Scag Cheetah: How to Inspect and Replace Cutter Blades
Dull or broken blades can often cause many grass cutting frustrations. The grass isn’t getting cut fast enough, short enough, or even enough. These are all problems that can be prevented with the consistent inspection and replacing of your cutter blades. This will allow your Scag Cheetah to provide a higher quality cut and allow you to get any mowing job done much more easily.
As always with power equipment, it’s very important to follow proper safety precautions. Specifically with blades, make sure to wear proper hand, arm, and eye protection. Don’t try to straighten a bent blade or repair a broken blade yourself. Obtaining new blades is always the safest and most effective method.
For details regarding maintenance schedules, safety procedures, and parts or terms associated with your specific model, you should read and be familiar with your owner’s manual.
Blade Inspection
- Step 1: Before attempting to inspect or service your blades in any way, remove the ignition key.
- Step 2: Bring the mower deck up to its highest possible position and place the lanyard pin in the highest cutting position as well. This will help prevent the cutter deck from falling.
- Step 3: Inspect the cutter blades for straightness, wear, and gouges. If they are bent, worn to at least half their original thickness, or have significant gouges, they will need to be replaced. If the edges are simply dull or nicked, they can be sharpened.
Blade Replacement
- Step 1: Always remove the ignition key before servicing blades.
- Step 2: Bring the mower deck up to its highest possible position and place the lanyard pin in the highest cutting position as well. This will help prevent the cutter deck from falling.
- Step 3: Secure the blades to prevent them from rotating either using the optional Blade Buddy tool or another method.
- Step 4: Remove the nut from the blade attaching bolt. Then, remove the blade, bolt, and spacer from the spindle shaft.
- Step 5: Place the washer onto the blade bolt and put the bolt through the hole in the new blade.
- Step 6: Put the spacer onto the blade bolt and insert it into the spindle shaft.
- Step 7: At the top of the cutter spindle, install the hex nut onto the blade bolt.
- Step 8: Once again, prevent the blades from rotating and torque to 75 lb-ft.
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