R BILITIES .....,,,,..... ill, ,, i i, i,,,,,, ,i i TRACTOR lllllll : ill ii = i TO SHARPEN BLADE (See Fig. 13) Care shoufd be taken to keep the blade balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration and even- tual damage to mower and engine_ Always observe safety rules when performing any mainte- nance. BRAKE OPERATION ° The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a grinding wheel Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower, If tractor requires more than six (6) feet stopping distance at high speed in highest gear, then brake must be adjusted. (See 'q'O ADJUST BRAKE" in the Service and Adjust- ments section of this manual).
° To check blade balance, you wilt need a 5/8" diameter steel bolt, pin, or a cone balancer,, (When using a cone balancer, follow the instructions supplied with bal- ancer). TIRES ° Slide blade onto an unthreaded portion of the steel bolt or pin and hold the bolt or pin parallel with the ground. If blade is balanced, it should remain in a horizontal position,. If either end of the blade moves downward, sharpen the heavy end until the blade is balanced,. Maintain proper air pressure in all tires (See "PROD- UCT SPECIFICATIONS on page 3 of this manual). = Keep tires free ef gasoline, oil, or insect control chemi- cals which can harm rubber.
Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp objects and other hazards that may cause tire damage° NOTE: Do not use a nail for balancing blade. The lobes of the center hole may appear to be centered, but are not NOTE: To seal tire punctures and prevent flat tires due to slow leaks, tire sealant may be purchased from your local parts dealer_ Tire sealant also prevents tire dry rot and corrosion. CENTER HOLE / / BLADE CARE For' best results mower' btades must be kept sharp_ Re- place bent or damaged blades. 5/8" BOLT BLADE BLADE REMOVAL (See Fig. 12) OR PiN J ° Raise mower to highest position to allow access to blades. . Remove hex bolt, lock washer and flat washer secur- ing blade. .
Install new or resharpened blade withtrailingedge up towards deck as shown. FIG. 13 BATTERY Reassemble hex bolt, lockwasher and flat washer in exact order as shown. Your tractor has a battery charging system which is suffi- cient for normal use. However, periodic charging of the battery with an automotive charger will extend its life. . Tighten bolt securely (30-35 Ft. Lbs, torque). IMPORTANT: BLADE BOLT 1S GRADE 8 HEATTREATED,, NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening blade - but if ,ou do, be sure the blade is balanced. ° Keep battery and terminals clean. Keep battery bolts tight. Keep small vent holes open.
BLADE MANDREL ASSEMBLY ° Recharge at 6-10 amperes for1 houL TO CLEAN BATTERY AND TERMINALS Corrosion and dirt on the battery and terminals can cause the battery to "leak" power. = Open battery box door. TRAILING EDGE UP Disconnect BLACK battery cable first then RED bat- tory cable and remove battery from tractor, ° Rinse the battery with plain water and dry, Clean terminals and battery cable ends with wire brush until bright. LOCK WASHER Coat terminals with grease or petroleum jelly, ° Reinstatl battery (See "CONNECT BATTERY" in the Assembly section of this manual). ',HEX BOLT (GRADE 8)* *A GRADE 8 HEAT TREATED BOLT CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY SIX LINES ON THE BOLT HEAD. FIG. 12 18