Craftsman 900.370511 - Manual (Page 11)

TO REMOVE BLADE
• Release Operator Presence Control
Switch to turn mower off, wait for the
blade to stop, and unplug mower!
• Cut a two foot length of 2x4 wood and
use it to keep blade from turning while
removing blade nut.
• Wear gloves, position wood, and loosen
nut counterclockwise as shown. Remove
nut.
• Remove square steel washer, plastic
insulator washer and blade.
TO REPLACE BLADE
• Place blade on shaft so that the blade
edges are parallel with the flat sides of
the shaft. Make sure you place the blade
so that its cutting edges will face the
ground when the mower is running.
• Place plastic insulator washer on shaft
so that two of the washer’s raised edges
fit over the edges of the blade.
• Place square steel washer on shaft so
that flat sides of hole in washer are
parallel with flat sides of shaft.
• Place blade nut on shaft. Make sure all
parts stay aligned. Position wood to keep
shaft from turning. Securely tighten blade
nut clockwise to 20-30 ft. lbs.
TO SHARPEN BLADE
• Keep blade sharp for best mower
performance. A dull blade does not cut
grass evenly.
• Wear proper eye protection.
• Sharpening the blade twice during a
mowing season is usually sufficient
under normal circumstances. Sand
causes the blade to dull fast. If your lawn
has sandy soil, more frequent sharpen-
ings are required.
• Replace bent or damaged blade
immediately.
• To sharpen blade:
• Make sure blade remains balanced.
• Sharpen blade at the original cutting
angle.
• Sharpen cutting edges on both ends of
blade, removing equal amounts of
material from both ends.
• Secure blade in a vise as shown in
figure below.
• Wear safety glasses and be careful not
to cut yourself.
• Carefully file the cutting edges of the
blade with a fine tooth file or
sharpening stone.
11
Square
Steel
Washer
Plastic
Insulator
Washer
Blade Nut
Blade
Fan Base
Shaft
598994-01,370511 TYPE2 1/5/06 10:44 AM Page 11