CLEAN DECK &CHECK ! REPLACE MOWER BLADESService Interval: 25 hours or as required,WARNINGFor your personal safety, do not handle the sharpmower blades with bare hands. Careless orimproper handling of blades may result in seriousinjury.WARNINGFor your personal safety, blade mountingcapscrews must each be installed with two springwashers or a hex washer and spring washer, thensecurely tightened. Torque blade mounting nut to80 - 90 ft. Ibs. (108 - 122 Nm).1. Remove mower deck (see "Mower Deck Removal" inthe OPERATION section),2, See Figure 20, Remove blade to inspect it or tosafely access the underside of the mower deck, Usea block of wood to prevent blade rotation whileloosening the capscrew by turning itcounterclockwise,3, Remove the capscrew (D, Figure 22), spring washer(C), hex washer (B), and blade.4. Clean the underside of the mower deck,5, Inspect the blades for nicks or dull edges. Use a fileto sharpen blade to a fine edge, If the blade isdamaged, it must be replaced,6, Balance the blade as shown in Figure 21. Center theblade's hole on a nail lubricated with a drop of oil. Abalanced blade will remain level, If the blade is notbalanced, continue to sharpen the heavy side until itbalances.7, Reinstall the blade with the lift wings (D, Figure 22)pointing up toward the mower deck as shown,8, Reinstall the spring washers (B, Figure 22) and nut(C). Use a wooden block (A) to prevent blade rotationwhile tightening the nut (C) to 80-90 ft, Ibs, (108-122Nm),Figure 20. Blade RemovalWorkbenchFigure 21. Balancing The BladeNailFigure 22. Blade InstallationA. 4x4Wood Block C. Blade NutB. Spring Washers D. LiftWings20