11 and 14-Blade Cutting Unit

The cutting unit is shipped without a front roller. Install the roller using the loose parts supplied with the cutting unit and installation instructions included with the roller.

Whenever you tip the cutting unit to expose the bedknife/reel, prop up the rear of the cutting unit to ensure that the nuts on the back end of the bedbar-adjusting screws are not resting on the work surface (Figure 3).

Figure 3

1. Prop (not provided)
2. Bedknife-adjusting screw nut (2)

Note: Use this procedure after grinding, backlapping, or disassembling the reel This is not a daily adjustment.

Note: For eFlex cutting units, the reel-to-bedknife contact has significant impact on energy consumption. Very light contact is recommended for optimum cutting performance and minimum battery consumption.

1. Position the cutting unit on a flat, level work surface.

2. Tip the cutting unit to expose the bedknife and reel.

   Note: Ensure that the nuts or back of the bedbar adjusting screws are not resting on the work surface (Figure 3).

3. Rotate the reel so that 1 of the blades crosses the bedknife edge between the first and second bedknife screw heads located on the right side of the cutting unit.

4. Make and identifying mark on the blade where it crosses the bedknife edge.

   Note: This will make later adjustments easier.

5. Insert a 0.05 mm (0.002 inch) shim between the blade and the bedknife edge at the point marked in step 4.

6. Turn the right bedbar adjusting screw (Figure 4) until you feel light pressure on the shim when sliding it side-to-side. Remove the shim.

   

   Figure 4

   1. Bedbar-adjusting screw

7. For the left side of the cutting unit, slowly rotate the reel so that the closest blade crosses the bedknife edge between the first and second screw heads.

8. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for the left side of the cutting unit and left bedbar adjusting screw.

9. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until there is light pressure at the contact points on both the left and right sides of the cutting unit.

10. To obtain light contact between the reel and bedknife, turn each bedbar adjusting screw clockwise 3 click.

    Note: Each click on the bedbar adjusting screw moves the bedknife 0.018 mm (0.0007 inch). Do not overtighten the adjusting screws.Turning the adjusting screw clockwise moves the bedknife edge closer to the reel. Turning the adjusting screw counterclockwise moves the bedknife edge away from the reel.

11. Test the cutting performance by inserting a long strip of cutting performance paper between the reel and bedknife, perpendicular to the reel and bedknife (Figure 5). Slowly rotate the reel forward to cut the paper.

    

    Figure 5

Depending on your desired height-of-cut range you need to adjust the rear roller brackets (Figure 6 or Figure 7) to the low or high position:

• Position the spacer above the sideplate mounting flange (factory setting) when the height-of-cut settings range from 1.5 mm to 6 mm (1/16 inch to 1/4 inch) as shown in Figure 6.

  

  Figure 6

  1. Spacer
  2. Sideplate mounting flange
  3. Roller bracket

• Position the spacer below the sideplate mounting flange when the height of cut settings range from 3 mm to 25 mm (1/8 inch to 1 inch) as shown in Figure 7.

  

  Figure 7

  1. Sideplate mounting flange
  2. Spacer
  3. Roller bracket

1. Raise the rear of the cutting unit and place a block under the bedknife.

2. Remove the 2 nuts securing each roller bracket and spacer to each sideplate mounting flange.

3. Lower the roller and screws from the sideplate mounting flanges and spacers.

4. Place the spacers onto the screws above of below the roller brackets, as required (Figure 6 or Figure 7).

5. Secure the roller bracket and spacers to the underside of the mounting flanges with the nuts previously removed.

6. Verify that the bedknife to reel contact is correct. Tip the machine to expose the front and rear rollers and the bedknife.

   Note: The position of the rear roller to the reel is controlled by the machining tolerances of the assembled components and paralleling is not required. A limited amount of adjustment is possible by setting the cutting unit on a surface plate and loosening the sideplate mounting bolts (Figure 8). Adjust and tighten bolts when finished.

   

   Figure 8

   1. Sideplate mounting bolts

   Important: Whenever the cutting unit has to be tipped to expose bedknife/reel, prop up rear of cutting unit to ensure nuts on the back end of bedbar adjusting screws are not resting on the work surface (Figure 3).

Note: This cutting unit comes standard with the Edgemax Micro-cut bedknife and standard bedbar. The effective height of cut is dependent on previous mower configurations and turf conditions (i.e., roller type, bedknife behind center distance, soft or firm greens, season conditions). Set initial height-of-cut to 0.25 mm to 0.38 mm (0.010 to 0.015 inch) higher than previous setup and adjust to match conditions.

Note: For heights of cut greater than 13 mm (0.500 inch), install the high height-of-cut kit.

Note: Use the following chart to determine which bedknife is best suited for the desired height of cut.

1. Loosen the locknuts securing the height-of-cut arms to the cutting unit side plates (Figure 9).

   

   Figure 9

   1. Height-of-cut arm
   2. Locknut
   3. Adjusting screw

2. Loosen the nut on the gauge bar and set the adjusting screw to the desired height of cut (Figure 10).

   Note: The distance between the bottom of the screw head and the face of bar is the height of cut.

   

   Figure 10

   1. Gauge bar
   2. Height adjusting screw
   3. Nut

3. Hook the screw head onto the cutting edge of the bedknife and rest the rear end of the bar onto the rear of the roller (Figure 11).

   

   Figure 11

   1. Gauge bar

4. Rotate the adjusting screw until the roller contacts the front of the gauge bar.

5. Adjust both ends of the roller until the entire roller is parallel to the bedknife.

   Important: When set properly, the rear and front rollers contact the gauge bar and the screw is snug against the bedknife. This ensures that the height-of-cut is identical at both ends of the bedknife.

6. Tighten the nuts to secure the adjustment enough to remove the play from the washer.

Adjust the cut-off bar to ensure that the clippings are cleanly discharged from the reel area as follows.

1. Loosen the screws securing the top bar (Figure 12) to the cutting unit.

   

   Figure 12

   1. Cut-off bar

2. Insert a 1.5 mm (0.060 inch) feeler gauge between the top of the reel and the bar and tighten the screws.

   Important: Ensure that the bar and reel are equal distance apart across the complete reel.

   Note: You can adjust the bar to compensate for changes in turf conditions. Adjust the bar should closer to the reel when the turf is extremely dry. By contrast, adjust the bar further away from the reel when the turf conditions are wet. The bar should be parallel to the reel to ensure optimum performance, and you should be adjust it whenever you sharpen the reel on a reel grinder.

Parts needed for this procedure:

A selection of Toro approved attachments and accessories is available for use with the machine to enhance and expand its capabilities. Contact your Authorized Service Dealer or Distributor or go to www.Toro.com for a list of all approved attachments and accessories.

Prior to mowing each day, or as required, check each cutting unit to verify proper bedknife-to-reel contact. You must rerform this procedure even though the quality of cut is acceptable.

1. Lower the cutting units onto a hard surface, shut off the engine, and remove the ignition key.

2. Shut off the machine as follows:

   • Gasoline units: Shut off the engine and disconnect the spark-plug wire.

   • Electric units: Turn off the machine and disconnect the battery connector (T-handle).

3. Slowly rotate the reel in a reverse direction, listening for reel-to-bedknife contact. If no contact is evident, turn the bedknife adjusting knobs clockwise, 1 click at a time, until you feel and hear light contact.

   Note: The adjustment knobs have detents corresponding to 0.018 mm (0.0007 inch) bedknife movement for each indexed position.

4. If you feel excessive contact, turn the bedknife adjusting knobs counterclockwise, 1 click at a time until no contact is evident. Then turn the bedknife adjusting knobs 1 click at a time clockwise, until you feel light contact.

   Important: Light contact is preferred at all times. If light contact is not maintained, the bedknife/reel edges will not sufficiently self-sharpen and dull cutting edges will result after a period of operation. If excessive contact is maintained, bedknife/reel wear will be accelerated, uneven wear can result, and quality of cut may be adversely affected.

   Note: For eFlex cutting units, the reel-to-bedknife contact has a significant impact on energy consumption. Very light contact is recommended for optimum cutting performance and battery consumption.

   Note: As the reel blades continue to run against the bedknife, a slight burr will appear on the front cutting edge surface along the full length of the bedknife. If you occasionally run a file across the front edge to remove this burr, this will improve the cutting performance.After extended running, a ridge will eventually develop at both ends of the bedknife. Round off these notches or file them flush with the cutting edge of the bedknife to ensure smooth operation.

There are 6 clip settings on the cutting unit that you can set to match your turf conditions. Start out setting the clip to match the height of cut, but should then test the cutting unit and adjust the clip to obtain the quality of cut that you desire.

1. Shut off the machine as follows:

   • Gasoline units: Shut off the engine and disconnect the spark-plug wire.

   • Electric units: Turn off the machine and disconnect the battery connector (T-handle).

2. Loosen the flange bolt securing the belt cover and remove the belt cover to expose the belt (Figure 16).

   

   Figure 16

   1. Belt cover

3. Loosen the bearing-housing nut (Figure 17).

   

   Figure 17

   1. Bearing-housing nut
   2. Reel drive belt
   3. Compression spring

4. Using a 16 mm (5/8 inch) wrench, rotate the bearing housing to make sure it operates freely.

5. Remove the belt (Figure 17).

6. Using the chart shown on the decal in Figure 18, determine the clip setting you want and which pulleys you will need to move.

   Note: Each pulley is numbered (22, 24, and 25). Move the pulleys to the positions indicated in the chart for your clip setting.

   

   Figure 18

7. Loosen the 2 set screws on each pulley you need to move using a hex wrench.

8. Remove each pulley.

9. Install each pulley in the new configuration as indicated on the decal (Figure 18).

   Note: Ensure that the setscrews on each pulley are positioned to align with the key and flat area on the shaft.

10. Torque the setscrews to 8.3 to 8.9 N-m (74 to 79 in-lb).

11. Install the belt.

12. Ensure that the compression spring is applying tension to the belt (Figure 17).

13. Tighten the bearing-housing nut.

14. Install the belt cover.

You can backlap the reels either by leaving the cutting unit on the traction unit or removing the cutting unit completely from the traction unit. If the cutting unit is left on the traction unit, move the hex coupler between the main drive and cutting unit drive to the decoupled position to prevent excessive wear to the reel brake.

1. Position the machine on a clean, level surface.

2. Shut off the machine as follows:

   • Gasoline units: shut off the engine and disconnect the spark-plug wire.

   • Electric units: turn off the machine and disconnect the battery connector (T-handle).

3. Engage the parking brake.

4. Connect the backlapping machine to the cutting unit by connecting a 1/2 inch hex socket to the reel pulley output shaft on the left side of the cutting unit.

   Note: Additional instructions and procedures on Backlapping are available in the Toro Sharpening Reel and Rotary Mowers Manual (Form No. 80-300PT).

   Note: For a better cutting edge, run a file across the front face of the bedknife when the lapping operation is completed. This removes any burrs or rough edges that may have built up on the cutting edge. A very light file touch may be necessary on the top edge to break the burr off completely from the cutting edge.

   Note: If the cutting unit was left attached to the machine during backlapping, couple the hex shaft of the machine back to the cutting unit.