Servicing The Cutting Blades - Toro 74311TE Operator's Manual

Servicing the Cutting Blades

Maintain sharp blades throughout the cutting season, because
sharp blades cut cleanly without tearing or shredding the grass
blades. Tearing and shredding turns grass brown at the edges,
which slows growth and increases the chance of disease.
Check the cutter blades daily for sharpness, and for any
wear or damage. File down any nicks and sharpen the
blades as necessary. If a blade is damaged or worn, replace
it immediately with a genuine Toro replacement blade. For
convenient sharpening and replacement, you may want to
keep extra blades on hand.
DANGER
A worn or damaged blade can break, and a piece of
the blade could be thrown toward you or bystanders,
resulting in serious personal injury or death.
• Inspect the blade periodically for wear or
damage.
• Replace a worn or damaged blade.
Before Inspecting or Servicing the
Blades
Park the machine on a level surface, disengage the blade
control switch (PTO), and set the parking brake. Turn the
ignition key to the O position. Remove the key.
FF
Inspecting the Blades
Service Interval: Before each use or daily
1. Lift the mower deck and secure in the raised position.
Refer to Raising the Mower Deck into Service Position
(page 22).
2. Inspect the cutting edges
are not sharp or have nicks, remove and sharpen the
blades. Refer to Sharpening the Blades (page
3. Inspect the blades, especially the curved area
70). If you notice any damage, wear, or a slot forming
in this area (Figure
1. Cutting edge
2. Curved area
(Figure 70). If the edges
70), immediately install a new blade.
Figure 70
3. Wear/slot forming
4. Crack
4. Lower the mower deck into operating position. Refer
to Lowering the Mower Deck to the Operating Position
(page
Checking for Bent Blades
1. Move the speed-control lever to the N
to stop the machine.
2. Disengage the PTO, engage the parking brake, shut off
the engine, and wait for all moving parts to stop.
3. Rotate 1 blade as shown in
4. Measure from a level surface to the cutting edge
at position A of the blade
dimension.
G025243
1. Measure here from blade
to hard surface
5. Rotate the opposite end of the blade to position A.
6. Measure from a level surface to the cutting edge of
the blade at the same position as in step
54).
The difference between the dimensions obtained in
(Figure
steps
dimension exceeds 3 mm (1/8 inch), the blade is bent
and must be replaced; refer to
(page 54)
7. Repeat the previous steps for the opposite blade.
A blade that is bent or damaged could break
apart and could seriously injure or kill you or
bystanders.
• Always replace bent or damaged blade
with a new blade.
• Never file or create sharp notches in the
edges or surfaces of blade.
53
23).
Figure
(Figure
Figure 71
2. Position A
3 and 5 must not exceed 3 mm (1/8 inch). If this
and Installing the Blades (page
WARNING
position
EUTRAL
71.
71). Note this
3 above.
Removing the Blades
55).