Gravely Pro-Ride 254 Owner's/Operator's Manual page 37

CAUTION: Do not run the engine
before all cooling system parts
are reinstalled to keep the cooling
and carburetion as intended.
TIRE AND WHEEL SERVICE
CAUTION: Separation of a tire
and rim can cause an explosion
that could cause serious injury or
death.
Check the tires for low pressure,
cuts, bubbles, damaged rims, or
missing lug bolts and nuts.
Always use a clip-on chuck with
an extension long enough to allow
you to stand on one side of the
wheel while inflating the tires. Do
not stand directly in front of the
tire while inflating.
Never weld or heat a tire and
wheel assembly. The heat can
cause the air inside of the tire to
expand and result in a tire
explosion. Welding also can
structurally weaken or deform the
wheel.
Visually inspect the tires before each use. Do
not run the tires under- or over-inflated which
can cause tire damage. The correct tire
pressure for the front tires is 20 p.s.i.
(82.7 kpa) and rear wheels is 12 p.s.i. (137.9
kpa) (see figure 28).
When reinstalling the wheel after service, be
sure to torque the nuts to 75 ft. lbs. (101
N•m). Drive 200 – 250 yards and then re-
torque.
Under
Inflated
Over
Inflated
Normal
Figure 28
BLADE MAINTENANCE
CAUTION: Before removing the
blades, be sure the engine has
stopped and the key has been
removed. The blades may be
sharp. Wear gloves or wrap them
in a towel before handling them.
Inspect the blades daily for straightness,
sharpness, and balance. Replace the blades
if they are cracked, worn, bent or out of
balance.
NOTE: Keep blades sharp. Mowing with dull
blades will cause poor cut performance. It will
also put additional strain on the engine by
slowing the mower cutting speed.
CAUTION: Never try to straighten
a blade which has been bent or
try to weld a blade that is cracked.
Always replace with a new blade
to ensure safety.
To sharpen the blades, remove the blades by
inserting a block of wood and turning the
blade bolt counter clockwise (see figure 29).
CAUTION: Always wear safety
eye protection when sharpening
the blades.
Be sure to wear a thick glove or wrap the
blade in a towel to protect your hands from
being cut. Insert the blades in a vise and use
a mill file or grinder. File the blade along the
original angle until the blade tip is at a 30°
angle again.
GB - 37
Stop Block
Figure 29
OE3356