Service Mower

Removing and Installing Mower Deck Foot Plate

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Always operate the mower with the foot plate installed. Operating with the foot plate removed can cause serious injury.

Removing Foot Plate

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

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2. Remove bolts (A) and nuts.

3. Rotate foot plate up using finger pull (B).

4. Remove foot plate.

Installing Foot Plate

1. Place tabs (C) of foot plate into slots in frame.

2. Lower foot plate.

3. Install bolts (A) and nuts.

Removing Mower (42 Inch Mower)

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

2. Allow engine and muffler to cool completely.

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.

3. Raise mower deck to the transport lock position.

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4. Remove pin (A), lower mower deck, and install pin just above lever (B) to lock mower in lowered position.

5. Remove foot plate.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Component is spring-assisted and under tension. Injury can occur if spring-assisted component is released suddenly.

6. Disconnect mower drive belt:

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· Install 3/8-inch ratchet onto square hole (C) in tension arm and rotate counterclockwise to release tension on belt, while removing mower belt from left spindle sheave (D).

· Remove belt from engine sheave.

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7. Remove locking clip (E) and, remove stud end (F) from front draft bracket (G).

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8. Remove spring clip (H) and pin from each side of rear mower bracket.

9. Raise draft arms to transport lock position:

a. Pull and raise mower lift lever fully upward.

b. Install pin just below lift lever to lock into raised position.

10. Rotate front caster wheels to maximize clearance.

11. Slide mower out from under the machine.

Removing Mower (48 and 54 Inch Mowers)

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

2. Allow engine and muffler to cool completely.

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.

3. Raise mower deck to the transport lock position.

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4. Remove pin (A), lower mower deck, and install pin just above lever (B) to lock mower in lowered position.

5. Remove foot plate.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Component is spring-assisted and under tension. Injury can occur if spring-assisted component is released suddenly.

6. Disconnect mower drive belt:

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Picture Note: 48 inch mower deck shown.

· Install 3/8-inch ratchet onto square hole (C) in tension arm and rotate clockwise to release tension on belt, while removing mower belt from center spindle sheave (D).

· Remove belt from engine sheave.

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7. Remove locking clips (E), and remove front draft rod (F) from draft bracket (G) and mower deck bracket (H).

· Do not operate the machine without the mower deck: Machine may become unstable without the mower deck attached. Move machine only by hand. (See Moving Machine by Hand in OPERATING section.)

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8. Remove spring clip (I) and pin from each side of rear mower bracket.

9. Raise draft arms to transport position:

a. Pull and raise mower lift lever fully upward.

b. Install pin just below lift lever to lock into raised position.

10. Rotate front caster wheels to maximize clearance.

11. Slide mower out from under the machine.

Installing Mower (42 Inch Mower)

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

2. Allow engine and muffler to cool completely.

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.

3. Raise mower lift lever fully upward into transport lock position.

4. Slide mower deck under machine.

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5. Lower mower lift lever, and install pin and spring clip (A) onto each side of rear mower bracket.

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6. Install stud (B) onto front draft bracket (C). Secure with locking clip (D).

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Component is spring-assisted and under tension. Injury can occur if spring-assisted component is released suddenly.

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7. Connect mower drive belt:

· Install belt onto engine sheave.

· Install 3/8-inch ratchet onto square hole (E) in tension arm and rotate counterclockwise to release tension on belt, while installing mower belt onto left spindle sheave (F). Make sure belt is properly seated on all sheaves.

8. Install foot plate.

Installing Mower (48 and 54 Inch Mowers)

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

2. Allow engine and muffler to cool completely.

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.

3. Raise mower lift lever fully upward into transport lock position.

4. Slide mower deck under machine.

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5. Lower mower lift lever, and install pin and spring clip (A) onto each side of rear mower bracket.

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6. Install front draft rod (B) onto mower deck bracket (C) and onto draft bracket (D). Secure stud ends (E) with locking clip (F).

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Component is spring-assisted and under tension. Injury can occur if spring-assisted component is released suddenly.

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Picture Note: 48 inch mower deck shown.

7. Connect mower drive belt:

· Install belt onto engine sheave.

· Install 3/8-inch ratchet onto square hole (G) in tension arm and rotate clockwise to release tension on belt, while installing mower belt onto center spindle sheave (H). Make sure belt is properly seated on all sheaves.

8. Install foot plate.

Replacing Mower Drive Belt (42 Inch Mower)

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

2. Allow engine and muffler to cool completely.

3. Remove mower deck.

4. Remove drive belt:

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Components are installed under spring tension. Wear eye protection and use proper tools when installing and removing components with spring tension.

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· Remove two bolts (A) and left belt cover (B).

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· Loosen bolt (C) on belt guide.

· Loosen hardware on two sheaves (D), and remove belt from all sheaves.

5. Inspect belt for wear or damage; replace as necessary.

6. Clean top surface of mower deck and sheaves.

7. Install belt on mower deck as shown.

8. Install and tighten bolt (C) on belt guide.

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Picture Note: Shown without sheave for clarity only.

9. Make sure belt guide (E) is indexed properly into hole (F) on tension arm (G).

10. Tighten sheave hardware to 47 N·m (35 lb-ft).

11. Make sure belt is properly seated on all sheaves, and install belt shield.

12. Install mower deck.

Replacing Mower Drive Belt (48 and 54 Inch Mowers)

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

2. Allow engine and muffler to cool completely.

3. Remove mower deck.

4. Remove drive belt:

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Components are installed under spring tension. Wear eye protection and use proper tools when installing and removing components with spring tension.

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Picture Note: 48 inch mower deck shown.

· Remove six bolts (A) and left and right belt covers (B).

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· Loosen bolt (C) on belt guide.

· Loosen nut (D) and bolt (E) on sheaves, and remove belt from all sheaves.

5. Inspect belt for wear or damage; replace as necessary.

6. Clean top surface of mower deck and sheaves.

7. Install belt on mower deck as shown.

8. Install and tighten bolt (C) on belt guide.

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Picture Note: Shown without sheave for clarity only.

9. Make sure belt guide (F) is indexed properly into hole (G) on tension arm (H).

10. Tighten sheave nut (D) and bolt (E) to 47 N·m (35 lb-ft).

11. Make sure belt is properly seated on all sheaves, and install belt shields.

12. Install mower deck.

Checking for Bent Mower Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Blades are sharp. Always wear gloves when handling 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 deck to highest position to access blades.

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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! 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.

Removing Mower Blades

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

2. Raise mower deck to gain access to mower blades. If necessary, remove mower deck.

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

4. Remove mower blade(s):

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· 42 inch mower deck: Loosen and remove nut (A), washer (B), and blade (C).

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· 48 and 54 inch decks: Loosen and remove bolt (D), washer (E), and blade (F).

5. Inspect blades; sharpen, balance or replace blades as necessary.

Installing Mower Blades

42 Inch Mower deck:

1. Align the splined center hole in the blade with the splined spindle shaft (G) and put the blade onto the mower spindle shaft with cutting edge toward ground.

2. Install washer (B), with cupped side towards blade, and install nut (A) to secure blade onto splined spindle shaft.

3. Block mower blade with a piece of wood to prevent spinning and tighten nut to 68 N·m (50 lb-ft).

48 Inch Mower deck:

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

2. Position mower blade (F) with cutting edge toward ground onto mower spindle.

3. Install washer (E), with cupped side towards blade, and install bolt (D) to secure blade onto spindle shaft.

4. Block mower blade with a piece of wood to prevent spinning and tighten bolt to 68 N·m (50 lb-ft).