MTD 020 Series - Manual (Page 13)

13
5
Maintaining
Your Lawn
Mower
WARNING
When removing the
cutting blade for
sharpening or replace-
ment, protect your
hands with a pair of
heavy gloves or use a
heavy rag to hold the
blade.
An unbalanced blade
will cause excessive
vibration when rotat-
ing at high speeds. It
may cause damage
to mower and could
break causing per-
sonal injury.
Blade Care
WARNING: When removing the cutting
blade for sharpening or replacement,
protect your hands with a pair of heavy gloves or
use a heavy rag to hold the blade.
Periodically inspect the blade adapter for cracks,
especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when
necessary.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug. Turn
mower on its side making sure that the air filter and
the carburetor are up.
2. Remove the bolt and the blade bell support which
hold the blade and the blade adapter to the engine
crankshaft. See Figure 5-2.
3. Remove blade and adapter from the crankshaft. See
Figure 5-2.
4. The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a
grinding wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen the blade
while it is still on the mower. When sharpening the
blade, follow the original angle of grind. Grind each
cutting edge equally to keep the blade balanced.
5. Remove blade from the adapter and balance on a
round shaft screwdriver for testing balance. Remove
metal from the heavy side until it balances evenly.
WARNING: An unbalanced blade will cause
excessive vibration when rotating at high
speeds. It may cause damage to mower and could
break causing personal injury.
6. Lubricate the engine crankshaft and the inner
surface of the blade adapter with light oil. Slide the
blade adapter onto the engine crankshaft.
7. Place the blade on the adapter such that the side
of the blade marked “Bottom” (or with part number)
faces ground when the mower is in the operating
position. Make sure that the blade is aligned and
seated on blade adapter flanges.
8. Place blade bell support on the blade. Align notches
on the blade bell support with small holes in blade.
9. Replace hex bolt and tighten hex bolt to torque: 450
in. lbs. min., 600 in. lbs. max.
To ensure safe operation of your mower, periodically
check the blade bolt for correct torque.
Figure 5-2: The blade and corresponding hardware.
Off-Season Storage
The following steps should be taken to prepare your lawn
mower for storage.
• Clean and lubricate mower thoroughly as described in
the lubrication instructions.
• Do not use a pressure washer or garden hose to
clean your unit.
• Refer to engine manual for correct engine storage
instructions.
• Coat mower’s cutting blade with chassis grease to
prevent rusting.
• Store mower in a dry, clean area. Do not store next to
corrosive materials, such as fertilizer.
When storing any type of power equipment in a poorly
ventilated or metal storage shed, care should be taken to
rust-proof the equipment. Using a light oil or silicone, coat
the equipment, especially cables and all moving parts of
your lawn mower before storage.