Sears 917.255741 - Manual (Page 12)

1 When grinding, care should be taken to maintain blade bal­
ance and the blade should be checked for proper balance
before reinstallation on mower. Unbalanced or bent blade
wilt cause excessive vibration when running, and eventual
damage to mower or engine. Replace bent, damaged or un­
balanced blades.
To check Blade balance, drive a nail into a beam or wall.
Leave about one inch of the straight nail exposed. Place
Center Hole of dean Blade over the head of the nail (Fig.
22). NOTÉ: CENTER HOLE OF BLADE ON NAIL IF
BLADE IS PROPERLY BALANCED, BLADE SHOULD
REMAIN IN POSITION SHOWN IN FIG 22, IF EITHER
END OF THE BLADE MOVES DOWNWARD, BLADE iS
NOT BALANCED AND MUST BE REPLACED.
2 To ensure satisfactory operation, it is recommended that
before the start of each mowing season, the old blades be
discarded and replaced with new blades. Mower blades can
be purchased at any Sears Service Center/Departments and
most Sears Retail Stores,
FIGURE 22
MAINTENANCE - MOWER
A
FOR ANY ADJUSTMENTS, INSPECTION
OR MAINTENANCE:
PUSH TRACTOR CLUTCH-BRAKE PED­
AL COMPLETELY INTO BRAKE POSI­
TION. PLACE PARKING BRAKE IN
"ENGAGED" POSITION. MOVE GEAR
SHIFT LEVER TO "NEUTRAL" POSI­
TION, PLACE MOWER BLADE CLUTCH
LEVER IN "DISENGAGED" POSITION.
TURN IGNITION KEY TO "OFF" POSI
TION. MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THE
BLADES AND ALL MOVING PARTS
HAVE COMPLETELY STOPPED. RE­
MOVE THE IGNITION KEY, DISCON­
NECT THE SPARK PLUG WIRE FROM
THE
SPARK PLUG AND KEEP WIRE
AWAY FROM THE PLUG TO PREVENT
INJURY FROM ACCIDENTAL STARTING.
BLADE CARE
For best results mower blades must be kept sharp The blades
can be sharpened with a few strokes of a file or on a grinding
wheel. We suggest they be sharpened after every 15 hours of
mowing. Do not attempt to sharpen while on mower,
DAILY fMAINTENAiyCE
Make sure all nuts on bolts are tight and cotter pins and retain­
er springs are secure. Keep blades sharp. Observe all safety pre­
cautions Keep mower well lubricated (refer to page 22).
CLEAMiNO MIOWER
A
DISCONNECT SPARK PLUG WIRE TO
PREVENT ACCIDENTAL STARTING BE­
FORE CLEANING.
Water pressure from a garden hose will remove fresh clippings
from underside of mower. Clean mower after each mowing.
BLADE REPLACEMENT
Raise Mower to highest position to permit access to Blades.
1. Remove Bolt, Lockwasher and Washer (Fig. 21) (turn
counterclockwise (iF^).
2. Place new Blade between Flanges, (the word "TOP" is
stamped on all Blades to assure proper installation), and
secure with Washer, Lockwasher and Bolt previously re­
moved. TIGHTEN SECURELY,
A
ALWAYS USE GRADE 5 HEAT TREATED
BOLTS
TO ATTACH BLADES. CHECK
BOLTS IN BLADES OCCASIONALLY TO
MAKE SURE BOLTS ARE TIGHT. TOR­
QUE BOLTS 30 - 35 FT. LBS.
A GRADE 5 HEAT TREATED BOLT
CAN
BE IDENTIFIED BY THREE
LINES ON THE BOLT HEAD AS
SHOWN AT LEFT,
12