Blade Maintenance; Checking For A Bent Blade; Removing And Installing The Cutter Blade(S); Inspecting And Sharpening The Cutter Blade(S) - Toro 31598 Operator's Manual

Blade Maintenance

Checking for a Bent Blade

After striking a foreign object, inspect the machine for
damage and make repairs before restarting and operating
the equipment. Torque all the spindle pulley nuts to 130
to 150 ft-lb (176 to 203 N⋅m).
1. Position the machine on a level surface. Raise the
cutting unit, engage the parking brake, put the
traction pedal in neutral, make sure the PTO switch
is in the Off position, stop the engine, and remove
the ignition key. Block the cutting unit to prevent it
from accidentally falling.
2. Rotate the blade until the ends face forward and
backward (Figure 99). Measure from the inside of
the cutting unit to the cutting edge at the front of
the blade. Record this dimension.
Figure 99
3. Rotate the opposite end of the blade forward.
Measure between the cutting unit and cutting edge
of the blade at the same position as in step 2. The
difference between the dimensions obtained in steps
2 and 3 must not exceed 1/8 inch (3 mm). If the
dimension exceeds 1/8 inch (3 mm), the blade is
bent and must be replaced; refer to Removing and
Installing the Cutter Blade.
Removing and Installing the
Cutter Blade(s)
The blade must be replaced if a solid object is hit, the
blade is out of balance, or if the blade is bent. Always
use genuine Toro replacement blades to be sure of safety
and optimum performance. Never use replacement
blades made by other manufacturers because they could
be dangerous.
1. Raise the cutting unit to the highest position, engage
the parking brake, stop the engine, and remove the
ignition key. Block the cutting unit to prevent it from
accidentally falling.
2. Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or thickly
padded glove. Remove the blade bolt, anti-scalp cup,
and blade from the spindle shaft (Figure 100).
3. Install the blade, anti-scalp cup, and blade bolt.
Tighten the blade bolt to 85 to 110 ft-lb (115 to 149
N⋅m).
Important: The curved part of the blade must
be pointing toward the inside of the cutting unit
to ensure proper cutting.
Note: After striking a foreign object, torque all the
spindle pulley nuts to 130 to 150 ft-lb (176 to 203
N⋅m) and the blade bolts to 85 to 110 ft-lb (115 to
149 N⋅m).
1. Blade bolt
Inspecting and Sharpening the
Cutter Blade(s)
Service Interval: After the first 10 hours—Check blade
bolt torque
Every 50 hours—Check blade bolt
torque
Before each use or daily—Check
mower blade condition
DANGER
A worn or damaged blade can break, and a piece
of the blade could be thrown into the operator's
or bystander's area, resulting in serious personal
injury or death. Trying to repair a damaged blade
may result in discontinued safety certification of
the product.
• Inspect the blade periodically for wear or
damage.
• Never try to straighten a blade that is bent or
weld a broken or cracked blade.
• Replace a worn or damaged blade.
Two areas must be considered when checking and
servicing the cutter blade-the sail and the cutting edge.
Both cutting edges and the sail, which is the turned
up portion opposite the cutting edge, contribute to a
good quality-of-cut. The sail is important because it
lifts the grass up straight, thereby producing an even
cut. However, the sail will gradually wear down during
operation, and this condition is normal. As the sail
65
Figure 100
2. Anti-scalp cup