MTD 11A-021G000 Operator's Manual page 13

Blade Care ,f"
_ ARNING:When removingthe cutting
blade for sharpeningor replacement,
protectyour handswith a pairof heavyglovesor
use a heavyrag to holdthe blade.
Periodicallyinspect t he blade adapterfor cracks,
especiallyif you strikea foreignobject.Replacewhen
necessary.
1. Disconnectsparkplug wirefrom spark plug.Turn
moweron its side makingsurethat theair filter and
the carburetorare up.
2. Removethe boltand the blade bell supportwhich
hold the bladeand the blade adapterto the engine
crankshaft.See Figure5-2.
3. Removebladeand adapterfrom the crankshaft.See
Figure5-2.
4. The bladecan be sharpenedwith a file or on a
grindingwheel. Donotattemptto sharpenthe blade
whileit is still on the mower.Whensharpeningthe
blade,followthe originalangleof grind.Grindeach
cuttingedge equallyto keepthe blade balanced.
5. Removebladefrom the adapterand balanceon a
round shaftscrewdriver for testingbalance.Remove
metal fromthe heavy sideuntil it balancesevenly.
_ WARNING:An unbalancedblade will
cause
excessivevibrationwhen rotating at high
speeds,it may causedamageto mowerand could
break causingpersonalinjury.
6. Lubricatethe enginecrankshaftand the inner
surfaceof the bladeadapterwith lightoil. Slidethe
blade adapterontothe enginecrankshaft.
7. Placethe bladeon theadaptersuch that the side
of the blade marked"Bottom"(or with part number)
facesgroundwhenthe mowerisin theoperating
position.Makesurethat the bladeisalignedand
seatedon bladeadapterflanges.
8. Placeblade bell supporton the blade.Align notches
on the bladebell supportwith smallholesin blade.
9. Replacehexbolt and tightenhex boltto torque:450
in.Ibs.rain.,600 in.Ibs.max.
Toensuresafeoperationof your mower,periodically
checkthe blade boltfor correcttorque.
Figure 5-2:Theblade andcorresponding hardware.
J
Off-Season Storage
Thefollowingstepsshouldbe taken to prepareyourlawn
mowerfor storage.
* Cleanand lubricatemowerthoroughlyas describedin
thelubricationinstructions.
* Donot use a pressurewasheror garden hoseto
cleanyourunit.
* Referto enginemanualfor correctenginestorage
instructions.
* Coatmower'scuttingbladewith chassisgreaseto
preventrusting.
* Storemowerin a dry, cleanarea.Do not storenext to
corrosivematerials, s uch as fertilizer.
Whenstoringany type of powerequipmentina poorly
ventilatedor metalstorageshed,care shouldbe takento
rust-proofthe equipment.Usinga lightoil or silicone,coat
theequipment,especiallycables and all movingparts of
yourlawnmowerbeforestorage.
13
Your LaWn
WARNING
When removingthe
cutting blade for
sharpening or replace-
ment, protect your
hands with a pair of
heavy gloves or use a
heavy rag to hold the
blade.
An unbalanced blade
wiii cause excessive
vibration when rotat=
ing at high speeds, it
may cause damage
to mower and could
break causing per-
sonal injury.