Hustler Turf FasTrak Super Duty 36 - Manual (Page 23)

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WARNING: Never attempt to straighten a bent blade by
heating, or weld a cracked or broken blade as the blade may
break and cause serious injury. Replace worn or damaged
blades.
DANGER: Never work with blades while engine is running
or deck clutch switch is engaged (on). Always place deck
clutch switch in the disengaged position, place control levers
in the park brake position and turn engine off and disconnect
Figure 4-6
Resharpening Pattern
Do not sharpen to original pattern (below).
It is easier to get a straight cutting edge following
the resharpening pattern shown above.
Original Edge
Warped Blade (Replace)
Straight Blade
Comparison of Warped and Straight Blades
Cutting
Plane
Figure 4-7
Figure 4-8
Twisted Blade Edge
(Replace)
Cutting Edge
Straight Blade Edge
End view of blades, comparing
twisted and straighten blades.
Cutting Plane
Cutting Edge
Overservicing
Overservicing occurs when an air filter element is removed for cleaning
or replacement before it is necessary. Each time the filter is removed a
small amount of dirt and dust could fall in the intake system. This
accumulated dirt can cause a dusted engine. It only takes a few grams of
ingested dirt over the normal service life of an engine to cause a dusted
engine.
Do not clean element, replace with a new element only. Cleaning
used air filter elements, through improper cleaning procedures, can get dust
on the inside of the filter causing dirt ingestion and engine failure.
It is important to note that whenever an air filter element is cleaned by
any method, the person or company performing the cleaning assumes
responsibility for the integrity of the filter from then on. The warranty for
air filters expires upon cleaning or servicing in any manner because
the condition of the filter after servicing is completely out of their
control. Therefore, on a dust ingested engine failure, there will be no
warranty consideration if the air filter element has been cleaned or
serviced in any manner.
A partially dirty air filter element works better than a new element.
Therefore, a dirty filter element is not bad for the engine unless it is
excessively restricting the air flow and engine performance is affected. The
reason is simple. The media in the filter must be porous to allow air to pass
through it. When dirty air passes through the filter, the dirt plugs some of
the holes in the media and actually acts as part of the filter media. When
the next round of dirt enters, the first dirt helps filter out even smaller
particles making the filter more efficient at stopping dirt from entering the
engine. This is referred to as barrier filtration.
Of course, at some point the filter media becomes too clogged to allow
air to pass.
The mowing conditions will determine the frequency of air filter
element changing.
General engine maintenance
Detailed instructions and recommendations for break-in and regular
maintenance are specified in the Engine Owner’s manual. Please refer to
this manual for engine servicing, lubricating oil levels with quality and
viscosity recommendations, bolt torques, etc. The engine warranty is
backed by the manufacturer. Special attention should be paid to applicable
data which will not be duplicated here.
Belts
Inspect belts frequently for wear and serviceability. Replace a belt that
shows signs of severe cuts, tears, separation, weather checking and
cracking, or burns caused by slipping. Slight raveling of belt covering does
not indicate failure, trim ravelings with a sharp knife.
WARNING: If the pump belt fails, loss of control will occur
especially when operating on a slope. If you lose steering
control while operating the machine, place the steering
control levers in the park brake position immediately.
Inspect the machine and involve your Hustler dealer to
resolve the problem before continuing to operate.
Inspect the belt pulley grooves and flanges for wear. A new belt, or one
in good condition, should never run against the bottom of the groove.
Replace the pulley when this is the case, otherwise belt will lose power and
slip excessively.
Never pry a belt to get it on a pulley as this will cut or damage the fibers
of the belt covering.
Keep oil and grease away from belts, and never use belt dressings. Any
of these will destroy the belt composition in a very short time.
Mower blade maintenance
Check the mower blades daily, they are the key to power efficiency and
well groomed turf. Keep them sharp, a dull blade will tear rather than cut
the grass, leaving a brown ragged top on the grass within a few hours. A
dull blade also requires more power from the engine.
Replace any blade which is bent, cracked or broken.