BLADE MAINTENANCE
,_WARNING:
The blade will con-
tinue to spin after the engine stops or
after the throttle trigger has been re-
leased. To avoid serious
injury, make
sure the blade has stopped coasting
and disconnect
the spark plug (or dis-
connect
powerhead
from power
source)
before performing
work on the
blade.
,_LWARNING:
Always replace a
blade that is bent, warped, cracked,
broken, or damaged
in any other way.
Never attempt to straighten
and reuse
a damaged
blade. Use only specified
replacement
blade. Wear protective
gloves when handling
or performing
maintenance
on the blade to help
avoid injury.
• The blade is reversible.
When the
cutting edge on one side becomes
worn, turn the blade over (see
BLADE REPLACEMENT in the SER-
VICE AND ADJUSTMENTS section).
• Check blade for flatness periodically.
Lay the blade on a flat surface to in-
spect for flatness. Throw away a
blade that is not flat.
BLADE REPLACEMENT
,_LWARNING:
The blade will con-
tinue to spin after the engine stops or
after the throttle trigger has been re-
leased. To avoid serious
injury, make
sure the blade has stopped coasting
and disconnect
the spark plug (or dis-
connect
powerhead
from power
source)
before performing
work on the
blade.
WARNING:
Wear protective
gloves when handling or performing
maintenance on the blade to avoid
injury. The blade is sharp and can cut
you even when it is not moving.
1. To remove the blade, align hole in
the dust cup with the hole in the
side of the gearbox
by rotating the
blade.
2. Insert a small screwdriver
into
aligned
holes. This will keep the
shaft from turning while loosening
the blade nut.
Screwdriver__
3. While holding the screwdriver
in
position, remove blade nut by turn-
ing clockwise.
4. Remove both washers,
and the
blade from the blade shaft.
Blade shield
Blade
Washers
Shaft
Blade nut
5. Install new blade onto blade shaft.
6. Reinstall both washers and blade
nut (counterclockwise).
7. Tighten
blade nut firmly with a
wrench while holding screwdriver
in
position.
8. Remove the screwdriver.
9. Turn blade by hand. If the blade
binds against the shield, or appears
to be uneven, the blade is not cen-
tered, and you must reinstall.