Operator's Manual

InspectingandSharpeningthe
Blade(s)
ServiceInterval:Beforeeachuseordaily
Every50hours
DANGER
Awornordamagedbladecanbreak,andapiece
ofthebladecouldbethrownintotheoperator's
orbystander'sarea,resultinginseriouspersonal
injuryordeath.
•Inspectthebladeperiodicallyforwearor
damage.
•Donottrytostraightenabladethatisbent.
•Neverweldabrokenorcrackedblade.
•Replaceawornordamagedbladewitha
newTorobladetoensurecontinuedsafety
certicationoftheproduct.
Twoareasmustbeconsideredwhencheckingandservicing
thecuttingblade:thesailandthecuttingedge.Bothcutting
edgesandthesail,whichistheturnedupportionopposite
thecuttingedge,contributetoagoodquality-of-cut.The
sailisimportantbecauseitpullsgrassupstraight,thereby
producinganevencut.However,thesailwillgraduallywear
downduringoperation,andthisconditionisnormal.Asthe
sailwearsdown,thequality-of-cutwilldegradesomewhat,
althoughthecuttingedgesaresharp.Thecuttingedgeof
theblademustbesharpsothatthegrassiscutratherthan
torn.Adullcuttingedgeisevidentwhenthetipsofthegrass
appearbrownandshredded.Sharpenthecuttingedgesto
correctthiscondition.
1.Positionthemachineonalevelsurface.Raisethe
cuttingunit,engagetheparkingbrake,putthetraction
pedalinneutral,putthePTOleverintheOffposition,
stoptheengine,andremovetheignitionkey.
2.Examinethecuttingendsofthebladecarefully,
especiallywheretheatandcurvedpartsoftheblade
meet(Figure31).Sincesandandabrasivematerialcan
wearawaythemetalthatconnectstheatandcurved
partsoftheblade,checkthebladebeforeusingthe
machine.Ifwearisnoticed(Figure31),replacethe
blade;refertoRemovingtheCuttingBlade.
Figure31
1.Cuttingedge3.Wear/slotforming
2.Curvedarea/sail4.Crack
WARNING
Ifthebladeisallowedtowear,aslotwillform
betweenthesailandatpartoftheblade
(Figure31).Eventually,apieceoftheblade
maybreakoffandbethrownfromunderthe
housing,possiblyresultinginseriousinjuryto
yourselforbystanders.
•Inspectthebladeperiodicallyforwearor
damage.
•Replaceawornordamagedbladewitha
newTorobladetoensurecontinuedsafety
certicationoftheproduct.
3.Examinethecuttingedgesofallblades.Sharpenthe
cuttingedgesiftheyaredullornicked.Sharpenonly
thetopsideofthecuttingedgeandmaintainthe
originalcuttingangletoensuresharpness(Figure32).
Thebladewillremainbalancedifthesameamountof
metalisremovedfrombothcuttingedges.
Figure32
1.Sharpenatoriginalangle
Note:Removethebladesandsharpenthemona
grinder;refertoRemovingtheCuttingBlades.After
sharpeningthecuttingedges,installthebladewiththe
anti-scalpcupandbladebolt.Thebladesailsmustbe
ontopoftheblade.Tightenthebladeboltto115-149
N-m(85-110ft-lb).
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