Craftsman C459-36310 - Blade Care and Maintenance

18
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE
2. Threadthehosecoupler(packagedwithyourmower’sOperator’sManual)
ontotheendofyourgardenhose.
3. Attachthehosecouplertothewaterportonyourdeck’ssurface.SeeFigure
24.
4. Turnthewateron.
5. StarttheengineasdescribedintheOperationsection.
6. Runtheengineforaminimumoftwominutes,allowingtheundersideof
thecuttingdecktothoroughlyrinse.
7. Releasebladecontroltostoptheengineandblade.
8. Turnthewateroffanddetachthehosecouplerfromthewaterportonyour
deck’ssurface.
Aftercleaningyourdeck,restartthemower.Keeptheengineandbladerunning
foraminimumoftwominutes,allowingtheundersideofthecuttingdeckto
thoroughlydry.
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.Followthestepsbelowforbladeservice.
1. Disconnectsparkplugbootfromsparkplug.Turnmoweronitssidemaking
surethattheairfilterandthecarburetorarefacingup.
2. Removetheboltandthebladebellsupportwhichholdthebladeandthe
bladeadaptertotheenginecrankshaft.SeeFigure25.
3. Removebladeandadapterfromthecrankshaft.
4. Removebladefromtheadapterfortestingbalance.Balancethebladeona
roundshaftscrewdrivertocheck.Removemetalfromtheheavysideuntil
itbalancesevenly.Whensharpeningtheblade,followtheoriginalangleof
grind.Grindeachcuttingedgeequallytokeepthebladebalanced.
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.
5. Lubricatetheenginecrankshaftandtheinnersurfaceofthebladeadapter
withlightoil.Slidethebladeadapterontotheenginecrankshaft.Placethe
bladeontheadaptersuchthatthesideoftheblademarked“Bottom”(or
withpartnumber)facesthegroundwhenthemowerisintheoperating
position.Makesurethatthebladeisalignedandseatedontheblade
adapterflanges.SeeFigure25inset.
6. Placebladebellsupportontheblade.Alignnotchesonthebladebell
supportwithsmallholesinblade.
7. 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 24
Blade
Blade
Adapter
Bolt
Blade Bell Support
Figure 25