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Operator’s Manual Pedal Drive Lawn Tractor Models J609H Y609H IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting applicable local or state laws (if any).
Off-Season Storage ................... 23 Attachments & Accessories ................23 Troubleshooting ....................24 Models J609H and Y609H Parts List ..............25 FINDING MODEL NUMBER This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new lawn tractor. It will help you assemble, prepare and maintain the unit for best performance.
SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in personal injury.
23. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a 4. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for burn. Do not touch. wheel weights or counterweights to improve 24. Check overhead clearances carefully before driving stability. under low hanging tree branches, wires, door 5.
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e. Use extreme care when approaching blind e. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes and corners, doorways, shrubs, trees or other other sources of ignition. objects that may block your vision of a child Never fuel machine indoors. who may run into the machine. g.
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8. Never tamper with the safety interlock system or For safety protection, frequently check components other safety devices. Check their proper operation and replace immediately with original equipment regularly. manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only, listed in this 9. After striking a foreign object, stop the engine, manual.
SECTION 3: TRACTOR SET-UP Attaching the Battery Cables Service the engine with gasoline and oil as instructed in the separate Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner Manual (or Kohler engine’s Owner’s Manual) packed with your NOTE: The positive battery terminal is marked Pos. tractor.
SECTION 4: KNOW YOUR LAWN TRACTOR NOTE: Steering Wheel not shown for clarity. Figure 3 PTO (Power Take-off) Knob Cruise Control Button Choke Control Ignition Switch Parking Brake Button Brake Pedal Shift Lever Drive Pedal Cup Holder Deck Lift Lever Systems Indicator Monitor/Hour Meter M Seat Adjustment Lever G Throttle Control Lever...
Throttle Control Lever Ignition Switch The throttle control lever is located on the right side of Never leave running WARNING: the tractor’s dash panel. This lever controls the speed machine unattended. Always disengage PTO, of the engine. When set in a given position, the throttle move shift lever into neutral position, set will maintain a uniform engine speed.
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Systems Indicator Monitor / Hour Meter Electric PTO (Power Take-off) Knob Your tractor is equipped with four indicator lights and an hour meter located on the left side of the dash panel. To engage the power to the See Figure 6. cutting deck or other (separately Battery available) attachments, pull...
Parking Brake Button Cruise Control Button To set the parking brake, fully The cruise control button is depress the brake pedal and located on the tractor dash panel push the parking brake button in. to the left of the ignition switch. Hold the button in while taking Push the cruise control button your foot off the brake pedal.
Driving The Tractor WARNING: Keep hands and feet away from the discharge opening of the cutting WARNING: deck. Avoid sudden starts, ex- cessive speed and sudden stops. NOTE: The deck wheels are an anti-scalp feature of the deck and are not designed to support the weight of WARNING: Do not leave the seat of the the cutting deck.
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• Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other Front View Pull Out hidden objects. Uneven terrain could overturn the Push In machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles. • Avoid turns when driving on a slope. If a turn must be made, turn down the slope.
Mulching • Turn the key one notch counterclockwise into the Model J609H & Y609H tractors come equipped with a On/Lights position of the ignition switch. Refer to mulch kit packed separartely within the tractor’s crate. Figure 5. Once installed, the kit incorporates special blades, To turn the tractor’s headlights off:...
Steering Adjustment Leveling the Deck If the tractor turns tighter in one direction than the other, NOTE: Check the tractor’s tire pressure before or if the ball joints are being replaced due to damage or performing any deck leveling adjustments. Refer to wear, the steering drag links may need to be adjusted.
Lock Nuts Deck Stabilizer Bracket Deck Nuts Adjustment Gear SIDE TO SIDE FRONT TO REAR Hex Cap Screw Figure 11 SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWN TRACTOR WARNING: • Service the oil filter (if so equipped) as instructed Before performing in the separate Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner maintenance or repairs, disengage PTO, Manual (or Kohler engine’s Owner’s Manual) move shift lever into neutral position, set...
Air Cleaner Lubrication Service the pre-cleaner, if so equipped, and cartridge/ WARNING: air cleaner element as instructed in the Briggs & Before lubricating, repairing, or Stratton Operator/Owner Manual (or Kohler engine’s inspecting, always disengage PTO, move Owner’s Manual) packed with your unit. shift lever into neutral position, set parking brake, stop engine and remove key to prevent Spark Plugs...
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• Gently slide the cutting deck toward the front of the To change or replace the deck belts on your tractor, tractor allowing the hooks on the deck to release proceed as follows: themselves from the deck stabilizer rod. • Lower the deck by moving the deck lift lever into the •...
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Battery Tray Variable-speed Drive belt (Lower) Shift Lever Opening Pulley Rear Idler Pulley Drive belt (Upper) Belt Keeper Front Idler Pulley Idler Bracket Keeper Pins to drive pedal Double-Idler Bracket Engine Pulley Transmission Idler Pulley Single-speed Transmission Pulley Transmission Front of Tractor NOTE: View shown from above tractor.
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• Slide the belt off of the variable-speed pulley as you Idler Adj. Rod lift the pulley up and out through the battery tray Place Wrenches Here opening. • Remove the rear idler pulley from the double- idler bracket while unrouting the belt from around both Neutral the rear and the front idler pulley.
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The blades may be removed as follows. It is important that each cutting blade edge be ground equally to maintain proper blade balance. A poorly • Remove the deck from beneath the tractor, (refer to balanced blade will cause excessive vibration and may Cutting Deck Removal on page 18) then gently flip the cause damage to the tractor and result in personal deck over to expose its underside.
SECTION 10: ATTACHMENTS & ACCESSORIES The following attachments and accessories are compatible for Lawn Tractor Model J609H & Y609H. See the retailer from which you purchased your tractor, an authorized MTD Service Dealer or phone (800) 800-7310 for information regarding price and availability.
SECTION 11: TROUBLESHOOTING Trouble Possible Cause(s) Corrective Action Engine fails to start PTO knob engaged. Place PTO knob in disengaged (OFF) position. Parking brake not engaged. Engage parking brake. Spark plug wire(s) disconnected. Connect wire(s) to spark plug. Throttle control lever not in correct Place throttle lever to FAST position.
SECTION 12: MODELS J609H & Y609H PARTS LIST (for choke) NOTE: Engine accessory parts are applicable to both model J609H and Y609H except where otherwise noted. REF. PART REF. PART DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION 710-0227 Self-tapping Screw, #8-18 x .5 751-0651 LH Exhaust Pipe (Model J609H) 710-0599 Self-tapping Screw, 1/4-20 x .5...
Models J609H & Y609H REF. PART REF. PART DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION 783-1015 Shift Lever Support 754-0468 Upper Drive Belt 17840 Transaxle Mounting Bracket 756-0981A Flat Idler, 2.75 OD 618-0551 Single-speed Transmission Assembly 783-1016B Speed Control Rod Bracket 631-0009A Shifter Knob 783-0667B...
Models J609H & Y609H REF. PART DESCRIPTION 783-0653D Steering Support Bracket 754-0474 PTO Belt 717-1708 Electric PTO Clutch 783-1003 Electric Clutch Anti-rotation Bracket 710-0859 Hex Cap Screw, 3/8-16 x 2.5 710-1238 Hex Head Washer Screw, 5/16-18 x .875 712-0431 Flange Lock Nut, 3/8-16 732-0978 Extension Spring, .62 x 5.62...
MANUFACTURER’S LIMITED WARRANTY FOR: c. Routine maintenance items such as lubricants, filters, The limited warranty set forth below is given by MTD blade sharpening and tune-ups, or adjustments such PRODUCTS INC (“MTD”) with respect to new merchandise as brake adjustments, clutch adjustments or deck purchased and used in the United States, its possessions adjustments;...