Service Mower

Removing and Installing Mower Deck Shield

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Help prevent serious personal injury. Do not operate the mower without the mower deck shield installed.

Removing Mower Deck Shield:

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

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2. Remove two knobs (A).

3. Lift shield (B) and pull forward to disengage tabs (C) from slots in the frame.

4. Remove mower deck shield (B).

Installing Mower Deck Shield:

1. Insert tabs (C) on shield (B) into slots in front frame and lower shield into position.

2. Screw knobs (A) on threaded posts and tighten.

Removing and Installing Mower Deck Drive Belt Shields

Removing Belt Shields:

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

2. Lower mower deck to the lowest cutting height position.

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3. Remove belt shields locking rings (A).

4. Remove belt shields (B) by lifting corner of belt shield from drilled stud (C). Rotate shield counterclockwise to clear head pins (D).

Installing Belt Shields:

1. Install belt shields (B) by rotating shield clockwise to engage head pins (D) and drilled stud (C).

2. Install belt shield locking rings (A).

Adjusting Drive Belt Tension

1. Park machine safely.

2. Adjust mower deck to the 76 mm (3 in.) cutting height position.

3. Remove mower deck shield.

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4. Measure length of tension spring (A) from inside of hook to inside of hook. The spring length should be 216-226 mm (8.50-8.90 in.).

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5. Adjust spring tension as needed by loosening or tightening spring anchor nut (B).

· To add tension to spring: Turn nut clockwise.

· To release tension from spring: Turn nut counterclockwise.

Replacing Mower Deck Drive Belt

Removing Mower Deck Drive Belt:

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

2. Lower mower deck to the lowest cutting height position.

3. Remove mower deck shield.

4. Remove both mower deck belt shields.

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Tensioning spring is under high tension. Wear gloves and use a firm grip when stretching spring.

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5. Disconnect idler spring (A) from idler arm (B).

6. Remove belt guide (C) from idler arm.

7. Loosen and move left mower pulley belt guides as necessary to remove belt.

8. Remove mower deck drive belt (D).

Installing Mower Deck Drive Belt:

NOTE: If necessary, see drive belt installation label on mower deck.

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1. Install replacement drive belt (A) as shown. Make sure drive belt is installed properly on PTO clutch sheave, spindle sheaves and idler pulleys.

2. Connect idler tension spring and adjust tension. The tension spring length from inside hook to inside hook should be 216-226 mm (8.50-8.90 in.).

3. Install belt guide on tension arm. Adjust belt guides at left spindle. Position guides within 6 mm (0.25 in.) of belt and tighten nuts.

4. Install both mower deck belt shields.

5. Install mower deck shield.

6. Adjust mower deck to desired cutting height.

Checking for Bent Mower Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Mower blades are dangerous. · Always wear gloves when handling mower blades or working near blades. · Replace blades if defective. Do not straighten or weld them.

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

2. Lower mower deck to mowing position.

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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. Turn blade. 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).

Replacing Mower Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Help prevent serious personal injury. Do not work near a raised mower deck unless it is safely supported. Never start the engine or engage the PTO switch when performing this service procedure. Blades are sharp and could cause personal injury. Wear appropriate clothing including gloves when working near the underside of a raised mower deck. Before performing any service function, wait for all moving parts to stop turning.

1. Use a wooden block to prevent mower blades from spinning.

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2. Remove cap screw (A), hardened washer (B) large concave blade washer (C), blade (D) and deflector cup (E).

3. Install replacement blade:

· Blade wing must face toward top of mower deck.

· Install deflector cup (E), blade (D), large concave blade washer (C), hardened washer (B), and cap screw (A).

· Tighten blade cap screw to 122 N·m (90 lb-ft).

4. Lower machine.

5. Adjust mower deck to a desirable cutting height.

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.

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· 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.