Removing The Cutting Blade; Inspecting And Sharpening The Blade - Toro 30722 Groundsmaster 300 Operator's Manual

Removing the Cutting Blade

The blade must be replaced if a solid object is hit, the blade
is out-of-balance, worn, or bent. Always use genuine Toro
replacement blades to ensure safety and optimum
performance. Never use blades made by other
manufacturers because they could be dangerous.
Danger
A worn or damaged blade can break, and a piece
of the blade could be thrown into the operator's or
bystander's area, resulting in serious personal
injury or death.
Inspect the blade periodically for wear or
damage.
Do not try to straighten a blade that is bent.
Never weld a broken or cracked blade.
Replace a worn or damaged blade with a new
Toro blade to ensure continued safety
certification of the product.
1. Raise the cutting unit to the highest position, shut the
engine off, and engage the parking brake. Block the
cutting unit to prevent it from accidentally falling.
2. Grasp the end of the blade using a rag or thickly padded
glove. Remove the special screw, Belleville washer, and
blade from the spindle assembly (Fig. 32).
Figure 32
Note: The special screw has a left-hand thread.
3. To install the blade, assemble the parts in reverse order,
and make sure that the blade sail is facing up. Tighten
the special screw to 75 to 100 ft.-lb. (102 to 136 N m).
Inspecting and Sharpening the
Blade
1. Raise the cutting unit to the highest position, shut the
engine off, and engage the parking brake. Block the
cutting unit to prevent it from accidentally falling.
2. Examine the cutting ends of the blade carefully,
especially where the flat and curved parts of the blade
meet (Fig. 33-A). Since sand and abrasive material can
wear away the metal that connects the flat and curved
parts of the blade, check the blade before using the
machine. If wear is noticed (Fig. 33-B), replace the
blade; refer to Removing the Cutting Blade, page 21.
Warning
If the blade is allowed to wear, a slot will form
between the sail and flat part of the blade
(Fig. 33-C). Eventually, a piece of the blade may
break off and be thrown from under the housing,
possibly resulting in serious injury to yourself or
bystanders.
Inspect the blade periodically for wear or
damage.
Replace a worn or damaged blade with a new
Toro blade to ensure continued safety
certification of the product.
3. Examine the cutting edges of all blades. Sharpen the
cutting edges if they are dull or nicked. Sharpen only
the top side of the cutting edge and maintain the
original cutting angle to ensure sharpness (Fig. 34). The
blade will remain balanced if the same amount of metal
is removed from both cutting edges.
21
Figure 33