Cub Cadet 18M - Manual (Page 11)

11
Maintaining
Your Lawn
Mower
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.
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. Follow the steps below for blade service.
1. Disconnect spark plug wire 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 5-3.
3. Remove blade and adapter from the crankshaft. See
Figure 5-3.
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.
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.
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.
• 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.
Figure 5-3: Remove the bolt and blade bell support to access
the blade.
Blade Adapter
Blade
Blade Bell Support
Bolt