Maintaining Your Lawn Tractor - MTD 609 Operator's Manual

Remove the hex nut and lock washer on the top of
ball joint. See Figure 12.
Thread the ball joint toward the jam nut to shorten
the drag link. Thread the ball joint away from the
jam nut to lengthen the drag link.
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.
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.
SECTION 7: MAINTAINING YOUR LAWNTRACTOR
WARNING:
Before performing any
maintenance or repairs, disengage PTO,
move shift lever into neutral position, set
parking brake, stop engine and remove key to
prevent unintended starting.
Oil Fill Cap Oil Drain Hose Protective Cap
Engine
Refer to the Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner
Manual (or Kohlerengine's Owner's Manual) for
engine maintenance instructions.
Check engine oil level before each use as instructed in
the Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner Manual (or
Koh/er engine's Owner's Manual) packed with your
unit. Follow the instructions carefully.
Changing Engine Oil
NOTE:
Depending on the engine model found on your
tractor, it may be necessary to remove the tractor's side
panel in order to replace the oil filter (if so equipped).
Unscrew oil fill cap and remove dipstick from the oil
fill tube. See Figure 13.
Pop open the protective cap on the end of the oil
drain valve to expose the drain port. See Figure 13.
Push the oil drain hose (packed with this manual)
onto the oil drain port. Route the opposite end of
the hose into an appropriate oil collection container
with a capacity of no less than 64 oz.
Push the oil drain valve in slightly, then rotate
counterclockwise and pull outward to begin
draining oil. See Figure 13.
Service the oil filter (if so equipped) as instructed
in the separate Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner
Manual (or Kohlerengine's Owner's Manual)
packed with your unit.
Perform the above steps in the opposite order after oil
has finished draining.
Refill the engine with new motor oil.
Oil Fill Tube Oil Drain Valve
Drain Port
Figure 13
IMPORTANT: Refer to the Briggs & Stratton Operator/
Owner Manual (or Kohler engine's Owner's Manual)
packed with your unit for information regarding the
quantity and proper weight of motor oil.
Air Cleaner
Service the pre-cleaner, if so equipped, and cartddge/
air cleaner element as instructed in the Briggs &
Stratton Operator/Owner Manual (or Kohler engine's
Owner's Manual) packed with your unit.
SparkPlug(s)
The spark plug(s) should be cleaned and the gap reset
once a season. Spark plug replacement is
recommended at the start of each mowing season.
Refer to the Briggs & Stratton Operator/Owner Manual
(or Kohler engine's Owner's Manual) for correct plug
type and gap specifications.
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