| Maintenance Service Interval | Maintenance Procedure |
|---|---|
| After each use |
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Important: Recycler blades are not included in this kit.
Safety
Rear Discharge or Mulch Grass
Danger
Without the grass deflector mounted in place, you and others are exposed to the blade and thrown debris. Contact with thrown debris may cause death or serious injury; contact with the rotating mower blade will cause death or serious injury.
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Never put your hands or feet under the mower.
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Engage the parking brake, disengage the power take-off (PTO), shut off the machine, remove the key, and wait for all motion to stop before clearing the discharge area or mower blade.
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Never remove the grass guard from the mower because the grass guard directs the material downward toward the turf.
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If the grass guard is damaged, replace it immediately.
Ensure that the mower has the rear grass guard to disperse clippings rearward and down toward the turf while in rear discharge mode.
To mulch grass clippings, install the baffles on the mower deck as instructed in the following procedures.
Installation
Important: Recycler blades (sold separately) are required to install this kit; refer to the Parts Catalog for your machine.
Preparing the Mower
Note: Determine the left and right sides of the machine from the normal operating position.
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Park the machine on a level surface.
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Disengage the blade-control switch.
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Move the motion-control levers outward to the NEUTRAL-LOCK position.
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Shut off the machine and remove the key.
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Wait for all moving parts to stop and for the machine to cool.
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Turn the battery-disconnect switch to the OFF position.
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Thoroughly clean the mower deck. Remove all debris to ensure that the baffles fit properly against the mower deck.
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Repair all bent or damaged areas of the mower deck and replace any missing or damaged parts.
Removing the Existing Blades
Warning
The blades are sharp. Contact with a sharp blade can cause serious personal injury.
Wear gloves or wrap the sharp edges of the blade with a rag.
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Lift the machine so that you can access the bottom of the mower deck.
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Remove the existing blades from the spindles; refer to the Operator’s Manual for your machine.
Removing the Existing Baffles and Kicker
Remove the right and center baffle and the left kicker.
Drilling the Mower Deck
Warning
Using a drill without proper eye protection may allow debris to enter the eye, causing injury.
When drilling, always wear eye protection.
Drill the 10 pilot holes in the deck to a diameter of 10 mm (3/8 inch).
Installing the Baffles
Parts needed for this procedure:
| Side baffle | 1 |
| Center baffle | 1 |
| Right baffle | 1 |
| Carriage bolt (3/8 x 1 inch) | 9 |
| Locknut (3/8 inch) | 9 |
Loosely install the baffles to align the baffles with all the holes in the mower deck using carriage bolts (3/8 x 1 inch) and locknuts (3/8 inch).
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Position the right baffle into the mower deck.
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Loosely secure the right recycler baffle to the mower deck using 2 bolts and 2 locknuts.
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Position the left baffle in the mower deck.
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Loosely secure the left baffle to the mower deck using 3 bolts and 3 locknuts.
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Position the center baffle into the mower deck.
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Loosely secure the center baffle to the mower deck using 1 bolt and 1 locknut.
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Loosely secure the center baffle to the right and left baffles using 3 bolts and 3 locknuts.
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Tighten all the locknuts.
Installing the Kickers
Parts needed for this procedure:
| Side kicker | 2 |
| Center kicker | 1 |
| Carriage bolt (3/8 x 7/8 inch) | 3 |
| Locknut (3/8 inch) | 3 |
Secure the center and side kickers to the mower deck using 3 carriage bolts (3/8 x 7/8 inch) and 3 locknuts (3/8 inch).
Installing the New Blades
Parts needed for this procedure:
| Recycler blade (sold separately) | 3 |
Warning
The blades are sharp. Contact with a sharp blade can cause serious personal injury.
Wear gloves or wrap the sharp edges of the blade with a rag.
Refer to the Operator’s Manual for instructions on installing the blades.
Converting the Mower Deck for Rear-Discharge Operation
Parts needed for this procedure:
| Flange-head bolt (3/8 x 1 inch) | 8 |
Preparing to Remove the Recycler Kit
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Prepare the mower; refer to Preparing the Mower.
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Remove the recycling blades; refer to the Operator’s Manual for your machine.
Removing the Kickers
Reverse the steps in Installing the Kickers and install new flange-head bolts (3/8 x 1 inch) and previously removed locknuts (3/8 inch) where you removed the kickers.
Removing the Baffles
Reverse the steps in Installing the Baffles and install new flange-head bolts (3/8 x 1 inch) and previously removed locknuts (3/8 inch) where you removed the baffles.
Finishing Converting the Mower Deck for Rear-Discharge Operation
Install the non-recycling blades; refer to the Operator’s Manual for your machine.
Operation
Selecting the Proper Height of Cut
Remove approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) or no more than 1/3 of the grass blade when cutting. In exceptionally lush and dense grass, you may need to raise the height-of-cut setting or convert the mower deck for rear discharge operations.
Mowing in Extreme Conditions
Air is required to cut and recut grass clippings in the mower housing, so do not set the height of cut too low or fully surround the housing by uncut grass. When making an initial cut through the center of an uncut area, operate the machine slower and back the machine if the mower starts to clog.
Mowing at Correct Intervals
Grass grows at different rates at different times of the year. To maintain the same cutting height, mow more often in early spring. As the grass growth rate slows in midsummer, mow less frequently. If you cannot mow for an extended period, first mow at a high cutting height, then mow again 2 days later at a lower height setting.
Mowing with Sharp Blades
A sharp blade cuts cleanly without tearing or shredding the grass. A dull blade tears and shreds the grass. Tearing and shredding causes the grass to turn brown at the edges, which impairs growth and increases susceptibility to disease.
Cleaning the Mower Deck
To ensure optimum performance, clean the underside of the mower deck after each use.
Important: Do not use brackish or reclaimed water to clean the machine.
Note: If residue grass builds up in the mower deck, cutting performance decreases.