Operator's Manual

16
Tipping the lawn mower may cause the fuel to leak
from the carburetor or the fuel tank. Gasoline is
extremely flammable, highly explosive and under
certain conditions can cause personal injury or
property damage.
Avoid fuel spills by running the engine dry or
removing gasoline with a hand pump; never
siphon.
Warning
3. Drain the gasoline from the fuel tank; refer to steps 3
and 4 of Emptying the Fuel Tank on page 18.
4. Tip the lawn mower on its left side (air filter up)
(Fig. 16).
757
Figure 16
Important Move the blade as little as possible to avoid
future staring problems.
Inspecting the Blade
Carefully examine the blade for sharpness and wear,
especially where the flat and the curved parts meet
(Fig. 17A). Because sand and abrasive material can wear
away the metal that connects the flat and curved parts of the
blade, check the blade before using the lawn mower. If you
notice a slot or wear (Figs. 17B and 17C), replace the
blade; refer to Removing the Blade on page 16.
270
1
1
1
2
3
4
A
B
C
Figure 17
1. Sail
2. Flat part of blade
3. Wear
4. Slot formed
Note: For the best performance, install a new blade before
the cutting season begins. During the year, file down any
small nicks to maintain the cutting edge.
Danger
A worn or damaged blade can break, and a piece
of the blade could be thrown into the operator’s or
bystander’s area, resulting in serious personal
injury or death.
• Inspect the blade periodically for wear or
damage.
• Replace a worn or damaged blade.
Removing the Blade
1. Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or a thickly
padded glove.
2. Remove the blade bolt, the accelerator, and the blade
(Fig. 18).
1
2
3
4
m-6342
Figure 18
1. Blade bolt
2. Accelerator
3. Blade
4. Blade driver
Sharpening the Blade
File the top side of the blade to maintain its original cutting
angle (Fig. 19A) and inner cutting edge radius (Fig. 19B).
The blade will remain balanced if you remove the same
amount of material from both cutting edges.
153
1
m4783
2
AB
Figure 19
1. Sharpen at this angle only 2. Maintain the original
radius here