Servicing The Blades - Toro 78449 Operator's Manual

Servicing the Blades

To ensure a superior quality of cut, keep the blades sharp.
For convenient sharpening and replacement, you may want
to have extra blades.
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.
1. Remove the mower; refer to Removing the Mower,
page 11.
2. Carefully turn the mower over to expose the blades
Inspecting the Blades
1. Inspect the cutting edges (Fig. 27).
2. If the edges are not sharp or have nicks, remove the
blades and sharpen them.
3. Inspect the blades, especially the curved area (Fig. 27).
4. 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 Blades
Important There are two different sizes of blades. The
shorter blade goes into the center spindle. The two longer
blades go on the outside spindles (Fig. 31).
1. Hold the blade end using a rag or thickly padded glove.
2. Remove the nut, two washers, and blade (Fig. 28).
1
2
3
151
3. Wear/slot forming
15
Note: A block of wood may be wedged between the
blade and the mower to lock the blade when you are
removing the nut.
3. Inspect all parts. If damage is noticed, install new parts.
5
2
1
Figure 28
1. Nut
2. Flat washer—thin
3. Blade
Sharpening a 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.
1
Figure 30
1. Blade
3. If the blade is not balanced, file some metal off the back
side of the blade.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the blade is balanced.
4
3
m–3585
4. Washer—thick
5. Spindle
2
2. Balancer