Operator's Manual

17
Balancing the Blade
1. Check the balance of the blade by placing the center
hole of the blade over a nail or screwdriver shank
clamped horizontally in a vise (Fig. 20).
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Figure 20
Note: You can also check the balance using a commercially
manufactured blade balancer.
2. If either end of the blade rotates downward, file that end
(not the cutting edge or the end near the cutting edge).
The blade is properly balanced when neither end drops.
Installing the Blade
1. Install a sharp, balanced Toro blade, the accelerator, and
the blade bolt (Fig. 18).
Note: The sail part of the blade must point upward
(toward the top of the housing).
2. Torque the blade bolt to 60 ft-lb (82 Nm).
Operating the lawn mower without the accelerator
in place can cause the blade to flex, bend, or break,
resulting in serious injury or death to the operator
or bystanders.
Do not operate the lawn mower without the
accelerator.
Warning
3. Return the lawn mower to its upright position.
4. Connect the wire to the spark plug.
Adjusting the Self-propel Drive
Cable
Whenever you change the handle height, install a new
self-propel cable, or the traction drive belt slips, adjust the
self-propel drive cable.
1. Stop the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop.
2. Remove the cover (Fig. 21).
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1
2
Figure 21
1. Belt cover 2. Bolts
3. Loosen the cable support nut (Fig. 22).
m-4205
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2
3
4
Figure 22
1. Cable jacket
2. Cable support
3. Nut
4. Upper handle
4. Push the drive bracket down until it contacts the lawn
mower, then hold it in place (Fig. 23).
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2
Figure 23
1. Drive bracket 2. Push here
5. With the upper handle pushed back as far as possible
and while holding the drive bracket down, pull the cable
jacket down (toward the lawn mower) until there is no
slack in the cable (Fig. 22).
6. Tighten the nut on the cable support (Fig. 22).
7. Release the drive bracket.
8. Install the belt cover.