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. Pull foot plate (B) up using handle (A).

3. Lift foot plate in the direction shown to disengage hinge tabs (C) from holes in the front frame.

4. Remove foot plate.

Installing Foot Plate

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1. Insert hinge tabs on foot plate into holes (D) in the front frame.

2. Lower foot plate.

Removing and Installing Mower Deck Drive Belt Shields

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

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 shield 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 by rotating shield clockwise to engage head pins (D) and drilled stud (C).

2. Install belt shield locking rings (A).

Replacing Mower Deck Drive Belt

Removing Deck Drive Belt

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 shield locking rings (D).

4. Remove deck belt shields (B).

· Lift corner of belt shield from drilled stud (A). Rotate shield counterclockwise to clear head pins (C).

5. Remove mower deck foot plate.

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6. Remove deck drive belt (E).

· Remove deck drive belt from upper jackshaft assembly sheave (F), spindle sheaves and idler sheaves.

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· Loosen cap screw (H) enough to allow the idler arm weldment (I) to be raised and the belt slid under idler sheave (G).

· Remove deck drive belt from mower deck.

Installing Deck Drive Belt

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1. Raise the idler arm weldment (F) and slide the replacement belt under idler sheave (G).

2. Tighten cap screw (E).

3. Check to make sure the belt tension spring (H) is installed properly between the idler arm weldment (F) and stud (I).

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

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Picture Note: Belt Routing - 60-in. Deck

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Picture Note: Belt Routing - 72-in. Deck

4. Install replacement drive belt as shown. Make sure drive belt is installed properly on the upper jackshaft assembly sheave, the mower deck idler sheaves and spindle sheaves.

5. Install both mower deck belt shields.

· Install belt shield locking rings.

6. Install mower deck foot plate.

7. Adjust mower deck to a desirable cutting height.

Checking and Adjusting Mule Drive Belt Tension

Checking Belt Tension

NOTE: Check and adjust mule belt tension after the first 15 hours of run time.

1. Adjust the mower deck height to the 127 mm (5 in.) position.

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2. Check that the axis of the tensioner sheave bolt (A) is aligned between the upper (B) and lower (C) holes in the left mule plate. If it is at or below the lower hole, the belt requires adjusting.

Adjusting Mule Belt Tension

NOTE: Check and adjust mule belt tension after the first 15 hours of run time.

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1. Use an 18 mm socket and ratchet wrench to raise the idler sheave (A) and release belt spring tension. Remove the mule drive belt from the fixed idler (B).

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2. Loosen bolt (C) on the fixed idler.

3. Adjust the fixed idler down. Tighten bolt (C).

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4. Install mule drive belt and verify that the axis of the tensioner idler bolt (D) is aligned with the upper hole (E).

· Use an 18 mm socket and ratchet wrench to raise the idler sheave (A) and release belt spring tension.

5. Adjust idler again, if necessary.

NOTE: If proper belt tension cannot be achieved by adjusting the idler, the mule drive belt will need to be replaced.

Replacing Mule Drive Belt

Removing Mule Drive Belt

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

2. Lower mower deck to the 38 mm (1.5 in.) position to ease access to the deck.

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3. Remove belt shield locking rings (A).

4. Remove belt shields (B)

· Lift corner of belt shield from drilled stud (C). Rotate shield counterclockwise to clear head pins (D).

5. Remove mower deck foot plate.

6. Release mower deck belt spring tension.

· Roll drive belt off from one spindle sheave.

NOTE: It is not necessary to remove the drive belt from the remaining mower deck sheaves.

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7. Loosen two belt guide rod (E) cap screws and swing guide rods out of the way.

8. Remove mower deck belt (F) from upper jackshaft assembly sheave (G).

NOTE: Installation and removal of the mule drive belt is easier if the mower deck is placed in the highest height-of-cut position.

9. Raise the mower deck to the 127 mm (5 in.) cutting height position.

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10. Remove mule drive belt from adjustment idler sheave (I).

· Use an 18 mm socket and ratchet wrench to raise the idler sheave (J) and release belt spring tension.

· Roll mule drive belt to the left and off the adjustment idler sheave (I).

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11. Remove mule drive belt (K) from the PTO clutch sheave (L).

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12. Remove mule drive belt from tensioner idler sheave (M) and jackshaft assembly sheave (N).

13. Remove mule drive belt from machine.

Installing Belt

1. Install replacement mule drive belt.

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· Install drive belt onto the PTO clutch sheave (A).

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· Install mule drive belt onto the jackshaft assembly sheave (B), and idler sheave (C).

· Rotate mule belt guide rods into position and tighten cap screws.

2. Loosen adjustment idler retaining bolt and nut (D). Slide to top of adjustment slot and snug bolt and nut to temporarily hold idler in place.

3. Install mule drive belt onto adjustment idler sheave (E).

· Use an 18 mm wrench to raise the idler sheave (C) and release belt spring tension.

· Roll drive belt onto adjustment idler sheave (E).

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Picture Note: Adjustment idler and retaining hardware removed for clarity.

4. Move adjustment idler down and forward into the notch (F) of the "Z"-shaped adjustment slot and tighten through bolt and nut securely.

5. Check and adjust belt tension. (See Adjusting Mule Belt Tension in this section.) Check again after 15 hours running time if a new belt is being installed.

6. Lower the mower deck height to the 38 mm (1.5 in.) cutting height position.

7. Install mower deck drive belt.

8. Install mower deck foot plate.

9. Install both mower deck belt shields.

· Install belt shield locking rings.

10. Adjust mower deck to a desirable cutting height.

Checking and Replacing Mower Blades

c CAUTION: Avoid injury! Do not work near raised mower deck unless it is safely supported. Mower blades are sharp. Wrap blades or wear gloves when servicing. Before performing any service function, wait for all moving parts to stop turning. Disconnect battery or remove spark plug wire before making repairs.

NOTE: Only replace blades. Never straighten or weld them.

Checking Mower Blades

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

2. Raise the mower deck to the transport position. (Also the 12.7 cm (5 in.) cutting height position.)

3. Raise front of machine with a safe lifting device.

· Support with jack stands and/or wooden blocks.

4. Check mower blades:

· Mower blades should be sharp and free of any damage.

· Inspect blades; sharpen/balance or replace as necessary.

Replacing Mower Blades

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

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

3. Install replacement blade:

· Blade wing must face toward top of mower deck.

· Install deflector cup, hardened washer, blade, large concave blade washer, and cap screw.

· Tighten blade bolts 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.