MTD 608 Lawn Mower User Manual


 
21
Figure 17
Adjust the drive pedal after replacing the drive belts
on your tractor, if necessary, as follows:
Locate the speed control assembly on the
underside of the steering support bracket. See
Figure 18.
Figure 18
Remove both hairpin clips from the pin which
is fastened to the speed control assembly (be
careful not to lose the small flat washers found
on the pin). See Figure 18.
Remove the drive pedal return spring.
Using two 9/16" wrenches, remove the pin
from the speed control assembly. See Figure
18.
Thread the idler adjustment rod inward or outward to
lengthen or shorten the travel of the double-idler
bracket until proper adjustment is achieved.
Reassemble by following the above steps in
reverse order.
CUTTING BLADES
WARNING: Cutting blades are sharp.
Always protect hands by wearing heavy
leather work gloves to grasp blades.
The blades may be removed for sharpening or
replacement as follows.
Remove the deck from beneath the tractor,
(refer to DECK REMOVAL earlier in this
section for detailed instructions) then gently
flip the deck over to expose its underside.
Place a block of wood between the center
deck housing baffle and the cutting blade to
act as a stabilizer. See Figure 19.
Use a 15/16" wrench to remove the hex flange
nut that secures the blade to the spindle
assembly. See Figure 19.
NOTE: The hex flange nut has a right-handed
thread pattern. Do NOT attempt to force the nut in
the incorrect direction. Doing so may damage the
nut and create a safety hazard.
Figure 19
To properly sharpen the cutting blades, remove
equal amounts of metal from both ends of the blades
along the cutting edges. See Figure 20.
Sharpen the cutting edge straight across, parallel to
the trailing edge, at a 25° to 30° angle. See Figure
20.
IMPORTANT: If the cutting edge of the blade has
already been sharpened to within 5/8" of the wind
wing radius, or if any metal separation is present,
replace the blades with new ones. See Figure 20.
Figure 20
Front of Tractor
NOTE: View shown from above tractor.
Double-idler
Bracket
Idler
Adj. Rod
Hole
1
-
3
/
8
"
Speed Control
Assembly
Hairpin
Clips
Idler
Adj. Rod
Pin
Drive Pedal
Return Spring
Place Wrenches Here
Neutral
Return
Bracket
Cutting Blade
Block of Wood
Spindle
Assembly
Hex Flange Nut
5
/
8
"
m
i
n
i
m
u
m
Blade Separation
Worn Blade Edge
Wind Wing
Sharpen Edge Evenly