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Service Mower


Removing Mower

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous. Before adjusting or servicing mower:

· Disconnect spark plug wire(s) or battery negative (-) cable to prevent engine from starting accidently.

· Always wear gloves when handling mower blades or working near blades.

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in Safety section.)

2. Press lift pedal and pull lift lock handle up to raise mower to transport position.

3. Turn mower height control knob to "0" position.


MX8381

4. 54 Inch Mower Only - Rotate all mower wheels to allow mower deck to be rolled outward away from machine:

a. Pull out on pin (A).

b. Rotate mower wheel (B) 90° and align hole in wheel shaft with pin.

c. Release pin to lock mower wheel in rotated position.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Lift pedal is spring-assisted and may have unexpected movement.

Lock lift pedal in rearward position before removing or installing mower.

5. Press lift pedal and push down lift lock handle to lower mower to the lower/down position.

6. Decrease spring tension on lift assist spring. (See Adjusting Lift Assist Spring in Service Mower section.)

7. Pull lift pedal back by hand and pull up on lift lock handle to lock mower in the lowered position.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Drive belt tension rod is spring-assisted and under tension. Keep a secure grasp on rod at all times while releasing or applying drive belt tension.


MX0068A

8. Remove drive belt tension:

a. Grasp and hold tension rod (C) securely.

b. Disengage rod from retaining bracket (D).

c. Move rod as far as possible toward rear wheel to remove all belt tension.

9. Hold tension rod in released position. Remove mower drive belt (E) from engine drive sheave.

10. Move tension rod to latched position.


M95976

11. Pull out and push down on lever (F) to release front lift rod assembly.

12. Remove front lift rod assembly (G) from machine and mower deck.

NOTE: It may be necessary to manually lift up on rear of mower deck to pull out J-pins.


MX0069A

13. Pull outward on J-pin (H) at both sides of mower to disconnect lift arm (I).


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Picture Note: Closeup of lift arm on spring holder

14. Install lift arm (I) on spring holder (J) on both sides of machine.

15. Slide mower deck out from under machine. Remove 54 Inch mower from right side only.

Installing Mower

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Rotating blades are dangerous. Before adjusting or servicing mower:

· Disconnect spark plug wire(s) or battery negative (-) cable to prevent engine from starting accidently.

· Always wear gloves when handling mower blades or working near blades.

IMPORTANT: Avoid damage! If equipped, remove tire chains before installing mower to machine to prevent mower damage.


1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in Safety section.)

2. Decrease spring tension on lift assist spring. (See Adjusting Lift Assist Spring in Service Mower section.)

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Lift pedal is spring-assisted and may have unexpected movement.

Hold lift pedal firmly before releasing lift latch.

3. Pull lift pedal back by hand, push down lift lock handle, and slowly allow pedal to move forward.

4. Turn mower height control knob to "0" position.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Lift pedal is spring-assisted and may have unexpected movement.

Lock lift pedal in rearward position before removing or installing mower.

5. Pull lift pedal back by hand and pull up lift lock handle to lock mower in lowered position.

6. Slide mower under machine.

7. Remove lift arms from spring holders.


MX0069A

8. Place lift arms (A) between mower lift brackets (B).

9. Release J-pin (C) to connect mower deck to lift arms. Repeat on other side.


MX0068A

10. Hook front lift rod assembly (D) into mower bracket.


M95976

11. Place front lift rod (E) into frame hooks so lever (F) is at left side of machine. Make sure rod is seated in frame hooks.

12. Push up lever (F) until tab (G) locks into hole in frame.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Drive belt tension rod is spring-assisted and under tension. Keep a secure grasp on rod at all times while releasing or applying drive belt tension.


MX0068A

13. Remove drive belt tension rod (H) from bracket (I) and pivot rod as far as possible toward rear wheel to remove all belt tension.

14. Hold tension rod in released position. Install mower drive belt (J) onto engine drive sheave.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Drive belt tension rod is spring-assisted and under tension. Keep a secure grasp on rod at all times while releasing or applying drive belt tension.

15. Pivot drive belt tension rod toward front of machine to tighten drive belt. Hook tension rod into bracket on mower.

16. 54 Mower Only - Rotate mower wheels to operating position.

17. Adjust mower level front-to-rear and side-to-side.

18. Adjust mower wheels for desired cutting height.

19. Pull back on lift pedal and push down lift lock handle to unlock.

20. Adjust lift assist spring if necessary.

Replacing Mower Drive (Primary) Belt

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section).

2. Lower the mower completely.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Drive belt tension rod is spring-assisted and under tension. Keep a secure grasp on rod at all times while releasing or applying drive belt tension.


MX30473

3. Remove drive belt tension:

a. Grasp and hold tension rod (A) securely.

b. Disengage rod from retaining bracket (B).

c. Move rod as far as possible toward rear wheel to remove all belt tension.


MX30475

4. Hold tension rod in position (C) while removing drive belt.


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5. Remove mower drive belt (D) from machine drive sheave (E) and mower drive sheave (F).

6. Clean belt with a clean cloth.

7. Inspect belt for wear or damage. Replace as necessary.

8. Install belt on mower sheave and engine sheave.

9. Pivot the drive belt tension rod toward front of machine to tighten drive belt. Hook tension rod into bracket on mower.

Replacing Mower Deck (Secondary) Belt

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section).

2. Remove mower deck.


MX8378

3. Remove locknuts securing belt shields (A). Remove belt shields.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Springs are installed under tension. Use caution when attaching or disconnecting springs. Wear eye protection.

4. Disconnect idler spring (B) from hook (C).


MX8379

5. Remove mower belt (D).

6. Clean upper mower deck and sheaves.

7. Inspect belt for wear and damage. Replace if necessary.

8. Install belt on mower.

9. Connect idler spring.

10. Install belt shields.

11. Install mower to machine.

Adjusting Lift Assist Spring

NOTE: Weight of mower or attachment affects ease of lifting. Adjust lift assist spring for your particular mower deck model.


MX31196

1. Make sure yellow indicator (A) is aligned with proper mark for mower deck model installed. If not, adjust lift assist spring so indicator is aligned with correct mower deck mark.

2. Press lift pedal forward and lock in transport position.

3. Turn adjusting bolt (B) at front of machine frame to adjust lift assist spring:

· Clockwise - Increases spring tension and moves indicator toward front of machine for heavier mowers.

· Counterclockwise - Decreases spring tension and moves indicator toward rear of machine for lighter mowers.

Checking for Bent Mower Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Mower blades are sharp. Always wear gloves when handling mower blades or working near blades.

Replace blades if defective. Never straighten or weld them.

1. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.)

2. Raise mower to highest position to access blades.


MX11181

Picture Note: Mower deck with side discharge used for illustration

3. Measure distance (A) between blade tip and flat ground surface.

4. Rotate blade 180° and measure distance between other blade tip and flat ground surface.

5. Install new blade if the difference between the two measurements is more than 3 mm (1/8 in.).

6. Repeat for all blades.

Servicing Mower Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Blades are sharp and rotate quickly:

· Keeps hands and feet away from cutting reels while machine is running.

· Always wear gloves while working on cutting reels.

· Watch for rotation of cutting reels. Rotating one cutting reel can cause another blade or cutting reel to rotate.

Removing Mower Blades

1. Raise or remove mower deck.

2. Park machine safely. (See Parking Safely in the SAFETY section.)

3. Block mower blade with a piece of wood to prevent it from spinning.


MX7589a

4. Loosen and remove bolt (A), washer (B), and blade (C).

5. Inspect blade condition. Sharpen, balance, or replace blades as necessary.

Installing Mower Blades

1. Make sure deflector cup (D) is seated properly between mower spindle and blade.

2. Position mower blade (C) with cutting edge towards the ground onto the mower spindle.

3. Install blade washer (B) with cup side toward the blade.

4. Install and tighten bolt (A) by hand until mower blade is in full contact (fully seated) with spindle.

5. Block mower blade with a piece of wood to prevent spinning.

6. Tighten blade bolt to 68 N·m (50 lb-ft).

7. Repeat for all blades.

Sharpening Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Mower blades are dangerous!

· Always wear gloves while working on blades.

· Always wear safety eye protection when grinding.

· Sharpen blades with grinder, hand file, or electric blade sharpener.


MIF

· Keep original bevel (A) when grinding.

· Blade should have 0.40 mm (1/64 in.) cutting edge (B) or less.

· Balance blades before installing.

Balancing Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Mower blades are sharp. Always wear gloves when handling mower blades or working near blades.

1. Clean blade.


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2. Put blade on nail in a vise. Turn blade to horizontal position.

3. Check balance. If blade is not balanced, heavy end of blade will drop.

4. Grind bevel of heavy end. Do not change blade bevel.