Walker MB (18 HP) - Manual (Page 46)

Maintenance Instructions
CHECKING/SERVICING
44
Check the battery charge by measuring the specific
gravity of electrolyte; if specific gravity is less than
1.225, the battery will need to be charged as follows:
•
Charge the battery at 15 amps for 10 minutes.
DO NOT exceed 20 amps maximum recommended
charging rate. Charge until specific gravity is at
least 1.250. Total charging time should not exceed
one (1) hour.
Tire Pressure
Inflate tires to pressures shown below:
Deck Caster Wheel = 20 PSI (137 kPa)
Drive
= 15 PSI (103 kPa)
Rear = 20 PSI (137 kPa)
Sharpen Mower Blades
Check mower blade(s) for straightness, sharp-
ness, condition of the cutting edge, and balance
every 10 hours of operation (or more often when
mowing abrasive type grass or operating on sandy
soils). Replace blades if worn, bent, cracked, or
otherwise damaged (refer to REPLACING/
REPAIRING the Mower Blades in this section).
Use the following procedure to check and sharpen
blades:
NOTE: Keep blades sharp - cutting with dull
blades not only yields a poor mowing job but slows
the cutting speed of the mower and causes extra
wear on the engine and blade drive by pulling hard.
1. Stop the engine, remove ignition key, and dis-
connect the spark plug wires before raising the
mower deck to service blades.
2. Raise the deck and secure it in the tilt-up posi-
tion (refer to Deck Secured in Tilt-Up Position
photo in CLEANING of Grass Buildup in
Mower Housing in this section).
3. Check the blades for straightness by marking
the blade tip position inside the deck housing,
and then rotating the opposite end of the blade
to the same position and comparing. If the dif-
ference in blade tip track is more than 1/8 in.
(3 mm), the blade is bent and should be re-
placed.
4. If the blade cutting edge is dull or nicked, it
should be sharpened. Remove blades for
sharpening by grasping the end of the blade
using a rag or a thick, padded glove, while loos-
ening and removing the nut, lock washer, and
flat washer that mounts the blade.
5. Grind cutting edge at the same bevel as the
original. Sharpen only the top of the cutting
edge to maintain sharpness.
NOTE: Blades can be sharpened with an elec-
tric blade sharpener, conventional electric
grinder, or a hand file.
6. Check blade balance by positioning the blade
horizontally on a blade balancer or use a nail or
shaft through the center hole. If either end of the
blade rotates downward, grind (remove) metal
on that end until the blade will balance. The
blade is properly balanced when neither end
drops. Balance of a blade is generally main-
tained by removing an equal amount of material
from each end of the blade when sharpening.
DANGER
NEVER operate cutter blades with the
deck in the raised position.
WARNING
DO NOT try to straighten a blade that is
bent. NEVER weld a broken or cracked
blade. ALWAYS replace with a new blade
to assure safety.
CAUTION
ALWAYS wear eye protection and gloves
when sharpening a blade.