Poulan 172787 User Manual - Page 19

LAWN MOWER Always observe safety rules when performing any maintenance. TIRES • Keep tires free of gasoline, oil, or insect control chemicals which can harm rubber. • Avoid stumps, stones, deep ruts, sharp objects and other hazards that may cause tire damage. BLADE CARE For best results, mower blade must be kept sharp. Replace bent or damaged blades. TO REPLACE BLADE • Turn lawn mower. See engine manual for proper direction of turning over the engine. • Use a wood block between blade and mower housing to prevent blade from turning when removing blade bolt. • Protect your hands with gloves and/or wrap blade with heavy cloth. • Remove blade bolt, lock washer and flat washer. • Remove blade and blade adapter. • Inspect the key inside blade adapter. Replace adapter if damaged. IMPORTANT: Blade bolt is grade 8 heat treated. • Install new or sharpened blade with trailing edge up toward the engine. • Position blade on blade adapter. Align the two (2) holes in blade with raised lugs of adapter. • Reassemble blade bolt, lock washer and flat washer into blade adapter and crankshaft in exact order as shown. • Position block of wood between blade and mower housing. • Tighten blade bolt securely. Recommended tightening torque is 35-40 ft. lbs. NOTE: We do not recommend sharpening blade - but if you do, be sure the blade is balanced. Blade adapter Key Crankshaft keyway Lockwasher Blade TO SHARPEN BLADE Care should be taken to keep the blade balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration and eventual damage to lawn mower and engine. • The blade can be sharpened with a file or on a grinding wheel. Do not attempt to sharpen while on the mower. • To check blade balance, drive a nail into a beam or wall. Leave about one inch of the straight nail exposed. Place center hole of blade over the head of the nail. 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. DRIVE COVER Clean under the drive cover at least twice a season. Scrape underside of cover with a putty knife or similar tool to remove any buildup of trash or grass. DRIVE WHEELS Check drive wheels each time before you mow to be sure they move freely. The wheels not turning freely means trash, grass cuttings, etc. are in the drive wheel area and must be cleaned to free drive wheels. If necessary to clean the drive wheels, check both drive wheels. • Remove hubcaps (if equipped), hairpin cotters and washers (or flange locknut If equipped with threaded axle) from both drive wheels. • Remove wheels from wheel adjusters. • Remove any trash or grass cuttings from inside the dust cover, pinion and/or drive wheel gear teeth. DRIVE WHEEL ASSEMBLY EXAMPLES (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE) Blade bolt Hardened washer Trailing edge Crank shaft Blade adapter 19 Pinion Dust cover Washer (or flange locknut if equipped)