MTD 12AE469A229 - Page 11

Blade Care f
__ll ARNING:Whenremovingcutting
blade for sharpeningor replacement,
protectyourhandswitha pairof heavy
gloves or use a heavy ragto hold blade.
1. Disconnectsparkplugwirefromsparkplug.Turn
moweron itssidemakingsurethattheairfilterand
thecarburetorareup.
2. Removebolt,bladebellsupport,blade,andblade
adapterfromthe enginecrankshaft.SeeFigure5-3.
3. Thebladecanbe sharpenedwitha fileor on a grind-
ing wheel.Donotattempttosharpenthe bladewhile
it isstillon themower.Whensharpeningblade,follow
originalangleof grind.Grindcuttingedgesequallyto
keepbladebalanced.
4. Removebladefromthe adapterfor testingbalance.
Balancethe bladeona roundshaftscrewdriverto
check.Removemetalfromthe heavysideuntil it
balancesevenly.
_ WARNING:Anunbalanced bladewill
causeexcessivevibration when rotating
athigh speeds. It may causedamage
to mower,and could breakcausing
personalinjury.
5. Lubricatetheenginecrankshaftandthe innersurface
ofthebladeadapterwithlightoil. Slidethe blade
adapteronto the enginecrankshaft.Placethe blade
on theadaptersuchthatthesideoftheblademarked
"Bottom"(orwithpart number)facesthe groundwhen
themowerisin theoperatingposition.Makesurethat
bladeis alignedandseatedon bladeadapterflanges.
6. Placebladebellsupportonthe blade.Alignnotches
on thebladebell supportwith smallholesin blade.
Replacehexboltandtightenhex boltto torque:450
in.Ibs.min.,600 in.Ibs.max.
Toensuresafeoperationofyourmower,periodically
checkthebladeboltforcorrecttorque.
Belt Care
1. Removetwoshoulderscrewssecuringfrontdrive
covertomowerdeck.SeeFigure5-4. Pressinwardon
sidesof frontdrivecoverand releasetabsthat secure
ittotheheightadjusterbrackets.Removedrivecover
frommower.
.
Loosenscrewholdingbelttensionspringtotransmis-
sion.SeeFigure5-4inset. Donot removescrew
completely.As youloosenit, tensiononthebeltwillbe
released.
Figure 5=4
F
Figure 5=5
3. Pushtransmissionup a littleandslidebeltoffthe
transmissionpulley.Lift mowertoaccessbeltfrom
undersideof mower.Slidebeltoff ofenginepulleyand
aroundtheblade.SeeFigure5-5.
4. Replacewith newbelt,workingaroundblade.Make
surebeltisfirmlyseatedonenginepulleywhile
pullingfromthe othersideand slidingitaroundthe
transmissionpulley.Tightenscrewloosenedearlier
tosecurebelttensionspringto the transmission.
Reassemblefrontdrivecover.
11
WARNING
When removing
the cutting blade
for sharpening or
replacementor
when sliding the belt
around it, 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.
NOTE: Makecertainthat
be!t is seated€orrectlyand
that it isridingSmoothlyon
theenginepulleyandis not
pinchedbetweenthe lower
anduppei pulleyhalve&