MTD 608, 609 manual Brake Adjustment, Steering Adjustment

BRAKE ADJUSTMENT

If the tractor does not come to a complete stop when the brake pedal is completely depressed, or if the tractor’s rear wheels can roll with the parking brake applied, the brake is in need of adjustment. The brake disc can be found on the right side of the transmission in the rear of the tractor. Adjust if necessary as follows:

•Looking at the transmission from the right side of the tractor, locate the compression spring and brake disc. See Figure 9.

•Loosen, but do NOT remove, the hex nut found on the right side of the brake assembly. See Figure 9.

•Using a feeler gauge, set the gap between the brake disc and the brake puck at .011".

•Re-tighten the hex nut loosened earlier.

Hex Nut

Set Gap at .011"

Brake Disc	Compression
	Spring

NOTE: View shown from beneath tractor. Transmission

Figure 9

STEERING ADJUSTMENT

If the tractor turns tighter in one direction than the other, or if the ball joints are being replaced due to damage or wear, the steering drag links may need to be adjusted.

Hex Nut and	Pivot Bar
Lock Washer

Axle

	Drag Link
Ball Joint	Jam Nut

Figure 10

•Replace hex nut and lock washer and retighten the jam nut after proper adjustment is achieved.

NOTE: Threading the ball joints too far onto the drag links will cause the front tires to "toe-in" too far. Proper toe-in is between 1/16" and 5/16".

Front tire toe-in can be measured as follows:

•Place the steering wheel in position for straight ahead travel. Insert a 1/4" dowel up through aligning holes in both the steering gear and support plate. See Figure 11.

•In front of the axle, measure the distance horizontally from the inside of the left rim to the inside of the right rim. Note the distance.

•Behind the axle, measure the distance horizontally from the inside of the left rim to the inside of the right rim. Note the distance.

•The measurement taken in front of the axle should be between 1/16" and 5/16" less than the measurement taken behind the axle.

•Adjust if necessary.

•Remove the dowel inserted earlier before attempting to operate the tractor.

Adjust the drag links so that equal lengths are threaded into the ball joint on the left side and the ball joint on the right side:

•	Loosen the jam nut found on the drag link at
	the rear of the ball joint. See Figure 10.
•	Remove the hex nut and lock washer on the
	top of ball joint. See Figure 10.
• Thread		the ball joint toward the jam nut to
	shorten	the drag link. Thread the ball joint

Insert Dowel

Here

Support

Plate

Drag Links

Steering Gear

Steering

Shaft

away from the jam nut to lengthen the drag

link.

NOTE: View shown from beneath tractor.

Figure 11

15