Maintenance Procedures; Clearing A Clogged Deck; Inspecting And Sharpening The Blade - Billy Goat BC26 Operator's Manual

Maintenance Procedures

Clearing a Clogged Deck

DANGER
The blade is sharp! To avoid injury, always wear heavy-
duty gloves when performing maintenance on the cutting
deck.
1. Park the unit on a flat, level surface. Turn off the engine
and disconnect the spark plug wire.
2. Lift the unit so that the underside can be safely accessed.
CAUTION
The unit is heavy! Be sure the unit is properly supported
before performing maintenance.
3. Locate and clear the clog from the cutting deck. Be
mindful of the blade!

Inspecting and Sharpening the Blade

1. Follow instructions listed in the Replacing the Blade
section to remove the blade.
CAUTION
Laceration hazard. The blade is sharp! Always wear
heavy-duty gloves when handling or working near the
blade.
2. Inspect the blade. Remove any dried grass, branches, or
other debris. Discard the blade if any bends, cracks, or
other damage is observed.
3. If the blade cutting edge is not sharp or has nicks,
sharpen the cutting edge.
CAUTION
Thrown object and fire hazard. Grinding the blade throws
sparks and fine metal particles that are capable of igniting
gasoline and other flammable vapors, and can injure
unprotected eyes. Be sure all flammable materials are
cleared from the area where grinding will occur. Always
wear safety glasses or goggles when grinding the blade.
4. Use a grinder, hand file, or electric blade sharpener to
sharpen the cutting edge. To ensure balance, remove an
equal amount of material from the cutting edge of each
end of the blade. Be sure to maintain a cutting edge angle
(A, Figure 18) of 30 degrees.
10
18
5. Be sure the blade is balanced before installing. Clamp
a nail in a bench vise. Hang the blade on the nail, and
position the blade horizontally as shown in Figure 19.
CAUTION
An unbalanced blade can create excessive vibration and
damage to the unit. Be sure the blade is balanced before
installing!
19
6. Check the balance of the blade. If either end of the blade
moves downward, the end that moves downward is
heavier than the other end. Sharpen the heavy end until
balance is achieved.
7. Repeat the process until the mower blade remains in the
horizontal, level position. Reinstall the blade.
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