip the mower more than
90 degrees in any directions and do not leave
the mower tipped for any length of time.
Scrape and clean the underside of the deck with a
suitable tool. Do not spray with water.
Put the mower back on its wheels on the ground.
Remove plastic from around gas cap, if any.
Lubricate the pivot points on the blade control
handle at least once a season with light oil. The
blade control must operate freely in both directions.
Blade Bell
Support
Hex Bolt