Mower Deck - Cub Cadet 20HP Z-Force 48 Operator's And Service Manual

Figure. 6
A. Mower Deck
1. Removing the Mower Deck:
a. Apply the parking brake. Remove ignition
key and both spark plug caps.
b. Lower the cutter deck to the lowest setting
and release the lift handle.
c. Remove tension of the PTO belt by moving
the belt tensioning spring.
Note:
There is a certain amount of spring
tension due to the weight of the deck. When
removing the lift linkage from the deck the ten-
sion of the springs will go from the deck to the
lift handle. Make sure that the lift handle is
locked.
d. Detach the mower drive belt.
e. Remove the two (2) Hair Pins and two (2)
Clevis Pins on the left and right rear side of
the cutter deck. Shift the deck forward to
release the Front Lift Rod from the Deck
Front Lift Bracket. (See Figure 6)
f. Turn front caster wheels outward.
g. Shift the deck toward the right side (or dis-
charge) of the mower and remove.
h. To install reverse the process.
2. Changing a Blade:
a. Remove the key from the ignition and dis-
connect the spark plugs.
b. Jack up the front of the mowing deck about
one foot and block it in that position.
c. Wrap a rag around one end of the blade
and grasp it to prevent it from turning, or
secure the blade by placing a block of
wood between the blade and the deck
housing.
d. Use a 1-1/8" socket wrench on the pulley
side of the spindle bolt.
e. Remove the hex nut at the blade using a 1-
1/8" wrench.
Hair Pin
Clevis Pin
f. Remove the blade.
g. To replace the blade reverse the above
process and tighten nut to 100-120 lb ft.
Never mow with dull blades! Blades that are
bent should be replaced! The cutting blades
are sharp and can cause severe injury. Wrap
the cutting surface of the blade with a rag to
avoid injury.
3. Sharpening the Blade:
a. Set the parking brake.
b. Clean any debris from the blades. Keep
blades sharp and free of build up at all
times.
c. Sharpen blades evenly at the original 30°
angle to maintain balanced cutting blades.
Do not sharpen the underside of the
blades. Use a electric blade sharpener, a
conventional electric grinder or a hand file
to sharpen the blades.
d. Replace any blade with severe nicks or
dents that cannot be removed by filing.
e. Check the balance of the blade after
sharpening by placing it on a blade bal-
ancer. Do not use un-balanced blades.
f. If the blade dips on one end, file stock off
of the cutting surface on that end.
Note:
Blades that cannot be easily bal-
anced—REPLACE.
4. Changing the Blade Drive Belts:
a. Set the parking brake. Remove ignition key
and both spark plug caps.
b. Unscrew the nuts from the deck covers
and remove both covers.
c. Using a 1/2" socket breaker bar or socket
ratchet insert the drive end into the 1/2"
17
Front Lift Rod
WARNING: