Sharpening The Blade; Storing The Mower - American Lawn Mower Co. 50514 Manual Del Operario

SHARPENING THE BLADE

See Figure 13
For best mowing performance, the mower blade must be
kept sharp. A dull blade does not cut grass evenly and
overloads the motor. Under normal circumstances,
sharpening the blade twice during the mowing season is
usually sufficient. However, if your lawn has sandy soil,
more frequent sharpening's may be required.
•
Following the instructions in the Replacing the
Cutting Blade section, remove the mower blade. DO
NOT attempt to sharpen the blade while it is attached
to the mower.
WARNING:
When removing, inspect the blade carefully. If blade is
bent or damaged, replace immediately with a new blade.
Failure to replace a bent or damaged blade could cause
an accident resulting in possible serious injury.
•
Using a fine tooth file or stone, sharpen cutting edges
on both ends of the blade, removing equal amounts of
material from both ends.
Fig. 13
BALANCING THE BLADE
See Figure 14
When sharpening, care should be taken to keep the blade
balanced. An unbalanced blade will cause excessive
vibration when the mower is running. This vibration will
eventually cause damage to the mower, especially the
motor.
To check blade balance:
•
Clamp a screwdriver
horizontally in a vise as
shown.
NOTE: If a vise is not
available, a straight nail
can also be used.
MAINTENANCE
•
Place the center hole of blade on the screwdriver
(or nail) shank.
•
If blade is balanced, it will remain in a horizontal
position. If either end of the blade drops downward,
sharpen the heavy side until the blade is balanced.

STORING THE MOWER

See Figure 15
•
Disconnect power supply, and store in a secure
location out of the reach of children.
•
Before storage, wipe any dirt or debris.
•
Turn mower on its side and clean grass clippings
that have accumulated on the underside of the
mower deck.
•
Wipe the mower clean with a dry cloth.
•
Check all nuts, bolts, knobs, screws, fasteners, etc.,
for tightness.
•
Inspect moving parts for damage, breakage and
wear. Have repairs made on any damaged or
missing parts. Check blade for damage, uneven, or
excessive wear and replace blade if these
conditions exist.
•
Lower the handle assembly as described earlier in
this manual.
•
Store mower indoors in a clean, dry place out of the
reach of children.
•
Do not store near corrosive materials such as
fertilizer or rock salt.
Fig. 15
Fig. 14
13
Model 50514