MTD 030 Series - Manual (Page 15)

1
Maintaining
Your Lawn
Mower
WARNING
When removing the
cutting blade for
sharpening or replace-
ment, 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.
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.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug. Turn
mower on its side making sure that the air filter and
the carburetor are up.
2. Remove the bolt and the bell washer which hold the
blade and the blade adapter to the engine crankshaft.
See Figure 5-2.
3. Remove blade and adapter from the crankshaft. See
Figure 5-2.
4. The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a grind-
ing wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen the blade while
it is still on the mower. When sharpening the blade,
follow the original angle of grind. Grind each cutting
edge equally to keep the blade balanced.
5. Remove blade from the adapter and balance on a
round shaft screwdriver for testing balance. Remove
metal from the heavy side until it balances evenly.
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.
6. Lubricate the engine crankshaft and the inner surface
of the blade adapter with light oil. Slide the blade
adapter onto the engine crankshaft.
7. Place the blade on the adapter such that the side
of the blade marked “Bottom” (or with part number)
faces ground when the mower is in the operating
position. Make sure that the blade is aligned and
seated on blade adapter flanges.
8. Place bell washer on the blade.
9. 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 5-2: The blade and corresponding hardware.
Off-Season Storage
The following steps should be taken to prepare your lawn
mower for storage.
• Clean and lubricate mower thoroughly as described in
the lubrication instructions.
• Do not use a pressure washer or garden hose to
clean your unit.
• Refer to engine manual for correct engine storage
instructions.
• Coat mower’s cutting blade with chassis grease to
prevent rusting.
• Store mower in a dry, clean area. Do not store next to
corrosive materials, such as fertilizer.
When storing any type of power equipment in a poorly
ventilated or metal storage shed, care should be taken
to rust-proof the equipment. Using a light oil or silicone,
coat the equipment, especially cables and all moving
parts of your lawn mower before storage.