Replacing The Grass Deflector - Toro 74253 Operator's Manual

Contact with a sharp blade can cause serious
injury.
Wear gloves or wrap sharp edges of the blade
with a rag.
1. Hold the blade end using a rag or thickly-padded
glove.
2. Remove the blade bolt, spring disk and blade from
the spindle shaft (Figure 79).
Sharpening the Blades
When sharpening blade, pieces of blade could
be thrown and cause serious injury.
Wear proper eye protection when sharpening
blade.
1. Use a file to sharpen the cutting edge at both ends
of the blade (Figure 77). Maintain the original angle.
The blade retains its balance if the same amount of
material is removed from both cutting edges.
Figure 77
1. Sharpen at original angle
2. Check the balance of the blade by putting it on a
blade balancer (Figure 78). 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 79). Repeat this
procedure until the blade is balanced.
Figure 78
1. Blade 2. Balancer
Installing the Blades
1. Install the blade onto the spindle shaft (Figure 79).
Important: The curved part of the blade must
be pointing upward toward the inside of the
mower to ensure proper cutting.
2. Install the spring disk and blade bolt. The spring
disk cone must be installed toward the bolt head
(Figure 79). Torque the blade bolt to 85-110 ft-lb
(115-150 N•m).
1. Sail Area of Blade
2. Blade
3. Spring Disk

Replacing the Grass Deflector

An uncovered discharge opening could allow
the lawn mower to throw objects in the
operator's or bystander's direction and result
in serious injury. Also, contact with the blade
could occur.
• Never operate the lawn mower unless you
install a cover plate, a mulch plate, or a grass
chute and catcher.
• Make sure the grass deflector is in the down
position.
1. Remove the locknut, bolt, spring and spacer holding
the deflector to the pivot brackets (Figure 80).
Remove the damaged or worn grass deflector.
2. Place the spacer and spring onto grass deflector.
Place the L end of spring behind deck edge.
Note: Make sure the L end of the spring is installed
behind the deck edge before installing the bolt as
shown in Figure 80.
3. Install the bolt and nut. Place the J hook end of the
spring around the grass deflector (Figure 80).
54
Figure 79
4. Blade Bolt
5. Cone Towards Bolt Head