30
Installing the Blades
1. Install the blade onto the spindle shaft with the stifener
(Fig. 35).
Important The curved part of the blade must be
pointing upward toward the inside of the mower to ensure
proper cutting.
2. Install the curved washer (cupped side toward the
blade) and blade bolt (Fig. 35). Torque the blade bolt to
35–65 ft-lb (47–88 N⋅m).
Leveling the Mower from
Side-to-Side
The mower blades must be level from side to side. Check
the side-to-side level any time you install the mower or
when you see an uneven cut on your lawn.
1. Position the mower on a flat surface.
2. Disengage the PTO and move the control levers to the
neutral locked position and apply the parking brake.
3. Stop the engine, remove the key, and wait for all
moving parts to stop before leaving the operating
position.
4. Check the air pressure of all four tires. If needed, adjust
to the recommended inflation; refer to Tire Pressure,
page 28.
5. Set the height-of-cut at 3 inch (76 mm).
6. Carefully rotate the blade(s) from side to side (Fig. 38).
Measure between the outside cutting edges and the flat
surface (Fig. 38). If both measurements are not within
3/16 inch (4.75 mm), an adjustment is required; refer to
steps 7 and 8.
Front
1
2
3
3
2
1078
Figure 38
1. Blades side to side
2. Outside cutting edges
3. Measure here
7. Remove the hairpin cotter and washer from the leveling
bracket (Fig. 39). To level the blade(s), reposition the
leveling bracket(s) in a different hole and install the
washer and hairpin cotter (Fig. 39). A front hole lowers
the blade height and a rear hole raises its height. Adjust
both sides as required.
8. Check the front-to-rear blade slope; refer to Adjusting
the Front-to-Rear Blade Slope, page 31.
1
4
3
2
m–5177
Figure 39
1. Hairpin cotter and washer
2. Leveling bracket
3. Front hole
4. Rear hole